A highly selective arylation of a number of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with aryliodonium salts and Pd/C as the only reagent is reported.

Herein, we report a new visible-light-promoted strategy to access radical trifluoromethylthiolation reactions by combining halide and photoredox catalysis. This approach allows for the synthesis of vinyl-SCF3 compounds of relevance in pharmaceutical chemistry directly from alkenes under mild conditions with irradiation from household light sources. Furthermore, alkyl-SCF3-containing cyclic ketone and oxindole derivatives can be accessed by radical-polar crossover semi-pinacol and cyclization processes. Inexpensive halide salts play a crucial role in activating the trifluoromethylthiolating reagent towards photoredox catalysis and aid the formation of the SCF3 radical.

A series of (un-)charged NHC derivatives bearing two pentadecyl chains in the backbone was studied in detail to find cooperative effects between the membrane and the NHC derivative. The tendency to show lipid-like behavior is dependent on the properties of the NHC derivative headgroup, which can be modified on demand. The surface activity was investigated by film balance measurements, epifluorescence microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Additionally the cytotoxicity was evaluated against different cell lines such as eukaryotic tumor cell lines. These novel lipid-like NHC derivatives offer a broad spectrum for biological applications.

[Re]ad all about it: The first examples of the rhenium‐catalyzed dehydrogenative formation of amides and esters with the highly active ReH5(triphos) complex are demonstrated. The addition of a tertiary amine additive improves the selectivity and the stability of the catalyst in the formation of esters from primary alcohols.