The transition-metal-catalyzed direct triflation of naphthyl amides and naphthyl ketones has been accomplished for the first time. Benzophenone (BP) was found to be a suitable ligand for the cross-coupling reactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that excessive amounts of HOTf inhibit the reductive elimination of the C–F bond to realize the unusual reductive elimination of the C–OTf bond.

Transition-metal-catalyzed C–H activation represents one of most attractive research fields in modern organic chemistry while theoretical studies have become a popular and effective tool for elucidating mechanism nowadays. The recent achievements in the cross field of the two orientations are reviewed in this article. The first part introduced the advances in theoretical study on transition-metal-catalyzed C–H activation. The elegant work reported mainly in and after 2013, classified according to the mechanisms of C–H activation, were covered. The second part provided an analysis on the distribution of quantum-chemical methods, solvation models and basis sets in the collected theoretical studies.

Gold-catalyzed cyclization of 2-alkynyl-N-propargylanilines provides a step-economic method for the construction of three-dimensional indolines. In this article, the M06 functional of density functional theory was employed to gain deeper insights into the reaction mechanism and the associated intriguing experimental observations. The reaction was found to first undergo Au(I)-induced cyclization to form an indole intermediate, 1,3-propargyl migration, and substitution with the substrate 2-alkynyl-N-propargylaniline (R1) to generate the intermediate product P1, an allene species. Subsequently, Au(I)-catalyzed conversion of P1 into the final product P2, an indoline compound, occurs first through direct cyclization rather than via the previously proposed four-membered carbocycle intermediate. Thereafter, water-assisted oxygen heterocycle formation and proton transfer generate the final product. The calculated activation free energies indicate that P1 formation is 5.9 times slower than P2 f

Vanadium-catalyzed deoxydehydration (DODH) reactions provide a cost-effective approach for the conversion of vicinal diols to olefin and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In this paper, density functional theory (DFT) calculations employing M06 and M06-L methods were conducted to clarify the mechanism of Vcatalyzed DODH. Three types of mechanisms generally proposed for transition-metal-catalyzed DODH, associated with the previously omitted spin crossover processes, were considered herein. As a result, a different catalytic cycle including a new olefin-formation mechanism was located, which is in contrast to the findings of a recent study. We found that the favorable mechanism involves the condensation of diols to form vanadium(V) diolate, reduction of the vanadium(V) diolate by PPh3, and spincrossover steps to form a triplet vanadium(III) diolate. Thereafter, single C−O bond cleavage occurs followed by another spin crossover to form a singlet alkylvanadium(V) intermediate. The final co

Here, an unpresented non-C1 synthon function of CO2 is reported to facilitate electrochemical defluorination. The introduction of CO2 modulates the electron distribution of the radical anion intermediate generated through one-electron reduction, thereby weakening the reduction potential and facilitating reduction and defluorination. CO2 is released subsequently via spontaneous decarboxylation to complete its promotion role. The presented results shed light on a distinctive utilization of CO2, which may stimulate interest in developing non-C1 synthon functions of CO2.

A KOtBu-mediated C2-benzylation of quinoline N-oxides with benzylboronates under mild reaction conditions has been developed. The reaction shows broad scope for both of the quinoline N-oxides and benzylboronates, especially, secondary and tertiary benzylboronates are also compatible with this reaction. DFT calculations indicate that the reaction is promoted by the nucleophilic addition of KOtBu to boronate rather than the deprotonation of benzylic C−H bond with KOtBu.

A 1,1-hydroboration of alkynylgermanes with unique transGe/B stereochemistry under transition-metal-free conditions is reported. Mechanistic studies suggest that a pathway involving α boration followed by a stepwise 1,2-Ge/H shift on the intermediate structurally lies between an alkyne−Ge+ π complex and a typical vinyl cation. The resulting Ge/B bimetallic modules, along with a Ge*/Ge/B trimetallic variant, can be conveniently transformed into trisubstituted olefins through iterative divergent cross-coupling. This work demonstrates that incorporating metalloids into classical organic reactions may offer unconventional chemical selectivity and efficient synthetic applications.

Nickel/photoredox dual catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl halides with alkylboron compounds is one of the effective methodologies for the construction of C(sp2) C(sp3) bonds. Although elegant results have been achieved by using alkyl trifluoroborates as alkyl radical precursors, the generation of alkyl radicals from readily available alkyl boronic esters is still limited due to their high oxidation potential. We disclosed here that activation of alkyl boronic esters by MeOLi is highly efficient for the generation of alkyl radicals under photocatalysis conditions. The reaction featured with a wide substrate scope, high functional group tolerance, and late-stage modification of bioactive substances. In addition, the method was also successfully extended to alkyl boronic acids. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies indicated that the crosscoupling likely proceeds via a Ni(I)-catalyzed pathway.

Here, an unpresented non-C1 synthon function of CO2 is reported to facilitate electrochemical defluorination. The introduction of CO2 modulates the electron distribution of the radical anion intermediate generated through one-electron reduction, thereby weakening the reduction potential and facilitating reduction and defluorination. CO2 is released subsequently via spontaneous decarboxylation to complete its promotion role. The presented results shed light on a distinctive utilization of CO2, which may stimulate interest in developing non-C1 synthon functions of CO2.

A KOtBu-mediated C2-benzylation of quinoline N-oxides with benzylboronates under mild reaction conditions has been developed. The reaction shows broad scope for both of the quinoline N-oxides and benzylboronates, especially, secondary and tertiary benzylboronates are also compatible with this reaction. DFT calculations indicate that the reaction is promoted by the nucleophilic addition of KOtBu to boronate rather than the deprotonation of benzylic C−H bond with KOtBu.

A 1,1-hydroboration of alkynylgermanes with unique transGe/B stereochemistry under transition-metal-free conditions is reported. Mechanistic studies suggest that a pathway involving α boration followed by a stepwise 1,2-Ge/H shift on the intermediate structurally lies between an alkyne−Ge+ π complex and a typical vinyl cation. The resulting Ge/B bimetallic modules, along with a Ge*/Ge/B trimetallic variant, can be conveniently transformed into trisubstituted olefins through iterative divergent cross-coupling. This work demonstrates that incorporating metalloids into classical organic reactions may offer unconventional chemical selectivity and efficient synthetic applications.

Nickel/photoredox dual catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl halides with alkylboron compounds is one of the effective methodologies for the construction of C(sp2) C(sp3) bonds. Although elegant results have been achieved by using alkyl trifluoroborates as alkyl radical precursors, the generation of alkyl radicals from readily available alkyl boronic esters is still limited due to their high oxidation potential. We disclosed here that activation of alkyl boronic esters by MeOLi is highly efficient for the generation of alkyl radicals under photocatalysis conditions. The reaction featured with a wide substrate scope, high functional group tolerance, and late-stage modification of bioactive substances. In addition, the method was also successfully extended to alkyl boronic acids. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies indicated that the crosscoupling likely proceeds via a Ni(I)-catalyzed pathway.