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The manganese-catalyzed α-fluoroalkenylation of arenes via C-H activation and C-F cleavage has been described. This protocol provides a very useful method for the synthesis of monofluoroalkenes with predominant unconventional E-isomer selectivity which complements the existing strategies for the access to these molecular architectures. In addition, the selectivity of β-defluorination in the catalytic cycle not only determines the configurations of the products but also obviates the use of external oxidants, providing a good example in the exploitation of manganese-catalyzed redox-neutral C-H transformations.

Herein we present a novel strategy based on palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation by taking advantage of the nucleophilic addition of external fluoride onto gem-difluoroalkenes as the initiation step. The merit of this protocol is highly appealing, as it enables a formal allylation of trifluoroethylarene derivatives through the in situ generation of β-trifluorocarbanions, which otherwise are deemed to be problematic in deprotonative allylation. Furthermore, this strategy distinguishes itself by high modularity, operational simplicity, and wide substrate scope with respect to allyl carbonates, giving rise to a broad array of homoallyltrifluoromethane derivatives, which otherwise would not be easily obtained using existing synthetic methods.

An efficient methodology for the stereoselective synthesis of cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines using copper catalyst was developed. The corresponding cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines could be obtained in reasonable yields and with good stereoselectivities in the presence of 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine as ligand and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone as solvent.

An efficient strategy which integrates visible-light-induced iminyl-radical formation with carboimination of unactivated alkenes has been developed for the easy access of densely functionalized pyrroline derivatives. With fac-[Ir(ppy)3] as photoredox catalyst, the acyl oximes were converted into iminyl radical intermediates by one electron reduction, and evolve through a cascade of intramolecular cyclization and intermolecular carbon radical trapping to give the functionalized pyrrolines. The utilization of silyl enol ethers as coupling partners not only allows the introduction of synthetically useful ketone functionalities but also renders catalyst regeneration without any external reductants. This protocol is characterized by its mild reaction conditions and the tolerance of a broad range of functionalities.

A Lewis-acid catalyzed intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction between multisubstituted acyclic dienes and the E and Z isomers of α,β-enals was studied. It was found that the diene reacted selectively with the Z-isomer of the α,β-enal.

Palladium (Pd)-catalyzed desulfitative cross-coupling reactions of sodium arylsulfinates with a wide variety of arylboronic acids were achieved in good to excellent yields under simple aerobic conditions. These catalytic reactions could be accelerated by addition of a catalytic amount of Cu(II) salts as co-catalyst. Moreover, these reactions were tolerant to all of the tested functional groups, making them attractive alternatives to the traditional cross-coupling reactions.

Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of various arenediazonium salts with ArSi(OR) 3 and KArBF 3 have been achieved in good to excellent yields under simple aerobic conditions in water at room temperature. The functional group tolerance makes these transformations as attractive alternatives to the traditional cross-coupling approaches. Furthermore, the sequence can also be performed in a one-pot domino process, omitting the isolation of the intermediate arenediazonium salt.

Palladium-catalyzed Hiyama-type cross-coupling reactions of various arenesulfinates with organosilanes were achieved in good to excellent yields under aerobic conditions at 70 °C. Fluoride is essential, and tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) was shown to be the most efficient additive for these cross-coupling reactions. These cross-coupling reactions of the arenesulfinates provide high yields and show wide functional group tolerance, making them attractive alternative transformations to traditional cross-coupling approaches for carbon-carbon bond construction.

A Lewis-acid catalyzed intermolecular Diels–Alder reaction between multisubstituted acyclic dienes and the E and Z isomers of α,β-enals was studied. It was found that the diene reacted selectively with the Z-isomer of the α,β-enal.

Ni/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles were synthesized for treatment of Aroclor 1242, in order to evaluate their applicability for in situ remediation of groundwater and soil contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Our experimental results indicate that the total PCB concentration changed during the reduction of 3,5-dichlorobiphenyl (PCB 14), and biphenyl was produced as the final product. Initially, the concentration of 3-chlorobiphenyl (PCB 2) was increased in the prophase reaction and then slowly decreased, suggesting that Aroclor 1242 was first adsorbed by Ni/Fe nanoparticles, and then, the higher chlorinated congeners were converted gradually to the lower chlorinated congeners, and finally to biphenyl. The dechlorination efficiency of Aroclor 1242 reached approximately 80% at 25 °C in just 5 h, then 95.6% and 95.8% in 10 h and 24 h, respectively. The study revealed that high Ni/Fe nanoparticle dosage and high Ni content in Ni/Fe nanoparticles favor the catalytic dechlorination reaction. Moreover, a comparison of different types of catalysts on the dechlorination of Aroclor 1242 indicated that Ni/Mg and Mg powders showed a greater reactivity than Ni/Fe and Fe nanoparticles, respectively.

The efficient one-pot method provides various multisubstituted pyrones equipped with a diverse range of functional groups in moderate to high yields.

The catalytic reaction is accelerated by addition of a catalytic amount of Cu(II) salts as co-catalyst.

An efficient Pd(II)-catalyzed difunctionalization reaction of internal alkynes is reported. In this reaction, various enynoates and electron-deficient alkenes were used for the syntheses of useful highly substituted pyrone derivatives via a 6-endo cyclization and subsequent alkenylation pathway. The corresponding products could be obtained in moderate to good yields under very mild reaction conditions. The high regioselectivity and wide compatibility with different functional groups found in the desired products demonstrate this method to be a general and useful tool for the synthesis of highly substituted pyrone derivatives.

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of various aryl sulfinic acid salts with a wide variety of vinyl substrates have been achieved in good to excellent yields under simple aerobic conditions at 70°C with the assistance of Cu(II) salts. The reaction can be accelerated by the combination of DMSO with THF. The reported Matsuda–Heck type coupling reactions are tolerant to the common functional groups, making these transformations as attractive alternatives to the traditional cross-coupling approaches. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

It is demonstrated that arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates can efficiently be used in Pd-catalyzed Hiyama as well as Suzuki—Miyaura cross-coupling reactions to produce a series of biphenyl derivatives.

The title method allows a new, straightforward, and mild access to a wide range of biaryls.