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A photoredox-/copper-catalyzed decarboxylative difluoroacetylation reaction of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids has been developed. This reaction produces a variety of difluoroalkylated alkenes in moderate to excellent yields and exhibits satisfactory stereoselectivity and a broad substrate scope at ambient temperature. Furthermore, this decarboxylative difluoroacetylation protocol provides efficient and environment friendly access to the difluoroalkylated alkenes.

A remote OH group-directed metal-free transformation of alkynes to carbonyl compounds has been developed. Using only HOAc and EtOH solvent, this reaction elegantly converts alkynes into valuable ketones by remote hydroxyl group activation. Through comparison and isotope labeling experiments, it was confirmed that the process operates via a hydration reaction involving an acetic acid molecule, instead of a water molecule.

A silver-promoted oxidative cascade cyclization with a phosphorylation/1,5-aryl migration/desulfonylation/dearomatization process is presented here, providing an efficient method to synthesize azaspiro[4.5]decenones with high regioselectivity. The cinnamamidyl radical, which has rarely been reported before, plays a key role in this reaction.