Copper‐Catalyzed 1,2‐Methoxy Methoxycarbonylation of Alkenes with Methyl Formate

Formyl Radical Generation from α-Chloro N-Methoxyphthalimides Enables Selective Aldehyde Synthesis

The aldehydes installation by radical formylation constitutes an attractive synthetic strategy. However, the generation of formyl radicals for organic synthesis applications remains unknown. Herein we report the first formyl radical generation from α-chloro N-methoxyphthalimides, which selectively synthesize aldehydes by alkene hydroformylation under mild photoredox conditions. The aldehydes can be installed on acrylates, acrylamides, vinyl sulfones, vinyl ketones, and complex steroids by radical hydroformylation in excellent chemoselectivity and regioselectivity. The concerted hydrochloride elimination for the formyl radical generation from α-chloro methoxy radicals is established by experimental and computational approaches.

Cu2O hydrides promote the selective semihydrogenation of alkynes on Pd–Cu2O/TiO2 under mild conditions

High activity, chemoselectivity and stereoselectivity were unveiled by the synergy of the p–n heterojunctions with Pd⁰ in a novel Pd–Cu₂O/TiO₂ catalyst for spillover semihydrogenations.