Unexpectedly ligand-free copper-catalyzed C–S cross-coupling of benzothiazole with aryl iodides in aqueous solution

A novel synthetic protocol for 2-aminophenyl sulfide derivatives via the reactions of benzothiazole with aryl iodides was reported for the first time. The reactions were catalyzed by CuCl with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide as the base and water as the solvent without ligand at 50 °C or room temperature. A variety of aryl iodides underwent the C–S cross-coupling reaction with benzothiazole to afford smoothly the corresponding products in excellent yield.     

Polystyrene-bound diethanolamine based ionic liquids for chemical fixation of CO2

Polystyrene-bound diethanolamine based ionic liquids (PS-DHEEAB and PS-THEAB) were synthesized and applied for the chemical fixation of CO₂ into cyclic carbonates without any additional co-catalyst and solvent. The effect of the catalysts with different number of hydroxyl group in the cation of the IL on the reaction was systematically investigated. Highest activity and selectivity were achieved in the presence of polystyrene supported diethanolamine ethyl bromide (PS-DHEEAB) in comparison with other catalysts employed. The catalyst was tough in stability and also found to be extended to a variety of terminal epoxides and aziridines. The relationship between high catalytic reactivity and the –OH functional groups was proposed.     

A new electronically deficient atropisomeric diphosphine ligand (S)-CF3O-BiPhep and its application in asymmetric hydrogenation

A new electronically deficient atropisomeric diphosphine ligand (S)-CF₃O-BiPhep was synthesized from 1-bromo-3-(trifluoromethoxy)benzene in high yield. The key steps included oxidative coupling with anhydrous ferric chloride and optical resolution by (+)-DMTA. The ligand afforded high performance for Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of quinolines with ee up to 92% and TON up to 25,000. It was also successfully applied to the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of simple indoles with ee up to 87% and Rh-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of phenylboronic acid to 2-cyclohexenone with 97% ee.     

Efficient synthesis of the C/D rings of atisine-type C20-diterpenoid alkaloids

A bicyclo[2.2.2]octane C/D ring system,with a lactonic ring at C-8 and C-9,of the atisine-type C₂₀-diterpenoid alkaloids,was successfully synthesized,using an oxidative dearomatization/intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction.