The selective arylations of 2-naphthol and phenol derivatives catalyzed by Cu(OTf)2 with using diaryliodonium(III) salts have been developed. With this method, biaryls bearing hydroxyl groups can be easily accessed in moderate to good yields. Additionally, this protocol provided an alternative for the preparation of 3-arylated binaphthalene derivatives.

Palladium-catalyzed double-Suzuki–Miyaura couplings between cyclic dibenziodoniums and arylboronic acids have been developed. As such, a wide range of o-tetraaryls were synthesized in good to excellent yields of 22–94%. Furthermore, tetraphenylene was prepared in 21% isolated yield with 2,2′-biphenyldiboronic acid by using this method.

A new family of tartaric acid derived chiral iminophosphoranes has been developed as highly effective organocatalysts in the asymmetric chlorinations of 3-substituted oxindoles with a high level of enantioselectivity. Importantly, these catalysts are air- and moisture-stable. Recovery of the catalyst after simple chromatographic separation for reuse in the model reaction was achieved; the catalyst can be recycled six times without loss of any enantioselectivity. Several advantages of this catalytic process are high conversion after a very short reaction time at ambient temperature, low catalytic loading, and scale-up to multigram quantities with an excellent enantiomeric excess value of >99%, which meets the enantiomeric purity required for pharmaceutical purposes.

With a strategy that makes use of palladium activation of both C–I and vicinal C–H bonds of diaryliodonium salts, an unprecedented approach in diarylation of coumarins was reported. As such, a wide range of 4,5-benzocoumarins with potential fluorescence properties have been synthesized in good yields. A series of experiments suggested that the formation of two carbon–carbon bonds proceeded in a synergetic manner.

The palladium-catalyzed arylation/cyclization of ortho-hydroxylcinnamate ester derivatives by using diaryliodonium(III) salts has been developed. With this method, 4-arylcoumarins were easily prepared in good to excellent yields under base-free conditions. Additionally, this protocol provided an efficient alternative for the preparation of related 4-arylated coumarin compounds which are useful in the access to 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors.An efficient method for the palladium-catalyzed arylation/cyclization of ortho-hydroxylcinnamate ester derivatives with diaryliodonium salts is described. A range of 4-arylcoumarins are obtained in good to excellent yield. Furthermore, the route can be applied to the synthesis of versatile building block of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor.