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A 1,3-sulfonyl migration of difluorovinyl sulfonates initiated by a catalytic amount of silver fluoride is presented. α,α-Difluoro-β-ketosulfones were successfully prepared in excellent yields. This method features high chemoselectivity, good functional group tolerance, high atom economy, and mild, environmentally benign reaction conditions. Furthermore, mechanistic experiments indicate that this migration proceeds in an intermolecular pathway and the corresponding sulfinates are possible intermediates.

A nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling reaction between (hetero)aryl bromides and 2,2-difluorovinyl tosylate is presented. This protocol provides facile incorporation of the gem-difluorovin...

A ligand-free iron-catalyzed method for the oxygenation of benzylic sp3 C–H bonds by molecular oxygen (1 atm) using a thiyl radical as a cocatalyst has been developed. This transformation provides a facile access to amides, esters and ketones from readily accessible corresponding amines, ethers and alkanes. It features high regioselectivity, mild oxidative conditions and excellent functional group compatibility, providing good opportunities to the site-selective functionalization of complex molecules. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that this reaction may not undergo a benzylic cation intermediate pathway and the carbonyl oxygen atom in the products may be derived from molecular oxygen.

Cross-coupling between substrates that can be easily derived from phenols is highly attractive due to the abundance and low cost of phenols. Here, we report a dual nickel/palladium-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling between aryl tosylates and aryl triflates; both substrates can be accessed in just one step from readily available phenols. The reaction has a broad functional group tolerance and substrate scope (>60 examples). Furthermore, it displays low sensitivity to steric effects demonstrated by the synthesis of a 2,2’disubstituted biaryl and a fully substituted aryl product. The widespread presence of phenols in natural products and pharmaceuticals allow for straightforward late-stage functionalization, illustrated with examples such as Ezetimibe and tyrosine. NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations indicate that the nickel catalyst is responsible for activating the aryl triflate, while the palladium catalyst preferentially reacts with the aryl tosylate.