A mild, versatile and efficient method for the silver(I)-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylative gem-difluoromethylenation has been developed. The radical cascade reaction comprises the addition of an oxidatively generated difluoromethylene radical to the isonitrile functionality and subsequent homolytic aromatic substitution. It provides a novel and efficient access to the C–CF2 bond formation.

Cu(II)-catalyzed aromatic C–H azidation with azido-benziodoxolone under mild conditions has been described. The primary amine exhibits an excellent ortho-directing effect, providing ortho-azidated anilines as the sole products.

A copper-mediated gem-difluoromethylenation of aryl, heteroaryl and vinyl boronic acids with bromodifluoromethylated oxazole or thiazole derivatives has been developed. This novel reaction showed an excellent functional group tolerance and wide substrate scope, providing facile access to practical application in drug discovery and development.

A mild, versatile and efficient method for the regioselective hydrodifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes has been developed. This Ag-mediated Csp3–CF2 bond forming reaction provides easy access to a variety of vicinal α-difluoroacetate-containing alkanes.

A class of chiral bifunctional N-prolyl sulfinamide and its TFA salts were prepared and proven to be effective for catalyzing the aldol reaction under solvent-free conditions. In general, the corresponding aldol adducts were obtained with high to excellent yields, and satisfactory diastereo-selectivities and enantioselectivities. A matching effect between chiral proline and sulfinamide moieties was observed in the catalysts. The enantioswitching of both enantiomers in the asymmetric aldol synthesis is found to be dominated by the prolyl moiety.

A series of twisted fluorenyl anthracenes linked by a rigid sp3-hybridized carbon atom, containing an end-capping aryl substituent at either the C2-position of fluorene or at the C10-position of anthracene, have been synthesized and characterized. These materials exhibited good thermal stabilities and amorphous properties. Theoretical calculations and X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the six blue emitters possess non-coplanar structures to suppress intermolecular interactions. The relationship between the chemical structures with different end-capping groups and the electroluminescent properties has been investigated. Organic light-emitting diodes utilizing 9-(2-phenyl-9H-fluoren-9-yl) anthracene as the emitter exhibited deep-blue emissions CIE x, y (0.166, 0.153) with a current efficiency of 1.47 cd/A, external quantum efficiency of 1.84% at 20 mA/cm2 and a maximum brightness of 3013 cd/m2 at 11 V. It was found that the introduction of the aryl substituents to the C2 position of fluorene could improve the performance of OLEDs based on C9-fluorenyl anthracenes.Graphical abstractHighlights► Six new C9-fluorenyl anthracenes were prepared. ► All have high glass transition temperatures above 100 °C. ► Better performance of OLEDs based on C9-fluorenyl anthracenes with C2-substituents. ► An efficiency (1.47 cd/A) and an external quantum efficiency (1.84%) at 20 mA/cm2.

Syntheses, optical, and electrochemical properties of novel C-9 fluorenyl substituted anthracenes linked by a tetrahedral sp3-hybridized carbon atom are reported for blue light emitting materials. Remarkably, an unoptimized organic light-emitting diode based on 1-fold fluorene-functionalized anthracene 3 exhibits a radiance of 4100 cd/m2 at 12 V and a maximum EL efficiency of 1.36 cd/A with color purity CIE x, y (0.157, 0.082), which is very close to the National Television System Committee standard blue.

A mild, versatile and efficient method for the silver(I)-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylative gem-difluoromethylenation has been developed. The radical cascade reaction comprises the addition of an oxidatively generated difluoromethylene radical to the isonitrile functionality and subsequent homolytic aromatic substitution. It provides a novel and efficient access to the C–CF2 bond formation.

Cu(II)-catalyzed aromatic C–H azidation with azido-benziodoxolone under mild conditions has been described. The primary amine exhibits an excellent ortho-directing effect, providing ortho-azidated anilines as the sole products.

A copper-mediated gem-difluoromethylenation of aryl, heteroaryl and vinyl boronic acids with bromodifluoromethylated oxazole or thiazole derivatives has been developed. This novel reaction showed an excellent functional group tolerance and wide substrate scope, providing facile access to practical application in drug discovery and development.

A mild, versatile and efficient method for the regioselective hydrodifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes has been developed. This Ag-mediated Csp3–CF2 bond forming reaction provides easy access to a variety of vicinal α-difluoroacetate-containing alkanes.