Synthesis ofLepidoptera pheromones using acetylenes

Cu(I)-Catalyzed C-H Alkenylation of Tertiary C(sp3)-H Bonds of 3-Aryl Benzofuran-2(3H)-ones to Give Z- and E-Styrene Containing Quaternary Carbon Centers with 99/1 Regioselectivity

The synthesis of isomerically pure olefins containing all-carbon quaternary centers is a challenging issue. Herein, we developed an efficient protocol for the synthesis of (Z)-olefins (27 examples, yield up to 97%, Z/E up to 99/1) and (E)-olefins (16 examples, yield up to 94%, E/Z up to 99/1) containing all-carbon quaternary centers. This protocol is adopted for the copper-catalyzed regioselective C-H alkenylation of the tertiary C(sp³)-H bond of 3-aryl benzofuran-2(3H)-ones with alkyne and alkenes. A diverse range of functional groups in the substrates is well-tolerated, such as F, Cl, Br, Me, OMe, ester, CF₃, etc. A gram scale experiment was performed in good yield, and the radical mechanisms are also proposed based on the control experiments.

Room temperature Z-selective hydrogenation of alkynes by hemilabile and non-innocent (NNN)Co(ii) catalysts

Room temperature chemo- and stereoselective hydrogenation of alkynes is described using a well-defined and phosphine-free hemilabile cobalt catalyst.

Z-Selective Synthesis of γ,δ-Unsaturated Ketones via Pd-Catalyzed Ring Opening of 2-Alkylenecyclobutanones with Arylboronic Acids

Pd-catalyzed 1,2-addition (instead of 1,4-addition) of arylboronic acids to 2-alkylenecyclobutanones followed by β-carbon elimination from the resulting palladium cyclobutanolates to afford γ,δ-unsaturated ketones was developed. The desired γ,δ-unsaturated ketones were obtained in good to excellent yields with Z/E selectivities of up to >99:1 and a broad spectrum of functional group tolerability.

Selective partial hydrogenation of alkynes to (Z)-alkenes with ionic liquid-doped nickel nanocatalysts at near ambient conditions

A selective hydrogenation method for forming (Z)-alkenes from alkynes has been developed using a catalyst system of cheap Ni-NPs in a nitrile functionalised imidazolium based ionic liquid (IL) operating under very mild reaction conditions of 30–50 °C and 1–4 bar H₂ pressure.