An efficient synthesis of 2-aryl 4-substituted quinolines from stable and readily available o-cinnamylanilines, prepared from anilines and cinnamylalcohols, has been developed. The reaction occurred via a regioselective 6-endo-trig intramolecular oxidative cyclization using KO(t)Bu as a mediator and DMSO as an oxidant at rt. The reaction showed a broad substrate scope with good to excellent yields.

An enantioselective synthesis of 3-substituted benzoxaboroles has been developed using organocatalysts with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99%). The resulting benzoxaboroles were converted to the chiral β-hydroxy ketones without affecting the enantioselectivity.

Chemoselective 1,2- and 1,4-addition of malononitriles to ortho-formyl chalcones using cinchona alkaloid based bifunctional chiral organocatalysts has been shown by tuning the electronic nature of the malononitriles. Alkyl (hard) malononitriles undergo an asymmetric 1,2-addition followed by oxa-Michael reaction cascade to afford 1,3-disubstituted isobenzofurans with high enantio- and diastereoselectivity. Aryl (soft) malononitriles proceed through 1,4-addition followed by an aldol reaction cascade to provide indanols, having three consecutive stereocenters, in good yields and with good to excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivites.

An efficient method for the construction of chiral C-P bond via an enantioselective 1,2-hydrophosphenylation followed by an oxa-Michael addition cascade of ortho-formyl chalcones has been developed. This provides the diastereoenriched ( cis)-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuryl phosphonates with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99%). The origin of enantio- and diastereoselectivity is induced by using a chiral bifunctional organocatalyst. Further, functionalization to highly enantioselective 3-substituted phthalides has also been demonstrated.

Herein, we report a straightforward method for efficiently obtaining a diverse range of thiophosphonium salts. This method involves the direct coupling of commercially available thiols and aldehydes with Ph3P and TfOH. The setup is simple and carried out in a metal-free manner. The synthetic utility of these salts is demonstrated through various examples of C–+P bond functionalizations, enabling the synthesis of thioether, deuterated-thioether, thioester, and dithioester derivatives. These products, which serve as valuable building blocks, are obtained in high yields.