Xiaohu Hong

Rhodium-Catalyzed Direct ortho C–N Bond Formation of Aromatic Azo Compounds with Azides

An efficient rhodium-catalyzed regioselective C-N bond formation of azo compounds in good to excellent yields through C-H bond functionalization using azides as the nitrogen source was developed. Alkyl, aryl, and sulfonyl azides could be efficiently assembled in this reaction with excellent functional group tolerance.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Regioselective C–H Chlorination of 7-Azaindoles Using 1,2-Dichloroethane

An unexpected rhodium-catalyzed regioselective C-H chlorination of 7-azaindoles was developed using 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) as a chlorinating agent and 7-azaindole as the directing group. This protocol provides an efficient access to ortho-chlorinated azaindoles with operational simplicity, good functional group tolerance, and a wide substrate scope.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Direct C–H Bond Cyanation of Arenes with Isocyanide

An efficient rhodium-catalyzed regioselective C-H bond cyanation of arenes was developed using tert-butyl isocyanide as the cyanide source. A wide range of (hetero)aryl and cycloalkenyl nitriles could be afforded with high regioselectivity and good functional group tolerance.

Palladium-Catalyzed Tandem Allenyl and Aryl C–N Bond Formation: Efficient Access to N-Functionalized Multisubstituted Indoles

An efficient palladium-catalyzed synthesis of N-functionalized multisubstituted indoles from easily accessible ortho-haloarylallenes and primary amines has been developed. A wide range of electronically and structurally varied nitrogen fragments could be introduced through this tandem C-N bond-forming process by tuning the reaction conditions.

Isocyanide-Induced Activation of Copper Sulfate: Direct Access to Functionalized Heteroarene Sulfonic Esters

A novel and direct approach to alkyl/aryl heteroarene sulfonic esters using copper sulfate as the environmentally benign inorganic sulfonation reagent was first realized with the aid of isocyanide. A variety of heterocycles reacted to afford the corresponding sulfonic esters through C-H functionalization. In this transformation, the otherwise inert copper sulfate was unusually activated by an isocyanide and employed as the source of the sulfonic substituents in an unprecedented fashion. The findings suggest that an appropriate activator may liberate the chemical activities of some relatively inert inorganic salts for organic synthesis.