Styrenes were coupled with 3-iodolawsone in PEG-400 at 90 °C, leading stereoselectively to (E)-stilbene-quinone hybrids through Heck reactions. The best reaction conditions were found to be the use of NaOH (3 equiv) and 10 mol% of palladium acetate at 90 °C for 15 minutes. The chemical yields of the Heck reactions using styrenes with electron-withdrawing groups (65–98%) were greater than styrenes bearing electron-donating groups (7–32%) on the aromatic ring. In particular, the chemical yields of Heck reactions involving nitrostyrenes were the best ones observed.

Asymmetric hydrogenation (AH) and asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) are versatile synthetic methodologies widely employed in the preparation of chiral compounds. In this review, we explore the applications of AH and...

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Functionalized 1,4-naphthoquinones have been employed as versatile synthons in organic synthesis, in addition to presenting a large array of biological activities. Herein, the applications of 2-amino-/ acetylamino-substituted 3-iodo-1,4-naphthoquinones in cross-coupling reactions are described to successfully afford sixteen novel 3-styryl-1,4-naphthoquinones (amino-stilbene-quinone hybrids) and four 3-alkynyl-1,4-naphthoquinone in overall good yields. Interestingly, the alkynylated derivatives could be obtained from ligand- and Pd-free CuI-mediated cross-coupling reactions, after extensive investigations to exclude Pd as a co-catalyst. Lastly, the desilanized terminal alkyne was subjected to click chemistry reactions to give two novel triazole-1,4-naphthoquinone hybrids.

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The oxo-tethered-Ru(II) precatalyst promoted the one-pot C�C/C�O reduction of chalcones using sodium formate as the hydrogen source in water through asymmetric transfer hydrogenation. Twenty-seven 1,3-diarylpropan-1-ols were obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 96%) and enantiomeric purities (up to 98:2). Our data suggested that the enones are first reduced to the corresponding dihydrochalcones (1,4-selectivity) and then into 1,3-diarylpropan-1-ols (C�O reduction). The stereoelectronic effects of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups at the ortho, meta and para positions of both aromatic rings were evaluated. The 2-OH group at the B ring was well tolerated, allowing a straightforward enantioselective synthesis of two flavans through the Mitsunobu cyclization, the antiviral (S)-BW683C and the natural flavan (S)-tephrowatsin E.

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