We describe a simple and highly efficient procedure for the single-step preparation of isatins from the commercially available anilines using H-β zeolite as a truly heterogeneous catalyst. H-β zeolite is readily separated from reaction mixture by simple filtration and reused several times without considerable loss of activity.

The first multicomponent catalytic asymmetric synthesis of spiroacetals has been described. Hybrid molecules comprising a spiroacetal scaffold (a natural-product inspired scaffold) and an α-amino acid motif (a privileged fragment) are easily available through a gold phosphate-catalysed one-pot three component coupling reaction of alkynols, anilines and glyoxylic acid.

The proline-catalyzed direct asymmetric Mannich reaction between cyclohexanone, formaldehyde, and various anilines is thermally accelerated. With only 0.5 mol % of catalyst, Mannich products with up to 98% ee have been obtained after a short period of time in reactions performed under microwave irradiation. In situ reduction of the resulting ketones affords N-aryl amino alcohols in up to 86% yi...

Isoindolines are synthesized by palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of N-(2-iodobenzyl) anilines with α,β-unsaturated N-tosylhydrazones. The reaction has several potential advantages: (1) toleration of a wide range of functional groups, (2) easy to handle and with mild conditions, (3) enriches the isoindoline family, (4) two new bonds form in one step.

Abstract: Aryl halides and aryl triflates (triflate = trifluoromethanesulfonyl) are coupled with N-compounds to give the corresponding arylamines or arylhydrazines in the presence of a palladium catalyst, a suitable ligand, and a base. Catalyst systems consisting of palladium (II) and BINAP or triphenylphosphine are generally effective for the amination of a wide range of aryl halides and aryl ...

A novel palladium-catalyzed C-H double carbonylation introduces two adjacent carbonyl groups for the synthesis of isatins from readily available anilines. The reaction proceeds under atmospheric pressure of CO with high regioselectivity and without any additives. Density functional theory investigations indicate that the palladium-catalyzed double carbonylation catalytic cycle is plausible.