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The exploration of green C–H oxidation for the rapid construction of functional molecules, remains a permanent goal in synthetic chemistry.

Modular construction of polyfunctional arenes from abundant feedstocks stands as an unremitting pursue in synthetic chemistry, accelerating the discovery of drugs and materials. Herein, using the multiple C-H activation strategy with versatile imidate esters, the expedient delivery of molecular libraries of densely functionalized sulfur-containing arenes was achieved, which enabled the concise construction of biologically active molecules, such as Bipenamol.

The exploration of weak coordinated amine derivative enabled regioselective C-H functionalization remains challenging due to the elusive achievement of reactivity and selectivity simultaneously. Herein, regioselective C-H alkynylation of various readily transformable nitrogen functionalities was developed with great efficiency, with the assistance of the mono-N-protected amino acid (MPAA) ligand via Pd(ii) catalysis proceeding via 5, 6 and 7-membered palladacycle intermediates.

A phosphoryl radical-initiated Atherton-Todd-type reaction using air as the radical initiator and CHCl3 as the halogenating reagent for the phosphorylation of alcohols, phenols, and amines has been developed. This novel transformation provides a highly efficient route to important phosphinates, phosphinic amides, and phosphoramidates in up to 99% yield with a broad substrate scope under very mild conditions (48 examples).

A facile and highly regioselective Pd-catalyzed oxidative coupling of N-tosylhydrazones providing efficient access to 2,3-disubstituted-1,3-butadienes has been developed. This process features readily available starting materials and mild reaction conditions. Further transformations of the obtained dibranched 1,3-dienes, through Diels-Alder reactions and indene synthesis, are also demonstrated, which reveal their great potential for synthetic utility.

With atmospheric oxygen as the oxidant, a novel copper(I)-catalyzed synthesis of aryl methyl sulfones from aryl halides and widely available DMSO is described. The procedure tolerates aryl halides with various functional groups (such as methoxy, acetyl, chloro, fluoro and nitro groups), which could afford aryl methyl sulfones in moderate to high yields. The copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidation and the cleavage/formation of C-S bond are the key steps for this transformation.