N1,N3-Diacyl-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones: neutral acyl group transfer reagents

Readily available N1,N3-diacyl-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones efficiently acylate ammonia, primary and secondary amines to furnish primary, secondary and tertiary amides in good to excellent yields. The wide applicability of the procedure is demonstrated by running the reactions in a neutral medium, easy isolation of products, recycling of the innocuous by-product and chemoselectivity of the transformation.     

Synthesis and asymmetric catalytic activity of (1S,1′S)-4,4′-biquinazoline-based primary amines

A series of (1S,1′S)-4,4′-biquinazoline-based primary amines were prepared from natural amino acids via a six-step reaction sequence of protection and condensation followed by key synthetic steps including chlorination, nickel(0)-mediated homocoupling, and deprotection. These novel amines were screened for the asymmetric ethylation of aryl aldehydes to yield alcohols with an (S)-configuration with enantiomeric excesses (ee) varying from 2% to 95%.     

Approaches to primary tert-alkyl amines as building blocks

Primary tert-alkyl amines include analogues of amantadine, a fragment commonly linked to pharmacophoric groups to enhance biological activity. The preparation of primary tert-alkyl amines is considered to be a difficult problem. Four synthetic procedures, some of which have been previously reported for the synthesis of amines with primary (RCH₂NH₂) or secondary (RR'CHNH₂) alkyl and/or aryl groups, were tested for the synthesis of primary tert-alkyl amines (RR′R″CNH₂) in aliphatic series including adamantane adducts. These procedures included the formation and reduction of tert-alkyl azides, the Ritter reaction in standard and modified conditions, the addition of organometallic reagents to N-tert-butyl sulfinyl ketimines and one-pot reactions between nitriles and organometallic reagents in the presence of a Lewis acid, Τi(iPrO)₄ or CeCl_3. These synthetic routes are unexplored for primary tert-alkyl amines. Studies on the synthetic routes for primary tert-alkyl amines are currently lacking. The reaction conditions and substrate limitations were studied for each procedure, with the first procedure being the most general and applicable also for compounds bearing bulky adducts.     

Development of one-pot benzylic amination reactions of azine N-oxides

An efficient one-pot synthetic methodology has been developed for the benzylic amination reactions of methyl-substituted azine N-oxides that operate under mild conditions. The reaction was found to tolerate quinoline and isoquinoline N-oxides with electron donating and withdrawing substituents as the electrophilic reaction partners as well as a broad range of nucleophilic primary, secondary and aromatic amines, affording the benzylic amination products in up to 82% yield.     

Synthesis of perylene-bridged bis(dibenzo-24-crown-8) and its assembly behavior with a fullerene-based secondary dibenzylammonium salt

This paper reports the synthesis of a perylene-bridged bis(crown ether) through the condensation reaction between primary amine-armed dibenzo-24-crown-8 and 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride. Pseudorotaxane with a perylene moiety at the wheel and a fullerene unit in the middle of the axle was prepared, which was evidenced by ¹H NMR and fluorescence experiments. Subsequent investigations show that the formation and disassociation of the pseudorotaxane can be controlled by the alternating addition of KPF₆ and 18-crown-6, following the change of the florescence intensity of perylene.

     

Easy synthesis of (E)- or (Z)-perfluorinated β-enaminoesters

(E)- or (Z)-perfluorinated β-enaminoesters were prepared by direct addition of primary or secondary amines to ethyl perfluoroalkynoates without any catalyst.     

Synthesis and characterization of new highly soluble and thermal-stable perylene-PPV copolymers containing triphenylamine moiety

Three new copolymers containing poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) and triphenylamine (TPA) moieties carrying N-(n-butyl)-N′-ethoxy-1,6,7,12-tetra-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)-3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic bisimide (PERY) pendant groups were successfully synthesized by Wittig condensation. The molar percentage of perylene pendants in copolymers was controlled by tuning the initial feed ratio of the perylene-bisaldehyde monomer. The structures and properties of three copolymers were characterized and evaluated by FT-IR, NMR, UV, FL, and photovoltaic analyses. The copolymers were highly soluble in conventional solvents such as toluene, CHCl₃, THF, DMF, etc., and they were thermally stable (?396 °C). Three copolymers have emission spectra with characteristic features of the perylene unit, however, and their luminescence are largely quenched with the increasing amount of PERY units in copolymers. The photophysical study in solution has shown that singlet-singlet energy transfers from PPV backbone to perylene in the copolymers. The photovoltaic devices ITO/PEDOT:PSS/copolymers/Ba/Al were fabricated, and the energy conversion efficiency of the device is only about 0.0005%, further indicating that an efficient energy transfer has taken place from PPV to perylene in the copolymers.     

Cyclic 1,1-bis(silyl)alkenes—new building blocks for the stereoselective synthesis of unsymmetrical (E)-stilbenes and (E,E)-1,4-diarylbuta-1,3-dienes

A new efficient synthetic protocol for the highly stereoselective synthesis of unsymmetrical (or symmetrical) (E)-stilbenes and (E,E)-1,4-diarylbuta-1,3-dienes based on sequential palladium-catalyzed Heck arylation-Hiyama cross-coupling reactions using cyclic gem-bis(silyl)ethene as alkenyl building block is reported.     

Single step synthesis of 2,3-dialkyl-6-nitro-quinazolin-4(3H)-imines and 3,5-dialkyl-9-nitro-imidazo[1,2-c]quinazolin-2(3H)-ones

A single step synthesis of 2,3-dialkyl-6-nitro-quinazolin-4(3H)-imines and 3,5-dialkyl-9-nitro-imidazo-[1,2-c]-quinazolin-2(3H)-ones from simple carbonyl compounds, primary amines or amino acid methyl esters and 2-azido-5-nitro-benzonitrile was developed. Key intermediates were N,N′-disubstituted amidines obtained by rearrangement of 4,5-dihydrotriazoles; the new heterocyclic rings were formed by spontaneous intramolecular reaction of the amino and cyano groups which are present in the intermediates.     

Asymmetric synthesis of primary amines catalyzed by thermotolerant fungal reductive aminases

Chiral primary amines are important intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds. Fungal reductive aminases (RedAms) are NADPH-dependent dehydrogenases that catalyse reductive amination of a range of ketones with short-chain primary amines supplied in an equimolar ratio to give corresponding secondary amines. Herein we describe structural and biochemical characterisation as well as synthetic applications of two RedAms from Neosartorya spp. (NfRedAm and NfisRedAm) that display a distinctive activity amongst fungal RedAms, namely a superior ability to use ammonia as the amine partner. Using these enzymes, we demonstrate the synthesis of a broad range of primary amines, with conversions up to >97% and excellent enantiomeric excess. Temperature dependent studies showed that these homologues also possess greater thermal stability compared to other enzymes within this family. Their synthetic applicability is further demonstrated by the production of several primary and secondary amines with turnover numbers (TN) up to 14 000 as well as continous flow reactions, obtaining chiral amines such as (R)-2-aminohexane in space time yields up to 8.1 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹. The remarkable features of NfRedAm and NfisRedAm highlight their potential for wider synthetic application as well as expanding the biocatalytic toolbox available for chiral amine synthesis.

Fungal reductive aminases as effective biocatalysts for the preparation of chiral primary amines.     

Cu(I)-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of ene-carbamates: synthesis of indoles and pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridines

Over the past few years, the use of palladium-catalyzed aromatic carbon-nitrogen bond forming reactions by the cross-coupling of aryl halides or triflates and amines has become a useful synthetic tool. Herein, we describe a copper(I) catalyst system that allows efficient synthesis of functionalized indoles and pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridines. This method takes advantage of amino acid promoted copper coupling of amines with aryl halides, in particular, the use of the CuI/l-proline catalyst system.     

A convenient approach towards 2- and 3-aminobenzo[b]thiophenes

Reaction of 1-(2-chloro-5-nitrophenyl)ethanone via Willgerodt-Kindler route with primary or secondary amines and sulfur allows a simple, efficient one-pot synthesis of 3-aminobenzo[b]thiophenes. Base-catalyzed transformation of 4-(2-chloro-5-nitrophenyl)-1,2,3-thiadiazole in the presence of primary and secondary amines offers a convenient approach towards 2-aminobenzo[b]thiophenes.     

Bis-imine primary amine protection of the dialkyltriamine,norspermidine

This Letter details the particular use of salicylaldehyde (2-hydroxybenzaldehyde) for the regiospecific protection of primary amines in a representative polyamine, norspermidine (N-(3-aminopropyl)propane-1,3-diamine) under mild reaction conditions in high yield. The lack of intramolecular hexahydropyrimidine formation allowed for subsequent N²-acylation and N²-alkylation reactions, typical of polyamine synthetic strategies.     

Highly anti-selective dihydroxylation of 1,2-dialkyl substituted (Z)-allylic amines: stereoselective synthesis of a d-ribo-phytosphingosine derivative

Protection of 1,2-dialkyl substituted (Z)-allylic amines with an N,N-diBoc group resulted in an opposite stereoselectivity in the OsO₄-catalyzed dihydroxylation reactions to that of N-Boc-(Z)-allylic amines. A higher anti selectivity (>10:1) was shown in CH₂Cl₂. An efficient stereoselective synthesis of a tetraacetyl derivative of d-ribo-phytosphingosine was reported using the N,N-diBoc-controlled dihydroxylation from Garner’s aldehyde.     

Synthesis of a new compound family, 1-aryl-3H-pyrrolo[2,1-d][1,2,5]triazepin-4(5H)-ones

Representatives of a new family, 1-aryl-3H-pyrrolo[2,1-d][1,2,5]triazepin-4(5H)-ones have been synthesized at our laboratory as bioisosters of biologically active 1-aryl-2,3-benzodiazepine-4-ones. The efficient synthetic route described applies the synthesis of 2-(2-aroylpyrrol-1-yl)acyl hydrazides followed by ring closure under acidic conditions. The N(3)-unsubstituted title compounds thus obtained can optionally be N-alkylated rendering the preparation of variously substituted derivatives possible. Scope and limitations of the new protocol and some interesting side reactions are also discussed in detail.     

C-N coupling of 3-methylcatechol with primary amines using native and recombinant laccases from Trametes versicolor and Pycnoporus cinnabarinus

Five laccase genes from Pycnoporus cinnabarinus and Trametes versicolor encoding for different isoenzymes have been cloned, recombinantly expressed and characterized. Following C-N coupling of primary linear, branched-chained and cyclic amines to 3-methylcatechol was mediated by native and recombinant laccases yielding the corresponding secondary amines. Formation of C5-monoaminated ortho-methylquinones occurred within 1-2 h; prolonged incubation led to the formation of high-molecular mass products. No difference between the use of native or recombinant isoenzymes from P. cinnabarinus or T. versicolor was observed. Optimization of the reaction conditions included variation of amine donor ratios, pH, amount and type of enzyme preparations. The formation of by-products could be suppressed at pH values corresponding to the enzymes optima (pH 4-5). A total of 10 secondary amines were synthesized with product formations of up to 80%. Furthermore, all purified secondary amines were characterized by NMR-, LC-MS- and HRMS-analysis and log P values were determined.     

A stereoselective approach for the total synthesis of (5R,7R,9R)-7,9-dihydroxy-5-decanolide#

A stereoselective approach for the total synthesis of lactone (5R,7R,9R)-7,9-dihydroxy-5-decanolide is described. The sequence of synthetic reactions involves a Keck asymmetric allylation, diastereoselective iodo-carbonate cyclization, regioselective ring-opening reaction, oxidative lactonization.     

N-(2-formyl-1-methylimidazol-4-yl)-2,2-dimethylpropanamide: a versatile reagent for preparing imidazole-amine ligands with variable second-coordination spheres

Two synthetic pathways to N-(2-formyl-1-methylimidazol-4-yl)-2,2-dimethylpropanamide from 1-methyl-2-carboxaldehyde are described. The reagent serves as a useful synthon for reductive amination reactions with primary and secondary amines in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride to yield a series of ligands with second coordination sphere functional groups. Protocols for the syntheses of related imidazole synthons functionalized in the 4-position with amino acids, Schiff bases, and other amides are also reported.     

Syntheses of indolo[3,2,1-d,e]phenanthridines and isochromeno[3,4-a] carbazoles: palladium catalyzed intramolecular arylation via C-H functionalization

A new synthetic route has been developed for the preparation of indolo[3,2,1-d,e]phenanthridines and isochromeno[3,4-a]carbazoles via palladium catalyzed intramolecular biaryl coupling reactions. The coupling reactions proceeded smoothly and in high yields under ligand-free conditions with the catalytic system Pd(OAc)₂/Cs₂CO₃/TBAB. Under optimized reaction conditions no halogen-reduced products were observed.     

A Ce(III)-catalyzed expeditious multicomponent stereoselective synthesis of 3-mercapto-2(1H)-pyridinones

A novel Ce(III)-catalyzed, convenient, expeditious, and diastereoselective synthesis of 3-mercapto-2(1H)-pyridinones via one-pot, [3+2+1] three-component coupling reactions of chalcones, 2-methyl-2-phenyl-1,3-oxathiolan-5-one, and amines is reported. The synthesis involves sequential Michael addition, condensation, and ring transformation. Ambient temperature, operational simplicity, use of an environmentally clean catalyst, high yields, and diastereoselectivity are the key features of the present synthetic protocol.