By involving the reversal of conventional reactivity expectations without external oxidants, we describe a novel and convenient protocol of remote cross-coupling of carbonyl compounds with a series of common and simple nucleophiles. This cross-coupling is triggered by radical trifluoromethylation of alkenes, thereby achieving highly selective remote difunctionalization of alkenes and α-position of the carbonyl group for facile access to trifluoromethyl α-halo- and α-cyanocarbonyl compounds. The reaction exhibits a broad substrate scope with excellent functionality tolerance and many different types of nucleophiles; further synthetic applicability of the obtained compounds proved to be suitable, thus showing great potential for synthetic utility.

The first highly diastereo- and enantioselective multicomponent reaction of diazooxindoles, nitrosoarenes, and nitroalkenes using a newly developed hydrogen-bond catalyst has been successfully developed for the efficient construction of a series of spirooxindole derivatives with excellent functional-group tolerance. Spirooxindoles are formed in excellent yields and stereoselectivities, and the method represents an unprecedented approach for trapping the active intermediate with a nitroalkene to form biologically important compounds having three contiguous stereogenic centers with excellent asymmetric induction.

The first highly diastereo- and enantioselective multicomponent reaction of diazooxindoles, nitrosoarenes, and nitroalkenes using a newly developed hydrogen-bond catalyst has been successfully developed for the efficient construction of a series of spirooxindole derivatives with excellent functional-group tolerance. Spirooxindoles are formed in excellent yields and stereoselectivities, and the method represents an unprecedented approach for trapping the active intermediate with a nitroalkene to form biologically important compounds having three contiguous stereogenic centers with excellent asymmetric induction.

A mild, convenient, and step-economical intramolecular aminotrifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes with a variety of electronically distinct, nitrogen-based nucleophiles in the presence of a simple copper salt catalyst, in the absence of extra ligands, is described. Many different nitrogen-based nucleophiles (e.g., basic primary aliphatic and aromatic amines, sulfonamides, carbamates, and ureas) can be employed in this new aminotrifluoromethylation reaction. The aminotrifluoromethylation process allows straightforward access to diversely substituted CF₃-containing pyrrolidines or indolines, in good to excellent yields, through a direct difunctionalization strategy from the respective acyclic starting materials. Mechanistic studies were conducted and a plausible mechanism was proposed.

The synthesis of new functionally diverse alkenyl-derived Cr-MIL-101s (MIL=material of Institute Lavoisier) was realized by a novel and convenient postsynthetic modification (PSM) protocol by means of the carboncarbon bond-forming Mizoroki–Heck reaction. The new PSM protocol demonstrates a broad scope of substrates with excellent tolerance of functionality under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, a new metal–organic framework (MOF) that bears both alkenyl and thiol side chains prepared by means of the tandem PSM method has shown excellent adsorbent ability in removing mercury ions from water.

An asymmetric unactivated alkene/CH bond difunctionalization reaction for the concomitant construction of CCF₃ and CO bonds was realized by using a Cu/Brønsted acid cooperative catalytic system, thus providing facile access to valuable chiral CF₃-containing N,O-aminals with excellent regio-, chemo-, and enantioselectivity. Mechanistic studies revealed that this reaction may proceed by an unprecedented 1,5-hydride shift involving activation of unactivated alkenes and a radical trifluoromethylation to initiate subsequent enantioselective functionalization of CH bonds. Control experiments also suggested that chiral Brønsted acid plays multiple roles and not only controls the stereoselectivity but also increases the reaction rate through activation of Togni’s reagent.

A highly efficient strategy for the kinetic resolution of axially chiral BINAM derivatives involving a chiral Brønsted acid-catalyzed imine formation and transfer hydrogenation cascade process was developed. The kinetic resolution provides a convenient route to chiral BINAM derivatives in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities.