Synthesis of a novel tetrahydroisoquinoline pentacyclic framework

N-Acyliminium cyclization of 6-substituted (3R^∗,6R^∗,11aS^∗)-3-arylmethyl-pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinoline-1,4-diones gave with very good yields a novel tetrahydroisoquinoline pentacyclic core framework (29), while this reaction failed in all-cis-isomers to give instead conjugated enamines by deprotonation. Electronic and steric factors that govern the approach to both diastereomers from 6-substituted pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinoline-1,4-diones have been studied.     

Acyclic tertiary diamines and 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane with fluorine-containing β-diketones: Leading to low melting ionic adducts

N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethylmethanediamine (1a), N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethanediamine (1b), N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,3-propanediamine (1c), and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,6-hexanediamine (1d) were reacted at 25 °C with 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione (2a), 2,2-dimethyl-6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-3,5-octanedione (2b), 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (2c), and 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-furyl)-1,3-butanedione (2d) to form the ionic adducts 3-18. 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane (1e) reacted at 25 °C with β-diketones (2a-d) and 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione (2e) to give ionic solids 19-23 in good yields. Some of the products are liquid at 25 °C and are thermally stable over long liquid ranges as determined by thermal gravimetric analyses. Single-crystal X-ray structure determinations show that compounds 9 and 21 crystallize in the monoclinic space groups P2(1)/c and P2(1)/n, respectively. All the new compounds were characterized by ¹H, ¹⁹F and ¹³C NMR, electrospray MS and/or elemental analyses.     

Addition reaction of zinc acetylides to thioiminium salts leading to 3-amino-1-sulfenyl-1,4-enynes

The reaction of thioiminium salts with zinc acetylides took place at 60 °C to give 3-amino-1-sulfenyl-1,4-enynes in moderate to good yields. Two molecules of acetylides were incorporated into the products. Nucleophilic attack of zinc acetylides to thioiminium salts may initially occur to form alkynyl S,N-acetals, followed by their [1,3]-rearrangement to give 3-sulfenyl-1-aminoallenes.     

Unprecedented formation of stable ketene-N,O-acetals and their rearrangement under basic conditions

Treatment of 2,4-disubstituted glutaryl dichlorides with benzimidic acid ethyl ester hydrochloride in the presence of triethylamine did not give the expected bis(acylbenzimidates), but delivered O-acyl-N-ethoxybenzylidene-ketene-N,O-acetals in good to excellent yields. These compounds, which are stable to moisture and chromatography on silica gel, underwent an unprecedented rearrangement to cyclic enamides under stronger basic conditions. A mechanism for this rearrangement is proposed.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (−)-(S,S)-homaline

The asymmetric synthesis of (−)-(S,S)-homaline was achieved in 8 steps from commercially available starting materials using the diastereoselective conjugate addition of the novel lithium amide reagent lithium (R)-N-(3-chloropropyl)-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to methyl cinnamate to install the correct stereochemistry. Subsequent functional group manipulation of the resultant β-amino ester and Sb(OEt)₃-mediated macrolactamisation was followed by homodimerisation to give (−)-(S,S)-homaline in 18% overall yield, representing the first asymmetric, and by far the most efficient synthesis of this natural product reported to date.     

Unexpected course of rearrangement of substituted S-(1(3H)-isobenzofuranone-3-yl)isothiuronium bromides

Three series of S-(1(3H)-isobenzofuranone-3-yl)isothiuronium bromides differing in substitution at the isothiuronium moiety (none, one or two methyl groups) and at the benzene ring were prepared and characterized. These salts were then treated with various bases (acetate, triethylamine, Na₂CO₃) to give either 1-hydroxy-3-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2H-isoindol-2-carbothioamides or the product of S to N isobenzofuranone-3-yl migration, i.e., 1,3-dimethyl-1-(3-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2-benzofuran-1-yl)thioureas. If ammonia was used in reaction with N,N′-dimethyl isothiuronium salts then 3-hydroxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-ones were formed together with 1,3-dimethyl-1-(3-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2-benzofuran-1-yl)thioureas in parallel reaction with the yields increasing with ammonia concentration. The formation of isoindolones takes place in two steps with an aldehyde intermediate, which can be trapped with N,N-dimethylhydrazine.     

An efficient synthesis of highly substituted pyrroles from β-oxodithiocarboxylates

α-Oxoketene-N,S-acetals, prepared by the reaction of alkyl glycinate hydrochlorides with β-oxodithiocarboxylates followed by alkylation, underwent cyclization in presence of chloromethyleneiminium salt derived from POCl₃/DMF to afford alkyl-3-aryl-4-formyl-5-(alkylsulfanyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates in excellent yields. Alkyl-3-aryl-5-(alkylsulfanyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates were formed in moderate yields when the same N,S-acetals were treated with DBU.     

Stereoselective radical cyclizations of N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,X(X=O, S)-acetals

2-Alkyloxazolines and 2-alkylthiazolines react with 2-halobenzoyl chlorides to form N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,O-acetals and N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,S-acetals in excellent yields, respectively. These ketene acetals readily undergo stereocontrolled aryl radical cyclizations to afford the central six-membered rings of substituted-2,3,10,10α-tetrahydrooxazolo[3,2-b]isoquinolin-5-ones and their 2,3,10,10α-tetrahydrothiazolo[3,2-b]isoquinolin-5-one analogs. The tertiary N,O- and N,S-radicals formed upon aryl radical reaction at the ketene-N,X(X=O, S)-acetal double bond appear to have reasonable stability. The stereoselectivity in hydrogen abstractions by these intermediate radicals from both Bu₃SnH and (Me₃Si)₃SiH was investigated. The N,S-heterocyclic fused ring products may have potential medical value.     

A new route to extended tetrathiafulvalenes from α-acetyl ketene-S,S-acetals

A new route to extended tetrathiafulvalenes was described. The extended TTFs with hexa-2,4-diyne-1,6-diylidene spacer between the two 1,3-dithiole rings were prepared simply from the easily available α-acetyl ketene-(S,S)-acetals in good yields under mild conditions.     

Synthesis and decarboxylation of N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids: a new synthesis of α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts

4-Phosphoranylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones 1 undergo hydrolysis in THF in the presence of HBF₄ at room temperature to give N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonioglycines 3 (R² = H) in very good yields. 4-Alkyl-4-triphenylphosphonio-5(4H)-oxazolones 2 react with water in CH₂Cl₂/THF solution without any acidic catalyst at 0-5 °C in a few days yielding N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids 3 (R² = Me) or α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salt 4 (R² = CH₂OMe). α-Triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids 3, on heating up to 105-115 °C under reduced pressure (5 mmHg) or on treatment with diisopropylethylamine in CH₂Cl₂ at 20 °C undergo decarboxylation to give the corresponding α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts 4, usually in very good yields.     

A simple TiCl4 promoted arylation of orthoformate and benzyl ethers by N,N-dialkylarylamines

N,N-Dialkylarylamines react with trimethyl orthoformate and TiCl₄ under ambient conditions to give the corresponding formyl derivatives in 75-89% yields, whereas the corresponding arylated products are obtained from benzyl ethers and acetals in 42-78% yields.     

Selective N-debenzylation of amides with p-TsOH

N-Benzylamides were debenzylated efficiently with 4 equiv. of p-TsOH in refluxing toluene. Good to quantitative yields of the desired primary amides were obtained within 2-4 h from a wide variety of N-2,4-dimethoxybenzylamides. N-4-Methoxylbenzyl amides and N-benzylamides were also debenzylated cleanly. In the case of N-2,4-dimethoxylbenzylamides, selective N-debenzylation was possible in the presence of N-Fmoc, N-t-BOC or N-trityl-protection. Protected amino acid amides survived these conditions without any detectable epimerization.     

DFT study of the reaction sites of N,N′-substituted p-phenylenediamine antioxidants

The geometry of N,N′-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD), N-phenyl-N′-(1′-methylbenzyl)-p-phenylenediamine (SPPD), N-phenyl-N′-(1,3-dimethyl-butyl)-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), N-phenyl-N′-isopropyl-p-phenylenediamine (IPPD), and N-(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (CPPD) as well as of their dehydrogenation products has been optimized at B3LYP/6-31G^∗ level of theory. Our results support the idea of formation of stable ketimine Ph-NC structures (instead of quinonediimine structures) during consecutive dehydrogenation of SPPD, 6PPD, and IPPD antioxidants despite the formation of tertiary carbon-centered radicals in the first dehydrogenation step is energetically preferred for SPPD only.     

A general method for the asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of 1-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carbolines employing pyroglutamic acid derivatives as chiral auxiliaries

9-(S)-Pyroglutaminyl-β-carbolines were allowed to react with a nucleophile (allyltributyltin or a silyl enol ether) in the presence of 2,2,2-trichloroethyl chloroformate to give 1,2-addition products in good yields and high diastereoselectivity. The chiral auxiliary at N-9 was readily removed by a mild hydrolysis. The same chiral source afforded both enantiomers by simply altering a protecting group of the amide nitrogen. That is, (S)-pyroglutaminyl groups which had an N-alkyl group afforded the (S) isomer, whereas the ones having an N-acyl group produced the (R) isomer of the addition products.     

Simple and efficient cleavage of the N-(1-phenylethyl) unit of carboxamides with methanesulfonic acid

Cleavage of the N-(1-phenylethyl) unit of carboxamides using less than 1 equiv of MsOH in refluxing toluene was found to be simple and very efficient leading to the desired amides in good to excellent yields, and also proved to be more effective compared with reductive methods using hydrogen sources, or acid hydrolysis reagents such as TFA and TsOH. The method selectively cleaved only the N-(1-phenylethyl) group of N-benzyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)amides.     

Sensitive monitoring of monoterpene metabolites in human urine using two-step derivatisation and positive chemical ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry

A gas chromatographic–positive chemical ionisation-tandem mass spectrometric (GC–PCI-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of 10 oxidative metabolites of the monoterpenoid hydrocarbons α-pinene, (R)-limonene, and Δ³-carene ((+)-3-carene) in human urine was developed and tested for the monoterpene biomonitoring of the general population (n = 36). The method involves enzymatic cleavage of the glucuronides followed by solid-supported liquid–liquid extraction and derivatisation using a two-step reaction with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide and N-(trimethylsilyl)imidazole. The method proved to be both sensitive and reliable with detection limits ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 μg L⁻¹. In contrast to the frequent and distinct quantities of (1S,2S,4R)-limonene-1,2-diol, the (1R,2R,4R)-stereoisomer could not be detected. The expected metabolite of (+)-3-carene, 3-caren-10-ol was not detected in any of the samples. All other metabolites were detected in almost all urine samples.     

A novel P,S-heterodonor ligand and palladium(0) complex catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reaction

Axially dissymmetric P,S-heterodonor ligand L3 synthesized from BINOL is an effective promoter in the palladium(0)-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of phenylboronic acid with aryl bromides and iodide at 60-80 °C. On the basis of ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopic investigation and X-ray diffraction, it was revealed that N,N-dimethylthiocarbamate-phosphine ligand L3 might be a P,S-heterodonor bidentate ligand to palladium(0) center.     

Synthesis of N,N-dialkylaminobenzonitriles and halo-(N,N-dialkyl)benzamidines by reaction of halobenzonitriles with lithium amides

3- and 4-N,N-Dialkylaminobenzonitriles and 4-chloro-(N,N-dialkyl)benzamidines were isolated by reacting 4-chlorobenzonitrile with hindered lithium amides under thermodynamic (0 °C) and kinetic control conditions (−78 °C), respectively. As previously reported, a benzyne mechanism seems to be confirmed since N,N-dialkylaminobenzonitriles are formed. Only benzamidines were isolated in fair to high yields at both 0 °C and −78 °C with non-hindered lithium amides. Exploitation and mechanistic rationale of the reaction of different halobenzonitriles are also reported.     

A practical synthesis of 2-(N-substituted)-aminobenzimidazoles utilizing CuCl-promoted intramolecular cyclization of N-(2-aminoaryl)thioureas

A practical protocol for synthesis of 2-(N-substituted)-aminobenzimidazoles was developed. N-(2-Aminoaryl)thioureas undergo a CuCl-promoted intramolecular cyclization to give the corresponding 2-(N-substituted amino)benzimidazoles in good to excellent isolated yields.     

A convenient and efficient method for the synthesis of mono- and N,N-disubstituted thioureas

A convenient method for the synthesis of mono- and N,N-disubstituted thioureas by the debenzoylation of N-substituted- and N,N-disubstituted-N′-benzoylthioureas with hydrazine hydrate under solvent-free conditions has been developed. N-Substituted-N′-benzoylthioureas and hydrazine hydrate were mixed, and stirred at room temperature without a solvent to give the corresponding N-substituted thioureas in high yields.