A strategy for generating diverse collections of small molecules has been developed that features a multicomponent assembly process (MCAP) to efficiently construct a variety of intermediates possessing an aryl aminomethyl subunit. These key compounds are then transformed via selective ring-forming reactions into heterocyclic scaffolds, each of which possesses suitable functional handles for fur...

A small library of 8-substituted 9-deazaxanthines has been prepared by late-stage diversification of an 8-bromo-9-deazaxanthine. By utilizing palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions a single key precursor can be transformed into a variety of 8-substituted-9-deazaxanthine compounds. Three key 8-bromo-9-deazaxanthine intermediates were efficiently prepared from commercially available 6-chlor...

A palladium-catalyzed chemo- and regioselective coupling of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds via an allylic linker has been developed. This reaction, which displays broad substrate scope, forms two C-C bonds and installs two all-carbon quaternary centers. The regioselectivity of the reaction can be predictably controlled by utilizing an enol carbonate of one of the coupling partners.

Upper rim substituted tetra-acrylamido-calix[4]arenes have been synthesised using the palladium catalysed Heck reaction; the compounds display solvent dependent aggregation in solution to form dimeric capsules stabilised by only eight amide C=O-H-N hydrogen bonds and pi-pi interactions.

A mild catalytic asymmetric direct fluoro-arylation of styrenes has been developed. The palladium-catalyzed three-component coupling of Selectfluor, a styrene and a boronic acid, provides chiral monofluorinated compounds in good yield and in high enantiomeric excess. A mechanism proceeding through a Pd(IV)-fluoride intermediate is proposed for the transformation and synthesis of an sp(3) C-F bond.

A palladium N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed methodology for the synthesis of substituted, N-unprotected indoles and azaindoles is reported. The protocol permits access to various, highly substituted members of these classes of compounds. Although two possible reaction pathways (deprotonative and Heck-like) can be proposed, control experiments, supported by computational studies, point toward a...

The palladium-catalyzed oxidative desymmetrization of meso dibenzoates yields γ-benzoyloxy cycloalkenones in good yields and with excellent levels of enantioselectivity. These compounds serve as precursors to a broad range of substituted cycloalkenones, including well-established synthetic building blocks and elaborated cycloalkanone derivatives. The ability to prepare both enantiomers of the o...

A practical and efficient palladium-catalyzed direct allylation of β-dicarbonyl compounds with both cyclic and acyclic Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) alcohols, using Et3B as a Lewis acid promoter, is described herein. A wide range of the corresponding functionalized allylated derivatives have been obtained in good yields and with high selectivity.

A novel and efficient palladium-catalysed direct di-heteroarylation of 1,2-dichloroperfluorocyclopentene with a variety of heteroarenes is reported, giving rise to 1,2-di(heteroaryl)ylperfluorocyclopentene photochromic compounds. The reaction proceeds with thiazoles, thiophenes or furan derivatives and tolerates various substituents.