Wanqing Wu

Copper‐Catalyzed Coupling of Oxime Acetates with Sodium Sulfinates: An Efficient Synthesis of Sulfone Derivatives

Sulfone derivatives are important synthetic intermediates. However, the general method for their preparation is through traditional coupling reaction: the alkylation of sodium sulfinates with phenacyl halides. Based on our previous work on sodium sulfinates and oxime acetates, we herein report a novel method for sulfone derivatives by oxidative coupling with sodium sulfinates and oxime acetates using copper as catalyst. The sulfonylvinylamine products could be formed in excellent yields. Upon hydrolysis by silica gel in CH2 Cl2 , β-ketosulfones could also be efficiently constructed. Various sulfonylvinylamines and β-ketosulfones were obtained in good to excellent yields under the optimized reaction conditions. Mechanistic studies indicated that this transformation involved copper-catalyzed N-O bond cleavage, activation of a vinyl sp(2) C-H bond, and C-S bond formation. The oxime acetates act as both a substrate and an oxidant, thus the reaction needs no additional oxidants or additives.

Copper-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative NS Bond Functionalization for CS Bond Formation: Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of Sulfones and Thioethers

A regio- and stereoselective synthesis of sulfones and thioethers by means of Cu(I)-catalyzed aerobic oxidative N-S bond cleavage of sulfonyl hydrazides, followed by cross-coupling reactions with alkenes and aromatic compounds to form the C sp 2-S bond, is described herein. N2 and H2O are the byproducts of this transformation, thus offering an environmentally benign process with a wide range of potential applications in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry.

Copper-catalyzed aerobic C(sp2)-H functionalization for C-N bond formation: synthesis of pyrazoles and indazoles.

A simple, practical, and highly efficient synthesis of pyrazoles and indazoles via copper-catalyzed direct aerobic oxidative C(sp(2))-H amination has been reported herein. This process tolerated a variety of functional groups under mild conditions. Further diversification of pyrazoles was also investigated, which provided its potential for drug discovery.

Transition-metal-free synthesis of vinyl sulfones via tandem cross-decarboxylative/coupling reactions of sodium sulfinates and cinnamic acids

A transition-metal-free synthesis of vinyl sulfones, utilizing sodium sulfinates and cinnamic acids through tandem cross-decarboxylative/coupling reactions, has been developed. This transformation is simple, efficient and environmentally benign, with a wide range of substrate scope and exceptional functional group tolerance.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Synthesis of 2,5-Disubstituted Furans and Thiophenes from Haloalkynes or 1,3-Diynes

A regioselective synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted furans using copper(I) catalyst from haloalkynes in a one-pot procedure has been reported. This chemistry proceeds through the hydration reaction of 1,3-diynes, which can be readily prepared from the coupling reaction of haloalkynes in the presence of CuI. The procedure also can be used for the facile synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted thiophenes.

Copper-Catalyzed Synthesis of Substituted Benzothiazoles via Condensation of 2-Aminobenzenethiols with Nitriles

An efficient and convenient method was developed for the formation of 2-substituted benzothiazoles via a copper-catalyzed condensation of 2-aminobenzenethiols with nitriles. The developed method is applicable to a wide range of nitriles containing different functional groups furnishing excellent yields of the corresponding products.

Palladium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Aerobic Oxidative Cyclization of 2-Ethynylanilines with Isocyanides: Regioselective Synthesis of 4-Halo-2-aminoquinolines

A robust and regioselective palladium-catalyzed intermolecular aerobic oxidative cyclization of 2-ethynylanilines with isocyanides to the synthesis of 4-halo-2-aminoquinolines is reported herein. The procedure constructs various 4-halo-2-aminoquinolines with moderate to excellent yields (47-94%) and broad substrates scope. Furthermore, this process can be easily extended to synthesis of various 6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinolines via an intramolecular Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling reaction in two-step one-pot manner.

Copper-catalyzed formal C-N bond cleavage of aromatic methylamines: assembly of pyridine derivatives.

An efficient copper-catalyzed C-N bond cleavage of aromatic methylamines was developed to construct pyridine derivatives. With neat conditions and facile operation, the fragment-assembling strategy affords a broad range of 2,4,6-trisubstituted pyridines in up to 95% yield from simple and readily available starting materials. Interestingly, when pyridin-2-yl methylamine was employed as the substrate, α-alkylation reaction of ketones readily occurred to give β-(pyridin-2-yl) ketones instead of the 2,4,6-trisubstituted pyridines.

Facile synthesis of benzofurans via copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative cyclization of phenols and alkynes

Regioselective synthesis of polysubstituted benzofurans using a copper catalyst and molecular oxygen from phenols and alkynes in a one-pot procedure has been reported. The transformation consists of a sequential nucleophilic addition of phenols to alkynes and oxidative cyclization. A wide variety of phenols and alkynes can be used in the same manner.

Metal-Free Synthesis of 2-Aminobenzothiazoles via Aerobic Oxidative Cyclization/Dehydrogenation of Cyclohexanones and Thioureas

A metal-free process for the synthesis of 2-aminobenzothiazoles from cyclohexanones and thioureas has been developed using catalytic iodine and molecular oxygen as the oxidant under mild conditions. Various 2-aminobenzothiazoles, 2-aminonaphtho[2,1-d]thiazoles, and 2-aminonaphtho[1,2-d]thiazoles were prepared via this method in satisfactory yields.