Guofu Zhang

L-Proline: an efficient N,O-bidentate ligand for copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of primary and secondary benzylic alcohols at room temperature

A novel and highly practical copper-catalyzed aerobic alcohol oxidation system with L-proline as the ligand at room temperature has been developed. A wide range of primary and secondary benzylic alcohols tested have been smoothly transformed into corresponding aldehydes and ketones with high yields and selectivities.

A palladium complex with functionalized β-cyclodextrin: a promising catalyst featuring recognition abilities for Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions in water

A water-soluble palladium complex (PdLn@β-CD) was designed and prepared based on functionalized β-cyclodextrin. It showed high turnover numbers (TONs) and turnover frequencies (TOFs) of up to 9.9 × 108 and 4.9 × 108 h−1, respectively, in aqueous Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions. The detailed reason for the excellent catalytic activity was studied.

Highly selective Wacker reaction of styrene derivatives: a green and efficient aerobic oxidative process promoted by benzoquinone/NaNO2/HClO4 under mild conditions

A green and efficient catalytic redox system for the aerobic oxidative Wacker oxidation of styrene derivatives at room temperature using molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant without copper chloride has been developed. The newly developed system exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the smooth transformation of terminal styrene derivatives to the desired methyl ketones with up to 96% yield and >99% selectivity.

Copper-catalyzed aerobic alcohol oxidation under air in neat water by using a water-soluble ligand

A copper-catalyzed primary benzylic and allylic alcohols oxidation system has been developed under air in neat water by use of a water-soluble ligand (pytl-β-CD). The ligand was designed and synthesized via a click conjunction between functionalized β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and 2-ethinylpyridine.

Ru-Catalyzed Regioselective Direct Hydroxymethylation of (Hetero)Arenes via C-H Activation

An efficient and direct ruthenium-catalyzed regioselective hydroxymethylation of (hetero)arenes via C-H activation with paraformaldehyde as a hydroxymethylating reagent is described. The corresponding products can be obtained in good to excellent yield. A number of aryl aldehydes can also be used in place of paraformaldehyde giving the desired alcohol products with similarly good results.

In situ generation of active species “NO” for the aerobic oxidative deprotection of aldoximes catalyzed by FeCl3/TEMPO

A simple and efficient aerobic oxidative deoximation system, using molecular oxygen as the green oxidant and FeCl3/TEMPO as the catalyst, is developed for a wide range of aldoximes. Notably, nitric oxide (NO), an active species for aerobic oxidation reactions, is assumed to be generated in situ from the cleavage of oximes and further confirmed by the existence of a large quantity of NO3− by Ionic Chromatography (IC).

Direct synthesis of N-sulfinyl- and N-sulfonylimines via copper/L-proline-catalyzed aerobic oxidative cascade reaction of alcohols with sulfinamides or sulfonamides

An efficient one-pot synthetic method of N-sulfinyl- and N-sulfonylimines by the condensation of alcohols with sulfinamides or sulfonamides under mild and green conditions has been developed using a combination of CuI, L-proline and TEMPO. This system shows excellent functional group compatibility for a wide range of substrates and affords the corresponding products in good to excellent yields.

Pd/C Catalyzed C—H Arylation with Click-Triazoles as Removable Directing Group

以钯/碳为催化剂，三唑作为易移除导向基团，可实现苯环C（sp 2 ）—H键活化芳基化反应.这是钯/碳作为催化剂催化导向基团促进的C—H活化芳基化反应的首例报道.该反应具有官能团容忍性好，无需银盐氧化剂，导向基团易移除等优点.

Aerobic alcohol ammoxidation catalyzed by copper(I)/amino acid: a scalable protocol to nitriles

A facile, practical and scalable catalyst system for alcohols ammoxidation into nitriles is developed using amino acid as ligand, oxygen as terminal oxidant and copper iodide(CuI) as catalyst. The catalyst system shows excellent functional groups compatibility for a wide range of testing substrates, even the substrates bearing oxidation-sensitive groups such as MeS—, alkenyl and —NH2 can also work well. In addition, the protocol is readily scaled up to more than 20 g and the product can be obtained just through filtration or distillation without conventional column chromatography.