Synthesis of fully substituted pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxamide derivatives via a one-pot four-component reaction

A one-pot four-component reaction of an aliphatic or aromatic amine, diketene, an aromatic aldehyde and 1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst has been developed. In this reaction, a new class of fully substituted pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxamide derivatives is produced under mild reaction conditions and in good yields at ambient temperature.     

Facile preparation of aromatic esters from aromatic bromides with ethyl formate or DMF and molecular iodine via aryllithium

Various aromatic bromides were treated with n-BuLi and subsequently with ethyl formate, followed by the reaction with ethanol and molecular iodine in the presence of K₂CO₃ to provide the corresponding aromatic ethyl esters in good yields. Moreover, aromatic bromides could be transformed into the corresponding aromatic methyl esters in good yields by the treatment with n-BuLi and subsequently with DMF, followed by the reaction with methanol, molecular iodine, and K₂CO₃. Some aromatics could be also converted into the corresponding aromatic esters in good yields by the treatment with n-BuLi, and subsequently with ethyl formate or DMF, followed by the reaction with molecular iodine and K₂CO₃. The present reactions offer a novel route for the transition-metal-free, carbon-monoxide-free, and therefore environmentally benign one-pot conversion of aromatic bromides and aromatics into aromatic esters.     

2,3-Diarylquinoxaline directed mono ortho-aroylation via cross-dehydrogenative coupling using aromatic aldehydes or alkylbenzenes as aroyl surrogate

2,3-Diarylquinoxaline directed mono ortho-aroylation protocol has been developed using aromatic aldehydes or alkybenzenes as aroyl surrogates. Out of the four available ortho sp² C–H bonds in the two aryl rings of 2,3-diarylquinoxaline one of the C–H bond is selectively ortho-aroylated. The reaction proceeds via the aroyl radical path in the case of aromatic aldehydes while the alkylbenzenes follow either an aroyl radical or a benzyl radical path. Varieties of functional groups present as substituents in 2,3-diarylquinoxalines, aromatic aldehydes and alkylbenzenes are tolerated under the present reaction conditions.     

Organolithiums by reductive lithiation: the catalytic aromatic method versus the use of preformed aromatic radical-anions. Naphthalene can behave as a catalyst or an inhibitor

Two common modes, using aromatic radical-anions for reductive lithiation, the replacement of a C-heteroatom bond with a C-Li bond, have been compared with regard to yield and the mildness of reaction conditions required. It was found that the use of preformed radical-anions generally resulted in higher yields and milder reaction conditions than the ‘catalytic’ method in which catalytic amounts of the aromatic compound are used and the radical-anion is generated and used in situ. The one apparent exception is N-phenylaziridine, but it is shown that in this case the aromatic compound, naphthalene, is actually an inhibitor rather than a catalyst. Rational mechanistic explanations are given.     

An unusual Mannich type reaction of tertiary aromatic amines in aqueous micelles

An efficient, unusual Mannich type reaction of tertiary aromatic amines, formaldehyde and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds is described in aqueous micelles catalyzed by boric acid to afford dialkylaminoarylated 1,3-dicarbonyls. In this unusual Mannich type reaction, tertiary aromatic amines react with formaldehyde to generate an N-alkyl-N-(4-methylenecyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)alkylaminium intermediate (aza quinone methide), which undergoes nucleophilic addition with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. The reaction is highly regioselective, and exclusively para functionalized products are formed in high yields.     

A new and efficient multicomponent solid-phase synthesis of 2-acylaminomethylthiazoles

A new multicomponent reaction (MCR) for the preparation of 2-substituted thiazole libraries using Rink amide resin is described. Thiazoles are assembled in a one-pot MCR of a thiocarboxylic acid, aldehyde, 3-(N,N-dimethylamino)-2-isocyanoacrylate with a resin-bound primary amine. Aliphatic and aromatic thiocarboxylic acids as well as aliphatic and (hetero-) aromatic aldehydes work in the reaction. Cleavage of the product yields the substituted thiazoles in reasonable to good purity.     

A new synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated esters from three components, aldehydes, chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, and tert-butyl acetate, via magnesium carbenoid 1,2-CH and 1,2-CC insertion as the key reaction

Addition reaction of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were derived from various aldehydes, with lithium enolate of tert-butyl acetate at −78 °C in THF gave adducts in high yields. Magnesium carbenoids were generated by treatment of these adducts with Grignard reagents via the sulfoxide-magnesium exchange reaction. When the adducts were derived from alkyl aldehydes or electron-deficient aromatic aldehydes, carbenoid 1,2-CH insertion reaction took place from the magnesium carbenoids to afford β,γ-unsaturated butyric esters having a substituent at the β-position. On the contrary, when the adducts were derived from electron-rich aromatic aldehydes, carbenoid 1,2-CC insertion reaction took place from the magnesium carbenoids to give β,γ-unsaturated butyric esters having the aromatic group at the γ-position. Highly stereospecific 1,2-CC insertion reactions were observed in the latter reactions. This procedure provides a good way for a synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated esters from aldehydes with two carbon-carbon bond-formations.     

Aza-Michael reactions catalyzed by samarium diiodide

Samarium diiodide catalyzes the Michael addition of aromatic amines onto α,β-unsaturated N-acyloxazolidinones to form β-aminoacid derivatives. Aza-Michael reactions can be followed by an amidation reaction with the aromatic amine, leading to β-aminoamides. β-Amino-N-acyloxazolidinones are selectively obtained with o-anisidine, while amidation reaction is observed with p-anisidine.     

Tandem synthesis of aromatic amides from styrenes in water

An expedient one-pot synthesis of aromatic amides has been reported from styrenes in the presence of N-bromosuccinimide and iodine by using aqueous ammonia in water. The reaction proceeds through the formation of α-bromoketone as an intermediate in the presence of NBS and water. α-Bromoketone on reaction with iodine forms bromodiiodoketone which on nucleophilic substitution with aqueous ammonia gives aromatic amide. Substituted aromatic amides were obtained in good yields with wide functional group compatibility.     

Diketene as an alternative substrate for a new Biginelli-like multicomponent reaction: one-pot synthesis of 5-carboxamide substituted 3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)ones

5-Carboxamide substituted 3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)one derivatives were synthesized in a simple and efficient method from the one-pot four-component reactions of an aliphatic or aromatic amine, diketene, an aromatic aldehyde and urea or thiourea in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst under mild reaction conditions at ambient temperature.     

Novel intramolecular aza-Diels-Alder reaction: a facile synthesis of trans-fused 5H-chromeno[2,3-c]acridine derivatives

A novel series of 5H-chromeno[2,3-c]acridine derivatives has been prepared through the intramolecular aza-Diels-Alder reaction of alkene-tethered chromene-3-carboxaldehyde with various aromatic amines. This is the first example of the preparation of pentacyclic poly aromatic compounds in a single-step operation at ambient temperature.     

Nickel-catalyzed C–O/N–H,C–S/N–H,and C–CN/N–H annulation of aromatic amides with alkynes: C–O,C–S,and C–CN activation

The Ni-catalyzed reaction of ortho-phenoxy-substituted aromatic amides with alkynes in the presence of LiO^tBu as a base results in C–O/N–H annulation with the formation of 1(2H)-isoquinolinones. The use of a base is essential for the reaction to proceed. The reaction proceeds, even in the absence of a ligand, and under mild reaction conditions (40 °C). An electron-donating group on the aromatic ring facilitates the reaction. The reaction was also applicable to carbamate (C–O bond activation), methylthio (C–S bond activation), and cyano (C–CN bond activation) groups as leaving groups.

The Ni-catalyzed reaction of ortho-phenoxy-substituted aromatic amides with alkynes in the presence of LiO^tBu as a base results in C–O/N–H annulation with the formation of 1(2H)-isoquinolinones.     

Ligand properties of aromatic azines: C-H activation, metal induced disproportionation and catalytic C-C coupling reactions

The reaction of aromatic azines with Fe₂(CO)₉ yields dinuclear iron carbonyl cluster compounds as the main products. The formation of these compounds may be rationalized by a C-H activation reaction at the aromatic substituent in ortho position with respect to the exocyclic C-N double bond followed by an intramolecular shift of the corresponding hydrogen atom toward the former imine carbon atom. The second imine function of the ligand does not react. Additional products arise from the metal induced disproportionation of the azine into a primary imine and a nitrile. So also one of the imine C-H bonds may be activated during the reaction. Depending on the aromatic substituent of the azine ligands iron carbonyl complexes of the disproportionation products are isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography. C-C coupling reactions catalyzed by Ru₃(CO)₁₂ result in the formation of ortho-substituted azines. In addition, ortho-substituted nitriles are identified as side-products showing that the metal induced disproportionation reaction also takes place under catalytic conditions.     

A rate enhancement of tert-butoxycarbonylation of aromatic amines with Boc2O in alcoholic solvents

A rate enhancement of tert-butoxycarbonylation of aromatic amines by Boc₂O in alcohols compared to aprotic solvents was demonstrated. Kinetic analysis by NMR suggested that the reaction in CD₃OD was faster than in CDCl₃ by a factor of 70. Reactions between Boc₂O and various aliphatic and aromatic amines in ethanol provided the N-Boc derivatives in good to excellent yields in short reaction times.     

Direct-type catalytic three-component Mannich reaction in aqueous media

Bismuth triflate catalyzed direct-type Mannich reaction of cyclohexanone, aromatic aldehyde, and aromatic amine proceeded smoothly in water to afford the corresponding β-amino ketone with very good yield and moderate to good anti selectivity.     

One-pot, three-component route to 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-triones

2H-Indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-1,6,11(13H)-trione derivatives were synthesized in a simple and efficient method from the three-component condensation reaction of phthalhydrazide, dimedone, and aromatic aldehydes under solvent-free conditions in excellent yields and short reaction times.     

Biginelli reaction starting directly from alcohols

An efficient of one-pot oxidative access to 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-ones directly from aromatic alcohols under mild conditions is reported. The protocol involves 1-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulphate [Hmim]HSO₄ catalyzed oxidation of aromatic alcohols to aromatic aldehydes with NaNO₃ followed by their cyclocondensation with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and urea in the same reaction vessel at 80 °C within 2-4 h to afford 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-ones in 55-97% overall yields. Thus, the present work utilizing alcohols instead of aldehyde in Biginelli reaction is a valid and green alternative to the classical synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-ones.     

Reaction of 4-[2-(arylmethylidene)hydrazinylidene]cyclohexa-2,5-dienones with aromatic amines

4-[2-(Arylmethylidene)hydrazinylidene]cyclohexa-2,5-dienones react with aromatic amines according to the 1,8-addition pattern with formation of N-aryl-N′-(4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ylidene)arenecarbohydrazonamides. The reaction is favored by increase of electron-donating power of the substituent in aromatic amine and electron-withdrawing power of the benzylidene fragment of quinone imine. A probable reaction scheme has been proposed.     

pTSA-catalyzed condensation of xylenols and aldehydes under solvent-free conditions: One-pot synthesis of 9H-xanthene or bisphenol derivatives

A simple and efficient procedure for the synthesis of 9H-xanthene or bisphenol derivatives has been developed by one-pot condensation of xylenols with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid (pTSA) as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions at 100 °C. It is noteworthy that the condensation reaction of 3,5-xylenol with aldehydes produces 9H-xanthene derivatives, while the reaction with other xylenols leads to the corresponding bisphenol derivatives. Different types of aromatic aldehydes are used in the reaction and in every case the products were obtained in good to excellent yields. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and CHN data.     

E-selective isomerization of stilbenes and stilbenoids through reversible hydroboration

Hydroboration of a mixture of E and Z stilbenes and stilbenoids is followed by an elimination reaction to yield the E isomer with high stereoselectivity. The reaction tolerates aromatic substituents with varying stereoelectronic properties, occurs in one pot, and requires only commercially available reagents. An illustration of the isomerization reaction in a synthesis of resveratrol, a biologically active antioxidant, is presented.