Copper(II) triflate-catalyzed direct arylation for synthesis of biphenyls using diaryliodonium salts as arylating reagents

A convenient synthesis of N-tert-butyl amides by the reaction of di-tert-butyl dicarbonate and nitriles catalyzed by Cu(OTf)2

The utility of Cu(OTf)2 as the catalyst for the synthesis of a series of N- tert-butyl amides in excellent isolated yields via the reaction of nitriles (alkyl, aryl, benzyl, and furyl nitriles) with di- tert-butyl dicarbonate is described. Cu(OTf)2 is a highly stable and efficient catalyst for the present Ritter reaction under solvent-free conditions at room temperature.

Steering Site-Selectivity in Transition Metal-Catalyzed C-H Bond Functionalization: the Challenge of Benzanilides

Selective C-H bond functionalization catalyzed by metal complexes have completely revolutionized the way in which chemical synthesis is conceived nowadays. Typically, the reactivity of a transition metal catalyst is the key to control the site-, regio- and/or stereo-selectivity of a C-H bond functionalization. Of particular interests are molecules that contain multiple C-H bonds prone to undergo C-H bond activations with very similar bond dissociation energies at different positions. This is the case of benzanilides, relevant chemical motifs that are found in many useful fine chemicals, in which two C-H sites are present in chemically different aromatic fragments. In the last years, it has been found that depending on the metal catalyst and the reaction conditions, the amide motif might behave as a directing group towards the metal-catalyzed C-H bond activation in the benzamide site or in the anilide site. The impact and the consequences of such subtle control of site-selectivity are herein reviewed with important applications in carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond forming processes. The mechanisms unraveling these unique transformations are discussed in order to provide a better understanding for future developments in the field of site-selective C-H bond functionalization with transition metal catalysts.

Direct C–H functionalization of difluoroboron dipyrromethenes (BODIPYs) at β-position by iodonium salts

A copper-catalyzed direct C–H arylation or vinylation of BODIPYs at the β-position by iodonium salts has been developed, which provides facile access to a variety of mono-substituted BODIPY dyes. Interestingly, β-styryl BODIPY compound 9b exhibits apparent cytotoxicity after laser irradiation, which has great potential for photodynamic therapy.

A copper-catalyzed direct C–H arylation or vinylation of BODIPYs at the β-position by iodonium salts has been developed and β-styryl BODIPY 9b has great potential for photodynamic therapy.