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.     

General Paradigm in Photoredox Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Allows for Light‐Free Access to Reactivity

Self‐sustained Ni^I/III cycles are established as a potentially general paradigm in photoredox Ni‐catalyzed carbon–heteroatom cross‐coupling reactions through a strategy that allows us to recapitulate photoredox‐like reactivity in the absence of light across a wide range of substrates in the amination, etherification, and esterification of aryl bromides, the latter of which has remained, hitherto, elusive under thermal Ni catalysis. Moreover, the accessibility of esterification in the absence of light is especially notable because previous mechanistic studies on this transformation under photoredox conditions have unanimously invoked energy‐transfer‐mediated pathways.     

Organo‐Iodine(III)‐Catalyzed Oxidative Phenol–Arene and Phenol–Phenol Cross‐Coupling Reaction

The direct oxidative coupling reaction has been an attractive tool for environmentally benign chemistry. Reported herein is that the hypervalent iodine catalyzed oxidative metal‐free cross‐coupling reaction of phenols can be achieved using Oxone as a terminal oxidant in 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoropropan‐2‐ol (HFIP). This method features a high efficiency and regioselectivity, as well as functional‐group tolerance under very mild reaction conditions without using metal catalysts.     

Benziodoxole Triflate as a Versatile Reagent for Iodo(III)cyclization of Alkynes

The utility of benziodoxole triflate, derived from α,α‐bis(trifluoromethyl)‐2‐iodobenzyl alcohol, as a versatile reagent for iodo(III)cyclization via electrophilic activation of alkyne, is reported herein. The reagent promotes cyclization of alkynes tethered to a variety of nucleophilic moieties, affording benziodoxole‐appended (hetero)arenes such as benzofurans, benzothiophenes, isocoumarins, indoles, and polyaromatics under mild conditions. This unprecedented class of (hetero)aryl‐I^III compounds proved easy to purify, stable, and amenable to various synthetic transformations.     

Metal‐ and Reagent‐Free Dehydrogenative Formal Benzyl–Aryl Cross‐Coupling by Anodic Activation in 1,1,1,3,3,3‐Hexafluoropropan‐2‐ol

A selective dehydrogenative electrochemical functionalization of benzylic positions that employs 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoropropan‐2‐ol (HFIP) has been developed. The electrogenerated products are versatile intermediates for subsequent functionalizations as they act as masked benzylic cations that can be easily activated. Herein, we report a sustainable, scalable, and reagent‐ and metal‐free dehydrogenative formal benzyl–aryl cross‐coupling. Liberation of the benzylic cation was accomplished through the use of acid. Valuable diarylmethanes are accessible in the presence of aromatic nucleophiles. The direct application of electricity enables a safe and environmentally benign chemical transformation as oxidizers are replaced by electrons. A broad variety of different substrates and nucleophiles can be employed.     

Fast,Efficient and Low E‐Factor One‐Pot Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of (Hetero)Arenes

The homocoupling of aryl halides and the heterocoupling of aryl halides with either aryl bromides or arenes bearing an ortho‐lithiation directing group are presented. The use of a Pd catalyst, in combination with t‐BuLi, allows for the rapid and efficient formation of a wide range of polyaromatic compounds in a one pot procedure bypassing the need for the separate preformation of an organometallic coupling partner. These polyaromatic structures are obtained in high yields, in 10 min at room temperature, with minimal waste generation (E‐factors as low as 1.5) and without the need for strict inert conditions, making this process highly efficient and practical in comparison to classical methods. As illustration, several key intermediates of widely used BINOL‐derived structures are readily prepared.     

Using Anilines as Masked Cross‐Coupling Partners: Design of a Telescoped Three‐Step Flow Diazotization,Iododediazotization, Cross‐Coupling Process

The conversion of commercially available anilines into biaryl and biarylacetylene products was realized by using a telescoped, three‐reactor flow diazotization/iododediazotization/cross‐coupling process. The segmented flow stream created by off‐gassing during the Sandmeyer sequence was restored to a continuous column of reaction solution by using a specially designed continuous‐flow unit controlled by custom software created in‐house. The resultant aryl iodide was then combined with a stream of cross‐coupling solution that fed into the final reactor. The system proved versatile as modifications to the diazotization/iododediazotization sequence could be made rapidly to account for any substrate specificity (e.g., solubility problems), leading to a wide substrate scope of Suzuki–Miyaura and Sonogashira cross‐coupled products.     

Electrochemical Synthesis of Thienoacene Derivatives: Transition‐Metal‐Free Dehydrogenative C−S Coupling Promoted by a Halogen Mediator

The first electrochemical dehydrogenative C?S bond formation leading to thienoacene derivatives is described. Several thienoacene derivatives were synthesized by dehydrogenative C?H/S?H coupling. The addition of ⁿBu₄NBr, which catalytically promoted the reaction as a halogen mediator, was essential.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Electrophile Coupling with Organic Reductants in Non‐Amide Solvents

Cross‐electrophile coupling of aryl halides with alkyl halides has thus far been primarily conducted with stoichiometric metallic reductants in amide solvents. This report demonstrates that the use of tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE) as an organic reductant enables the use of non‐amide solvents, such as acetonitrile or propylene oxide, for the coupling of benzyl chlorides and alkyl iodides with aryl halides. Furthermore, these conditions work for several electron‐poor heterocycles that are easily reduced by manganese. Finally, we demonstrate that TDAE addition can be used as a control element to ‘hold’ a reaction without diminishing yield or catalyst activity.     

Metal‐ and Reagent‐Free Highly Selective Anodic Cross‐Coupling Reaction of Phenols

The direct oxidative cross‐coupling of phenols is a very challenging transformation, as homo‐coupling is usually strongly preferred. Electrochemical methods circumvent the use of oxidizing reagents or metal catalysts and are therefore highly attractive. Employing electrolytes with a high capacity for hydrogen bonding, such as methanol with formic acid or 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐propanol, a direct electrolysis in an undivided cell provides mixed 2,2′‐biphenols with high selectivity. This mild method tolerates a variety of moieties, for example, tert‐butyl groups, which are not compatible with other strong electrophilic media but vital for later catalytic applications of the formed products.     

Simple and Versatile Molecular Donors for Organic Photovoltaics Prepared by Metal‐Free Synthesis

Donor–acceptor molecules (D‐π‐A) built by connecting a diphenylhydrazone block to a dicyanovinyl acceptor group via various thiophene‐based π‐conjugating spacers ( 1 – 5 ) were synthesized from mono‐ or dialdehydes by a simple metal‐free procedure. Cyclic voltammetry and UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy show that the extension and/or increase of the donor strength of the spacer produces a decrease of the HOMO and LUMO energy level, a red shift of the absorption spectrum and an increase of the molecular absorption coefficient. Compared to solutions, the optical spectra of spin‐cast thin films of compounds 1–3 show a broadening and red shift of the absorption bands, consistent with the formation of J‐aggregates. In contrast the blue shift observed for the EDOT‐containing compounds 4 and 5 suggests the presence of H‐aggregates. Solution‐cast and vacuum‐deposited films of donors 1–5 were evaluated in solar cells with fullerene C₆₀ as acceptor. A power‐conversion efficiency among the highest reported for bilayer devices of basic configuration was obtained with compound 2 . On the other hand, the results obtained with 4 and 5 suggest that the presence of EDOT in the structure can have deleterious effects on the organization and performances of the donor material.     

碘作为Lewis酸催化剂在合成中的应用

碘催化的有机反应具有价廉易得、操作简单、温和、清洁、高效及高选择性等优点, 广泛应用于亲电反应、亲核反应、多组份反应以及其它涉及复杂官能团化合物的合成反应中, 在环境友好化学合成、复杂化合物合成及选择性合成领域具有应用价值.     

Toward Greener Oxidative Transformations: Base‐Metal Catalysts and Metal‐Free Reactions

In this account, the advances in base‐metal‐catalyzed oxidative transformations and metal‐free oxidation reactions developed in our group are summarized and discussed. Related achievements from other research groups are also discussed.