Publications by authors named "Zhenggen Zha"

An electrochemical synthesis of various nitroso organic compounds (NOCs) from secondary amines was developed under metal-free and oxidant-free conditions. This method used commercially available nitromethane as the nitrosation reagent to provide various NOCs in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, the valuable drug molecule form desloratadine can be prepared by this method easily.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An asymmetric Friedel-Crafts hydroxyalkylation reaction of 5-aminoisoxazoles with pyrazole-4,5-diones was developed under the catalysis of 5% chiral copper complexes. This reaction exhibits functional group tolerance and excellent enantioselectivity. Moreover, the reaction can be scaled up and its mechanism was studied.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An efficient electrochemical dual C(sp)-H amination was developed under metal-free and chemical oxidant-free conditions. A series of imidazo[1,5-]quinazolin-5(4)-ones and 5-oxo-4,5-dihydroimidazo[1,5-]quinazoline-3-carbonitriles can be obtained in high yields and the product distribution can be modulated by virtue of this method. The reaction mechanism was investigated and the corresponding intermediates were studied.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A metal-free electrophotochemical C(sp)-H arylation was developed under mild conditions. This method enables a switchable synthesis of diaryl alcohols and diaryl alkanes from inactive benzylic carbons. More importantly, a cheap and safe mediator -chlorosuccinimide (NCS) was developed, which was employed for the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process of the benzylic C-H bond.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An efficient Michael/-hemiacetalization cascade reaction of 5-aminoisoxazoles with β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters was developed under the catalysis of a chiral copper complex. A series of optically pure six-membered ring ,-hemiaminals were obtained with excellent yields (up to 96% yield) and high enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee). The possible transition state was supported by DFT calculations and thereby the corresponding mechanism was proposed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The asymmetric Mannich reaction of 2-fluoroindanone with ketimine was developed under the catalysis of a kind of chiral copper complex, affording a chiral tetrahedral center containing fluorine. A series of β-fluoroamine derivatives can be obtained in excellent yields (73-94%) with high diastereoselectivities (>99:1 dr) and enantioselectivities (89-99%). The possible transition state was supported by density functional theory calculation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An asymmetric Michael/hemiketalization reaction between isatin-derived β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters and 4-hydroxycoumarins was developed in aqueous media. A series of chiral spirooxindole derivatives with an all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center were obtained in high yields (up to 93%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98%).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An efficient enantioselective Michael addition reaction of 2,3-dioxopyrrolidine with indole in aqueous media was developed by virtue of a chiral copper complex. This reaction features air tolerance, a broad substrate scope and mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, a gram-scale synthesis was conducted to afford the corresponding products with a high yield and excellent enantioselectivity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An asymmetric [4 + 2] cycloaddition of β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters with 2-vinylpyrroles in water was developed under the catalysis of a kind of copper complex with a low loading. A series of optically pure 3,4-dihydro-2-pyran derivatives could be obtained in excellent yields, with high diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities. The corresponding mechanism was proposed, which was supported by DFT calculations.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An efficient iodine-mediated oxythiolation of -vinylanilides with disulfides was developed. By virtue of this method, a series of thio-tethered benzoxazine derivatives were synthesized in good to excellent yields. The reaction features high yields, is metal-free, and has a wide substrate scope.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An asymmetric allylation and allenylation of isatins with facile organoboron reagents was developed under the catalysis of a Lewis acid. A series of optically pure 3-allyl-3-hydroxyoxindoles and 3-allenyl-3-hydroxyoxindoles can be obtained in excellent yields (up to 99% yield) and high enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee). The possible transition state was supported by DFT calculation and the corresponding mechanism was proposed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An efficient iodine-mediated electrochemical C(sp)-H cyclization was developed under mild conditions. A variety of functionalized quinazolinone-fused N-heterocycles can be obtained with good to excellent yields by virtue of this method. The reaction features a broad substrate scope and scalability, and is metal-free and chemical oxidant-free.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An electrochemical synthesis for quinazolines and quinazolinones was developed via a C(sp)-H amination/C-N cleavage by virtue of the anodic oxidation. The reaction can be carried out in aqueous media under mild conditions to afford the desired products with high yields. The reaction mechanism was proposed after detailed investigation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An efficient direct aldol reaction between coumaran-3-ones and β, γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters by virtue of a chiral copper complex is developed. A series of coumaran-3-one derivatives containing chiral tertiary alcohol structures are obtained in excellent yields and stereoselectivities.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A series of Schiff-based ligands consisting of both tertiary amines and lipophilic groups were designed and synthesized. Using these ligands, a new chiral surfactant-type metallomicellar catalyst was developed in water, and this was identified by SEM/TEM analyses. These metallomicelles can be empolyed in asymmetric Michael addition reactions in water, delivering the corresponding adducts with excellent yields and enantioselectivities.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A metal-free electrochemical intramolecular C(sp)-H amination using iodine as a mediator was developed. This method enables a switchable synthesis of indoline and indole derivatives, respectively, from easily available 2-vinyl anilines.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Highly enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of pyrroles with 2-enoyl-pyridine -oxides in water/chloroform (10:1) was developed under catalysis of Lewis acid. The Friedel-Crafts alkylation products can be obtained in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. Moreover, several control experiments were carried out to study the reaction mechanism.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A good diastereo- and enantioselective 1,4-addition Michael reaction catalyzed by a chiral copper complex was developed in aqueous media. A series of nitro-containing pyrrolidones could be gained in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivities and good ee values by virtue of this developed method. It affords a facile access to construct carbon-carbon bonds with water and air tolerance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An electrochemical three-component cyclization was developed under metal-free conditions, which provides a novel and facile approach for the construction of cyanide-functionalization imidazo-fused -heterocycles. A variety of cyanide-functionalization imidazo-fused -heterocycles can be obtained from easily available methyl -heteroaromatics, primary alkylamines, and trimethylsilyl cyanide with good to excellent yields. The reaction features a broad scope of substrates, scalability, and mild conditions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A highly enantioselective Mukaiyama aldol reaction of silyl enol ethers with isatins catalyzed by chiral copper complexes was developed. A series of chiral 3-substituted 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles bearing a tetra-substituted center could be obtained exclusively with high yields (up to 95%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99%). In particular, water was essential to improve the diastereoselectivity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An NHI-mediated tandem electrosynthesis of 1,3-disubstituted imidazo[1,5- a]quinolines was developed from readily available starting materials in aqueous medium, affording a variety of 1,3-disubstituted imidazo[1,5- a]quinolines with good to excellent yields.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The multifunctionalization of unactivated cyclic ketones was developed via an electrochemically intermolecular α-amination under metal-free conditions. The reaction can be carried out smoothly with a broad scope of the aromatic amines substrates under mild conditions, affording a variety of α-enaminones with good to excellent yields in one step.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An efficient NHI-mediated intermolecular annulation of methyl N-heteroaromatics with amines/amino acids was developed by virtue of anodic oxidation, providing a variety of functionalized imidazo-fused N-heterocycles with good to excellent yields. The practicality of this protocol was demonstrated by the readily available starting materials, broad substrate scope, water tolerance, scalability, and the diverse transformations of the electrolysis product.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A copper(I)-catalyzed geminal difunctionalization of terminal alkynes was developed via a carbene migratory insertion and an addition of a sulfonyl anion to the triple bond at the same time under mild reaction conditions, providing a variety of vinyl sulfones with good yields and excellent stereoselectivities.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An efficient enantioselective hetero-Diels-Alder reaction was developed under catalysis of a chiral copper complex. A variety of spiropyrrolidones, which bear a tetra-substituted carbon stereocenter, can be obtained in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities by virtue of this method. Furthermore, a substrate-dependent reaction pathway was proposed on the basis of the isolated intermediates.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF