Yicheng Zhang

Synthesis of (Z)-3-aryloxy-acrylonitriles, (E)-3-aryloxy-acrylonitriles and 3-cyanobenzofurans through the sequential reactions of phenols with propiolonitriles

A Na(2)CO(3)-promoted addition of phenols to propiolonitriles generated (Z)-3-aryloxy-acrylonitriles in nearly quantitative yields with exclusively Z-isomers, and a DABCO-promoted addition reaction of phenols with propiolonitriles afforded mainly (E)-3-aryloxy-acrylonitriles with high yields. The obtained (E)-3-aryloxy-acrylonitriles underwent intramolecular cyclization to give 3-cyanobenzofurans in good yields through palladium-catalyzed direct C-H bond functionalization.

Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct C2 Arylation of N‐Substituted Indoles with 1‐Aryltriazenes

A novel and efficient palladium-catalyzed C2 arylation of N-substituted indoles with 1-aryltriazenes for the synthesis of 2-arylindoles was developed. In the presence of BF3⋅OEt2 and palladium(II) acetate (Pd(OAc)2), N-substituted indoles reacted with 1-aryltriazenes in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) to afford the corresponding aryl-indole-type products in good to excellent yields.