A Pd(II)-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of ortho C-H bonds with an array of N-arylbenzamides derived from benzoic acids is reported. N-Methylformamide has been identified as a crucial promoter of C-CF(3) bond formation from the Pd center. X-ray characterization of the C-H insertion intermediate has revealed a rare coordination mode of acidic amides as directing groups and the origin of their capacity in directing C-H activation.

A combination of weakly coordinating auxiliaries and ligand acceleration allows for the development of both ortho- and meta-selective C–H olefination of phenol derivatives. These reactions demonstrate the feasibility of directing C–H functionalizations when functional groups are distal to target C–H bonds. The meta-C–H functionalization of electron-rich phenol derivatives is unprecedented and orthogonal to previous electrophilic substitution of phenols in terms of regioselectivity. These methods are also applied to functionalize α-phenoxyacetic acids, a fibrate class of drug scaffolds.

Pd(II)-Insertion into β-methylene C(sp3)–H bonds was enabled by a mutually-repulsive and electron-rich quinoline ligand. Ligand tuning has led to the development of a method that allows for installation of an aryl group on a range of acyclic and cyclic amides containing β-methylene C(sp3)–H bonds.

An efficient synthesis of N-methyl-3-chalcogeno-indoles has been developed via iodine-mediated electrophilic annulation reactions of 2-alkynyl-

An efficient synthesis of 3-chalcogen-benzo[b]furans via palladium-promoted annulation reactions of 2-alkynylphenol derivatives with disulfides or diselenides and iodide has been developed. In the presence of I(2) and PdCl(2), both 3-sulfenylbenzofurans and 3-selenenylbenzofurans were selectively prepared from the cyclization of 2-alkynyanisoles with disulfides or diselenides in moderate to excellent yields.

3-Sulfenylindoles can be efficiently prepared in moderate to good yields from 2-(1-alkyn-

A copper and iodine-mediated C-H oxidative sulfenylation of olefins with diaryl disulfides has been developed for the stereospecific synthesis of vinyl thioether. With the combination of Cu(OTf)2 and I2, a variety of terminal alkenes underwent oxidative coupling reaction with various diaryl disulfides successfully to afford the corresponding E-vinyl sulfides in moderate to good yields.

A novel palladium‐catalyzed CH oxidation of isoquinoline N‐oxides has been developed for regioselectively synthesizing substituted isoquinolines. The method represents the first example of using dialkyl sulfoxides as the alkyl sources for the construction of 1‐alkylated isoquinolines. Moreover, the regioselective halogenation of isoquinoline N‐oxides is also successful using dihalo sulfoxides as the halide sources.