A new method for the formation of 1,1-difluoroethyl copper species (“CuCF₂CH₃”) with 1,1-difluoroethylsilane (TMSCF₂CH₃) has been developed. The “CuCF₂CH₃” species can be applied to the efficient 1,1-difluoroethylation of diaryliodonium salts under mild conditions, affording (1,1-difluoroethyl)arenes in good to excellent yields. This convenient procedure tolerates a wide range of functional groups and thus serves as a practical synthetic tool for the introduction of CF₂CH₃ group(s) into complex molecules.

A catalytic amount of benzoyl peroxide (BPO)-initiated cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction of N-iminopyridine ylides with simple alkanes and alcohols leads to the corresponding 2-alkylpyridines with high regioselectivity in moderate to good yields without an additional reduction step to remove the activated group.

An efficient method for the construction of two distinct C_aryl–C_aryl bonds through the Ni-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of phenols with arylboronic acids has been developed. This reaction proceeds through the in situ tosylation of phenols by using N,N-ditosylaniline as the sulfonylating reagent, which is highly active, markedly stable, and easily prepared. The scope with respect to the coupling partners – phenols and boronic acids – is broad, and sensitive functional groups are tolerated. Phenols, especially those containing an unprotected amino group, which are generally problematic for coupling under conventional one-pot conditions, are also viable substrates in this transformation.

Lewis-acid-catalyzed benzylic reactions of 2-methylazaarenes with aldehydes have been investigated. Series of azaarene derivatives were afforded by this reaction. 2-(Pyridin-2-yl)ethanols with common substituents were formed through the LiNTf₂-promoted aldol reaction for the first time. 2-Alkenylpyridines, exclusively in the form of the E isomers, were synthesized in the presence of LiNTf₂ cooperated with H₂NTf. In the presence of La(Pfb)₃ as catalysis, 2-alkenylquinolines were obtained in high yields through the reactions between 2-methylquinolines and aldehydes under air.

A transition-metal-free approach for the arylation of hydroxylamines and oximes with diaryliodonium salts was developed. The reaction proceeded smoothly at room temperature in the presence of cesium carbonate. As a result, a wide range of N- and O-arylated hydroxylamines were synthesized in good to excellent yields (45–98 %).

A nickel-catalyzed approach for the synthesis of biaryl compounds from N,N-disulfonylmethylamines and arylboronic acids has been developed. Instead of arenesulfonyl chlorides, various N,N-disulfonylmethylamines were used as the aryl source through extrusion of SO₂ to give cross-coupling products in moderate to good yields.

A novel colorimetric chemosensor PBIOSi has been designed and synthesized. The addition of F⁻ to a THF solution of PBIOSi resulted in an obvious color change (from red to green) in a short time because of the specific cleavage of SiO bond in PBIOSi by F⁻. It was interesting that PBIOSi showed excellent selectivity for F⁻ detection over other halides. The UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence were changed linearly with the concentration of F⁻ over the range of 0–10 µmol/L.

A new fluorescent probe, NPQ-C, was synthesized. NPQ-C was based on the naphthalimide derivatives and exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity for Cr³⁺ ions. As a Cr³⁺-amplified fluorescent probe, Its fluorescence spectrum showed 5.5-fold enhancement in the intensity of the signal at 500 nm on binding with the Cr³⁺. Based on the fluorescence titration spectra and Job's-plot analysis, binding mode of NPQ-C with Cr³⁺ was proposed. Fluorescence intensity was linear with concentration of Cr³⁺ cation in a range from 0 to 10 µmol·L⁻¹. NPQ-C was also sensitive for Cr³⁺. The detection limit was calculated to be 0.20 µmol·L⁻¹ which indicated that NPQ-C was sensitive to Cr³⁺.

A novel PdCl₂/bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine-based ligand (1) catalytic system, which is water-soluble and air-stable, has been successfully synthesized and applied for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. In the presence of catalytic amount of PdCl₂/1 system, arylboronic acids can couple with a wide range of aryl halides, including aryl bromides and aryl chlorides. The reactions proceed under mild conditions to give excellent yields, and a wide range of functionalities is tolerated.

By using solvent-free and heat conditions, the Petasis boronic Mannich reaction of salicylaldehydes with various boronic acids and secondary amines without catalyst is described. The alkylaminophenols were obtained in moderate to good yields in a shorter reaction time than the traditional methods.

The Michael addition of indoles to electron-deficient nitroolefins was effectively catalyzed by an ionic liquid-coordinated ytterbium(III) sulfonate catalyst. The recycling procedure of the catalyst was very simple without extraction with water, and the catalyst was reused for five times without any loss of its catalytic activity. Furthermore, to demonstrate the application of this methodology, the Pictet-Spengler reaction was chosen and successfully carried out in the mixture of Br?nsted-acidic ionic liquid and [bmim]BF₄.

A CMC-supported lanthanide catalyst was prepared from CMC and isopropoxy lanthanide. This solid Lewis acid catalyst was used in synthesis of substituted imidazoles under mild conditions, showing catalytic activity comparable to the expensive lanthanide Lewis acid Ln(OTf)₃. Furthermore, the catalyst could be readily recycled and reused for five times without any appreciable loss in catalytic activity.

A series of 14-{[(Un)substituted phenyl] or alkyl}-14H-dibenzo[a,j]xanthenes were prepared under solvent-free conditions by Yb(OTf)₃ catalyzed condensation reactions of β-naphthol with various aldehydes. The process presented here is operationally simple, environmentally benign and has good to excellent yields. Furthermore, the catalyst can be recovered conveniently and reused efficiently.