An unexpected reaction of cinnamylanilines was achieved through the radical cation salt‐induced aerobic oxidation of sp3 C H bonds, providing a series of 2‐arylquinolines. The mechanistic study shows that the cinnamylaniline was oxidized to an imine, which was attacked by the aniline generated through decomposition of the corresponding imine. After further intramolecular cyclization and aromatization, 2‐arylquinolines were obtained. This reaction provides a new method to construct 2‐arylquinolines from readily accessible starting materials.
Concepts to facilitate the conversion of epoxides with carbon dioxide to the corresponding cyclic carbonates commonly focus on the activation of the epoxide. Herein we report a catalytic system which allows the simultaneous activation of carbon dioxide and the epoxide. This convergent activation concept is realized by combining a suitable carbene as catalyst for the carbon dioxide activation with a second catalytic system based on potassium iodide for epoxide activation. Initial experiments showed synergistic effects and thus proving the feasibility of this activation concept. Moreover a standard protocol was developed and the substrate scope under these conditions has been studied. Under mild and solvent‐free conditions 14 epoxides could be converted. The respective cyclic carbonates were obtained in good to excellent yields with selectivities ≥ 99 % after simple filtration.
A simple N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) derived from 1‐methyl‐3‐ethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate was found to be an efficient ligand for a range of copper‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions, leading to the formation of aromatic ethers and thioethers.
