N-Difluoromethylation of imidazoles and benzimidazoles using the Ruppert-Prakash reagent under neutral conditions.

Direct N-difluoromethylation of imidazoles and benzimidazoles has been achieved using TMS-CF3 (the Ruppert-Prakash reagent) under neutral conditions. Difluoromethylated products were obtained in good-to-excellent yields. Inexpensive, commercially available starting materials, neutral conditions, and shorter reaction times are advantages of this methodology.

Rhodium complexes bearing tetradentate diamine-bis(phenolate) ligands.

Using tetradentate, dianionic ligands, several new rhodium complexes have been prepared. Some of these diamine-bis(phenolate) compounds, are active for C-H activation of benzene. These complexes are air and thermally stable.

Facile functionalization of a metal carbon bond by O-atom transfer.

The facile conversion of M-R to M-OR that could be useful for the functionalization of electron-rich metal alkyl intermediates is shown to proceed via a Baeyer-Villiger-type pathway involving a nonredox, electrophilic, O-atom insertion in reactions with non-peroxo O-donors.