A direct asymmetric dearomative amination of tryptamines with O-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydroxylamine (DPH) was achieved using CuBr-bisoxazoline complex as a catalyst, affording 3a-amino-pyrroloindolines in good to excellent enantioselectivity under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, the synthetic value of this method was demonstrated in the total synthesis of (−)-psychotriasine in a highly concise manner.

A direct asymmetric dearomative amination of tryptamines with O-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydroxylamine (DPH) was achieved using CuBr-bisoxazoline complex as a catalyst, affording 3a-amino-pyrroloindolines in good to excellent enantioselectivity under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, the synthetic value of this method was demonstrated in the total synthesis of (−)-psychotriasine in a highly concise manner.

A new type of trisoxazoline and bisthiazoline based ligands have been developed,which are absent of chiral motif on the parent skeleton and containa chiral backbone on sidearm. The ligands promote the amine nucleophilic ring opening reaction of 1,1-cyclopropane diesters smoothly, furnishing the γ-amino acid derivatives in high yield with moderate to good enantioselectivity.

An Umpolung approach, in which a phosphorus ylide moiety was introduced to increase the electron density of the double bond, was developed to activate electron-deficient alkenes for reaction with electrophilic iron carbenes. In tandem with the Wittig reaction, the reactions of α,β-unsaturated esters with in situ generated Fecarbene complexes delivered formal CH insertion products through cyclopropanation/ring-opening reactions. DFT calculations and cross-experiments indicate that, in this process, the ring opening of the cyclopropylmethyl ylide intermediate is rapid and reversible and the subsequent proton transfer is the rate-determining step. Further studies revealed that, based on the choice of the ylide and ester groups, as well as the base, the reaction could be steered towards either the ring-opening pathway or to the production of vinyl cyclopropanes.

By a reasonable combination of the Wacker reaction and olefin polymerization processes, water proves to be an excellent activator for the palladium(II)-catalyzed polymerization of ethylene and it provides a safe, environmental-friendly and handy initiator for olefin polymerization. The activity of the olefin polymerization is comparable to reactions catalyzed by the corresponding alkylated cationic palladium complexes.

1-Aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid derivatives are synthesized from readily available dehydroamino acid derivatives via sulfur ylide. A range of different ylides are employed and the corresponding aminocyclopropanes are afforded with reasonable diastereoselection in good yields.