Nitrogen containing compounds are of great importance because of their interesting and diverse biological activities. The construction of the C–N bond is of significant importance as it opens avenues for the introduction of nitrogen in organic molecules. Despite significant advancements in this field, the construction of the C–N bond is still a major challenge for organic chemists, due to the involvement of harsh reaction conditions or the use of expensive catalysts in many cases. Thus, it is a challenge to develop alternative, milder and cheaper methodologies for the construction of C–N bonds. Herein, we have selected some prime literature reports that may serve this purpose.

C–N bond forming cross-coupling reactions: an overview

In this critical review the applications of gold catalysed reactions in total synthesis during the years since our last article are reviewed. At the end of this article a literature analysis is conducted to evaluate the progress in this field.

Gold catalysis in total synthesis – recent achievements

A review on recent developments of indole-containing antiviral agents.

Metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions belong to the most important transformations in organic synthesis Copper catalysis has received great attention owing to the low toxicity and low cost of copper However, traditional Ullmann-type couplings suffer from limited substrate scopes and harsh reaction conditions The introduction of several bidentate ligands, such as amino acids, diamines, 1,3-diketones, and oxalic diamides, over the past two decades has totally changed this situation as these ligands enable the copper-catalyzed coupling of aryl halides and nucleophiles at both low reaction temperatures and catalyst loadings The reaction scope has also been greatly expanded, rendering this copper-based cross-coupling attractive for both academia and industry In this Review, we have summarized the latest progress in the development of useful reaction conditions for the coupling of (hetero)aryl halides with different nucleophiles Additionally, recent advances in copper-catalyzed coupling reactions with aryl boronates and the copper-based trifluoromethylation of aromatic electrophiles will be discussed

Selected Copper-Based Reactions for C-N, C-O, C-S and C-C Bond Formation

Indoles as therapeutics of interest in medicinal chemistry: Bird's eye view.

Three new indole alkaloids from Trigonostemon lii.

CuI/DMPAO-Catalyzed N-Arylation of Acyclic Secondary Amines

Aphanamixoid A, a Potent Defensive Limonoid, with a New Carbon Skeleton from Aphanamixis polystachya

Three indole alkaloid glycosides, strobilanthosides A-C (1-3), two known indole alkaloid glucosides (4 and 5), and five phenylethanoid glycosides (8-10) were isolated from the aerial parts of Strobilanthes cusia. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectrometric analysis, and the absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were established by ECD spectrocsopy. N'-β-d-Glucopyranosylindirubin (5) showed weak antibacterial activity (MIC 62.5-125 μM) against Staphylococcus aureus.

Yu Zhang

Papers

Three new indole alkaloids from Trigonostemon lii.

CuI/DMPAO-Catalyzed N-Arylation of Acyclic Secondary Amines

Aphanamixoid A, a Potent Defensive Limonoid, with a New Carbon Skeleton from Aphanamixis polystachya

Indole Alkaloid Glycosides From the Aerial Parts of Strobilanthes Cusia

Daphmalenines A and B: Two New Alkaloids with Unusual Skeletons from Daphniphyllum himalense