Asymmetric ring-expansion reactions of silacyclobutanes (SCBs) with alkynes have evolved as one of the powerful protocols for the construction of silicon-stereogenic compounds. However, the achievement of highly enantioselective annulation of SCBs with terminal alkynes remains a challenge. Herein, we report a rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric annulation reaction of SCBs with terminal alkynes, which relies on the newly identified chiral sulfinamide phosphine ligand Ming-Phos. This catalytic system exhibits unique effects under mild conditions, leading to the direct synthesis of structurally diverse chiral silacycles in moderate to good yields with high enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee).
Catalytic fixed-bed is an efficient and facile system for scalable organic synthesis due to its continuous and fast flow operation process. As a key unit in the fixed-bed system, catalytically active packing materials are required to possess some properties, such as high activity, excellent stability, and porous packing structure. Herein, we prepare a fibrous fixed-bed catalyst by anchoring Pd nanoparticles on N-doped graphene fiber (NHG) (Pd/NGF). Due to the porous and loose packing structure, the resultant Pd/NGF catalyst can be easily filled into the continuous-flow reactor to construct a fixed-bed system with low flow resistance. The corresponding catalytic fixed-bed system exhibits a favourable flow rate (8 mL/min) and excellent durability toward reduction reactions of N-containing unsaturated compounds to produce aromatic amines. This work provides a new design concept of fibrous fixed-bed catalysts with dual-active components (i.e., graphene-derived active materials and metal nanoparticles) and catalytic organic synthesis in a continuous-flow process.
The nitrile compounds are present in a variety of biologically active natural products and pharmaceuticals, and the nitrile groups are versatile synthetic intermediates to other functionalized compounds. Herein, the asymmetric reduction of α, β-unsaturated nitriles with water as a hydrogen source is reported. The reaction is catalyzed by the complex of [Ir(COD)Cl]2 and (Ra, S)-Ph-Bn-SiPhox, and allows the preparation of useful enantioenriched chiral 3,3-disubstituted propionitriles with high optical purities in mild conditions.

