Shaofa Sun

Organocatalytic 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of ketones and azides with water as a solvent

We reported an enamine catalyzed strategy to fully promote a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to access a vast pool of substituted 1,2,3-triazoles with water as the only solvent.

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.

Direct access to α,α′-diarylated ketones through N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed 1,6-addition of aromatic aldehydes to para-quinone methides

ABSTRACT N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed 1,6-addition of aromatic aldehydes to para-quinone methides has been developed. This method could efficiently furnish α,α′-diarylated ketones with good to high yields, which contain various functional groups. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

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.

Sodium carbonate promoted [3 + 2] annulation of α-halohydroxamates and isocyanates

A new [3 + 2] annulation of readily available α-halohydroxamates and isocyanates has been developed. This protocol allows a rapid assembly of various hydantoins in good to high yields as well as a broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance.