G-quadruplex groove binder benzo[d,e]isoquinoline was linked to a Ir(iii) complex to generate a highly selective DNA probe.

An effective gold-catalyzed intermolecular nitrene transfer by the reaction of 2H-azirines and ynamides is reported, which provides highly substituted pyrroles in a straightforward manner. This transformation proceeds under mild conditions and gives the polysubstituted pyrroles in good-to-excellent yields. Preliminary results indicate that a nongold carbenoid pathway is preferred for current pyrrole synthesis.

The functionalization of internal olefins has been a challenging task in organic synthesis. Efficient CuII-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of internal olefins, that is, α-oxoketene dithioacetals, has been achieved by using Cu(OH)2 as a catalyst and TMSCF3 as a trifluoromethylating reagent. The push-pull effect from the polarized olefin substrates facilitates the internal olefinic C-H trifluoromethylation. Cyclic and acyclic dithioalkyl α-oxoketene acetals were used as the substrates and various substituents were tolerated. The internal olefinic C-H bond cleavage was not involved in the rate-determining step, and a mechanism that involves radicals is proposed based on a TEMPO-quenching experiment of the trifluoromethylation reaction. Further derivatization of the resultant CF3 olefins led to multifunctionalized tetrasubstituted CF3 olefins and trifluoromethylated N-heterocycles.