Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed indole synthesis at room temperature using the transient oxidizing directing group strategy.

Rh-catalyzed reactions of N-alkyl anilines with internal alkynes at room temperature have been developed using an in situ generated N-nitroso group as a transient oxidizing directing group. Due to mild reaction conditions, this method enabled synthesis of a broad range of N-alkyl indoles, including even two indole-based medicinal compounds. Our work disclosed the feasibility of the transient oxidizing directing group strategy in C-H functionalization reactions, which possesses the potential to enhance overall step-economy and impart new reactivity patterns to substrates.

An Electrochemical Method for Carboxylic Ester Synthesis from N-Alkoxyamides.

An electrochemical method for the synthesis of carboxylic as well as hindered esters from N-alkoxyamides has been reported. The electrochemical reaction proceeds through constant current electrolysis (CCE) by taking advantage of the dual role of n-BuNI (TBAI) as the redox catalyst as well as the supporting electrolyte. Besides providing mild reaction conditions, the present protocol is free from external oxidants and conducting salts, thereby generating nitrogen as the nonhazardous side product.

tert-Butyl Nitrite-Mediated Synthesis of N-Nitrosoamides, Carboxylic Acids, Benzocoumarins, and Isocoumarins from Amides.

This work reports tert-butyl nitrite (TBN) as a multitask reagent for (1) the controlled synthesis of N-nitrosoamide from N-alkyl amides, (2) hydrolysis of N-methoxyamides to carboxylic acids, (3) metal- and oxidant-free benzocoumarin synthesis from ortho-aryl-N-methoxyamides via N-H, C-N, and C-H bond activation, and (4) isocoumarin synthesis using Ru(II)/PEG as a recyclable catalytic system via ortho-C-H activation and TBN as an oxygen source. The sequential functional group interconversion of amide to acid has also been examined using IR spectroscopic analysis. Additionally, this methodology is highly advantageous due to short reaction time, gram scale synthesis, and broad substrate scope.

Palladium-Catalyzed Deaminative Phenanthridinone Synthesis from Aniline via C-H Bond Activation.

This work reports palladium-catalyzed phenanthridinone synthesis using the coupling of aniline and amide by formation of C-C and C-N bonds in a one-pot fashion via dual C-H bond activation. It involves simultaneous cleavage of four bonds and the formation of two new bonds. The present protocol is ligand-free, takes place under mild reaction conditions, and is environmentally benign as nitrogen gas and water are the only side products.