The aniline carbamate is introduced as a new removable directing group for C-H activation. Its versatility and ability as a directing group are demonstrated by its use in the ortho-arylation of a wide variety of aniline derivatives under palladium(II) catalysis, with symmetric diaryliodonium salts as aryl donors. The reaction differs from previously reported arylations in its selectivity and its mechanism, as elucidated by kinetic and isotopic experiments. The directing group can also be easily removed under a variety of conditions.

A highly efficient method for the direct, site-specific functionalization of amino acids and peptides, under ambient conditions, is described. In aqueous, nearly solvent-free conditions, copper(I) chloride catalyzed the aldehyde-alkyne-amine (A(3)) coupling of amino acids to form dipropargylated products in moderate to excellent yields. The propargylamine functionality provides a convenient handle for further structural modifications, demonstrated by a subsequent one-pot deprotection and "click" reaction and a solution-phase peptide coupling.

We report the first cationic gold(i)-catalyzed one-pot reaction of amide, aldehyde and alkyne followed by cyclization, to successfully access highly substituted oxazoles derivatives in good yields.