A metal-free tandem procedure by using a sulfonylation reaction of aryl allylic alcohols followed by an iodobenzenediacetate (PIDA)-promoted oxidative functionalization has been established. Allylic sulfones, γ-ketosulfones, and triflyl allylic alcohols have been constructed in a single operation. The methodology incorporates the sulfonyl (both aryl and triflyl) functionality with a simple work-up procedure.

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Shun-Jun Ji and co-workers at Soochow University, (China). The image depicts a cheaper, low-toxic, eco-friendly benign and metal-free methodology incorporating the both aryl and trifyl sulfonyl functionality from allylic alcohols. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201500469.

A metal-free direct alkylation of simple carbonyl compounds (ketones, esters, and amides) with α,α-diaryl allylic alcohols is described. The protocol provides facile access to highly functionalized dicarbonyl ketones by a radical addition/1,2-aryl migration cascade. The regioselectivity of the reaction was precisely controlled by the nature of the carbonyl compound.

The reaction of anhydrous CoCl₂ with NaOAr (ArO=2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenoxo) in THF at room temperature in 1:3 molar ratio afforded anionic cobalt aryloxide [Na(THF)₆][Co(OAr)₃] (1). The definite structure of this complex was characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction. It was found that this anionic aryloxo cobalt(II) complex could effectively initiate the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide both in solution and in bulk, leading to high molecular weight poly(L-lactide).

The ligand-free nanoparticle ferroferric oxide catalytic system has been developed to promote the intramolecular CN cross-coupling reaction. With this protocol, various 1,4-dihydroquinoline derivatives were synthesized from o-halobenzaldehydes and β-enaminones in moderate to good yields.