An efficient synthesis of substituted benzenes via a base-catalyzed [3 + 3] aerobic oxidative aromatization of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with dimethyl glutaconate was reported. All the reactions were carried out under mild, metal-free conditions to afford the products in high to excellent yields with molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant and water as the sole byproduct. Furthermore, a more convenient tandem [3 + 2 + 1] aerobic oxidative aromatization reaction was developed through the in situ generation of the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds from aldehydes and ketones.

A new strategy for the rapid construction of functionalized reduced indoles starting from activated methylene isocyanides and 1,5-dielectrophilic 5-oxohepta-2,6-dienoates (and their equivalents) through a [5+1] annulation-isocyanide cyclization cascade under basic conditions has been developed. This strategy allows the synthesis of polysubstituted dihydroindolones and tetrahydroindolones in high to excellent yields under extremely mild conditions in a single step.

A new strategy for the construction of functionalized hydroindoles (III) and (VI) starting from activated methylene isocyanides (II) and (V) and 1,5‐dielectrophilic 5‐oxo‐2,6‐dienoates (I) and (IV) (and their equivalents) is described.

Oxidative Benzannulations. -Under mild and metal-free conditions the synthesis of substituted benzenes succeeds with molecular oxygen as sole oxidant and water as sole by-product. -(DIALLO, A.; ZHAO*, Y.-L.; WANG, H.; LI, S.-S.; REN, C.-Q.; LIU, Q.; Org. Lett. 14 (2012) 22, 5776-5779, http://dx.