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A simple electrochemical oxidation cyclization strategy for the construction of polycyclic phosphonium salts skeletons from trivalent arylphosphines was established.

Abstract: A pinacol rearrangement is a well-known reaction by which a 1,2-diol is converted to a carbonyl compound through acid-catalyzed dehydration followed by a 1,2-migration of one of the neighboring substituents. Due to the particular abilities in installing polycyclic skeletons, quaternary carbon centers, and spirocyclic cores, the pinacol rearrangement reaction is a powerful and effective means of forming carbonyl functional groups in a variety of different molecules. Moreover, the substrates with an alkene group, a furan ring or alkyl chain tethered between the two diols have also been investigated as the expansion of pinacol rearrangement. Benefiting from the continuous development of the catalysis methodologies, pinacol rearrangements demonstrate synthetic utility in the preparation of natural products, bioactive molecules, and other functionally useful compounds. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the development of pinacol rearrangement and extended pinacol rearrangement reactions catalyzed by Brønsted acid, Lewis acid, and heterogeneous catalysts. In addition, we summarize several examples use pinacol rearrangements used in the synthesis of natural products and other valuable molecules.

A supramolecular polymer was developed through the encapsulation of polypyrrole by cucurbit[6]uril (PPy@Q[6]), which was employed as the electrode material to improve the capacitor ability of conductive polypyrrole.

A novel method for the synthesis of π-conjugated phosphindolium salts via copper-mediated C-H functionalization of trisubstituted phosphines with alkynes in a single step is reported. The reactions are highly regioselective with unsymmetrical aryl-alkyl-substituted alkynes. This protocol provides an unprecedented atom- and step-efficient access to valuable phosphindolium salts.

The mechanisms and reactivities of the [Cp*RhCl2]2 and [Cp*IrCl2]2 catalyzed oxidative annulation reaction of isoquinolones with alkynes have been investigated by combined experimental and computational studies. The results have disclosed that the low reactivity of [Cp*IrCl2]2 is attributed to the electron-richness and low electronegativity of Ir(III). These factors make Ir(III) difficult to reduce to Ir(I) and thus lead to a high activation energy of the reductive elimination step. The electronic and steric effects of alkyne substituents on the reactivities have been investigated. Small-sized and strong electron-donating substituents on alkynes should enhance the reactivity of the reaction for both catalysts by not only avoiding the steric repulsion between substrates but also facilitating the reductive elimination. The rate-determining steps for reactions involving [Cp*RhCl2]2 and [Cp*IrCl2]2 are alkyne insertion and reductive elimination, respectively. When an alkyne bearing a small-sized and strong electron-donating substituent NMe2 is employed as a substrate, C–H activation becomes rate determining for both catalysts.

The cascade oxidative annulation reactions of aryl imidazoles with two molecules of alkynes via multiple C-H activation proceed efficiently in the presence of [Cp*RhCl2]2 and Cu(OAc)2·H2O to give substituted benzo[ij]imidazo[2,1,5-de]quinolizine-based polyheteroaromatic compounds. This method is compatible with various functional groups, which are very useful for further synthetic transformations.

The cascade oxidative annulation reactions of aryl imidazolium salts with alkynes proceed efficiently in the presence of [Cp*RhCl2]2 and Cu(OAc)2·H2O to give substituted imidazo[1,2-a]-quinolinium salts and benzo[ij]imidazo[2,1,5-de]quinolizinium salts. The reactions were through the normal and abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-directed cyclometalation, alkyne insertion into the Rh-C bond, and reductive elimination of alkenyl and NHC ligands. The reactions are highly regioselective with unsymmetrical alkynes and can be achieved stepwise by controlling the reaction conditions. This provides a new application of NHCs as directing groups and substrates in the synthesis of fused N-heterocyclic compounds. The N-substituting group of the benzo[ij]imidazo[2,1,5-de]quinolizinium salts could be removed successfully with pyridine to afford benzo[ij]imidazo[2,1,5-de]quinolizines in excellent yields. Moreover, some of the benzo[ij]imidazo[2,1,5-de]quinolizinium salts exhibit intense fluorescence which might be useful in organic electronic materials.

A simple method for the efficient synthesis of highly substituted pyrido[1,2-a]quinolinium- and quinolizino[3,4,5,6-ija]quinolinium-based polyheteroaromatic compounds via rhodium(III)-catalyzed multiple C–H activation annulation reactions has been developed. Moreover, some of the quinolizino[3,4,5,6-ija]quinolinium salts exhibit intense fluorescence and have potential application in optoelectronic materials.

A simple method for the efficient synthesis of highly substituted pyrido[1,2-a]quinolinium- and quinolizino[3,4,5,6-ija]quinolinium-based polyheteroaromatic compounds via rhodium(III)-catalyzed multiple C–H activation annulation reactions has been developed. Moreover, some of the quinolizino[3,4,5,6-ija]quinolinium salts exhibit intense fluorescence and have potential application in optoelectronic materials.

The cascade oxidative annulation reactions of aryl imidazoles with two molecules of alkynes via multiple C–H activation proceed efficiently in the presence of [Cp*RhCl2]2 and Cu(OAc)2·H2O to give substituted benzo[ij]imidazo[2,1,5-de]quinolizine-based polyheteroaromatic compounds. This method is compatible with various functional groups, which are very useful for further synthetic transformations.

The cascade oxidative annulation reactions of aryl imidazolium salts with alkynes proceed efficiently in the presence of [Cp*RhCl2]2 and Cu(OAc)2·H2O to give substituted imidazo[1,2-a]-quinolinium salts and benzo[ij]imidazo[2,1,5-de]quinolizinium salts. The reactions were through the normal and abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-directed cyclometalation, alkyne insertion into the Rh–C bond, and reductive elimination of alkenyl and NHC ligands. The reactions are highly regioselective with unsymmetrical alkynes and can be achieved stepwise by controlling the reaction conditions. This provides a new application of NHCs as directing groups and substrates in the synthesis of fused N-heterocyclic compounds. The N-substituting group of the benzo[ij]imidazo[2,1,5-de]quinolizinium salts could be removed successfully with pyridine to afford benzo[ij]imidazo[2,1,5-de]quinolizines in excellent yields. Moreover, some of the benzo[ij]imidazo[2,1,5-de]quinolizinium salts exhibit intense fluorescence which might be useful in organic electronic materials.