Juhanes Aydin

Pincer complex-catalyzed redox coupling of alkenes with iodonium salts via presumed palladium(IV) intermediates

Palladium pincer complexes directly catalyze the redox coupling reactions of functionalized alkenes and iodonium salts. The catalytic process, which is suitable for mild catalytic functionalization of allylic acetates and electron-rich alkenes, probably occurs through Pd(IV) intermediates. Due to the strong metal-ligand interactions, the oxidation of phosphine and amine ligands of the pincer complexes can be avoided in the presented reactions.

Stereoselective pincer-complex catalyzed C-H functionalization of benzyl nitriles under mild conditions. An efficient route to β-aminonitriles

An efficient palladium pincer-complex catalyzed reaction has been developed for alpha-C-H bond functionalization of benzyl nitriles. The studied coupling reaction with sulfonylimines affords beta-aminonitriles with usually high levels of stereoselectivity. The stereoselectivity of the process is highly dependent on the electronic effects of the ortho substituents of the benzyl moiety. Promising levels of enantiomeric excess are obtained using chiral pincer complexes as catalysts.

Palladium-pincer complex catalyzed C-C coupling of allyl nitriles with tosyl imines via regioselective allylic C-H bond functionalization.

A mechanistically new palladium-pincer complex catalyzed allylation of sulfonimines is presented. This reaction involves C-H bond functionalization of allyl nitriles under mild conditions. The reaction proceeds with a high regioselectivity, without allyl rearrangement of the product. Modeling studies indicate that the carbon-carbon bond formation process proceeds via (eta (1)-allyl)palladium pincer complex intermediates.

Gold(I)-catalyzed macrocyclization of 1,n-enynes.

The gold(I)-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloaddition of large 1,n-enynes (n = 10-16) provides access to 9- to 15-membered ring macrocycles incorporating a cyclobutene moiety. The reaction requires the use of a gold(I) catalyst bearing a sterically hindered biphenylphosphine ligand.