A Novel Approach to α-Arylacetonitrile Skeletons via para-Selective Alkylation of Protected Anilines

Substrate-controlled divergent remote C-H and N-H polyfluoroarylation of 2-aminopyrimidines with polyfluoroarenes via Pd(II)/Pd(0) catalysis

Substrate-controlled product divergence in the reaction of 2-aminopyrimidines with polyfluoroarenes under palladium catalysis is demonstrated for the first time. The reaction of secondary N-alkylpyrimidine-2-amines with polyfluoroarenes leads to C5-H polyfluoroarylation via C-H/C-H coupling, while secondary N-aryl substituents yield N-H polyfluoroarylation, forming triarylamines.

ortho-Cyanomethylation of aryl fluoroalkyl sulfoxides via a sulfonium-Claisen rearrangement

We hereby report the ortho-cyanomethylation of aryl fluoroalkyl sulfoxides with acetonitrile through a sulfonium-Claisen-type rearrangement. This reaction enables the incorporation of two valuable functional groups, such as the cyanomethyl group and the fluoroalkylthio group, into arenes. Remarkably, fluoroalkylthio groups, such as SCFH2 and SCF2H, bearing active hydrogen, are well tolerated by the reaction. The success of the reaction relies on the use of an excess amount of acetonitrile and the electronegative effect of fluoroalkyl substituents, both of which promote the electrophilic assembly of sulfoxides with acetonitrile. Consequently, the sulfonium-Claisen rearrangement reaction tolerates a wide variety of fluoroalkyl sulfoxides bearing functional groups including halides, nitriles, ketones, sulfones, and amides, which are appealing for subsequent elaboration and exploration.

Sterically demanding Csp2(ortho-substitution)-Csp3(tertiary) bond formation via carboxylate-directed Mizoroki-Heck reaction under extra-ligand-free conditions

Construction of the sterically demanding Csp2(oS)-Csp3(T) bond was achieved by carrying out the Pd-catalyzed carboxylate-directed Mizoroki-Heck reaction under extra-ligand-free aqueous conditions. The cooperative role of the presence of water with the absence of phosphine ligand was proposed to accelerate the migratory insertion process considerably, delivering a broad substrate scope.