A copper-catalyzed difunctionalizing trifluoromethylation of activated alkynes with the cheap reagent sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate (NaSO2CF3 or Langlois' reagent) has been developed incorporating a tandem cyclization/dearomatization process. This strategy affords a straightforward route to synthesis of 3-(trifluoromethyl)-spiro[4.5]trienones, and presents an example of difunctionalization of alkynes for simultaneous formation of two carbon-carbon single bonds and one carbon-oxygen double bond.

A AgSCF3-mediated radical cascade cyclization/trifluoromethylthiolation of 1,6-enynes triggered by a C-C triple bond is developed. This protocol also provides another opportunity to construct a valuable trifluoromethylthio-substituted polycyclic fluorene system through the formations of one C-SCF3 bond and two C-C bonds in a single step.

A strategy for the synthesis of iodocarbazoles through a tandem iodocyclization with migration and aromatization is presented. This sequential cascade process is concisely conducted at room temperature and in a short time. Moreover, the obtained halides can be further applied to palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions, which act as the important intermediates for building other valuable compounds.

Highly substituted 2-aminated indoles can be prepared in moderate to excellent yields by regioselective C2-amination of indoles promoted by iodine. As a key step in a concise synthesis of (±)-folicanthine, its core structure was easily obtained by one step cyclization-dimerization of substituted tryptophan in high yield on a gram scale.

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