NHC-Palladium(II) Mononuclear and Binuclear Complexes Containing Phenylene-Bridged Bis(thione) Ligands: Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Activities

Core-Shell Nano-Cobalt Catalyzed Chemoselective Reduction of N-Heteroarenes with Ammonia Borane

An easily prepared core-shell heterogeneous nanocobalt catalyst was reported, which could achieve selective reduction of N-heteroarenes with ammonia borane under mild conditions and ambient atmosphere. Various quinoline, quinoxaline, naphthyridine, isoquinoline, acridine, and phenanthroline derivatives were hydrogenated with high selectivity and efficiency. Notably, substrates bearing sensitive functional groups under molecular hydrogen reduction conditions, such as cyano, ester, and halogens were well tolerated by the catalytic system. Moreover, with our novel method several bioactive molecules were prepared. Also, this catalyst could be applied in the liquid organic hydrogen storage system by reversible hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of heteroarene in high efficiencies.

Bis(β-diketone)-based metallacycles with haloalkane-induced fluorescence enhancement

A series of metallarectangles 1-5 were synthesized by the selective combination of (p-cymene)Ru-corner, bis(β-diketone) arms and bifunctional pyridyl linkers. They exhibited a very rare phenomenon of haloalkane-induced fluorescence enhancement.

Transfer hydrogenation of N-heteroarenes with 2-propanol and ethanol enabled by manganese catalysis

A convenient well-defined manganese catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of N-heteroarenes using 2-propanol and ethanol as hydrogen sources is developed. DFT calculations support an outer sphere hydrogenation mechanism.

Zirconium-hydride-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of quinolines and indoles with ammonia borane

Herein, by applying zirconium-hydride complex as the catalyst, the transfer hydrogenation of quinoline and indole derivatives with ammonia borane as a proton and hydride source is achieved.

General and Efficient Copper-Catalyzed Oxazaborolidine Complex in Transfer Hydrogenation of Isoquinolines under Mild Conditions

A general and efficient method for copper-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of isoquinolines with an oxazaborolidine-BH₃ complex, under mild reaction conditions, is successfully developed. A broad range of isoquinolines has been reduced to the corresponding products with 61-85% yields. The method is applied to the synthesis of biologically active tetrahydrosioquinoline alkaloid (±)-norlaudanosine in 62% yield, which is the key precursor for the preparation of (±)-laudanosine, (±)-N-methyl-laudanosine, and (±)-xylopinine in one or two steps.