The search for efficient and selective routes for the synthesis of chiral aminocyclopropane derivatives is of great interest and importance as these structures are important components of biologically active natural products and pharmaceuticals. We herein report the enantioselective intermolecular hydroamination of substituted cyclopropenes with various amines catalyzed by chiral half-sandwich rare-earth-metal complexes. This method constitutes a 100 % atom-efficient route for the synthesis of a variety of chiral α-aminocyclopropane derivatives in high yields (up to 96 %) and excellent stereoselectivity (up to >20:1 d.r. and 99 % ee) under mild reaction conditions (25 °C).

No abstract

An enantioselective C-H addition to a C=C bond represents the most atom-efficient route for the construction of chiral carbon-carbon skeletons, a central research topic in organic synthesis. We herein report the enantioselective yttrium-catalyzed C(sp )-H bond addition of 2-methyl azaarenes, such as 2-methyl pyridines, to various substituted cyclopropenes and norbornenes. This process efficiently afforded a new family of chiral pyridylmethyl-functionalized cyclopropane and norbornane derivatives in high yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee).

The substituent redistribution of hydrosilanes on silicon through C-Si and Si-H bond cleavage and reformation is of great interest and importance, but this transformation is usually difficult to achieve in a selective fashion. By using electron-rich aromatic hydrosilanes, we have achieved for the first time the selective C-Si/Si-H bond homo- and cross-metathesis of a series of hydrosilanes in the presence of a boron catalyst B(CF). This protocol features simple reaction conditions, high chemoselectivity, wide substrate scope, and high functionality tolerance, offering a new pathway for the synthesis of multisubstituted functional silanes.

The C-H addition of sulfides to alkenes is an atom-efficient route for the functionalization and modification of sulfide compounds through C-C bond formation, but this transformation is highly challenging. We report here the regioselective α-C(sp)-H addition of a wide range of methyl sulfides to a variety of olefins and dienes by a half-sandwich scandium catalyst. This protocol provides a unique route for the synthesis of diverse sulfide derivatives through C-C bond formation at a sulfur-adjacent carbon atom in a 100% atom efficient fashion.

The regioselective C–H borylation of aromatic ethers such as anisoles is of much interest and importance, but has remained a challenge to date. We report herein the catalytic ortho-selective C–H borylation of a wide range of aromatic ethers with pinacolborane (HBpin) by rare-earth metallocene complexes. This protocol offers an efficient and straightforward route for the synthesis of a variety of borylated aromatic ether derivatives. A proper metal/ligand combination for the rare-earth metal catalysts was found to be critically important to promote this transformation.

Cyclization reactions of alkynes, especially the double carbometallation of alkynes, have drawn much interest from organic chemists because of their high efficiency in the construction of polycycles. Utilizing different nucleophiles or catalytic systems, various efficient strategies to access challenging skeletons have been extensively explored in recent years. In this review, achievements in this field are presented in three major parts (the syn-syn, anti-anti, and syn-anti addition reactions of diynes or two alkyne molecules). Cyclization reactions of diynes initiated by nucleophiles, [2+2+n] cycloaddition, or other processes and reactions, involving two identical or different alkynes are described, which provide facile and reliable approaches to various π systems, medium-sized rings, and even macrocycles.

The catalytic asymmetric construction of silicon-stereogenic silanes is of great interest and significance, but has met with only limited success to date. We herein report the enantioselective hydrosilylation of alkenes with dihydrosilanes by a chiral half-sandwich scandium catalyst, which constitutes an efficient and general route for the synthesis of a wide range of enantioenriched silicon-stereogenic silanes from easily accessible starting materials. This reaction features a broad substrate scope, high yields, and high enantioselectivity. Some of the chiral tertiary silane products were also converted into valuable derivatives, such as chiral silanol, quaternary silane, and benzosilole compounds.