Lei Zhou

Bio: Lei Zhou is an academic researcher from University of Maryland, College Park. The author has contributed to research in topics: Lewis acids and bases & Nucleophile. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 10 publications receiving 1296 citations.

Lewis acid catalyzed indole synthesis via intramolecular nucleophilic attack of phenyldiazoacetates to iminium ions.

Abstract: Lewis acids catalyze the cyclization of methyl phenyldiazoacetates with an ortho-imino group, prepared from o-aminophenylacetic acid, to give 2,3-substituted indoles in quantitative yields.

Hetero-bis(σ-aryl)dirhodium(III) caprolactamates. Electronic communication between aryl groups through dirhodium(III)

Abstract: Fourteen hetero-bis(σ-aryl)dirhodium(III) caprolactamates that differ by the two aryl groups at the axial positions of dirhodium have been synthesized in good yield and characterized. Copper(II) catalyzed oxidation of dirhodium(II) caprolactamate at room temperature in the presence of two arylboronic acids results in a mixture of a hetero-bis(σ-aryl)dirhodium(III) caprolactamate and two homo-bis(σ-aryl)dirhodium(III) caprolactamates for each arylboronic acid combination. The UV-visλmax values for hetero-bisaryldirhodium(III) caprolactamates fall in between those for the corresponding homo-bisaryldirhodium(III) caprolactamates; electronic interaction between the two aryl groups occurs through dirhodium, but this transmission is probably indirect through the caprolactamate ligands rather than directly between rhodiums. The chemical shift for the carbon bound to Rh shows very limited dependence on the substituent from the aryl group on the adjacent Rh. Bisaryldirhodium(III) caprolactamates with electron-withdrawing substitutions have higher oxidation potentials than those with electron-donating substitutions. A plot of oxidation potentials versus the corresponding UV-visible absorption maxima for the bisaryldirhodium(III) caprolactamates shows a relationship between oxidation potentials and λmax values. The electronic/electrochemical information obtained for hetero-bis(σ-aryl)dirhodium(III) caprolactamates suggests that communication between aryl substituents occurs.

C-H bond functionalization: emerging synthetic tools for natural products and pharmaceuticals

Abstract: The direct functionalization of C-H bonds in organic compounds has recently emerged as a powerful and ideal method for the formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. This Review provides an overview of C-H bond functionalization strategies for the rapid synthesis of biologically active compounds such as natural products and pharmaceutical targets.

Copper-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative C ? H Functionalizations: Trends and Mechanistic Insights

Abstract: The selective oxidation of C-H bonds and the use of O(2) as a stoichiometric oxidant represent two prominent challenges in organic chemistry. Copper(II) is a versatile oxidant, capable of promoting a wide range of oxidative coupling reactions initiated by single-electron transfer (SET) from electron-rich organic molecules. Many of these reactions can be rendered catalytic in Cu by employing molecular oxygen as a stoichiometric oxidant to regenerate the active copper(II) catalyst. Meanwhile, numerous other recently reported Cu-catalyzed C-H oxidation reactions feature substrates that are electron-deficient or appear unlikely to undergo single-electron transfer to copper(II). In some of these cases, evidence has been obtained for the involvement of organocopper(III) intermediates in the reaction mechanism. Organometallic C-H oxidation reactions of this type represent important new opportunities for the field of Cu-catalyzed aerobic oxidations.

If C-H bonds could talk: selective C-H bond oxidation.

Abstract: C-H oxidation has a long history and an ongoing presence in research at the forefront of chemistry and interrelated fields. As such, numerous highly useful articles and reviews have been written on this subject. Logically, these are generally written from the perspective of the scope and limitations of the reagents employed. This Minireview instead attempts to emphasize chemoselectivity imposed by the nature of the substrate. Consequently, many landmark discoveries in the field of C-H oxidation are not discussed, but hopefully the perspective taken herein will allow C-H oxidation reactions to be more readily incorporated into synthetic planning.