The selective difluoromethylene insertion into a C–Cu bond is a challenging task and is currently limited to either a single CF2 insertion into CuCF3 or double CF2 insertions into CuC6F5 (or (Z)-CF3CF = CFCu). Achieving both selective single and double CF2 insertions into the same C–Cu bond is even more difficult. Herein, highly controllable single and double CF2 insertions into CuCF2H species with a TMSCF2Br reagent have been described, affording two previously unknown fluoroalkylcopper species “Cu­(CF2)nCF2H” (n = 1 and 2) independently under different reaction conditions. This work represents the first example of both single and double CF2 insertions into the same C–Cu bond in a highly selective manner. The synthetic value of the obtained “Cu­(CF2) n CF2H” (n = 1 and 2) species is demonstrated by their reactions with aryl iodides, halogenation agents, and cinnamyl chloride, which enables the direct transfer of HCF2CF2 and HCF2CF2CF2 moieties into organic molecules. The key to controllable fluorocarbon chain elongation from C1 to C2 and from C1 to C3 is presumably attributed to the different reactivities of “Cu­(CF2) n CF2H” species (n = 0, 1, 2 and 3) and the loading of the TMSCF2Br reagent.

A direct alkenylation of benzylic C(sp3)–H bonds with diazo compounds with FeCl2 as the catalyst and DDQ as the oxidant has been developed.

Cross-coupling of various O-based electrophiles with aryl bromides was developed through Ni-catalyzed C-O activation in the presence of magnesium. Beside carboxylates, carbamates, and ethers, phenols exhibited excellent reactivity under modified conditions. This chemistry was featured as a simple and environmentally benign process with low catalyst loading and easy manipulations. The method exhibited broad substrate scopes.

The first successful catalytic borylation of unactivated aromatic C-N bonds of tertiary anilines without the preactivation or any directing groups is demonstrated. The reactivity of both N,N-dialkylarylamines and N-arylpyrroles were investigated systematically, and the targeted products were furnished in moderate to good yields. The DFT calculation results indicated that the catalytic cycle is furnished via a five-membered cyclic transition-state due to the steric hindrance of the Ni/NHC catalytic system.

Background. Neuroinflammation plays a key role in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Previous studies showed that light-emitting diode (LED) therapy might improve M2 microglia activation and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, we hypothesized that LED therapy might reduce myocardial I/R injury by neuroinflammation modulation. Objective. To explore the effect of LED therapy on myocardial I/R-induced injury and seek the underlying mechanism. Methods. Thirty rats were randomly divided into three groups: Control group (without LED treatment or myocardial I/R, n=6), I/R group (with myocardial I/R only, n=12), and LED+I/R group (with myocardial I/R and LED therapy, n=12). Electrocardiogram was recorded continuously during the procedure. In addition, brain tissue was extracted for BDNF, Iba1, and CD206 analyses, and heart tissue for myocardial injury (ischemic size and infarct size), IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA analysis. Results. In comparison with the I/R group, the ischemia size and the infarct size were significantly attenuated by LED therapy in the LED+I/R group. Meanwhile, the microglia activation induced by I/R injury was prominently attenuated by LED treatment either. And it is apparent that there was also an increase in the beneficial neuroinflammation markers (BDNF and CD206) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the LED+I/R group. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10, were greatly decreased by I/R while improved by LED treatment in myocardium. Conclusion. LED therapy might reduce neuroinflammation in PVN and decrease myocardium injury by elevating BDNF and M2 microglia.

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Summary of main observation and conclusion A general and efficient protocol to synthesize substituted olefins from carbonyl compounds via nickel catalyzed C—O activation of enolates was developed. Besides ketones, aldehydes were also suitable substrates for the presented catalytic system to produce di‐ or tri‐ substituted olefins. It is worth noting that this approach exhibited good tolerance to highly reactive tertiary alcohols, which could not survive in other reported routes for converting carbonyl compounds to olefins. This method also showed good regio‐ and stereo‐selectivity for olefin products. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicated that the reaction was accomplished through nickel catalyzed C—O activation of enolates, thus offering helpful contribution to current enol chemistry.

The transition‐metal‐catalyzed carbonylation reaction is a useful approach for ketone synthesis. However, it is often problematic to use exogenous carbonyl reagents, such as gaseous carbon monoxide. In this manuscript, we report a novel palladium‐catalyzed coupling reaction of gem‐difluoroalkenes and aryl boronic acids that yields bioactive indane‐type ketones with an all‐carbon α‐quaternary center. Characterization and stoichiometric reactions of the key intermediates RCF2PdII support a water‐induced defluorination and cross‐coupling cascade mechanism. The vinyl difluoromethylene motif serves as an in situ carbonyl precursor which is unprecedented in transition‐metal‐catalyzed coupling reactions. It is expected to raise broad research interest from the perspectives of ketone synthesis, fluoroalkene functionalization, and rational design of new synthetic protocols based on the unique reactivity of difluoroalkyl palladium(II) species.