Synthesis of Polysubstituted Benzenes via the Vinylogous Michael Addition of Alkylidenemalononitriles to 2‐(1,3‐Dioxo‐1H‐inden‐2(3H)‐ylidene)malononitrile

An efficient synthesis for polysubstituted benzenes was successfully developed by the reaction of ninhydrin (=2,2‐dihydroxyindane‐1,3‐dione), malononitrile (=propanedinitrile), and alkylidenemalononitrile. The method involves vinylogous Michael addition of alkylidenemalononitrile to 2‐(1,3‐dioxo‐1H‐inden‐2(3H)‐ylidene)malononitrile, which formed by condensation of malononitrile and ninhydrin in the presence of Et₃N, and the alcoholic solvent has participated in the reaction as a reagent. The method has the advantages of good yields and of not requiring a metal catalyst. The structures were confirmed spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS) and by elemental analyses, and, in the case of 2c , by X‐ray crystallography. A plausible mechanism for this reaction is proposed (Scheme).     

Dicyano(7‐methyl‐6‐oxo‐6H‐dibenzo[b,d]pyran‐9‐yl)methanide Salts via a Multicomponent Reaction

Dialkylammonium dicyano(7‐methyl‐6‐oxo‐6H‐dibenzo[b,d]pyran‐9‐yl)methanides 4a – 4j are obtained in good yields via a simple reaction between 3‐acetylcoumarins (=3‐acetyl‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐ones) 1 and malononitrile ( 2 ) in EtOH (Table 1). In this reaction, a charge‐separated zwitterionic salt is formed.     

An Efficient Synthesis of 3‐(1H‐Tetrazol‐5‐yl)coumarins (=3‐(1H‐Tetrazol‐5‐yl)‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐ones) via Domino Knoevenagel Condensation,Pinner Reaction,and 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition in Water

A novel straightforward synthesis of 3‐(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)coumarins (=3‐(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐ones) 6 via domino Knoevenagel condensation, Pinner reaction, and 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of substituted salicylaldehydes (=2‐hydroxybenzaldehydes), malononitrile (propanedinitrile), and sodium azide in H₂O is reported (Scheme 1 and Table 2). This general protocol provides a wide variety of 3‐(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)coumarins in good yields under mild reaction conditions.     

A Novel and Efficient Synthesis of 3‐[(4,5‐Dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐chromen‐2‐ones (=3‐[(4,5‐Dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐ones)

An efficient one‐pot synthesis of 3‐[(4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one (=3‐[(4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) derivatives 4 by a four‐component reaction of a salicylaldehyde 1 , 4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one, a benzylamine 2 , and a diaroylacetylene (=1,4‐diarylbut‐2‐yne‐1,4‐dione) 3 in EtOH is reported. This new protocol has the advantages of high yields (Table), and convenient operation. The structures of these coumarin (=2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) derivatives, which are important compounds in organic chemistry, were confirmed spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS) and by elemental analyses. A plausible mechanism for this reaction is proposed (Scheme 2).     

One‐Pot Diastereoselective Synthesis of Densely Functionalized 2H‐Indeno[2,1‐b]furans. Single‐Crystal X‐Ray Structure of Dimethyl 8,8a‐Dihydro‐8‐oxo‐8a‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethoxy)‐2H‐indeno[2,1‐b]furan‐2,3‐di­carboxylate

Highly reactive 1 : 1 intermediates were produced in the reaction of Ph₃P and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates (=dialkyl but‐2‐ynedioates). Protonation of these intermediates by alcohols (2,2,2‐trichloroethanol, propargyl alcohol (=prop‐2‐yn‐1‐ol), MeOH, benzyl alcohol, and allyl alcohol (=prop‐2‐en‐1‐ol) led to vinyltriphenylphosphonium salts 4 , which underwent a Michael addition reaction with the conjugate base to produce the corresponding stabilized phosphonium ylides 5 (Scheme). Wittig reaction of the stabilized phosphonium ylides with ninhydrin ( 6 ) led to the corresponding densely functionalized 2H‐indeno[2,1‐b]furans 10 in fairly good yields (Table 1). The structures of the final products were confirmed by IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The configuration of dimethyl 8,8a‐dihydro‐8‐oxo‐8a‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethoxy)‐2H‐indeno[2,1‐b]furan‐2,3‐dicarboxylate ( 10a ) was established by a single‐crystal X‐ray structure determination, establishing that the one‐pot multicomponent condensation reaction was completely diastereoselective.     

A One‐Pot Biginelli Synthesis of 6‐Unsubstituted 5‐Aroylpyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones and 6‐Acetyl‐1,2,4‐triazin‐3(2H)‐ones

The three‐component Biginelli‐like cyclocondensation reaction of enamines 1 , urea, and aldehydes in dioxane/acetic acid efficiently afforded the corresponding 6‐unsubstituted 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones 2 in good yields (Scheme 1, Table). The corresponding reaction of azaenamine (=hydrazone) 7 with benzaldehyde and urea afforded 6‐acetyl‐1,2,4‐triazin‐3(2H)‐ones in good yields (Scheme 3).     

Photochemistry of 1‐Cyclopropyl‐6‐fluoro‐1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐7‐ (piperazin‐1‐yl)quinoline‐3‐carboxylic Acid (=Ciprofloxacin) in Aqueous Solutions

The 1‐cyclopropyl‐6‐fluoro‐1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐7‐(piperazin‐1‐yl)quinoline‐3‐carboxylic acid (=ciprofloxacin; 1 ) undergoes low‐efficiency (Φ=0.07) substitution of the 6‐fluoro by an OH group on irradiation in H₂O via the ππ* triplet (detected by flash photolysis, λ_max 610 nm, τ 1.5 μs). Decarboxylation is a minor process (≤5%). The addition of sodium sulfite or phosphate changes the course of the reaction under neutral conditions. Reductive defluorination is the main process in the first case, while defluorination is accompanied by degradation of the piperazine moiety in the presence of phosphate. In both cases, the initial step is electron‐transfer quenching of the triplet (k_q=2.3⋅10⁸M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 2.2⋅10⁷M ⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively). Oxoquinoline derivative 1 is much more photostable under acidic conditions, and in this case the F‐atom is conserved, and the piperazine group is stepwise degraded (Φ=0.001).     

Reaction of 2‐Phenyl‐4‐arylidene‐1,3‐oxazolones with Different Nucleophiles for Synthesis of Some New Heterocycles

Refluxing of 1,3‐oxazolone ( 1a ) with malononitrile in dry benzene and in the presence of ammonium acetate afforded imidazolone derivative ( 2 ). However, carrying out the same reaction in absolute ethanol and in the presence of piperidine as a base gave the benzamide derivative ( 4 ). Fusion of ( 1a ) with p‐anisidine gave the open adduct benzamide ( 6 ), which cyclized in acidic medium to give imidazolone derivative ( 7 ). Heating of imidazolone ( 7 ) with malononitrile above its melting point afforded 1,3‐diazepine derivative ( 8 ). Reaction of the carbohydrazide ( 9 ) with isatin in ethanol gives the corresponding Schiff base ( 11 ), which then reacted with acetyl acetone, ethyl acetoacetate, ethyl cyanoacetate, and malononitrile in n‐butanol and piperidine to afford benzamide derivative ( 13 , 14 , 15 ) and ( 16 ), respectively. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were established on the basis of IR, ¹H‐NMR, mass spectra, and elemental analyses.     

A Green Synthesis of 7‐amino‐5‐(4‐aroyl)‐1,3‐dimethyl‐2,4‐dioxo‐1,2,3,4,5,8‐hexahydropyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidine‐6‐carbonitrile Derivatives by a One‐pot Three‐component Reaction

The synthesis of polyfunctionalized 7‐amino‐5‐(4‐aroyl)‐1,3‐dimethyl‐2,4‐dioxo‐1,2,3,4,5,8‐hexahydropyrido[2,3‐d ]pyrimidine‐6‐carbonitrile derivatives by a green approach was achieved via one‐pot three‐component reaction of arylglyoxals, malononitrile, and 1,3‐dimethyl‐6‐aminouracil in the presence of urea as organocatalyst in EtOH:H₂O (1:1) at 60°C. This protocol provides a mild and fast procedure to structurally diverse bicyclic pyridopyrimidines in good to excellent yields.     

An Efficient One‐pot Three‐component Method for the Synthesis of 5‐Amino‐3‐(2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐3‐yl)‐7‐aryl‐7H‐thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyridine‐6,8‐dicarbonitriles

A facile, convenient, and adequate method has been developed for the synthesis of novel 5‐amino‐3‐(2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐3‐yl)‐7‐aryl‐7H‐thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyridine‐6,8‐dicarbonitriles ( 6 ) by employing 2‐(4‐(2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐3‐yl)thiazol‐2‐yl)acetonitrile ( 3 ) as an important precursor. Initially, we have synthesized the target compounds in a stepwise manner and then approached a tandem method to examine the feasibility of one‐pot method. Subsequently, one‐pot three‐component protocol has been established for the synthesis of title compounds by the reaction of 3 with benzaldehyde and malononitrile in refluxing ethanol engender a new six‐membered thiazolo[3,2‐a] pyridine as a hybrid scaffold. Reaction conditions were optimized for this reaction and a broad substrate scope with various aryl and heteroaryl aldehydes make this protocol very practical, attractive, and worthy. Mechanistic aspects for the formation of these compounds were outlined comprehensively. Characterization of these newly synthesized compounds was achieved by means of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and HRMS.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of Pyrido[2,3‐d]Pyrimidine‐2‐Thiones and a Study of Their Reactivity Towards Some Reagents

A series of pyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidine‐2‐thione derivatives ( 5a‐c ) were synthesized by the one‐pot reaction of the appropriate aldehyde, malononitrile and 6‐aminothiouracil ( 1 ) in dimethyl‐formamide. The same compounds were also synthesized by the reaction of arylidine malononitrile ( 4 ) with 6‐aminothiouracil ( 1 ). Moreover, the chemical behaviour of the produced pyrimidines towards different reagents was studied.     

A Novel and Efficient Synthesis of Pyrido[1,2‐a]‐Fused 1,3‐Diazaheterocyclic Compounds via a One‐Pot Three‐Component Reaction

An efficient one‐pot synthesis of pyrido[1,2‐a]‐fused 1,3‐diazaheterocyclic compounds by three‐component reaction of diamine, nitroketene dithioacetal (=1,1‐bis(methylsulfanyl)‐2‐nitroethene), and electron‐poor itaconic anhydride (=2‐methylidenesuccinic anhydride=2‐methylidenebutanedioic anhydride) in aqueous EtOH is reported. This protocol has the advantages of easiness, higher yields, and shorter reaction times. The structures were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS) and by elemental analyses. A plausible mechanism for this type of cyclization is proposed (Scheme 2).     

Synthesis of chloro,fluoro, and nitro derivatives of 7‐amino‐5‐aryl‐6‐cyano‐5H‐pyrano pyrimidin‐2,4‐diones using organic catalysts and their antimicrobial and anticancer activities

Chloro, fluoro, and nitro derivatives of 7‐amino‐5‐aryl‐6‐cyano‐5H‐pyrano pyrimidin‐2,4‐diones were produced by reacting malononitrile, barbituric acid, and aromatic aldehydes together with a DABCO catalyst in an aqueous one‐pot reaction. This is the first report of these compounds being synthesized with DABCO as a catalyst, which produced the compounds in yields in excess of 90%. The 2,4‐difluoro derivative ( 11 ) was novel. The structures of the synthesized compounds were elucidated by means of ¹H, ¹³C, and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Compound 2 (2‐Cl derivative) had MBC values of <200μM against both Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA, and the 2‐nitro derivative 5 had an MBC of 191μM against the Gram–ve Escherichia coli. The synthesized compounds were also tested for their anticancer activity against a HeLa cell line, where all the compounds showed better activity (IC₅₀ values between 129μM and 340μM) than 5‐fluorouracil, a commonly known anticancer drug.     

Selenium‐Containing Heterocycles from Isoselenocyanates: Base‐Catalyzed Reaction of Malononitrile with Phenyl Isoselenocyanate and Bromoacetonitrile or α‐Halogenated Ketones

The reaction of phenyl isoselenocyanate ( 1a ) with malononitrile (=propanedinitrile) in DMF in the presence of Et₃N leads to the intermediate ketene N,Se‐hemiacetal 6a , which can be trapped with bromoacetonitrile or α‐halogenated ketones 12a and 12b (Scheme 3). The products are [(alkylseleno)(phenylamino)methylene]malononitriles 10 and 13 , which are obtained in good yield. In the case of the (2‐oxoalkyl)seleno derivatives 13 , they are in equilibrium with the cyclic hemiacetals 14 . Chemical and spectroscopic evidence for the structures of the new compounds are described. The structure of 14a was established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Chemoselective Route for Synthesis of N‐Aryl‐3‐oxochromeno[2,3‐c]pyrazole‐2(3H)‐carbothioamide Derivatives

A chemoselective route for the synthesis of chromeno[2,3‐c]pyrazole‐2(3H)‐carbothioamide derivatives by a five‐component reaction of salicylaldehyde, malononitrile, NH₂NH₂?H₂O, aryl isothiocyanate, and H₂O in EtOH/AcOH mixture is reported. This new protocol has the advantages of high yields, short reaction times, ease of operation, and simple purification. All structures were confirmed by IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and MS analyses. A plausible mechanism for this type of reaction is proposed (Scheme 2).     

Action of Hydrazines on 2‐(2‐Oxindolin‐3‐ylidene)malononitrile, (E,Z)‐Ethyl 2‐cyano‐2‐(2‐oxindolin‐3‐ylidene)acetate and Isatin‐β‐thiosemicarbazone as a Source of Spiro Indoline‐pyrazole Systems

2‐(2‐Oxindolin‐3‐ylidene)malononitrile ( 1a ) or (E,Z)‐ethyl 2‐cyano‐2‐(2‐oxindolin‐3‐ylidene)acetate ( 1b ) or isatin‐β‐thiosemicarbazone ( 1c ) undergoes reactions with prototype hydrazine hydrate itself and some of its simple congeners to give hydrazone derivatives bearing indoline‐2‐one moiety ( 2 ). The hydrazone derivatives ( 2 ) when heated with acetyl acetone or ethyl acetoacetate in dry pyridine afforded the spiro indoline derivatives ( 3a , 3b ). Also, cinnoline derivative ( 9 ) is obtained by action of hydrazine hydrate on the N‐acetyl derivative of ( 6a ). The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were evaluated by IR, ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy, mass spectra and elemental analyses.     

An Eco‐friendly Synthesis of Some Novel 4‐methyl‐4‐hetaryl Chromene and Pyrano[2,3‐c]pyrazole Derivatives

Some novel chromene and pyrano[2,3‐c ]pyrazole derivatives could be achieved successfully by reacting cyclic β‐diketones with 2‐acetylfuran/2‐acetylthiophene and malononitrile in a one‐pot synthesis. Active methylene pyrazolones reacted with 2‐(1‐furan‐2‐yl‐ethylidene)‐malononitrile and 2‐(1‐thiophen‐2‐yl‐ethylidene)‐malononitrile derivatives to afford the desired pyrano[2,3‐c ]pyrazole derivatives. Structures of all new compounds were established based on analytical and spectral data as well as X‐ray crystallography. A plausible mechanism for the reaction is suggested. The solvents and catalyst used are environmentally benign, and no hazardous solvents or heavy metals were involved.     

An Approach to the Synthesis of Spiro[indene‐pyridoisoquinoline] Derivatives via 1,4‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Isoquinoline and Acetylene Esters,and (1,3‐Dihydro‐1,3‐dioxo‐2H‐inden‐2‐ylidene)malononitrile

A concise and efficient approach to the spiro‐tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives has been developed by 1,4‐dipolar cycloaddition of zwitterions resulting from isoquinoline and acetylene esters and (1,3‐dihydro‐1,3‐dioxo‐2H‐inden‐2‐ylidene)malononitrile in MeCN at room temperature. The significance of this method lies in good yields and ease of product purification, and no inert atmosphere is required. The structures of the products were confirmed spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS) and by elemental analyses. A plausible mechanism for this reaction is proposed (Scheme).     

DPPH (= 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl = 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐(2,4,6‐trinitrophenyl)hydrazyl) Radical‐Scavenging Reaction of Protocatechuic Acid Esters (= 3,4‐Dihydroxybenzoates) in Alcohols: Formation of Bis‐alcohol Adduct

Protocatechuic acid esters (= 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoates) scavenge ca. 5 equiv. of radical in alcoholic solvents, whereas they consume only 2 equiv. of radical in nonalcoholic solvents. While the high radical‐scavenging activity of protocatechuic acid esters in alcoholic solvents as compared to that in nonalcoholic solvents is due to a nucleophilic addition of an alcohol molecule at C(2) of an intermediate o‐quinone structure, thus regenerating a catechol (= benzene‐1,2‐diol) structure, it is still unclear why protocatechuic acid esters scavenge more than 4 equiv. of radical (C(2) refers to the protocatechuic acid numbering). Therefore, to elucidate the oxidation mechanism beyond the formation of the C(2) alcohol adduct, 3,4‐dihydroxy‐2‐methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester ( 4 ), the C(2) MeOH adduct, which is an oxidation product of methyl protocatechuate ( 1 ) in MeOH, was oxidized by the DPPH radical (= 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) or o‐chloranil (= 3,4,5,6‐tetrachlorocyclohexa‐3,5‐diene‐1,2‐dione) in CD₃OD/(D₆)acetone 3 : 1). The oxidation mixtures were directly analyzed by NMR. Oxidation with both the DPPH radical and o‐chloranil produced a C(2),C(6) bis‐methanol adduct ( 7 ), which could scavenge additional 2 equiv. of radical. Calculations of LUMO electron densities of o‐quinones corroborated the regioselective nucleophilic addition of alcohol molecules with o‐quinones. Our results strongly suggest that the regeneration of a catechol structure via a nucleophilic addition of an alcohol molecule with a o‐quinone is a key reaction for the high radical‐scavenging activity of protocatechuic acid esters in alcoholic solvents.     

Synthesis of Racemic Δ3‐2‐Hydroxybakuchiol and Its Analogues

The first synthetic approach to (±)‐Δ³‐2‐hydroxybakuchiol (=4‐[(1E,5E)‐3‐ethenyl‐7‐hydroxy‐3,7‐dimethylocta‐1,5‐dien‐1‐yl]phenol; 14 ) and its analogues 13a – 13f was developed by 12 steps (Schemes 2 and 3). The key features of the approach are the construction of the quaternary C‐center bearing the ethenyl group by a Johnson–Claisen rearrangement (→ 6 ); and of an (E)‐alkenyl iodide via a Takai–Utimoto reaction (→ 11 ); and an arylation via a Negishi cross‐coupling reaction (→ 12e – 12f ).