A general, transition-metal-free, highly stereoselective cross-coupling reaction between glycosyl bromides and various arylzinc reagents leading to β-arylated glycosides is reported. The stereoselectivity of the reaction is explained by invoking anchimeric assistance via a bicyclic intermediate. Stereochemical probes confirm the participation of the 2-pivaloyloxy group. Finally, this new method was applied to a short and efficient stereoselective synthesis of Dapagliflozin and Canagliflozin.

Pim kinases have been targets of interest for a number of therapeutic areas. Evidence of durable single-agent efficacy in human clinical trials validated Pim kinase inhibition as a promising therapeutic approach for multiple myeloma patients. Here, we report the compound optimization leading to GDC-0339 ( 16), a potent, orally bioavailable, and well tolerated pan-Pim kinase inhibitor that proved efficacious in RPMI8226 and MM.1S human multiple myeloma xenograft mouse models and has been evaluated as an early development candidate.

A palladium‐catalysed Buchwald–Hartwig amination for lenalidomide‐derived aryl bromides was optimised using high throughput experimentation (HTE). The substrate scope of the optimised conditions was evaluated for a range of alkyl‐ and aryl‐ amines and functionalised aryl bromides. The methodology allows access to new cereblon‐based bifunctional proteolysis targeting chimeras with a reduced step count and improved yields.

A new Fe- or Co-catalyzed Cl/Zn-exchange reaction allows the direct transformation of aryl, heteroaryl, and also alkyl chlorides into the corresponding zinc reagents. The method tolerates functional groups such as a nitrile or an ester. Remarkably, secondary and tertiary alkyl chlorides are suitable substrates for the Cl/Zn exchange.

Organocopper reagents from phenols: A new cobalt‐catalyzed aryl sulfonate/copper exchange reaction allows the synthesis of highly functionalized aryl copper reagents from sulfonates bearing electron‐deficient substituents under mild conditions (25–45 °C, 1–6 h; see example). Sensitive functional groups, such as aldehydes, esters, and nitriles, are well‐tolerated.