Formal Direct Cross‐Coupling of Phenols with Amines

The transition‐metal‐catalyzed amination of aryl halides has been the most powerful method for the formation of aryl amines over the past decades. Phenols are regarded as ideal alternatives to aryl halides as coupling partners in cross‐couplings. An efficient palladium‐catalyzed formal cross‐coupling of phenols with various amines and anilines has now been developed. A variety of substituted phenols were compatible with the standard reaction conditions. Secondary and tertiary aryl amines could thus be synthesized in moderate to excellent yields.     

CBr4： A Useful and Efficient Catalyst for One-Pot Synthesis of 4-Substituted-1,4,5,6,7,8-Hexahydroquinolin-5-ones Via Hantzsch Reaction

A carbon tetrabromide （CBr4） catalyzed one-pot synthesis of 4-substituted-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydroquinolin-5-one derivatives via a Hantzsch reaction under mild conditions was described.     

Heterogeneous Rhodium‐Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Dehydrogenative Cross‐Coupling: Nonsymmetrical Biaryl Amines

The first heterogeneously catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenative cross‐coupling of aryl amines is reported herein. 2‐Naphthylamine analogues were reacted with various electron‐rich arenes using a heterogeneous Rh/C catalyst under mild aerobic conditions, thus affording nonsymmetrical biaryl amines in excellent yields with high selectivities. This reaction provides a mild, operationally simple, and efficient approach for the synthesis of biaryls which are important to pharmaceutical and materials chemistry.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Cross‐Coupling: Direct Transformation of Aldehydes into Esters and Amides

By exploring a new mode of nickel‐catalyzed cross‐coupling, a method to directly transform both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes into either esters or amides has been developed. The success of this oxidative coupling depends on the appropriate choice of catalyst and organic oxidant, including the use of either α,α,α‐trifluoroacetophenone or excess aldehyde. Mechanistic data that supports a catalytic cycle involving oxidative addition into the aldehyde C? H bond is also presented.     

Zinc‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Cross‐Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with Aldehydes: Access to Ynones

Because of the lack of redox ability, zinc has seldom been used as a catalyst in dehydrogenative cross‐coupling reactions. Herein, a novel zinc‐catalyzed dehydrogenative C(sp²)? H/C(sp)? H cross‐coupling of terminal alkynes with aldehydes was developed, and provides a simple way to access ynones from readily available materials under mild reaction conditions. Good reaction selectivity can be achieved with a 1:1 ratio of terminal alkyne and aldehyde. Various terminal alkynes and aldehydes are suitable in this transformation.     

AgF‐Mediated Fluorinative Cross‐Coupling of Two Olefins: Facile Access to α‐CF3 Alkenes and β‐CF3 Ketones

A AgF‐mediated fluorination with a concomitant cross‐coupling between a gem‐difluoroolefin and a non‐fluorinated olefin is reported. This highly efficient method provides facile access to both α‐CF₃ alkenes and β‐CF₃ ketones, which otherwise remain challenging to be directly prepared. The application of this method is further demonstrated by the synthesis of bioactive isoxazoline derivatives. This approach represents a conceptually novel route to trifluoromethylated compounds that combines the in situ generation of the CF₃ moiety and a C? H functionalization in a single reaction system.     

Visible‐Light‐Promoted Asymmetric Cross‐Dehydrogenative Coupling of Tertiary Amines to Ketones by Synergistic Multiple Catalysis

Reported herein is an unprecedented photocatalytic asymmetric cross‐dehydrogenative coupling reaction between tertiary amines and simple ketones, and it proceeds by synergistic multiple catalysis with substoichiometric amounts of a hydrogen acceptor. This process is enabled by a simple chiral primary amine catalyst through the coupling of a catalytic enamine intermediate and an iminium cation intermediate in situ generated from tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives by coupled Ru/Co catalysis.     

Metal‐Free Cross‐Dehydrogenative Coupling (CDC): Molecular Iodine as a Versatile Catalyst/Reagent for CDC Reactions

The development of ecofriendly methods for carbon–carbon (C?C) and carbon–heteroatom (C?Het) bond formation is of great significance in modern‐day research. Metal‐free cross‐dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) has emerged as an important tool for organic and medicinal chemists as a means to form C?C and C?Het bonds, as it is atom economical and more efficient and greener than transition‐metal catalyzed CDC reactions. Molecular iodine (I₂) is recognized as an inexpensive, environmentally benign, and easy‐to‐handle catalyst or reagent to pursue CDCs under mild reaction conditions, with good regioselectivities and broad substrate compatibility. This review presents the recent developments of I₂‐catalyzed C?C, C?N, C?O, and C?S/C?Se bond‐forming reactions for the synthesis of various important organic molecules by cross‐dehydrogenative coupling.