β-Lactam scaffolds are considered to be ideal building blocks for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing compounds. A new palladium-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of N-allylamines for the synthesis of α-methylene-β-lactams is reported. DFT calculations suggest that the formation of β-lactams via a four-membered-ring transition state is favorable.

β-Lactam scaffolds are considered to be ideal building blocks for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing compounds. A new palladium-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of N-allylamines for the synthesis of α-methylene-β-lactams is reported. DFT calculations suggest that the formation of β-lactams via a four-membered-ring transition state is favorable.

Chiral Brønsted acid catalyzed Friedel–Crafts alkylation of electron-rich arenes with (3-indolyl)methanamines has been realized to provide an efficient synthesis of enantioenriched unsymmetrical triarylmethanes. With 5 mol-% of a newly developed chiral phosphoric acid, the enantioenriched unsymmetrical triarylmethanes were obtained in excellent yields with up to 91 % ee.

Chiral cyclopropane-containing building blocks, which are very important synthetic intermediates for natural products or pharmaceuticals, were easily synthesized via Ir-catalyzed enantioselective allylic substitution reaction.

A highly efficient Friedel–Crafts reaction of 4,7-dihydroindoles with β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters by a chiral N-triflyl phosphoramide was realized, affording the 2-substituted 4,7-dihydroindoles with up to 98% ee for a wide range of substrates. The Friedel–Crafts alkylation together with a subsequent oxidation of the product with p-benzoquinone led to a 2-alkylated indole derivative in 98% ee.

4,5,5-Trisubstituted γ-butyrolactones bearing two stereocenters including one quaternary carbon center have been synthesized in excellent yields via N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed annulations of enals and ketoesters. Chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes were used to tune the diastereoselectivity up to an 83/17 cis/trans ratio and the enantioselectivity up to 78% ee (trans isomer).

An efficient synthesis of optically pure cis-4-formyl-β-lactams (up to 99% ee) by a chiral NHC-catalyzed ring expansion reaction has been realized, featuring the ready availability of both the substrate and the catalyst, and the mild reaction conditions. The current method is also suitable for the synthesis of enantioenriched 4-formyl-β-lactams and succinimides containing quaternary carbon centers.