Multicatalytic synthesis of complex tetrahydrofurans involving bismuth(III) triflate catalyzed intramolecular hydroalkoxylation of unactivated olefins.

A multicatalytic synthesis of complex tetrahydrofurans has been developed involving a Bi(OTf)(3)-catalyzed nucleophilic addition/hydroalkoxylation sequence. Complex tetrahydrofuranyl products may be formed rapidly in high yield and with good diastereoselectivity. The demonstrated scope of hydroalkoxylation has also been expanded to include substrates bearing useful functional handles including carboxylate ester, olefin, nitrile, and nitro groups.

The selective reaction of aryl halides with KOH: synthesis of phenols, aromatic ethers, and benzofurans.

The direct and selective synthesis of phenols from aryl/heteroaryl halides and KOH has been achieved through the use of highly active monophosphine-based catalysts derived from Pd(2)dba(3) and ligands L1 or L2 and the biphasic solvent system 1,4-dioxane/H(2)O. We have also demonstrated a one-pot method of phenol formation/alkylation for the preparation of alkyl aryl ethers from aryl halides. In many instances, this protocol overcomes limitations in existing Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions of aliphatic alcohols with aryl halides.

Expedited palladium-catalyzed amination of aryl nonaflates through the use of microwave-irradiation and soluble organic amine bases.

[reaction: see text] Microwave-assisted, palladium-catalyzed C-N bond-forming reactions with aryl/heteroaryl nonaflates and amines using the soluble amine bases DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene) or MTBD (7-methyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.