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The combined use of gold as transition metal catalyst and N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) as organic catalyst in the same solution for relay catalytic reactions was disclosed. The ynamide substrate was activated by gold catalyst to form unsaturated ketimine intermediate that subsequently reacted with the enals (via azolium enolate intermediate generated with NHC) effectively to form bicyclic lactam products with excellent diastereo‐ and enantio‐selectivities. The gold and NHC coordination and dissociation can be dynamic and tunable events, and thus allow the co‐existence of both active metal and carbene organic catalysts in appreciable concentrations, for the dual catalytic reaction to proceed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A carbene and sulfinate co‐catalyzed intermolecular Rauhut–Currier reaction between enals and nitrovinyl indoles is disclosed. The carbene catalyst activates the enal and the sulfinate co‐catalyst activates the nitrovinyl indole. Both activation processes are realized via the formation of covalent bonds between the catalysts and substrates to generate catalyst‐bound intermediates. The dual catalytic reaction affords azepino[1,2‐a]indole products with excellent stereoselectivity. Our study demonstrates the unique involvement of sulfinate as an effective nucleophilic catalyst in activating electron‐deficient alkenes for asymmetric reactions. This dual catalytic approach should also encourage future explorations of both sulfinate and carbene catalysts for new reactions. It takes two: A carbene and sulfinate co‐catalyzed intermolecular Rauhut–Currier reaction provides an efficient method to access azepino[1,2‐a]indoles with excellent stereoselectivity. The sulfinate was found to be a unique and effective nucleophilic catalyst in activating nitrovinyl indoles for the Rauhut–Currier reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new steroidal alkaloids, named hookerianine A (1) and hookerianine B (2) were isolated from the stems and roots of Sarcococca hookeriana Baill., along with two known compounds, sarcorucinine G (3) and epipachysamine D (4). On the basis of spectroscopic methods and by comparison with literature data, their structures were determined. As well as X-ray crystallography was performed to confirm compound 4. To identify novel antitumor inhibitors, all compounds were performed a CCK-8 assay against five human cancer cell lines SW480, SMMC-7721, PC3, MCF-7 and K562 in vitro. Compound 2 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities to all cell lines with IC50 values in the range of 5.97–19.44 μM. Compound 3 was the most effective one against SW480 and K562 cell lines with IC50 values of 5.77 and 6.29 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A catalyst- and metal-free electrochemical hydrodehalogenation of aryl halides is disclosed. Our reaction by a flexible protocol is operated in an undivided cell equipped with an inexpensive graphite rod anode and cathode. Trialkylamines nBu 3 N/Et 3 N behave as effective reductants and hydrogen atom donors for this electrochemical reductive reaction. Various aryl and heteroaryl bromides worked effectively. The typically less reactive aryl chlorides and fluorides can also be smoothly converted. The utility of our method is demonstrated by detoxification of harmful pesticides and hydrodebromination of a dibrominated biphenyl (analogues of flame-retardants) in gram scale., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A carbene and sulfinate co-catalyzed intermolecular Rauhut-Currier reaction between enals and nitrovinyl indoles is disclosed. The carbene catalyst activates the enal and the sulfinate co-catalyst activates the nitrovinyl indole. Both activation processes are realized via the formation of covalent bonds between the catalysts and substrates to generate catalyst-bound intermediates. The dual catalytic reaction affords azepino[1,2-a]indole products with excellent stereoselectivity. Our study demonstrates the unique involvement of sulfinate as an effective nucleophilic catalyst in activating electron-deficient alkenes for asymmetric reactions. This dual catalytic approach should also encourage future explorations of both sulfinate and carbene catalysts for new reactions., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)