1,2-Diols, aldehydes, and ketones are important intermediates in chemical synthesis, and alkenes are possible precursors for 1,2-diols, aldehydes, and ketones. Herein, novel and environmentally benign methods for palladium-catalyzed dihydroxylation and oxidative cleavage of olefins with oxygen as sole oxidant are presented. The cleavage reactions were performed with acid as additive in aqueous solution, whereas 1,2-diols were formed in the presence of base. A broad substrate scope has been demonstrated allowing monosubstituted aromatic and aliphatic terminal alkenes, 1,2-disubstituted, and 1,1-disubstituted olefins. The cleavage reactions of dioxo-Pd(II) complexes implicate 1,2-diol might act as a key intermediate of olefin cleavage.

A new Lewis acid promoted and palladium-catalyzed cleavage reaction of carbon-carbon triple bond with molecular oxygen was reported, in which alkyne or 1.3-diynes is split into carboxylic ester in various alcohols.

A new and efficient method for the synthesis of amides via palladium-catalyzed C-C coupling of aryl halides with isocyanides is reported, by which a series of amides were formed from readily available starting materials under mild conditions. This transformation could extend its use to the synthesis of natural products and significant pharmaceuticals.

Symmetrical 1,3-diyne compounds can be easily synthesized via a transition-metal-free homocoupling reaction of 1-haloalkynes without base and oxidant. The method shows excellent functional group compatibility and high yields.

A new palladium-catalyzed diacetoxylation of alkenes using oxygen as the sole oxidant to afford diacetates was developed. High levels of diastereoselectivity in diacetoxylation of 1,2-disubstituted alkenes was obtained.