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New enantiomerically pure 1,3-bis(2’-oxazolinyl)ferrocenes have been synthesized in good yields starting from 1,3-ferrocene dicarboxylic acid. Moreover, the possibility of performing a regioselective lithiation in position 2 of the disubstituted cyclopentadienyl ring of these compounds has been demonstrated.

The cyanobis(dibenzylamino)borane-mediated transformation of chiral aldehydes into the corresponding α-amino nitriles is described. Starting from these compounds short synthetic routes can be envisaged for obtaining diastereomerically pure functionalized 1,2-diamines and hydroxylated α-amino acids that are of interest as core key units of biologically active substances or as potential ligands for asymmetric catalysis. The stereochemical outcome of the aminative cyanation reaction is discussed. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)

A C-H activating Pd-catalysed alkenylation of indole is regiospecific for 2-substitution when the nitrogen carries a 2-pyridylmethyl substituent.

A nitrogen-containing superbase such as TMG was found to be an effective catalyst for the reaction between N-diphenylphosphinoyl imines and nitroalkanes. Exploiting a protocol that avoids the use of any solvent also during workup procedure, we synthesized a series of beta-nitroamines in excellent yields and high diastereomeric ratios. These results, combined with the capability of the indium in conjunction with Zn as the stoichiometric reducing agent to perform in aqueous medium reduction of the nitro group under mild reaction conditions, led us to devise a three-step, one-pot synthesis of a range of 1,2-diamines, making use of environmentally friendly procedures in the various steps.

N,N-Disubstituted α-aminonitriles undergo Bruylants reaction under Barbier and Reformatsky conditions with activated halides, in the presence of zinc and 10 mol% HOAc. The high yields and the simple operational conditions make this reaction an appealing, approach to N,N-disubstituted homoallylamines and β-aminoesters.