An interesting base-promoted protocol for the synthesis of 2-keto(hetero)aryl benzox(thi)azoles has been developed. Starting from commercially available 2-amino(thio)phenols and α,α-dihaloketones, moderate to good yields of the corresponding heterocycles can be achieved. Notably, only EtNH2 was required as the promoter here, and the reaction can be easily performed on a large scale.

A copper/iron-catalyzed oxyphosphorylation of alkynes with H-phosphonates through a radical process was developed. The present protocol provides an attractive approach to β-ketophosphonates in moderate to good yields, with the advantages of readily available substrate, high functional group tolerance and operation simplicity.

A new copper-catalyzed tandem C-H oxidative radical functionalization and annulation of aniline-linked 1,7-enynes with alkyl nitriles or acetone is described. This reaction allows the selective construction of 1H-cyclopenta[c]quinolines and benzo[j]phenanthridin-6(5H)-ones which rely on the substitution effect at the 2-position of the acrylamide moiety. The mechanism involving a 1,5-hydride shift process is proposed according to the control deuterium-labeled experiment.

Silver‐catalyzed oxidative decarboxylative couplings of carboxylic acids and anhydrides to produce 1,2‐diketones and substituted ethanes were developed. This reaction allows the generation of acyl or alkyl radicals by decarboxylation of the corresponding α‐keto acids, alkyl acids and anhydrides, which are sequentially coupled to efficiently construct a new C−C bond. This reaction represents a carboxylic acid decarboxylative alternative that employs a radical termination strategy.magnified image