1H and 13C NMR studies of 7-azaindole and related compounds

The ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts, proton-proton coupling constants, and one-bond carbon-hydrogen coupling constants have been obtained for 7-azaindole, 1-methyl-7-azaindole, their corresponding methyl iodide salts, and the related compound 7-methyl-7H-pyrrolo [2,3-b]pyridine. are different from those of either 7-azaindole or 1-methyl-7-azaindole.     

Reactivity of 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine. I. Synthesis of 3-acetyl-7- azaindole and related compounds

The behaviour of 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b)pyridine (7-azaindole) towards several acylating reagents are reported. The preparation of 3-acetyl-7-azaindole, 3-chloroacetyl-7-azaindole and 3-(2-hydroxiethyl)-7-azaindole are described.     

Synthesis and reactivity of N-heterocycle-B(C6F5)3 complexes. 4. Competition between pyridine- and pyrrole-type substrates toward B(C6F5)3: structure and dynamics of 7-B(C6F5)3-7-azaindole and [7-Azaindolium]+[HOB(C6F5)3]-

Reaction between 7-azaindole and B(C6F5)3 quantitatively yields 7-(C6F5)3B-7-azaindole (4), in which B(C6F5)3 coordinates to the pyridine nitrogen of 7-azaindole, leaving the pyrrole ring unreacted even in the presence of a second equivalent of B(C6F5)3. Reaction of 7-azaindole with H2O-B(C6F5)3 initially produces [7-azaindolium]+[HOB(C6F5)3]- (5) which slowly converts to 4 releasing a H2O molecule. Pyridine removes the borane from the known complexes (C6F5)3B-pyrrole (1) and (C6F5)3B-indole (2), with formation of free pyrrole or indole, giving the more stable adduct (C6F5)3B-pyridine (3). The competition between pyridine and 7-azaindole for the coordination with B(C6F5)3 again yields 3. The molecular structures of compounds 4 and 5 have been determined both in the solid state and in solution and compared to the structures of other (C6F5)3B-N-heterocycle complexes. Two dynamic processes have been found in compound 4. Their activation parameters (DeltaH = 66 (3) kJ/mol, DeltaS = -18 (10) J/mol K and DeltaH = 76 (5) kJ/mol, DeltaS = -5 (18) J/mol K) are comparable with those of other (C6F5)3B-based adducts. The nature of the intramolecular interactions that result in such energetic barriers is discussed.     

Excited state proton transfer in 3-methyl-7-azaindole dimer. Symmetry control

The concerted double proton transfer undergone by the C(2)(h) dimer of 7-azaindole upon electronic excitation has also been reported to occur in 3-methyl-7-azaindole monocrystals and in dimers of this compound under free-jet conditions. However, the results obtained in this work for the 3-methyl-7-azaindole dimer formed in a 10(-4) M solution of the compound in 2-methylbutane suggest that the dimer produces no fluorescent signal consistent with a double proton transfer in the liquid phase or in a matrix. In this paper, the spectroscopic behavior of the doubly hydrogen bonded dimer of 3-methyl-7-azaindole is shown to provide a prominent example of molecular symmetry control over the spectroscopy of a substance. This interpretation opens up a new, interesting research avenue for exploring the ability of molecular symmetry to switch between proton-transfer mechanisms. It should be noted that symmetry changes in the 3-methyl-7-azaindole dimer are caused by an out-of-phase internal rotation of the two methyl groups.     

Heterogeneous-catalytic fischer reaction

The catalytic synthesis of 7-azaindole and its 2-methyl derivative has been accomplished for the first time by cyclization of acetaldehyde and acetone 2-pyridylhydrazones in the presence of -Al₂O₃ and fluorinated aluminum oxide. The temperature dependence of the yields of reaction products — azaindoles and 2-aminopyridine — was studied. The cyclization of acetaldehyde 2-pyridylhydrazone proceeds under more severe conditions. The maximum yield of 7-azaindole is 15% at 450° on fluorinated aluminum oxide. The yield of 2-methyl-7-azaindole reaches 50% at 315°. Fluorinated aluminum oxide displays higher catalytic activity.See [1] for communication III.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 656–658, May, 1972.     

EXCITED STATE INTERACTIONS OF 7-AZAINDOLE WITH ALCOHOL AND WATER

Abstract— The fluorescence spectrum of 7-azaindole in alcohol is composed of two fluorescence bands. Effects of pH, temperature and solvent deuteration on the fluorescence spectra and quantum yields of 7-azaindole and other model compounds in ethanol and in water are reported. The long wavelength band arises from a tautomeric species formed in an adiabatic photoreaction involving double proton transfer between one molecule of 7-azaindole and one molecule of alcohol.
The fluorescence spectrum of 7-azaindole in water is composed of only one band, but the emission is weak and shows a large solvent isotope effect. The possibility of a double proton transfer reaction between 7-azaindole and water is discussed.     

Synthesis of pyrrolopyridines (azaindoles)

Improved, convenient, and reliable routes for the synthesis of 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-azaindole, 7-methyl-4-azaindole, 7-methyl-6-azaindole, and the hitherto unreported 7-amino-4-azaindole are described. The syntheses have been accomplished either by significant modifications to established procedures or by new methods which afford the compounds in improved yields.     

Lewis acid-mediated cross-coupling reaction of 7-azaindoles and aldehydes: Cytotoxic evaluation of C3-linked bis-7-azaindoles

The synthesis of 3,3′-bis-7-indolylmethane derivatives is important for their further development as pharmaceutical compounds and other synthetic purposes. Herein, we describe the zinc- or acid-mediated cross-coupling reaction of 7-azaindoles with aldehydes, such as paraformaldehyde, alkyl aldehydes, aryl aldehydes, enal, and α-ketoaldehyde, providing the corresponding C3-linked bis-7-azaindole derivatives, which are a crucial class towards the development of novel bioactive compounds. High levels of site selectivity and functional group tolerance were observed. Synthesized 3,3′-bis-7-azaindole derivatives were evaluated against human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) and human ovarian carcinoma cells (SKOV-3), respectively. Notably, compounds 3s and 4e displayed promising anticancer properties competitive with anticancer doxorubicin as a positive control.     

Azaindole derivatives

It is shown that it is possible to synthesize 1-acyl-4-methyl-7-azatryptamines from ethyl (4-methyl-7-aza-3-indolyl)acetate through 3-(-chloroethyl)-4-methyl-7-azaindole with subsequent acylation by replacement of halogen by a nitro group and reduction. The N-acetyl group is cleaved in the reaction of 1-acetyl-3-(-chloroethyl)-4-methyl-7-azaindole with ammonia, bis (dimethylmethoxysilyl)amide potassium salt, and potassium phthalimide (with subsequent removal of the phthalimide protective group).See [1] for communication XLII.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1370–1373, October, 1973.     

Study of 7-azaindole in its first four singlet states

The molecular structure and properties of 7-azaindole in its first four singlet states were studied with a view to improving current understanding of the photophysical behavior of its C(2h) dimer. This dimer, which exhibits a double proton transfer via its two hydrogen bonds upon electronic excitation, has for 35 years been used as a model for the photophysical behavior of DNA base pairs. Electronic excitation of 7-azaindole simultaneously increases its acidity and basicity; these changes facilitate a concerted mechanism for the double proton transfer in the dimer. In this work, we found the acidity and basicity changes to occur only in its first pi,pi(*) excited singlet state.     

Surprising selectivity in the transformation of dimethoxy azaindoles

Transformation of 4,7-dimethoxy-6-azaindole into 4-hydroxy-7-methoxy-6-azaindole or 7-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-azaindole can be readily controlled by careful selection of a reagent. Treatment with concentrated HCl results in hydrolysis at the 4-position exclusively, while TMS-I provides demethylation at the 7-position only. Products were unambiguously identified by single crystal X-ray crystallography.     

Nonexponential Fluorescence Decay of 7-Azatryptophan Induced in a Peptide Environment

7-Azatryptophan is an alternative to tryptophan as an optical probe of protein structure and dynamics. 7-Azatryptophan is synthetically incorporated into an octapeptide (NAc-Lys-Ala-Cys-Pro-7-azatryptophan-Asn-Cys-Asp-NH₂) that mimics the active site of potato chymotrypsin inhibitor II, which is known to be a strong inhibitor of α-chymotrypsin. The synthetic octapeptide retains some of this inhibitory activity. This is the first compound containing the 7-azaindole chromophore to display a nonexponential fluorescence decay (well fit to two exponentials) in water when fluorescence is collected over the entire emission band. The effect of external quenchers on the fluorescence decay is monitored and seen to differ markedly for the two components. These results are discussed in terms of the solvation of the 7-azaindole chromophore itself, which promotes or impedes excited-state tautomerization. The fluorescence quenching of free indole and 7-azaindole are compared. The fluorescence quenching of octapeptides containing both chromophores is also compared. It is the thesis of this article that the nonexponential fluorescence decay of the 7-azatryptophan-containing octapeptide is a consequence of excited-state tautomerization of the 7-azaindole chromophore. This tautomerization is suggested to be promoted by solvent reorganization induced by the peptide backbone or by direct interactions of the 7-azaindole with neighboring amino acid side chains.     

Synthesis of functionalized 7-azaindoles via directed ortho-metalations

Functionalization at C-5 of 4-fluoro- and 4-chloro-1-triisopropylsilyl-7-azaindole, 1 and 2, respectively, leads to a variety of new substituted 7-azaindole derivatives. We also describe two approaches to introduce functionality at C-6.     

Intermolecular vibrational modes and orientational dynamics of cooperative hydrogen-bonding dimer of 7-azaindole in solution

We observed the low-frequency Raman-active intermolecular vibrational modes of 7-azaindole in CCl(4) by femtosecond Raman-induced Kerr effect spectroscopy. To understand the dynamical aspects and vibrational modes of 7-azaindole in the solution, the ultrafast dynamics of 1-benzofuran in CCl(4) was also examined as a reference and ab initio quantum chemistry calculations were performed for 7-azaindole and 1-benzofuran. The cooperative hydrogen-bonding vibrational bands of 7-azaindole dimer in CCl(4) appeared at 89 cm(-1) and 105 cm(-1) represent the overlap of stagger and wheeling modes and the intermolecular stretching mode, respectively. They are almost independent of the concentration in the solution. We further found from the low-frequency differential Kerr spectra of the solutions with neat CCl(4) that the intermolecular motion in the low frequency region below 20 cm(-1) was less active in the case of 7-azaindole/CCl(4) than in the case of 1-benzofuran/CCl(4). The slow orientational relaxation time in 7-azaindole/CCl(4) is ~3.5 times that in 1-benzofuran/CCl(4) because of the nature of the dimerization of 7-azaindole.     

Site-selective C–H nitration of N-aryl-7-azaindoles under palladium(II) catalysis

The site-selective C–H nitration reaction of 7-azaindoles with t-butyl nitrite under palladium catalysis is described. This protocol provides an efficient method for the construction of ortho-nitrated N-aryl-7-azaindoles with excellent site-selectivity and functional group compatibility. The formed 7-azaindole derivatives can be readily transformed into 7-azaindoles containing an aniline functional group under palladium-catalyzed hydrogenation conditions.     

A theoretical and optical spectroscopic study of the mechanism of a tautomeric transformation in the 7-azaindole dimer and the 7-azaindole complex with a water molecule

Electronic, vibrational, and electronic vibrational spectra of the 7-azaindole dimer, the 7-azaindole complex with a water molecule, and their tautomers are calculated. Transition states are considered based on the analysis of frequencies and shapes of low-frequency vibrations and the Mulliken charge redistribution. The performed quantum chemical calculation of chemical reactions enabled the determination of the structure of transition states and proton transfer conditions. It is shown that in the 7-AzI dimer the proton transfer has a character consistent with the formation of a zwitterionic form. The structure of excited states is calculated and the fluorescence spectra of the first electronic transitions that can be used as a criterion of the formation of 7-AzI tautomers as a result of chemical reactions proceeding through a proton transfer in the 7-azaindole dimer and the 7-azaindole complex with a water molecule, are interpreted.     

7-Azaindole derivatives

A study is made of new synthetic routes, based on accessible 3-formyl-7-azaindoles, to 3-substituted 7-azaindole. 2-Phenyl-4-(1-phenyl-4-methyl-7-azaindolyl-3-rnethylene)-1, 3-oxazol-5-one is synthesized, and it is converted to 1-phenyl-4-methyl-7-azatryptophane, 1-phenyl-4-methyl-7-azaindolyl-3-acetic acid,1-phenyl-3-(,-dihydroxypropyl)-4-methyl-7-azaindole, and 1-phenyl-4-methyl-7-azaindolyl-3-pyrotartaric acid.For Part XVIII see [1].     

A highly effective synthesis of 2-alkynyl-7-azaindoles: Pd/C-mediated alkynylation of heteroaryl halides in water

The reaction of 4-chloro-2-iodo-7-azaindole with terminal alkynes was investigated using 10% Pd/C-PPh₃-CuI as a catalyst system in water. This study afforded a new, mild and selective process for the preparation of 2-alkynyl-4-chloro-7-azaindole in good yields via C-C bond forming reaction. The resulting chloro derivative can be functionalized further via another Pd-mediated C-C bond forming reaction with arylboronic acid.     

Photoaddition of benzophenone to azaindole,synthesis of the oxetane of 7-azaindole

7-Azaindole did not react with benzophenone on irradiation. However, irradiation of benzophenone in the presence of 1-acetyl-7-azaindole produced an oxetane by cycloaddition of the ketone to the 7-azaindole 2,3-double bond. The nmr and the mass spectra of the oxetane have also been studied in some detail.     

Isomerism and Blue Electroluminescence of a Novel Organoboron Compound: BIII2(O)(7-azain)2Ph2

Bright blue light with a maximum at 450 nm is emitted by both structural isomers of the novel, stable B^III₂(O)(7-azain)₂Ph₂ (7-azain=7-azaindole anion) on irradiation with UV light. The isomer shown in the picture has approximate C₂ symmetry (the other isomer approximate C_s symmetry) and electroluminesces when used as the emitting layer in an electroluminescent device.