Divergent synthesis of isoindolo[2,1-a]indole and indolo[1,2-a]indole through copper-catalysed C- and N-arylations

A simple and efficient synthetic route to both isoindolo[2,1-a]indole and its structural isomer indolo[1,2-a]indole skeletons is presented. The key steps of the strategy are based on copper-catalysed C_aryl-C and C_aryl-N bond formation reactions, respectively. Moreover, we report the first copper-mediated intramolecular C-H functionalisation of an indole.     

A general method for C3 reductive alkylation of indoles

General indole C₃ reductive alkylation conditions have been developed. The scope of this reaction includes C₂ unsubstituted indoles, aryl and alkyl aldehydes, as well as N-H and N-alkyl indole substrates.     

New thieno[3,2-b]indole conjugates with 5-(methylene)rhodanine-3-acetic acid in dye-sensitized solar cells

Five new dyes with D–π–A structure bearing 5-(methylene)-rhodanine-3-acetic acid as an acceptor-anchoring part and thieno[3,2-b]indole or benzo[g]thieno[3,2-b]indole as an electron-donating part were synthesized and applied as photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In addition, thermal stability, optical and electrochemical properties of these dyes were investigated. The highest PCE value of 1.09% (J_sc = 3.01 mA cm^–2, V_oc = 0.53 V, FF = 0.69) was achieved for DSSC based on benzo[g]thieno[3,2-b]indole dye under AM 1.5G irradiation.     

Fluorinated N-[2-(haloalkyl)phenyl]imidoyl chloride, a key intermediate for the synthesis of 2-fluoroalkyl substituted indole derivatives via Grignard cyclization process

Fluorinated N-[2-(haloalkyl)phenyl]imidoyl chloride, which was readily available from the corresponding anilines by using Uneyama's one-pot synthesis of fluorinated imidoyl chloride, was found to be a key intermediate for the facile synthesis of 2-fluoroalkyl substituted indole derivatives via the Grignard cyclization process. The bromination of 3-methyl group of 3-methyl-2-trifluoromethyl indole with NBS/CCl₄ led to the formation of 3-bromomethyl substituted indole which can be further utilized to synthesize some new and biologically interested indole derivatives.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of 2- and 3-nitroindoles with azomethine ylides. A new approach to pyrrolo[3,4-b]indoles

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of unstabilized azomethine ylides with 2- and 3-nitroindoles furnishes the expected hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-b]indole cycloadducts in good to excellent yields. The cycloadducts can be denitrated with Bu₃SnH/AIBN, and cycloadduct 5 was oxidized with MnO₂ to yield the known pyrrolo[3,4-b]indole 13.     

Photoionization of aqueous indole: Conduction band edge and energy gap in liquid water

Previous work on the determination of the photoionization threshold (I_sol) of tryptophan has now been extended to indole as a solute, both in tetramethylsilane (TMSi) and H₂O solvents. In TMSi, electron scavenging by N₂O or photoconductivity measurements lead to the same I_sol value: 4.95 ± 0.1 eV. In water, I_sol is found equal to 4.35 ± 0.1 eV. From these experiments, information on the ionization mechanism, on the oxidized solute and on the solvent can be gained: (i) the scavenger electron affinity does not intervene in the energy balance providing I_sol; (ii) an “effective” ionic radius of indole (1.40 Å) is estimated which suggests that the positive charge remains highly localized on the N-atom of the indole ring; (iii) a value of ?1.2 ± 0.1 eV can be deduced for V_o, the conduction band edge of water; (iiii) from the above findings, the energy gap E_G of pure water, considered as a semi-conductor, would be close to 7 eV. Such a result is discussed in terms of literature data pertaining to electron ejection in pure liquid water and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of amorphous ice.     

Ring-methylation of pyrrole and indole using supercritical methanol

The ring-methylation of pyrrole or indole using supercritical methanol proceeded at 623 K without the further addition of catalysts. Pyrrole produced a mixture of unreacted pyrrole and mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-methylpyrroles at the reaction time of 8 h. On the other hand, indole was selectively methylated at the C3 position to afford 3-methylindole in 79% yield at the reaction time of 5 h. The ring-methylation of indole using supercritical methanol was claimed to proceed via (1H-indol-3-yl)methanol. The conversion of indole to (1H-indol-3-yl)methanol would be achieved by the electrophilic aromatic substitution between the indol-1-ide (indole anion) and H₂C⁺–OH. The (1H-indol-3-yl)methanol must be reduced to 3-methylindole in the presence of supercritical methanol.     

Directed Aminomethylation of Pyrrole,Indole, and Carbazole with <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N′</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N′</Emphasis>-Tetramethylmethanediamine

Catalytic aminomethylation of pyrrole and indole with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylmethanediamine in the presence of 5 mol % of ZrOCl₂·8H₂O proceeds selectively at the positions 2, 5 of pyrrole and 1, 3 of indole. Carbazole under the same conditions affords 3-formyl-9-aminomethyl derivative. The reaction in the presence of 5 mol % of K₂CO₃ occurs as monoaminomethylation: for pyrrole at the position 2, for indole at the position 3, and for carbazole at the nitrogen atom of the substrate. Water-soluble 1,1′-(1H-pyrrole-2,5-diyl)bis(N,N-dimethylmethanamine) exhibits a fungistatic activity with respect to phytopathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia solani.     

Multicomponent reactions studies: Yonemitsu-type trimolecular condensations promoted by Ti(IV) derivatives

We have developed a Ti(IV)/Et₃N-promoted trimolecular condensation of aromatic heterocycles (furan, pyrrole, imidazole, indole) with aldehydes and active methylene compounds. In the case of indole and methyl acetoacetate the reaction afforded three-component products or tricyclic cyclopenta[b]indole derivative, depending on the reaction conditions. In both cases, NMR analysis evidenced that titanium enolate is the reactive species involved in the reaction.     

PtCl4-catalyzed cyclization of N-acetyl-2-alkynylanilines: A mild and efficient synthesis of N-acetyl-2-substituted indoles

An efficient synthesis of N-acetyl-2-substituted indole derivatives via direct intramolecular hydroamination of N-acetyl-2-alkynylaniline derivatives was developed. The reaction could be applied to a wide range of substrates employing only 1–2?mol% of PtCl₄ as the catalyst to furnish the desired indole products in moderate to excellent yields. The current protocol is efficient, reliable and scalable, and could serve as an important tool for convenient and rapid access to this important class of N-heterocyclic skeleton from readily available substrates.     

[3+2] Cycloaddition of metal-containing azomethine ylides for highly efficient synthesis of mitosene skeleton

Efficient synthesis of tricyclic indole derivatives bearing a substituent at the 3-position of the indole nucleus was achieved by the [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of transition metal-containing azomethine ylides derived from N-(o-alkynylphenyl)imines with vinyl ethers. Third-row transition metal complexes, especially PtCl₂, turned out to be highly efficient for the reaction of internal alkynes and imidate substrates with wide generality. Moreover, as strong support for the reaction mechanism, the intermediate Pt-carbene complex was found to undergo intramolecular C-H bond insertion reaction to give tetracyclic indoline derivatives when benzyl vinyl ether was employed as a dipolarophile. This protocol provided a facile synthesis of highly functionalized tricyclic indole derivatives found as the basic skeleton of the mitosene family, such as mitomycin C.     

Luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) dipyridoquinoxaline indole complexes as biological probes

Four luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) dipyridoquinoxaline complexes appended with an indole moiety [Ir(N∧C)₂(N∧N)] (PF₆) (HN∧C = 2-phenylpyridine, Hppy; N∧N = 2-(N-(2-(indole-3-acetamido)ethyl)aminocarbonyl)dipyrido[3,2-f:2′,3′-h]quinoxaline, dpqC2indole (1a), N∧N = 2-(N-(6-(indole-3-acetamido)hexyl)aminocarbonyl)dipyrido[3,2-f:2′,3′-h]quinoxaline, dpqC6indole (1b); HN∧C = 7,8-benzoquinoline, Hbzq, N∧N = dpqC2indole (2a), N∧N = dpqC6indole (2b)) have been synthesized and characterized. Upon irradiation, all the complexes displayed moderately intense and long-lived luminescence under ambient conditions and in 77 K glass. On the basis of the photophysical data, the emission of the complexes has been assigned to an excited state of triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (³MLCT) ((dπ(Ir) → π*(N∧N)) character. Cyclic voltammetric studies revealed indole-based and iridium-based oxidations at ca. +1.10 V and +1.24 V vs. SCE, respectively, and ligand-based reductions at ca. ?1.07 to ?2.29 V vs. SCE. The interactions of the complexes with an indole-binding protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), have been examined by emission titrations.     

Formation of the same pyrimido[1,2-a]indoles from 1-(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)-1H-indole or [1,3]oxazolo[3,2-a]indole derivatives in its reactions with aromatic amines

Reactions of two isomers—2-chloro-1-(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)-1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde or 2-(chloromethyl)-2,3-dihydro[1,3]oxazolo[3,2-a]indole-9-carbaldehyde with aromatic amines lead to the same products in both cases—hydrochlorides of pyrimido[1,2-a]indole derivatives containing two fragments of an amine per one part of the indole nucleus. Its structure was confirmed by X-ray analysis of the crystals base, obtained by alkali treatment of the reaction product (when aryl is 4-MeOC₆H₄).     

Regioselective electrophilic trifluoromethylation of indolines, oxindoles and indoles in superacid

Treatment of indolines and N-acylindoles with HF/SbF₅/CCl₄ yields 6-trifluoro derivatives (indole numbering) whereas indoles and oxindoles give the 5-trifluoro derivatives in good yield.     

Novel cyclometallated Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes with indole derivatives and their use as catalysts in Heck reaction

Several palladacycle and platinacycle complexes have been prepared from easily available or naturally occurring indole derivatives, such as gramine and related compounds. Dimeric complexes were obtained with Pd(OAc)₂, while Pt(DMSO)₂Cl₂ mainly afforded monomeric structures. A notable feature of these reactions was the formation of new M-C bonds between Pd or Pt and C-2 and C-3 of the indole ring. With ligands like 2-(2′-pyridyl)-1H-indoles, N-N metallacycles were generated instead: in fact new C-M bonds with the C-3 position could only form if N-substituted indoles were used. The reactivity of Pd dimeric complexes with PPh₃, sym-collidine and DMAP was explored to obtain monomeric complexes. Three such compounds were prepared, one of which was characterized by X-ray diffraction. Metathetical reactions were carried out to effect a ligand exchange replacing OAc with halide ions, with the aim to synthesize μ-Cl and μ-Br bridged structures. Turning to the synthesis of hetaryl complexes, functionalization of the C-2 position on the indole ring was achieved. These complexes were prepared by substitution reactions starting from gramine and/or its alkylammonium salts.     

Synthesis of substituted 4-(1H-indol-6-yl)-1H-indazoles as potential PDK1 inhibitors

The development of a preparative route to a series of novel 4-(1H-indol-6-yl)-1H-indazole compounds as potential PDK1 inhibitors is described. The synthetic strategy centres on the late-stage Suzuki cross-coupling of N-unprotected indazole and indole fragments. The use of a monoligated palladium catalyst system was found to be highly beneficial in the cross-coupling reaction. The indazole and indole fragments were constructed by diazotisation/cyclisation and S_NAr/reductive cyclisation sequences, respectively.     

Synthesis of N-acetyl-3,3a,4,8b- and -1,3a,4,8b-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indoles from N- and 2-(cyclopent-2-en-1-yl)anilines

Reactions of 2-bromo-N-(cyclopent-2-en-1-yl)-4-methylaniline and N-(cyclopent-2-en-1-yl)-2-iodo-4,6-dimethylaniline with acetyl bromide in the presence of potassium carbonate gave mixtures of syn and anti atropisomers of the corresponding N-acetyl derivatives at ratios of 1: 1 and 3: 2 respectively. Heating of these mixtures in toluene in the presence of Pd(OAc)₂, PPh₃, Et₃N, and K₂CO₃ (KOAc) afforded mixtures of isomeric N-acetyl-7-methyl-3,3a,4,8b- and -1,3a,4,8b-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indoles at a ratio of 3: 1 or N-acetyl-5,7-dimethyl-3,3a,4,8b- and -1,3a,4,8b-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indoles at a ratio of 2: 3. N-Acetyl-3,3a,4,8b-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indole was found to undergo thermal isomerization into N-acetyl-1,3a,4,8btetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indole.     

Optical constants of electrochemically synthesized polyindole and poly(5-carboxilic acid indole)

The optical properties and optical constants of the polyindole and poly(5-carboxilic acid indole) conductive polymers synthesized and doped electrochemically with ClO ₄ ^? in acetonitrile solution were investigated by means of transmittance and reflectance spectra, in the wavelength range of 300–800 nm. Absorption band centered at 425 nm assigned to the direct allowed electron transition (π → π*) from valence band to the conduction band. The optical band gap, E _g , was determined out of the optical absorption spectra. The E _g increases from 2.17 eV for polyindole film to 2.40 eV for poly(5-carboxilic acid indole) polymer thin film, which is attributed to the effect of electron withdrawing carboxylic acid functional group on the growth of chain length of the polymer during the electropolymerization. The oscillator energy E ₀, dispersion energy E _d and other parameters were determined by the Wemple-DiDomenico method.     

Bousigonine A and B,bis- and tri-indole alkaloids from Bousigonia mekongensis and their preventing high glucose-induced podocyte injury activity

Bousigonine A (1), an unprecedented eburnamine-voaphylline type dimeric indole alkaloid, and Bousigonine B (2), the first example of eburnamine-eburnamine-aspidospermine type trimeric indole alkaloid were isolated from Bousigonia mekongensis. Their structures were elucidated mainly by spectroscopic analysis and compared to published data. Their preventing high glucose-induced podocyte injury activity were evaluated for the first time, and compound 1 exhibited significant effect with EC₅₀ value of 2.5 μM.     

Metal-organic framework MIL-53(Al): synthesis,catalytic performance for the Friedel-Crafts acylation,and reaction mechanism

Metal-organic framework MIL-53(Al) was synthesized by a solvothermal method using aluminum nitrate as the aluminium source and 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (H₂BDC) as the organic ligand. The structure of samples was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The catalytic activity and recyclability of MIL-53(Al) catalyst for the Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction of indole with benzoyl chloride were evaluated. The reaction conditions were optimized and a reaction mechanism was suggested. The results showed that the MIL-53(Al) catalyst exhibited good catalytic activity and recyclability for the Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction. When the molar ratio of indole and MIL-53(Al) catalyst was 1:0.06 (n ₁:n _catalyst), the molar ratio of indole and benzoyl chloride was 1:3, and the solvent was dichloromethane, the conversion of indole could reach 97.1% and the selectivity of 3-acylindole could reach 81.1% at 25 °C after 8 h. The catalyst can be reused without significant degradation in catalytic activity. After the catalyst was reused five times, the conversion of indole was 87.6% and the selectivity of 3-acylindole was 79.5%.