An efficient Ru(II)-catalyzed hydroarylation of maleimides with ready-stock aryl carboxylic acids has been developed based on weak carboxylate-directed ortho-C-H alkylation and concomitant decarboxylation processes, fabricating 3-aryl succinimides, a recurrent scaffold in drug molecules, in high yields (up to 97%). The protocol features operational simplicity, avoids the need for precious metal additives/oxidants, and offers broad substrate scope with formal meta- and para-selectivities. It represents the first example of Ru(II)-catalyzed direct arylation of maleimides with unbiased benzoic acids.

A visible light-induced (blue LED) radical cascade has been devised to effect selenylative spirocyclization of N-aryl alkynamides at room temperature under oxygen atmosphere and without the aid of external photocatalyst. The protocol is operationally simple, scalable, and offers clean synthesis of 3-selenospiro[4,5]trienones in high yields (up to 92%). A novel spiro-ring-opening strategy has also been accomplished to access fully substituted acryl amides.

A radical-based cascade reaction has been devised for oxidative difunctionalization of aryl alkynoates at room temperature to access stereodefined fully substituted α,β-unsaturated acids bearing a chalcogen functionality in high yields (up to 95%). The protocol is operationally simple, metal-free, scalable, and suppresses the usual CO exclusion phenomenon. The utility of this method was showcased in the synthesis of vinyl halides, vinyl selenides, and 3,3-disubstituted indanones.

A copper-catalyzed 8-amide chelation-induced remote C-H amination of quinolines has been developed. This direct amination with readily available azodicarboxylates proceeded with perfect C5-regioselectivity offering amino-substituted 8-aminoquinolines, important bioactive molecular scaffolds, in very high yields (up to 96%). A single-electron transfer (SET)-mediated mechanism with kH /kD =1.1 was proposed after trapping of the radical intermediate.

An efficient copper-catalyzed/-mediated and 8-aminoquinoline-assisted arylselenylation of inert C-H bonds of (hetero)arenes with readily available diselenides has been reported. The reaction is scalable and tolerates a wide spectrum of functional groups to deliver diarylselenides in very high yields (up to 98%). Application of this methodology to the facile synthesis of thiophene-fused selenochromone was demonstrated.