Xiang-Yu Chen, Kun-Quan Chen, De-Qun Sun* and Song Ye*

Being a step- and atom-economical process via C–H functionalization, the oxidative cross coupling reaction is of great value in modern organic synthesis. The oxidative coupling of two enolates is a powerful route to 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds, which has been well established. However, the oxidative cross coupling of homoenolate and enolate remains unexplored but is highly desired for the construction of 1,5-dicarbonyl and related compounds.

Recently, the reaserchers in LMRF for the first time developed an N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed oxidative cross coupling of homoenolate and enolate through radical pathway. The coupling of homoenolate radical, catalytic generated from enals, and enolate radical gave the targeted oxidative cross coupling products in good yields with high enantioselectivities.This work has been published in Chem. Sci., 2017, 8, 1936-1941.