Synthesis of polyfunctionalized furans from 3-acetyl-1-aryl-2-pentene-1,4-diones

The BF₃-catalyzed cyclization of 3-acetyl-1-aryl-2-pentene-1,4-diones 1a-e in the presence of water in boiling tetrahydrofuran gave bis(3-acetyl-5-aryl-2-furyl)methanes 2a-e in 26-79% yields along with a small amount of 3-acetyl-5-aryl-2-methylfurans 3a-e. The exact structure of 2a was determined by X-ray crystallography. The use of a half volume of the solvent for the reaction of 1a resulted in the formation of 2,4-bis(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-3-acetyl-5-phenylfuran (4) together with 2a and 3a. A similar reaction of 1a was carried out in the presence of 3-acetyl-5-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylfuran (3d) to afford 4-(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-3-acetyl-5-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylfuran (5) in 49% yield. The BF₃-catalyzed reaction of 1a with 2,4-pentanedione in dry tetrahydrofuran at 23°C gave 3-(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one (6a) and 3-(3-acetyl-2-methyl-4-phenyl-5-furyl)-4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one (7a) in 66 and 24% yields, respectively. The product distribution depended on the reaction temperature. A similar reaction of 1b-e also yielded the corresponding trisubstituted furans 6b-e and tetrasubstituted furans 7b-e in good yields. These results suggested the presence of the furfuryl carbocation intermediate A during the reaction. The one-pot synthesis of 6a and 7a was also achieved by a similar reaction using phenylglyoxal. The deoxygenation of 1a with triphenylphosphine gave 3a in 88% yield, while 1a was treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid to yield 3-acetyl-2-chloromethyl-5-phenylfuran (8) which was quantitatively transformed in ethanol into 3-acetyl-2-ethoxymethyl-5-phenylfuran (9) and in water into 3-acetyl-5-phenylfurfuryl alcohol (10), respectively. In addition, the Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopantadiene with 1a gave the corresponding [4+2] cycloaddition products 11 and 12.     

Convergent synthesis of the IJKLM-ring part of ciguatoxin CTX3C

Convergent synthesis of the IJKLM-ring part (2) of ciguatoxin CTX3C has been achieved from the I-ring and the L-ring parts (4 and 5) in total eight steps in 27% overall yield. The carbanion derived from 4, stabilized by a dimethyldithioacetal S-oxide group, was readily reacted with aldehyde 5 to give an adduct, which was facilely transformed into the corresponding α,ε-dihydroxy ketone 3. The JK-ring formation from 3 under reductive conditions followed by oxidative M-ring cyclization efficiently led to the pentacyclic ether 2. Improved synthesis of 6, a synthetic intermediate for 4, was also established.     

3-Amino- and 3-acylamido-2-phosphonopyridines: synthesis by Pd-catalyzed P-C coupling, structure and conversion to pyrido[b]-anellated PC-N heterocycles

Palladium catalyzed cross-coupling of 3-amino- and 3-acylamido-2-bromopyridines 1a-f with triethyl phosphite allowed the synthesis of 3-amino- and 3-acylamido pyridine-2-phosphonic acid diethyl esters 2a-f, whereas nickel catalysts, although providing access to related anilido-2-phosphonates, proved inactive. Reduction of the aminophosphonate 2a with LiAlH₄ afforded 3-amino-2-phosphinopyridine (3a), which was cyclocondensed with dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMFA) via phosphaalkene intermediates 4a to the novel pyrido[b]-anellated 1,3-azaphosphole 5a. Reaction of amidophosphonates 2b-f with LiAlH₄ did not result in the expected reductive cyclization, as shown by closely related anilido-2-phosphonates, but led to product mixtures containing N-secondary 3-amino-2-phosphinopyridines 3b-f as the main or major component. The conversion of 3b,d,e with DMFA to 5b,d,e provides first examples of N-substituted pyrido[b]-anellated azaphospholes. Structures were confirmed by multinuclear NMR and X-ray crystallography (for 2c, 3b).     

The conversion of 2-cyano cyanothioformanilides into 3-aminoindole-2-carbonitriles using triphenylphosphine

2-Cyano cyanothioformanilide 3a reacts with triphenylphosphine in the presence of water to give 2-(cyanomethyleneamino)benzonitrile 4a, 2-(cyanomethylamino)benzonitrile 5, 3-aminoindole-2-carbonitrile 2a and (2-cyanoindol-3-yl)iminotriphenylphosphorane 6a. In the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid in MeOH the reaction between 2-cyano cyanothioformanilide 3a and triphenylphosphine (2 equiv) gives 3-aminoindole-2-carbonitrile 2a in 90% yield. Under the same conditions 2-(cyanomethyleneamino)benzonitrile 4a gives anthranilonitrile 8a, 3-aminoindole-2-carbonitrile 2a and N-(2-cyanophenyl)formamide 9. In addition, substituted 2-cyano cyanothioformanilides 3b-f react with triphenylphosphine and p-toluenesulfonic acid in MeOH to give 3-aminoindole-2-carbonitriles 2b-f in 63-75% yields. Under analogous conditions 2-cyano-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl cyanothioformanilide 2g gives only 4,5-dimethoxyanthranilonitrile 8g and 4,6,7-trimethoxyquinazoline-2-carbonitrile 14g, but in refluxing dry PhMe in the absence of p-toluenesulfonic acid 2-cyano-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl cyanothioformanilide 3g, (2-cyano-5,6-dimethoxyindol-3-yl)iminotriphenylphosphorane 6g and 2-(cyanomethyleneamino)-4,5-dimethoxybenzonitrile 4g are obtained. The structure of 2-(cyanomethyleneamino)-4,5-dimethoxybenzonitrile 4g is supported unambiguously via independent synthesis and comparison to the isomeric 6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline-2-carbonitrile 15. All new compounds are fully characterised and a tentative mechanism for the transformation of 2-cyano cyanothioformanilides to indoles is proposed.     

A convenient enantioselective synthesis of 3-asymmetrically substituted oxindoles as progesterone receptor antagonists

A convenient enantioselective synthesis of 3-asymmetrically substituted oxindoles is reported. Compound (2) prepared by radical cyclisation of (1) was used for the synthesis of racemic and enantiomerically pure 3-asymmetrically substituted oxindoles. Desulfurisation of (2) using Raney Ni yielded the racemate (5). Addition of (S)-1-phenylethanol to compound (2) yielded the diastereoisomer (21) the structure of which was determined using X-ray crystallography. Using a sequence of steps (21) was converted to the enantiomer (8). The enantiomer (9) was similarly prepared from (2) using (R)-1-phenylethanol.     

Syntheses of rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C5H3)2}-Zr{RN(CH2)3NR}, structural analyses of rac-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C5H3)2}Zr{RN(CH2)3NR} (where R is SiMe3 or Ph), and meso to rac isomerization

Syntheses of rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C₅H₃)₂}Zr{Me₃SiN(CH₂)₃NSiMe₃} (rac-3/meso-3) and rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C₅H₃)₂}Zr{PhN(CH₂)₃NPh} (rac-4/meso-4) were achieved by metallation of K₂[PhP(3-t-Bu-C₅H₃)₂] · 1.3 THF (2) with Zr{RN(CH₂)₃NR}Cl₂(THF)₂ (where R = SiMe₃ or Ph, respectively) using ethereal solvent. These isomeric pairs were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy; rac-3 and rac-4 were also examined via single crystal X-ray crystallography. The structures of rac-3 and rac-4 are notable in the tendency of the cyclopentadienyl rings towards η³ coordination. While isolated samples of rac-3/meso-3 and rac-4/meso-4 slowly isomerize in tetrahydrofuran-d₈ to equilibrium ratios, the isomerization rate for 3 is more than 15-fold greater than that for 4. In addition, equilibrium ratios are rapidly reached when isolated samples of rac-3/meso-3 and rac-4/meso-4 are exposed to tetrabutylammonium chloride in tetrahydrofuran-d₈ solvent. We propose that a nucleophile (either chloride or the phosphine interannular linker) brings about dissociation of one cyclopentadienyl ring, thus promoting the rac/meso isomerization mechanism.     

Synthesis of substituted 2-aroyl-3-methylchromen-4-ones from isovanillin via 2-aroyl-3-methylchroman intermediates

The synthesis of substituted 2-aroyl-3-methylchromen-4-one from isovanillin is described. O-Allylphenol (2) prepared from isovanillin (1) was allowed to react with various α-bromoacetophenone (3) to produce 2-(2-allyl-3,4-dimethoxy)phenoxy-1-aroylethanones (4). The resultant 4 were treated with 2 equiv of potassium tert-butoxide to afford the substituted 2-aroyl-3-methylchromans (5) through an isomerization of an allylic double bond and a carbanion-olefin intramolecular 6-endo-trig cyclization reaction. Subsequently, resultant 5 were oxidized with DDQ to yield the title compound 6, in good over-all yields.     

Study on the reactions of ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-oxobutanoate with arylidenemalononitriles

In the presence of a catalytic amount of NEt₃, ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-oxobutanoate 1 reacted readily with arylidenemalononitriles 2 in ethanol at room temperature. It gave two products 2-trifluoromethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran derivatives 3 and 2-(trifluoromethyl)piperidine derivatives 4, the ratio of 3 and 4 was depended on the substrates 2 and reaction solvents. Reflux of the ethanol solution of 4 with a catalytic amount of NEt₃ afforded 2-trifluoromethyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine derivatives 5 in moderate to good yields. The structures of new compounds 3, 4 and 5 were determined by spectral methods, microanalysis and X-ray diffraction analysis. A possible reaction mechanism for the formation of 3, 4 and 5 was presented.     

Use of 1,3-dibenzyl-dihydrouracil in the chain extension of 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-glyceraldehyde

The aldol-type addition of 1,3-dibenzyl-dihydrouracil 2 to 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-glyceraldehyde 3 was examined in different solvents and under Lewis acid catalysis in order to establish the stereochemical preferences. A stereodivergent synthesis of 5-trihydroxypropyl-dihydrouracil derivatives 4 and its C-5 epimer 5 was realized. The synthesis of ureido polyols 8 and 10 was obtained via the reductive ring opening of the templates 4 and 5.     

The first entry to pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinoline-2,4(3aH,5H)-diones

Wittig olefination of 3-aminoquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones 1 with ethyl (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetate (Ph₃PCHCO₂Et) afforded (E)-3-amino-4-ethoxycarbonylmethylene-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-quinolones (E)-2 and pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinoline-2,4(3aH,5H)-diones 3. An alternative approach for the synthesis of 3 via 3-bromoacetamidoquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones 7, their corresponding triphenylphosphonium salts 8, and ylides A that undergo intramolecular Wittig reaction, was investigated. Under the applied reaction conditions, the phosphonium salts 8 and ylides A are so unstable that they partly decompose to 3-acetamidoquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones 9 during the synthesis of 3.     

Rapid, microwave-assisted synthesis of N1-substituted 3-amino-1,2,4-triazoles

A robust, regioselective synthesis of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazoles is described. This reaction employs a key intermediate 2, which is coupled to carboxylic acids in good yields to afford intermediates 3a-d. These entities, in turn, react with a variety of hydrazines or hydrazine hydrochlorides to provide proposed intermediates 4a-j, which under microwave conditions cyclize to the desired 3-amino-1,2,4-triazoles (compounds 5a-j). This approach permits the rapid synthesis of regioselective N1-substituted 3-amino-1,2,4-triazoles, and is shown to afford a variety of such compounds in 34-70% isolated yields.     

Large-scale synthesis of 1,1,3,3,6-pentamethyl-1,3-disilaindan-5-ol via a CoBr2/Zn-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction

1,1,3,3,6-Pentamethyl-1,3-disilaindan-5-ol (2) is a key intermediate in the synthesis of new sila-substituted gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor antagonists, such as 1. In order to produce sufficient quantities of 1 for pharmacological and toxicological evaluation, an efficient synthesis of 2 has been developed. (1,1,3,3,6-Pentamethyl-1,3-disilaindan-5-yl)methanal (11) was synthesized in a one-pot procedure. CoBr₂/Zn-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of diyne 3 with the commercially available monoalkyne 15 was achieved through a slow addition of 3 and CoBr₂ to a mixture of 15 and zinc powder in refluxing acetonitrile, giving rise to 5-(diethoxymethyl)-1,1,3,3,6-pentamethyl-1,3-disilaindane (14). In-situ aqueous acidification yielded 11. Conversion to 2 was then achieved via a Baeyer-Villiger oxidation followed by hydrolysis under basic condition. This novel methodology is useful, not only for the rapid, large-scale synthesis of 2, but also for the synthesis and development of new sila-substituted drugs derived from 11.     

Convergent synthesis of the ABCDE-ring part of ciguatoxin CTX3C

Convergent synthesis of the ABCDE-ring part (2) of ciguatoxin CTX3C (1) has been achieved. A carbanion stabilized by a dimethyldithioacetal S-oxide group in the AB-ring part (4) readily reacted with an aldehyde group in the E-ring part (5). The resulting adduct was facilely converted to the corresponding β,γ-unsaturated α,ε-dihydroxy ketone (3). The subsequent reductive hydroxy-ketone-cyclization reactions constructed the CD-ring part efficiently. Thus, the ABCDE-ring part (2) was concisely synthesized in 10 steps in 11% overall yield from the AB-ring and the E-ring parts (4 and 5).     

A green synthesis of new 3-aryl-4-phenylsulfonyl-5-aminoisoxazoles

The present work describes a new protocol for the synthesis of 5-aminoisoxazoles using α-chlorooximes and 2-phenylsulfonyl acetonitrile via green chemistry routes. The titled 5-aminoisoxazoles 3 were further reacted with 4-nitrobenzoyl chloride to obtain 5-amidoisoxazoles with moderate yields. These heterocyclic compounds were tested in vitro MTT study to investigate inhibitive abilities to some cancer cell lines (C3a, L929, T98g and Mcf-7) and compounds 3a, 3c, 3e and 3h showed noticeable cytotoxic property against four cancer cell lines.     

Regioselective synthesis of 1- and 4-substituted 7-oxopyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-carboxamides

The synthesis of 7-substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-carboxamides was studied. First, methyl 7-hydroxypyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-carboxylate (5) was prepared in three steps from methyl 5-amino-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate (3). Treatment of 5 with POCl₃ gave the highly reactive 7-chloro derivative 10, which was reacted with amines, benzyl alcohol, and phenylboronic acid in the presence of Pd-catalyst to give the corresponding 7-substituted derivatives 11. Hydrolysis of the esters 5 and 11 followed by amidation gave the corresponding carboxamides 16a–h and 15. Regioselectivity of N-alkylation of 7-hydroxypyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-carboxylic acid derivatives 5 and 16 was tunable by the carboxy function. Alkylation of the secondary amides 16a–f furnished the 1-alkyl derivatives 17a–f, whereas the ester 5 and the tertiary amides 16g,h gave the 4-alkyl derivatives 14a–d and 16m,n, selectively.     

Solid-phase synthesis of core 3 and core 6 O-glycan-linked glycopeptides by benzyl-protection method

Core 3 and core 6 O-glycoamino acids were prepared in a protected form suited for Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). An N-trichloroacetyllactosamine derivative (2) was used as a highly β-selective glycosyl donor in 3-O-glycosylation of acceptors 3/4 and in 6-O-glycosylation of acceptors 5/6. Zn reduction of trisaccharides 7/8 and 13/14 was followed by acetylation to readily transform trichloroacetamido and azido groups to acetamido groups. Selective deprotection by Pd(0)-catalysis afforded core 3 O-glycan building blocks 11/12 and core 6 O-glycan building blocks 17/18. Usefulness of these building blocks for SPPS was demonstrated by the syntheses of the core 3-linked MUC2 tandem repeat glycopeptide and the core 6-linked glycopeptide segment of MUC6. The synthetic glycopeptides detached from the resin were debenzylated under the ‘low-acidity TfOH’ conditions.     

A facile synthesis and thio-Claisen rearrangement of 3-aryl-2-phenyl-5-prop-2-ynylsulfanyl-3H-pyrimidin-4-ones: regioselective transformation to thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-ones

The synthesis and transformation of previously unknown 3-aryl-2-phenyl-5-prop-2-ynylsulfanyl-3H-pyrimidin-4-ones 3a-e to novel thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-ones 4a-e are reported.     

The first asymmetric synthesis of (2S,3S,4R)-3-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine

The novel (2S,3S,4R)-3-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine 5 has been produced in an efficient synthesis from trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline 8. The key step involves a tethered aminohydroxylation of the alkene 7 to introduce regio- and stereoselectively the amino alcohol functionality in the resulting products 6 and 13. Subsequent deprotection steps furnish the target molecule 5 as well as several differentially protected analogues.     

Substituted coumarin amidines: useful building blocks for the preparation of [1]benzopyrano[4,3-b]pyridin-5-one and [1]benzopyrano[4,3-d]pyrimidin-5-one derivatives

The synthesis of [1]benzopyrano[4,3-b]pyridin-5-ones 4a-f and 4g-j starting from 3-formylcoumarin and 3-cyanocoumarin N-functionalized amidines 3a-f and 3g-j, respectively, was reported. The ring-closure reaction mechanism, under basic or acidic media, was proposed. Furthermore, the reaction of 3-formylamidines 3a,c-f with ammonium acetate gave good yields of 2-substituted [1]benzopyrano[4,3-d]pyrimidin-5-ones 7.     

Parallel synthesis of multi-branched oligosaccharides related to elicitor active pentasaccharide in rice cell based on orthogonal deprotection and glycosylation strategy

We describe a parallel and efficient synthesis of multi-branched oligosaccharides 3a-g based upon the structure of the phytoalexin elicitor active branched pentasaccharide 2. One-pot sequential orthogonal deprotection of tetrasaccharide 5 with three different protecting groups provided each of seven glycosyl acceptors 4a-g. Glycosylation of the acceptors 4a-g, followed by deprotection provided branched oligosaccharides 3a-g. All the reaction processes from scaffold 5 to 3a-g except for final hydrogenolysis were achieved utilizing an automated synthesizer in a parallel fashion.