@article{zhu_lindsay_2019, title={Benzimidazolyl Palladium Complexes as Highly Active and General Bifunctional Catalysts in Sustainable Cross-Coupling Reactions}, volume={9}, ISSN={["2155-5435"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.9b02420}, DOI={10.1021/acscatal.9b02420}, abstractNote={A family of air- and moisture-stable dinuclear palladium complexes bearing 2-benzimidazolyl ligands is reported and shown to be a highly effective and general catalytic platform in diverse cross-coupling reactions. The rigidity and conformation of the ligand scaffold was readily modified via tethering of the 2-benzimidazolyl moiety to diamine ligands, resulting in significant changes in catalytic activity. Under optimal conditions, Suzuki, Heck, and Sonogashira-type couplings of aryl bromides can all be performed efficiently with good functional group compatibility using only 0.1 mol % of catalyst, in aqueous or alcohol solvents. Experimental evidence highlights the importance of the bifunctional character of the ligand for catalytic activity, where the basic N-functionality in the ligand framework is proposed to accelerate (trans)metalation steps via intramolecular assistance.}, number={8}, journal={ACS CATALYSIS}, publisher={American Chemical Society (ACS)}, author={Zhu, Jiancheng and Lindsay, Vincent N. G.}, year={2019}, month={Aug}, pages={6993–6998} }
 @article{zhu_enamorado_comins_2016, title={Synthesis of C-4 Substituted Amido Nicotine Derivatives via Copper(I)- and (II)-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions}, volume={81}, ISSN={["0022-3263"]}, DOI={10.1021/acs.joc.6b02319}, abstractNote={The syntheses of seven novel amido nicotine derivatives 12-18 from (S)-nicotine are presented. (S)-Nicotine and (S)-6-chloronicotine derivatives were cross-coupled with the corresponding amides 6-10 at the C-4 position of the pyridine ring via copper(I)-mediated reactions. Derivatives 16-18 were also obtained via copper(II)-mediated reactions from (S)-nicotine containing a C-4 boronic acid pinacol ester group. The optimization of reaction conditions for both routes provided a useful method for preparing C-4 amide-containing nicotine analogs.}, number={22}, journal={JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY}, author={Zhu, Jiancheng and Enamorado, Monica F. and Comins, Daniel L.}, year={2016}, month={Nov}, pages={11529–11534} }