AbstractΕniminium ions were prepared from the corresponding α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds (enones and enals), and were found to be promoted to their respective triplet states by energy transfer. The photoexcited intermediates underwent intra‐ or intermolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition in good yields (50–78 %) upon irradiation at λ=433 nm or λ=457 nm. Iridium or ruthenium complexes with a sufficiently high triplet energy were identified as efficient catalysts (2.5 mol % catalyst loading) for the reaction. The intermolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition of an eniminium ion derived from a chiral secondary amine proceeded with high enantioselectivity (88 % ee).

A highly stereoselective synthesis of fluorinated 1,3-disubstituted isoindolines is described. To this end, a tandem reaction consisting of a diastereoselective addition of fluorinated nucleophiles to Ellman's N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines followed by an intramolecular aza-Michael reaction has been developed. This strategy allows for the construction of isoindolines bearing several degrees of fluorination (mono-, di-, or trifluoromethyl as well as heavier fluorinated groups). In the majority of all cases, the products are formed as single isomers.

Chiral Brønsted acid-catalyzed allyl(propargyl)boration of ortho-alkynyl benzaldehydes gives rise to ω-alkynyl homoallylic(homopropargylic)alcohols that can be further transformed to complex molecular scaffolds via subsequent hydroalkoxylation, ring-closing enyne metathesis (RCEYM), or intramolecular Pauson−Khand reaction (PKR). Optimizations of each two-step transformation is reported. A strong dependence between enantioselectivities and the nature of the substitution at the alkynyl moiety is observed, showcasing that the triple bond is not merely a spectator in this transformation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations (M06-2X/6-311+G(d,p)−IEFPCM//B3LYP/6-31G(d)) show that this dependence is the result of the steric and electronic properties of the alkyne substituent.

A general approach has been developed for the one-pot synthesis of 3,4,5-trisubstituted 1,2,4-triazoles from secondary amides and hydrazides via triflic anhydride activation followed by microwave-induced cyclodehydration. In addition, the 1,2,4-triazole moiety is shown to be a useful directing group for Ru-catalyzed C-H arylation. Access to 1,2,4-triazolophenanthridine can be achieved from the reaction products using a Pd-catalyzed intramolecular C-H functionalization reaction.