Minghu Wu

An enantioselective cascade reaction between α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and malonic half-thioesters: a rapid access to chiral δ-lactones.

We disclose a novel efficient enantioselective organocatalytic cascade reaction for the preparation of δ-lactones in good to excellent yields (69-93%) and with high to excellent enantioselectivities (88-96% ee).

A highly enantioselective Michael reaction between α,β-unsaturated ketones and malonic acid half-thioesters

We disclose herein an efficient enantioselective organocatalytic Michael reaction between α,β-unsaturated ketones and malonic acid half thioesters (MAHTs). The reactions are catalyzed by a primary amine to generate Michael addition products in good to excellent yields (62–87%) with high to excellent enantioselectivities (80–98%).

Efficient catalytic α-trifluoromethylthiolation of aldehydes

An efficient catalytic method for α-trifluoromethylthiolation of aldehydes has been developed. The reaction occurred by using an easily accessible reagent and commercially available starting materials. The convenient manipulation and broad functional group tolerance allow the potential of this new methodology to be widely applied in organic synthesis as well as in the industrial, pharmaceutical and agrochemical fields.

Cu-catalyzed aerobic oxidative C–CN bond cleavage of benzyl cyanide for the synthesis of primary amides

An efficient method via copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative amidation of benzyl cyanide for primary amides is successfully developed. Using readily available NH4Cl as a nitrogen source and Cu/O2 as a catalytic oxidation system offers new opportunities for C–CN bond cleavage and primary amide bond formation.

Synthesis of tricyclic quinazolinones via intramolecular cyclization of 3-(2-aminoalkyl)-2-(phenylamino)quinazolin-4(3H)-ones

Bioactive tricyclic quinazolines class of 3,4-dihydro-1H-pyrimido[2,1-b]quinazolin-6(2H)-ones I and 2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-5(1H)-ones II were synthesized by the formic acid-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of 3-(2-aminoalkyl)-2-(phenylamino)quinazolin-4(3H)-ones 1 in high yields. A plausible mechanism of the cyclization step is proposed.Graphical Abstract

Fe-catalyzed esterification of amides via C–N bond activation

An efficient Fe-catalyzed esterification of primary, secondary, and tertiary amides with various alcohols for the preparation of esters was performed. The esterification process was accomplished with FeCl3·6H2O, which is a stable, inexpensive, environmentally friendly catalyst with high functional group tolerance.

An efficient method for the preparation of tert-butyl esters from benzyl cyanide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide under the metal free condition

A novel protocol to synthesize tert-butyl esters from benzyl cyanides and tert-butyl hydroperoxide has been successfully achieved. In the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide, Csp3–H bond oxidation, C–CN bond cleavage and C–O bond formation proceeded smoothly in one pot under the metal-free condition.

Synthesis and biological activity of arylsulfonamide derivatives containing 2-arylamino-4(3H)-quinazolinone

Twenty arylsulfonamide derivatives containing 2-arylamino-4(3H)-quinazolinone were synthesized and evaluated for their bioactivities. 4-Fluoro-N-(2-(4-oxo-2-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)amino)quinazolin-3(4H)-yl)ethyl benzenesulfonamide, showed excellent activity both against Ralstonia solanacearum and Gibberella zeae with the inhibition rates of 100% (200 mg/L) and 95% (100 mg/L), and 69% (50 mg/L), respectively, exceeding that of the assigned commercial bactericide (thiodiazole-copper) and fungicide (hymexazol). The preliminary structure activity relationships (SAR) showed that both benzene rings of arylamino and arylsulfonamido moieties containing electron-withdrawing substitutes may be preferable for improving the bioactivity of target compounds.

1,1′-(N-Methyliminodimethylene)di-2-naphthol

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