A facile, metal-free protocol has been developed for the remote trifluoromethylation of 8-aminoquinoline scaffolds on the C5 position, which is difficult to functionalize. In this method, 8-aminoquinolineamides reacted with an inexpensive and commercially available CF₃ source (Langlois reagent) to give a wide range of trifluoromethylated aminoquinolineamides.

A new iron(III)-catalyzed synthesis of β-oxo sulfones is described that employs vinylarenes and readily available dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with hydrazine and oxygen as the oxidant. The reaction tolerates various functional group substituents on the vinylarene substrates to afford β-oxo sulfones in moderate to good yields. The cleavage and formation of the C–S bond are the key steps of this transformation.

An iron(III)-catalyzed one-pot three-component cross-coupling nitration reaction of 2-aminopyridines, aldehydes and nitroalkanes, straightforwardly forms imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives and is described in this report. The system shows good functional-group tolerance and proceeds smoothly in moderate to good yields.

An efficient Pd-catalyzed method for the synthesis of N-substituted pyridin-1(2H)-ones was developed. The corresponding derivatives, which can be found in numerous biologically active compounds, were obtained in good to excellent yields. A possible mechanism for this reaction is discussed.

Benzohydroxamic acid reacts with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in the presence of 10 mol% NaOAc to generate (E)-N-(1,4-dimethoxy-1,4-dioxobutan-2-ylidene)-1-phenylcarboxamide oxide in good-to-excellent yield in water at room temperature for 2 h, which supplies a simple, efficient and environmentally friendly method to synthesize a wide range of nitrones. The benefits of this strategy not only conform to the requirment of green chemisty, but also possess atom economy.