The direct C-H arylation and acylation of azoles with carboxylic acids were achieved through Pd/Cu cooperative catalysis. A various biaryls and biaryl ketones were selectively produced in good to high...

A facile and general method for constructing carbon–heteroatom (C–P, C–O, C–S, and C–N) bonds via C–N cleavage of benzyl ammonium salts under transition-metal-free conditions was reported. The combination of t-BuOK and 18-crown-6 enabled a wide range of substituted benzyl ammonium salts to couple readily with different kinds of heteroatom nucleophiles, i.e. hydrogen phosphoryl compounds, alcohols, thiols, and amines. Good functional group tolerance was demonstrated. The scale-up reaction and one-pot synthesis were also successfully performed.

An efficient nickel-catalyzed phosphorylation of phenol derivatives with P(O)-H compounds via C-O/P-H cross-coupling is described. Under the reaction conditions, various phenyl pivalates coupled readily with hydrogen phosphoryl compounds to afford the corresponding coupling products aryl phosphonates and aryl phosphine oxides in good to high yields.

An efficient iodocarbocyclization of alkenes for the synthesis of iodooxindoles has been developed. This reaction proceeds in a chemoselective manner and shows excellent tolerance of various functional groups, including a chemosensitive hydroxymethyl group. Nonmetal inorganic iodine pentoxide was used as both the oxidant and iodine source, making this protocol very practical. On the basis of experimental observations, a plausible electrophilic reaction mechanism was proposed.