A simple and efficient route for the preparation of terphenyl derivatives via palladium-catalyzed sequential directed C―H arylation/Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling in ‘one-pot’ has been developed. 4,4′-(Cyclohexane-1,1-diyl)diphenol is an essential ligand. This reaction can tolerate a series of functional groups and provides the terphenyl derivatives in moderate to good yield. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A bis(β-diketone), 1,3-bis(4,4,4-trifluoro-1,3-dioxobutyl)phenyl (BTP), which contains a trifluorinated alkyl group, has been exploited to obtain three series of visible-light sensitive dinuclear rare-earth complexes with the general formula [Ln₂(BTP)₃L₂] [Ln = Nd, L = DME (1), bpy (2), and phen (3); Ln = Yb, L = DME (4), bpy (5), and phen (6); Ln = Er, L = DME (7); DME = ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline]. An X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that complexes 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 are triple-stranded helical dinuclear structures that are formed by three bis(bidentate) ligands with two lanthanide ions. The room-temperature near-IR luminescent properties of complexes 1–6 show that this bis(β-diketone) can effectively sensitize rare earths (Nd³⁺, Yb³⁺) and produce typical near-infrared luminescence upon excitation with visible light of the corresponding Nd³⁺ and Yb³⁺ ions. Additionally, two bidentate nitrogen ancillary ligands, 2,2-bipydine (bpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), have been applied to enhance the NIR luminescent properties.

Pd/C-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling between aryl bromides and arylboronic acids in 50% methanol aqueous solution proceeded smoothly in the presence of 18-crown-6. Various aryl bromides bearing electron-withdrawing groups and electron-donating groups coupled with arylboronic acid in high yields. In addition, the catalyst could be recycled five times without loss of activity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.