Palladium(ii)-catalyzed synthesis of indenones through the cyclization of benzenecarbaldehydes with internal alkynes

Ni-catalyzed benzylic β-C(sp3)-H bond activation of formamides

The development of transition metal-catalyzed β-C-H bond activation via highly-strained 4-membered metallacycles has been a formidable task. So far, only scarce examples have been reported to undergo β-C-H bond activation via 4-membered metallacycles, and all of them rely on precious metals. In contrast, earth-abundant and inexpensive 3d transition metal-catalyzed β-C-H bond activation via 4-membered metallacycles still remains an elusive challenge. Herein, we report a phosphine oxide-ligated Ni-Al bimetallic catalyst to activate secondary benzylic C(sp³)-H bonds of formamides via 4-membered nickelacycles, providing a series of α,β-unsaturated γ-lactams in up to 97% yield.

Direct Access to 2,3-Disubstituted Amido-Indenones through Annulation of 2-Iodobenzaldehydes with Ynamides

In this paper we report the annulation reaction between 2-iodobenzaldehyde derivatives and various ynamides. This palladium-catalyzed reaction leads to rare polysubstituted amino-indenones in good yields with a regioselectivity up to complete. Remarkably, a regiodivergent selectivity has been identified between aryl and alkyl or silyl ynamides, with the first leading mainly to 2-amido-indenones and the second to 3-amido-indenones.

Cationic gold-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of substituted 1,5-diynes to access indenone derivatives

An efficient intramolecular cyclization reaction was developed to achive indenone derivatives. The substituted 1,5-diyenes were converted to the cooresponding indenones via gold-catalyzed organic transformation and moderate to excellent yields of the title molecules were obatined via formation of two C=O and one C-C bonds under mild reaction condtions in one-pot.

Silver(i)-catalyzed dehydrogenative cross-coupling of 2-aroylbenzofurans with phosphites

The silver(i)-catalyzed dehydrogenative cross-coupling reaction of 2-aroylbenzofurans with phosphites to afford 2-aroyl-3-phosphonylbenzofurans is reported.

Regioselective synthesis of indenones via nickel-catalyzed Larock annulations

A highly effective approach for the synthesis of indenones via nickel-catalyzed Larock annulations of substituted 2-formylphenyl trifluoromethanesulfonate with alkynes has been developed.