an-Hua Li

Copper-Catalyzed Intermolecular Cyanotrifluoromethylation of Alkenes

A novel and highly practical reaction for the copper-catalyzed intermolecular cyanotrifluoromethylation of alkenes is presented here. This methodology provides a general and straightforward way to synthesize a variety of useful CF3-containing nitriles, which can be used for further preparation of pharmaceutically and agrochemically important compounds in synthetic organic chemistry.

Copper-catalyzed three-component cyanotrifluoromethylation/azidotrifluoromethylation and carbocyclization of 1,6-enynes.

A novel three-component strategy for the cyanotrifluoromethylation/azidotrifluoromethylation and carbocyclization of 1,6-enynes is developed. The reaction proceeds smoothly under a moderate temperature by using a copper catalyst, which provides a rapid and concise access to addition-carbocyclization products. Furthermore, the products obtained can be useful building blocks in discoveries of lead compounds and other biologically active CF3-containing heterocycles.

Silver-Promoted Oxidative Cyclization of 1,6-Enynes: Highly Regioselective Synthesis of Phosphorated Fluorene Derivatives

A silver-promoted oxidative cyclization of 1,6-enynes with disubstituted phosphine oxides is developed for the synthesis of fluorene derivatives. The reaction proceeds with high regioselectivity by constructing one C-P bond and two C-C bonds in one step. Moreover, reduction of the pentavalent phosphine enlarges the application scope of the product.

Palladium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Aryldifluoroalkylation of Alkynes.

A palladium-catalyzed aryldifluoroalkylation of alkynes with ethyl difluoroiodoacetate and arylboronic acids as reaction partners is described. The alkyne difunctionalization process provides various aryldifluoroalkylated products in one pot under mild reaction conditions. A wide range of alkynes and diverse arylboronic acids are compatible with these reaction conditions. High reaction efficiency and broad substrate scope are the notable features of this transformation. Preliminary mechanistic investigations indicate that a difluoroalkyl radical addition pathway is involved in this transformation.

Iodine-Promoted Radical Cyclization in Water: A Selective Reaction of 1,6-Enynes with Sulfonyl Hydrazides.

An iodine-promoted one-pot radical cyclization reaction of 1,6-enynes with sulfonyl hydrazides to provide five-membered and hexatomic ring sulfonylated products under the same conditions is established. This reaction proceeded smoothly in water and gave the corresponding products by using I2/TBHP instead of expensive and toxic catalysts with C-S and C-I bond formed in one step. This method also allowed easy access to significant functional sulfones for potential applications in medicinal and organic chemistry.

Lewis Acid Catalyzed [4 + 3] Cycloaddition of Propargylic Alcohols with Azides

An unprecedented Lewis acid catalyzed [4 + 3] cycloaddition reaction is described that provides a straightforward route to polycyclic products containing an imine-based indole azepine scaffold, starting from readily available internal tertiary alkynols and azides. This cycloaddition protocol provides efficient and atom-economical access to a new class of fascinating imine-containing products in satisfactory yields, which has shown good application in the construction of seven-membered N-heterocycles.

Zinc-Catalyzed [4+3] Cycloaddition with Concomitant Furan Annulation: Formation of Cyclohepta[b]Furans

A convenient zinc-promoted [4+3] cycloaddition of a carbonyl ene-yne with simple dienes was first achieved. This reaction provided an efficient strategy to prepare various cyclohepta[b]furan rings by cascade cycloadditions. Additionally, a multicomponent reaction of dione, alkynal, and diene was also reported, which exhibited a novel strategy for selective creations of C-O bonds and C-C bonds.

Synthesis of Functionalized Quinolines through a Reaction of Amides and Alkynes Promoted by Triflic Anhydride/Pyridine

A concise, novel and flexible metal-free single step to synthesize functionalized quinolines is reported. Triflic anhydride-mediated (Tf2 O) activation of amides is discussed in the presence of pyridine to offer strong electrophiles, thereby showcasing excellent productivity, high regio- and chemoselectivity, and widely tolerable substrates. This approach provides a straightforward and efficient way to construct azaheterocycle structures.