Mei-cai Liu

Metal-Free sp3 C—H Bond Dual-(Het)arylation: I2-Promoted Domino Process to Construct 2,2-Bisindolyl-1-arylethanones.

A molecular I(2)-promoted sp(3) C-H bond dual-(het)arylation protocol was developed for the synthesis of 2,2-bisindolyl-1-arylethanones. Through a logical design, three mechanism-different reactions (iodination, Kornblum oxidation, and Friedel-Crafts reaction) were assembled in a single reactor. A variety of 2,2-bisindolyl-1-aryl ethanones were synthesized from simple and readily available aryl methyl ketones and indoles. In the reaction, metal, base, and ligand were all avoidable.

A Multipathway Coupled Domino Strategy: Metal-free Oxidative Cyclization for One-Pot Synthesis of 2-Acylbenzothiazoles from Multiform Substrates

A multipathway coupled domino strategy has been developed for the efficient synthesis of 2-acylbenzothiazoles from multiform substrates arylethenes, arylacetylenes, 2-hydroxy-aromatic ketones, and carbinols via four distinct pathways. Through a logical coupled oxidation/heterocyclization domino process, a variety of 2-acylbenzothiazoles were synthesized free of metal in one pot.

Direct One-Pot Synthesis of Luotonin F and Analogues via Rational Logical Design

An efficient one-pot synthetic protocol has been proposed for the synthesis of luntonin F from easily available starting materials. Through a rational logical design, multifundamental reactions (iodination, Kornblum oxidation, and annulation) were assembled in one-pot. The developed approach can efficiently synthesize luntonin F and a diversity of analogues.

A cascade coupling strategy for one-pot total synthesis of β-carboline and isoquinoline-containing natural products and derivatives.

Multi-birds with one stone: A cascade coupling strategy was developed for the synthesis of β-carbolines. The method can direct the synthesis of β-carboline and isoquinoline-containing natural products with high yields. Moreover, this protocol can also be further applied towards the total synthesis of natural products fascaplysin and papaverin (see scheme).

Unexpected C–C Bond Cleavage: A Route to 3,6-Diarylpyridazines and 6-Arylpyridazin-3-ones from 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds and Methyl Ketones

An unexpected C-C bond cleavage has been revealed in the absence of metal. This observation has been exploited to develop an efficient approach toward 3,6-diarylpyridazines and 6-arylpyridazin-3-ones from simple and commercially available 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and methyl ketones.

I2–CF3SO3H Synergistic Promoted sp3 C–H Bond Diarylation of Aromatic Ketones

An I(2)-CF(3)SO(3)H synergistic promoted sp(3) C-H bond diarylation protocol was developed for the synthesis of 2,2-bis(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)-1-aryl ethanones. The reaction performed well in the absence of any metal and ligand. It integrated three reactions with different mechanisms (iodination, Kornblum oxidation, and hydroarylation) in a single reactor.

Design and Synthesis of 2‑Acylbenzothiazoles via In Situ Cross- Trapping Strategy from Benzothiazoles with Aryl Ketones

An I2/KOH synergistically promoted direct ring-opening aroylation of benzothiazoles with aryl ketones has been discovered. Aryl ketones were seen to act as carbonyl sources to construct 2-acylbenzothiazoles. This reaction could provide an example for the convergent integration of self-labor domino sequences based on an in situ cross-trapping strategy.