A methyl group can have a profound impact on the pharmacological properties of organic molecules. Hence, developing methylation methods and methylating reagents is essential in medicinal chemistry. We report a palladium-catalyzed dimethylation reaction of ortho-substituted iodoarenes using dimethyl carbonate as a methyl source. In the presence of K2CO3 as a base, iodoarenes are dimethylated at the ipso- and meta-positions of the iodo group, which represents a novel strategy for meta-C–H methylation. With KOAc as the base, subsequent oxidative C­(sp3)–H/C­(sp3)–H coupling occurs; in this case, the overall transformation achieves triple C–H activation to form three new C–C bonds. These reactions allow expedient access to 2,6-dimethylated phenols, 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans, and indanes, which are ubiquitous structural motifs and essential synthetic intermediates of biologically and pharmacologically active compounds.

3,4-Fused tricyclic indole scaffolds are ubiquitous in bioactive natural products and pharmaceuticals. A new protocol for the synthesis of 3,4-fused tricyclic indoles has been developed through cascade carbopalladation and C–H amination with N,N-di-tert-butyldiaziridinone. The protocol allows access to a range of 3,4-fused tricyclic indoles, including those containing various linkers and fused with medium-sized rings. Rucaparib can be synthesized via this reaction, providing an advantageous synthetic method for the FDA-approved cancer medicine.

A Pd-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular carbonylative Heck reaction has been developed by using formate esters as the source of CO.

A palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides with 2-chlorobenzoic acids has been developed. The reaction forms C(sp3),C(sp2)-palladacycles through C(sp3)−H activation. The palladacycles react with 2-chlorobenzoic acids through two successive C−C...