Uranyl nitrate as a recyclable homogeneous photocatalyst for selective cross-coupling of -substituted amines and indoles.

A homogeneous photocatalytic recyclable system for the selective radical-radical cross-coupling of -substituted amines and indoles has been established. This system could conduct in water or acetonitrile, featuring the reuse of uranyl nitrate as the recyclable photocatalyst a simple extraction. With this mild strategy in hand, good to excellent yields of cross-coupling products could be achieved even under the irradiation of sunlight, including 26 natural product derivatives and 16 natural product inspired re-engineered compounds.

Palladium-catalyzed enol/enolate directed oxidative annulation: functionalized naphthofuroquinone synthesis and bioactivity evaluation.

A palladium-promoted oxidative annulation reaction for the synthesis of structurally diverse naphthoquinone-containing heterocycles has been developed, providing switchable access to 1,2-naphthofuroquinones and densely functionalized cyclobutene-fused 1,4-naphthofuroquinones by selective enol/enolate-directed processes. The synthetic application was extended by late-stage functionalization of an anti-HIV drug. The practical value of 1,2-naphthofuroquinone synthesis was highlighted in endothelial protective lead compound development.