Total synthesis of insect sex pheromones: recent improvements based on iron-mediated cross-coupling chemistry.

In the current ecological context, use of insect sex pheromones as an alternative to conventional pesticides is in constant growth. In this report, we discuss the recent contributions brought by our groups in the field of iron-catalyzed cross-couplings applied to the synthesis of insect pheromones. The pivotal question of the development of sustainable synthetic procedures involving cheap, non-toxic and efficient additives is also discussed, as well as the mechanistic features guiding the reactivity of such catalytic systems.

Gram-Scale, Cheap, and Eco-Friendly Iron-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling between Alkyl Grignard Reagents and Alkenyl or Aryl Halides.

A new robust methodology for gram-scale iron-catalyzed cross-coupling between alkyl Grignard reagents and alkenyl or aryl halides is developed. This method does not require toxic additives such as NMP or expensive ligands. Its efficiency relies on the use of simple alkoxide magnesium salts as additives.

Versatile Encapsulation Technology Based on Tailored pH-Responsive Amphiphilic Polymers: Emulsion Gels and Capsules.

We present a multipurpose technology to encapsulate hydrophobic substances in micron-sized emulsion droplets and capsules. The encapsulating agent is a comblike stimuli-responsive copolymer comprising side-chain surfactants attached to a methacrylic acid/ethyl acrylate polyelectrolyte backbone. The composition and structure of the hydrophobic moieties of the side chains are customized to tune the particle morphology and the processing conditions.

Alkoxyamine-mediated radical synthesis of indolinones and indolines.

Thermolysis of alpha-alkoxyamino propionanilides produces indolinones, whereas thermal reaction of N-allylaniline derivatives with various Tordo-type alkoxyamines results in formation of indolines in the radical regime. [reaction: see text]

Alkoxyamine-mediated radical cyclizations.

[reaction: see text] We present a new "conjunctive" radical cyclization process that involves the reaction of a 1,6-diene with the Tordo alkoxyamine, an agent originally developed for the radical polymerization of certain olefins through the "persistent radical effect".