Ferrocene/air double-mediated FeTiO3-photocatalyzed semi-heterogeneous annulation of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones in EtOH/H2O

Iodine(III)-Mediated Trifluoroacetylation of a C(sp2)-H or C(sp)-H Bond with Masked Trifluoroacyl Reagents

A novel strategy for incorporating a trifluoroacetyl functionality into a range of structurally varied unsaturated bonds was developed by using PhI(OCOMe)2 as an oxidant with a masked trifluoroacyl reagent as a trifluoroacetyl radical precursor. The oxidative decarboxylation of the masked trifluoroacyl precursor followed by a tandem radical process provides versatile access to 5-exo-trig cyclization of N-arylacrylamides, direct C(sp2)-H trifluoroacetylation of quinolines, isoquinoline, 2H-indazole, and quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones, and C(sp)-H trifluoroacetylation of alkynes. This protocol is characterized by mild reaction conditions, operational simplicity, and broad functional group compatibility.

Oxidative Free-Radical C(sp2)-H Bond Chlorination of Enaminones with LiCl: Access to Highly Functionalized α-Chlorinated Enaminones

An oxidative free-radical C(sp2)-H bond chlorination strategy of enaminones has been developed by using LiCl as a chlorinating reagent and K2S2O8 as an oxidant. This transformation provides a new and straightforward synthetic methodology to afford highly functionalized α-chlorinated enaminones with a Z-configuration in good to excellent yields.

Pd(II)/N,N'-Disulfonyl Bisimidazoline-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of Cyclic Quaternary Centers and Mechanistic Investigations

A Pd(II)/N,N'-disulfonyl bisimidazoline-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-conjugate addition reaction of low-cost arylboronic acids with readily available β-substituted cyclic enones is described, providing a straightforward way of constructing cyclic all-carbon quaternary stereocenters with high enantioselectivity, in which ≥96% ee was obtained in most cases. The reaction proceeded without the protection of inert gas, making the operation process simple. Theoretical calculations have been applied to understand the origins of enantioselectivity.

Recyclable V2O5/g-C3N4 Heterojunction-Catalyzed Visible-Light-Promoted C3-H Trifluoromethylation of Quinoxalin-2-(1H)-ones

A visible-light-initiated C-H trifluoromethylation of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones was established using a Z-scheme V2O5/g-C3N4 heterojunction as a recyclable photocatalyst in an inert atmosphere at room temperature under additive-free and mild conditions. A variety of trifluoromethylated quinoxalin-2-(1H)-one derivatives were heterogeneously generated in moderate to high yields, exhibiting good functional group tolerance. Remarkably, the recyclable V2O5/g-C3N4 catalyst could be reused five times with a slight loss of catalytic activity.

Copper-Catalyzed One-Pot Synthesis of Thiazolidin-2-imines

The synthesis of thiazolines, thiazolidines, and thiazolidinones has been extensively studied, due to their biological activity related to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, as well as their antiparasitic and antihypertensive properties. The closely related thiazolidin-2-imines have been studied less, and efficient strategies for synthesizing them, mainly based on the reaction of propargylamines with isothiocyanates, have been explored less. The use of one-pot approaches, providing modular, straightforward, and sustainable access to these compounds, has also received very little attention. Herein, we report a novel, one-pot, multicomponent, copper-catalyzed reaction among primary amines, ketones, terminal alkynes, and isothiocyanates, toward thiazolidin-2-imines bearing quaternary carbon centers on the five-membered ring, in good to excellent yields. Density functional theory calculations, combined with experimental mechanistic findings, suggest that the copper(I)-catalyzed reaction between the in situ-formed propargylamines and isothiocyanates proceeds with a lower energy barrier in the pathway leading to the S-cyclized product, compared to that of the N-cyclized one, toward the chemo- and regioselective formation of 5-exo-dig S-cyclized thiazolidin-2-imines.

Aminoselenation and Dehydroaromatization of Cyclohexanones with Anilines and Diselenides

A three-component cascade reaction involving cyclohexanones, anilines, and diaryl diselenides under metal-free conditions is reported. The ortho-selenation of cyclohexanones with diaryl diselenides, followed by sequential dehydroaromatization with anilines, enables the preparation of a variety of o-selanyl anilines in moderate to excellent yields. This innovative transformation is notable for its excellent tolerance of functional groups and is suitable for the late-stage modification of complex pharmaceuticals.

Inherent directing group-enabled Co(III)-catalyzed C-H allylation/vinylation of isoquinolones

Co(III)-catalysed site-selective C8-allylation and vinylation of isoquinolones with allyl acetate and vinyl acetates has been accomplished. The oxo group of isoquinolone has been utilised as an inherent directing group. Based on preliminary mechanistic studies, a plausible mechanism for the developed reaction has also been delineated. Broad substrate scope with good to excellent yields and post-synthetic transformations of allylated and vinylated isoquinolines highlight the importance of the reaction.

TEMPO/PhI(OAc)2 promotes the α-aminophosphinoylation of alcohols with amines and H-phosphine oxides in aqueous medium

A novel method for synthesizing α-aminoalkyl phosphine oxides in aqueous medium, using Ar2P(O)-H reagents, alcohols and amines, is described. This method: (i) allows for the smooth aminophosphinoylation of alcohols with amines and H-phosphine oxides under mild conditions; (ii) provides an efficient and alternative approach to access various α-aminoalkylphosphine oxides. Although various amines exhibited remarkable versatility and tolerance for functional groups in this reaction, alcohols and H-phosphine oxides demonstrated limited applicability as reactants. Hence, further investigation using a wider range of substrates is crucial. The postulated mechanism indicated that the three-component reaction followed the imine pathway due to the in situ oxidation of alcohol to aldehyde.

Paired Electrolysis-Enabled Arylation of Quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones

The first paired electrolysis-enabled arylation of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones was achieved using cyanoarenes as the arylation reagents. A variety of 3-arylquinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with various important functional groups were obtained in moderate to good yields under metal- and chemical oxidant-free conditions. With a pair of reductive and oxidative processes occurring among the substrates and reaction intermediates, the power consumption can be dramatically reduced.

TEMPO-Mediated Dehydrogenative Hydroxyfluoroalkylation of Arylamines with Polyfluorinated Alcohols

An efficient 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinooxy (TEMPO)-mediated hydroxyfluoroalkylation of arylamines with polyfluorinated alcohols via a radical-triggered C(sp2)-H/C(sp3)-H dehydrogenative cross-coupling process was developed. This transformation features simple operation, high atom economy, broad substrate compatibility, and excellent regioselectivity, leading to a series of hydroxyfluoroalkylated arylamine derivatives. Importantly, these synthetic products were further used to evaluate the antitumor activity in cancer cell lines by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and the outcomes indicated that some compounds show a potent antiproliferative effect.

Photoinduced Dehydrogenative Amination of Quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with Air as an Oxidant

A facile and eco-friendly photoinduced dehydrogenative amination of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with aliphatic amines without any metal, strong oxidant, and photocatalyst has been established for the first time. This reaction proceeding efficiently with air as the sole oxidant at room temperature obtains a wide range of 3-aminoquinoxaline-2(1H)-ones in high yields with excellent functional group tolerance. The mechanistic studies show an interesting involvement of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones as a photosensitizer, which eliminates the requirement for external photocatalysts.

Visible Light-Induced Metal-free Arylation of Coumarin-3-carboxylates with Arylboronic Acids

The present work represents a novel methodology for the selective arylation of coumarin-3-carboxylates with arylboronic acids via a photochemical route, marking the first-ever attempt for the direct alkenyl C-H arylation using rose bengal as a photocatalyst, which is a readily available and cost-effective alternative to transition metal catalysis. The reaction proceeds smoothly in MeOH/H2O solvent media in the presence of radical initiator affording the arylated products in good yields (60-80 %). The reaction parameters such as visible light, radical initiator, oxidant, anhydrous solvent, and inert atmosphere play a crucial role for the success of this methodology. The substituents present on the substrate show a significant effect on the conversion. This study provides a valuable contribution to the field of organic synthesis offering a new and efficient approach to the arylation of coumarin-3-carboxylic acid esters with a broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance. It is a versatile method and provides a direct access to biologically relevant 4-arylcoumarin-3-carboxylates.

Electrochemical Multicomponent Cascade Reaction for the Synthesis of Selenazol-2-amines with Elemental Selenium

The first example of an electrochemical multicomponent synthesis of selenium-containing compounds with inexpensive and abundant elemental selenium as the selenating reagent was developed. A variety of selenazol-2-amines were constructed in high yields with good functional group tolerance under metal-free and chemical oxidant-free conditions.

Aerobic Oxidative Hydroxylation of Arylboronic Acids under Visible-Light Irradiation without Metal Catalysts or Additives

Phenols are versatile synthetic intermediates and key structural motifs in many natural products and biologically active compounds. We herein report a visible-light-induced aerobic oxidative hydroxylation of arylboronic acids/pinacol esters using air as oxidant and without using any catalysts and base, etc., additives, providing a green entry to a variety of phenols in a highly efficient and concise fashion. This novel reaction is enabled by photoactivation of an electron donor-acceptor complex, in which THF serves as both the solvent and electron donor. DFT studies indicated that the oxidation process involves a concerted hydrogen abstraction transfer from THF and dehydroxylation of boronic acid undergoing spin crossover from triplet to singlet to produce an active peroxoboronic acid intermidiate. Salient merits of this chemistry include broad substrate scope and excellent functional group tolerance, gram-scale synthesis, and versatile late-stage functionalizations as well as the use of air, visible light, and catalyst- and additive-free conditions. This strategy introduces a novel photoreaction mode with the aid of a solvent, offering a succinct and environmentally sustainable route for synthesizing phenols. The strong practicability and highly efficient access to modifying complex biorelevant molecules bode well for the potential applications of this chemistry in pharmaceutical chemistry.

Three-Component Reaction for the Synthesis of Spiro-Heterocycles from Isatins, Substituted Ureas, and Cyclic Ketones

We reported an efficient three-component reaction to access new spiro heterocycles through the annulation reactions of isatins, substituted ureas, and cyclic ketones under normal laboratory conditions, which is another example of isatins being used to build spiro compounds by the ring-opening and recyclization processes. The wide range of substrates, simple operation, normal experimental conditions, and high yields make the approach of high practical value.

Visible-Light-Driven Iron-Catalyzed Intermolecular Benzylic C(sp3)-H Amination with 1,2,3,4-Tetrazoles

A visible-light-driven iron-catalyzed C(sp3)-H amination of diphenylmethane derivatives with 1,2,3,4-tetrazoles under mild conditions has been developed. The reaction proceeds with photosensitizer-free conditions and features satisfactory to good yields. Mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction proceeded via an iron-nitrene intermediate, and H atom abstraction was the rate-determining step. Computational studies showed that the denitrogenation of 1,2,3,4-tetrazole depends on the conversion of the sextet ground state of 1,2,3,4-tetrazole-bounding iron species to the quartet spin state under visible-light irradiation.