The first example of UV light-induced, copper-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective decarboxylative coupling of α,β-unsaturated acids with alkyl iodides was reported. Under standard conditions, the 1°, 2°, and 3° alkyl iodides proceeded smoothly with the E-selective alkenes obtained in uniformly good yields and high stereoselectivities.

A traceless organosilicon template-directed meta-selective-C–H alkenylation of phenols was realized with good yields and high selectivities. The template was readily removable through F−-promoted O–Si cleavage under extremely mild conditions or recyclable through a p-TSA catalyzed process. The product was successfully applied in the preparation of a series of meta-alkenylated aromatic compounds.

In the past few years, Ru and Ir catalyzed photoredox radical coupling reactions have been widely applied in organic synthesis. In contrast, the applications of Cu catalysts in photoredox organic transformations were limited. We here report the first example of photoinduced, Cu-catalyzed three component cyanofluoroalkylation of alkenes by directly using fluoroalkyl iodides as fluoroalkylation reagents.

The first direct thiocyanation of ketene dithioacetals has been accomplished in the presence of N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) and NH4SCN under transition-metal-free conditions. The operationally simple one-pot procedure, which is insensitive to air, was found to be well-tolerated by a wide range of substrates. Terminal alkenes and hydrazine were identified to be qualified candidates for the process as well. Furthermore, the product could be successfully transformed into synthetically and biologically interesting –SCF3 substituted N-heteroaromatic compounds and thiotetrazole containing compounds.

A AgOAc catalyzed difunctionalization of activated alkenes through a difluoroamidic radical addition to afford difluoroamidated 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles has been developed. Various functional groups were well tolerated. Moreover, the product could be efficiently derived to the corresponding difluorofunctionalized alcohol, ketone, and ester in high yields. The mechanistic studies revealed that a radical pathway was involved in the transformation.

The first example of decarboxylative difluoroacetamidation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids by using difluoromethyl-substituted carbonyl compounds was disclosed. The procedure, which was mediated by low-cost and benign CuSO4, furnished a broad range of difluorinated alkenes in remarkable yields with only the E configuration in most of the cases. Moreover, the product could be smoothly transformed to the corresponding difluorofunctionalized ester and alcohol in high yields.

C–H bond phosphorylation of ketene dithioacetals was achieved under transition-metal-free or AgNO3 mediated conditions. Synthetic transformations of the coupling product provided promising methods for the construction of highly functionalized phosphorylated N-heterocycles and tetrasubstituted alkenes.

Disclosed herein is a dehydrosilylative difluoroamidation of α-Csp3–H of tetrahydroisoquinolines with α,α-difluoro-α-TMS-acetamides. The process, which occurs at ambient temperature in the absence of any transition metals, provides direct access to a broad range of α,α-difluoroacetamide-substituted tertiary amine derivatives in high yields. Moreover, the method was successfully applied in the Csp3–H-directed difluorophosphorylation and difluorocarboxylation under the same conditions.

A class of o-(trimethylsilyl)aryl fluorosulfates was synthesized by a concise method and successfully used as aryne precursors for the first time. Different trapping agents such as azides, furans, and acyl acetoacetates could successfully react with the aryne precursors under mild conditions with good to excellent yields.

A mild, versatile, and convenient method for efficient intramolecular oxytrifluoromethylthiolation of unactivated alkenes catalyzed by Cu(OAc)2 has been developed. The reactions were carried out under aerobic conditions and formed a variety of isoxazolines bearing a −SCF3 substituent.

A novel and efficient Cu(OAc)2-catalyzed oxyazidation of unactivated alkenes was developed. The reactions are easy to conduct, occur under mild conditions, and form azido-substituted isoxazolines in good yields.

The first example of a highly enantioselective vinylogous Michael-type reaction of β,β-disubstituted nitroalkenes is disclosed. A series of biologically important chiral oxindoles, featuring a trifluoromethylated all-carbon quaternary chiral center, were obtained in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).

A highly enantioselective vinylogous Michael addition reaction of 3-alkylidene oxindoles to α-substituted β-nitroacrylates has been developed by using a cinchona alkaloid-squaramide bifunctional organocatalyst, which provides a series of chiral products bearing all-carbon quaternary stereocenters in excellent yields with high enantioselectives (up to 97%).

A highly regioselective intramolecular oxy-fluorination of alkenyl oximes was achieved. This new transformation represents an efficient method for the preparation of monofluoromethyl-substituted isoxazolines. The synthetic application of the oxy-fluorination product was demonstrated by a one-step synthesis of monofluoromethyl-substituted β-hydroxyl ketone derivatives.