A method for cobalt-catalyzed ortho-C–H functionalization annulation of arenes and alkenes with alkynylsilanes assisted by 8-aminoquinolyl auxiliary has been described. Alkynylsilanes were employed as the coupling partners to react with a broad range of benzamides and acrylamides, affording the corresponding isoquinolone and pyridone derivatives in moderate to high yields. It is worth noting that the silyl group in the final products can be retained or removed by switching the reaction conditions.

Bio-based coating materials were prepared from epoxidized soybean oil as a renewable source. Acetoacetylated soybean oil was synthesized by the ring-opened and transesterification reaction of epoxidized soybean oil, and its chemical structure was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and rheometric viscosity analyses. On the basis of acetoacetylated soybean oil, several bio-based coating materials were prepared using different aromatic dicarboxaldehydes (1,2-benzenedialdehyde, 1,3-benzenedialdehyde, 1,4-phthalaldehyde, 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxaldehyde) and characterized. The resulting films possess good performance, including the highest glass transition temperature of 54 °C, a Young’s modulus of 24.91 MPa, tensile strength of 5.65 MPa, and an elongation at break of 286%. Thus, this work demonstrates the Knoevenagel condensation reaction, which is based on soybean oil as a potential newer eco-friendly raw material.

The Ni(II)-catalyzed intermolecular arylation of unactivated alkenes with arylboronic acids has been disclosed for the first time. This alkene arylation exhibits excellent E/Z selectivity and regioselectivity (γ-selectivity) to provide the corresponding γ-aryl substituted β,γ-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives with E-selectivity. A Heck-type mechanism is proposed, wherein the 8-aminoquinoline auxiliary group takes the crucial role of the alkenes in the insertion/β-H elimination steps.