Oxidation/Alkylation of Amino Acids with α-Bromo Carbonyls Catalyzed by Copper and Quick Access to HDAC Inhibitor.

A facile and efficient method was reported for Cu-catalyzed selective α-alkylation processes of amino acids/peptides and α-bromo esters/ketones through a radical-radical coupling pathway. The reaction displays an excellent functional group tolerance and broad substrate scope, allowing access to desired products in moderate to excellent yields. Notably, this method is distinguished by site-specificity and exhibits total selectivity for aryl glycine motifs over other amino acid units. Furthermore, the practicality of this strategy is certified by the efficient synthesis of the novel SAHA phenylalanine-containing analogue (SPACA).

Alkenyl Thioetherification Enabled by Nickel Catalysis.

This paper describes an efficient strategy to promote alkenyl thioetherifications via the Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling of inactivated or ß-aryl-substituted (E)-alkenyl halides with thio-alcohols/phenols. The present strategy with easy-to-operate reaction conditions represents one of the most effective alkenyl C(sp2)-S bond-forming methods via readily accessible nickel catalysis. Notably, the mildly basic conditions employed facilitate access to a broad scope including protected amino acids, saccharides, and heterocycles. Moreover, this work presents its attractive usefulness by the application in late-stage modifications of several structurally complex natural products and pharmaceuticals.