Pd-Catalyzed Olefination of Furans and Thiophenes with Allyl Esters

A direct Pd(II)-catalyzed olefination of furans and thiophenes with allyl esters is demonstrated. Under the typical conditions, the dehydrogenative Heck coupling reactions of heteroarenes with allylic esters proceeded via a β-H elimination rather than a β-OAc elimination to give the corresponding γ-substituted allylic esters

Iodotrifluoromethylation of Alkenes and Alkynes with Sodium Trifluoro­methane­sulfinate and Iodine Pentoxide

A scalable, selective, and operationally easy iodo­tri­fluoro­methylation of a wide range of alkenes and alkynes by using two simple and safe solids, sodium trifluoro­methane­sulfinate and iodine pentoxide, in aqueous medium has been developed. Mechanistic studies confirm that free-radical processes are involved in this system since the key radical intermediates such as CF₃ and β-CF₃ alkyl radicals have been clearly detected by spin trapping and electron spin resonance

Copper- and Iron-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Tri- and Difluoromethylation of α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids with CF₃SO₂Na and (CF₂HSO₂)₂Zn via a Radical Process

A copper-catalyzed decarboxylative trifluoromethylation of various α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids by using a stable and inexpensive solid, sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate (CF₃SO₂Na, Langlois reagent), was developed. In addition, an iron-catalyzed difluoromethylation of aryl-substituted acrylic acids by using zinc difluoromethanesulfinate (DFMS, (CF₂HSO₂)₂Zn, Baran reagent) via a similar radical process was also achieved

A Free Radical Cascade Cyclization of Isocyanides with Simple Alkanes and Alcohols

A copper-catalyzed free-radical cascade cyclization of isocyanides with simple alkanes and alcohols was developed, which allowed convenient access to various alkyl-substituted phenanthridines

Pd(II)-Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Olefination of Vinylic C–H Bonds with Allylic Esters: General and Selective Access to Linear 1,3-Butadienes

This work demonstrates a general and efficient method to prepare conjugated dienes by Pd(II)-catalyzed direct olefination of unactivated alkenes with allylic esters and acrylates via vinylic C–H activation. Various aryl and heteroaryl alkenes as well as aliphatic alkenes all give the desired linear 1,3-butadienes with retention of the traditional leaving groups such as OAc and other carboxylic acid ester groups

Free-Radical Cascade Alkylarylation of Alkenes with Simple Alkanes: Highly Efficient Access to Oxindoles via Selective (sp³)C–H and (sp²)C–H Bond Functionalization

A copper-catalyzed alkylarylation of alkenes with simple alkanes was achieved, which not only provided an efficient method to prepare various alkyl-substituted oxindoles, but also represented a novel strategy for selective sp³ C–H functionalization/C–C bond formation via a free-radical cascade process. Additionally, selective activation of unactivated (sp³)­C–H and (sp²)­C–H bonds by one single step is achieved in this system, which would also provide a novel strategy for raising efficiency in C–H bond functionalization