Oxidative Cross‐Coupling Reactions between Two Nucleophiles†

Abstract

Comprehensive SummaryOxidative cross‐coupling reactions between two nucleophiles have become one of the most important tools to construct chemical bonds in organic synthesis methodology. Directly using hydrocarbons to synthesize valuable chemicals is an ideal and economical process because hydrocarbons are cheap, abundant and readily available. The account covered a brief introduction about our efforts on the development of oxidative cross‐coupling reactions. We discovered this reaction model by the cross‐coupling of two organometallic reagents. Related mechanisms were revealed by the characterization of reaction intermediates and the study of reaction kinetics through operando spectroscopy, such as in‐situ IR (infrared), EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance), Raman and XAS (X‐ray absorption) spectroscopy. Representative applications, such as oxidative cross‐coupling reactions with H2 evolution, exhibited their high atom economy and step economy. What is the most favorite and original chemistry developed in your research group?Oxidative Cross‐Coupling – The chemistry between two “nucleophiles”.How do you get into this specific field? Could you please share some experiences with our readers?My first contact with palladium chemistry was the halopalladation of acetylene in 1998. Then I worked on palladium enolate and found it could initiate a transmetalation reaction. Until 2006, I found that desyl chloride (a halogenated hydrocarbon) showed different reactivity with organometallic reagents due to the halophilic and oxyphilic properties, thus we achieved the cross‐coupling between two organometallic reagents. At that moment, we started the research about “Oxidative Cross‐coupling Reactions – the chemistry between two nucleophiles.What is the most important personality for scientific research?Hard‐working, passion and ambition (安钻迷).What are your hobbies? What are your favorite book(s)?Sports. Jin Yong's martial arts novels, Morrison's Organic Chemistry, Electronic Interpretation of Organic Chemistry.