Highly efficient dialkylphosphate-mediated syntheses of hydantoins and a bicyclohydantoin under solvent-free conditions

Diversely substituted hydantoins have been synthesized by new strategy from cyanamide based precursor, that is, methyl N-cyano-N-alkyl/arylaminoacetate. Dialkylphosphates were employed as the mild reagent to hydrolyze and cyclize the substrate in one step to give quantitative yields of the desired products. Syntheses of multivalent hydantoins viz bis-hydantoin, bicyclohydantoin have potentially widened the scope and applicability of the present method. Solvent-free conditions and very easy work-up procedure make the reaction convenient and eco-friendly. Single crystal structures of some of the representative compounds are also reported.     

Dibutylphosphate (DBP) mediated synthesis of cyclic N,N′-disubstituted urea derivatives from amino esters: a comparative study

The N,N′-disubstituted urea derivatives such as amino acid hydantoins and dihydrouracil derivatives were prepared starting from natural and unnatural amino acid esters using dibutylphosphate (DBP). During the attempted synthesis of N-heterocycles with larger than six-membered rings containing the N,N′-disubstituted urea functionalities, three unexpected products namely squamolone, N-methyl pyrrolidine-2-one, and diketopiperazine were isolated.     

Efficient synthesis of new imidazo[1,2-b][1,2]benzothiazine 4,4-dioxide derivatives via lateral lithiation of N-mesitylenesulfonyl hydantoins

N-Mesitylenesulfonyl hydantoins, readily available from commercial α-amino acids, undergo lateral lithiation with an excess of lithium diisopropylamide and tetramethylethylenediamine in the presence of trimethylsilyl chloride to provide new imidazo[1,2-b][1,2]benzothiazin-2-one 4,4-dioxide derivatives in yields ranging from 44-65%.     

Domino condensation/aza-Michael/O→N acyl migration of carbodiimides with activated α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids to form hydantoins

Activated α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids undergo an unexpected domino condensation/aza-Michael/O→N acyl migration with carbodiimides, producing N,N-disubstituted hydantoins in good yields. An array of structurally varied aspartic acid-derived hydantoins, including some fluorinated derivatives, have been synthesized by this method, whose scope and limits are discussed.     

Parallel Solid-Phase Synthesis of disubstituted 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)imidazolidine-2,4-diones and 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-ones

A multistep approach to construct novel 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)imidazolidine-2,4-diones and 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-ones from commercially available amino acids, amines, and carboxylic acids is described. Coupling of Fmoc-amino acid to resin-bound aminobenzimidazole provided following Fmoc elimination free amine. Treatment of the free amine with 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole or 1,1′-thiocarbonyldiimidazole furnished the corresponding hydantoins and thiohydantoins via intramolecular cyclization. The desired aminobenzimidazole tethered hydantoins or thiohydantoins were isolated in good yields.     

A simple and expedient method for the preparation of N-chlorohydantoins

A simple and efficient methodology for the preparation of N-chlorinated hydantoins is presented. These versatile chlorenium sources were isolated in high yield after a simple recrystallization. Among the ten examples are the first chiral N-chlorohydantoins.     

Facile synthesis of hydantoins and thiohydantoins in aqueous solution

A series of hydantoins and thiohydantoins have been synthesized in water at room temperature from urea (or N-methylurea, or thiourea) and simple aldehydes (as glyoxal, and its simple derivatives) in the presence of phosphoric anhydride. The reaction time is 10 min using an equimolar amount of P₄O₁₀ with respect to the other reagents, but the reaction occurs also, even if with longer reaction times, with very small amounts of P₄O₁₀.In addition, this method provides a clean and ‘green’ approach to hydantoins, compounds of great interest in biological and pharmacological fields.     

Regioselective protection of hydantoins – essential for hydantoin based anti-epileptic drugs

The synthesis and NMR elucidation of six novel mono- and bis-Boc protected hydantoins are reported. The hydantoins 5-methylhydantoin, 5,5-dimethylhydantoin and a pentacycloundecane hydantoin exhibit an increase in substitution and steric hindrance at C-5. Kinetic and reagent controlled monoprotection of the smaller hydantoins achieve regioselective protection at N-1 while the bulky cage hydantoin is protected at N-3′. Hydantoin based anti-epileptic drugs such as 5,5-diphenylhydantoin require regioselective substitution at N-3′ for enhanced pharmaceutical activity. The study enhances our understanding of the activity of the nitrogen atoms on hydantoin rings.     

Aziridines in one step from hydantoins via Red-Al mediated ring-contraction

We have developed a new method to synthesize aziridines from their corresponding hydantoins in one step using an excess of Red-Al overnight in refluxing toluene. This allows direct access to N-H aziridines without the need for protecting group strategies.     

Syntheses, addition-eliminations, and addition-displacements of 5-(bromomethylene)hydantoins

5-(Bromomethylene)hydantoins, prepared from bromopyruvic acid and ureas in the presence of BF₃, react with various nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and carbon nucleophiles by addition-elimination to give the corresponding 5-(substituted-methylene)hydantoins. The 5-(bromomethylene)hydantoins also undergo acid-catalyzed reactions with nucleophiles by addition-displacement and addition-elimination processes.     

One pot synthesis of maleimide and hydantoin by Fe(CO)5 catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] co-cyclization of acetylene, isocyanate and CO

In the presence of a catalytic amount of Fe(CO)(5), terminal acetylenes, isocyanates and CO undergo [2 + 2 + 1] cyclization to form substituted maleimides and hydantoins; when internal alkynes are used, exclusive maleimide formation is observed. While the maleimides can be obtained as the major products, in up to 90% yield, when the reaction is carried out in CO atmosphere, in absence of CO, the hydantoins are formed in up to 87% yield. Formation of maleimides has been shown to occur via the formation of a ferrole intermediate, whereas the hydantoins are proposed to form through successive insertion of isocyanate into the iron-acetylide bond. All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods and molecular structures of some compounds were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction method.     

The structure of hydantoins in solution and in the solid state

The results of NMR spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic studies are critically discussed with respect to the structure of hydantoins, their tautomerism, and their acidity. The imide NH proton of the preferred, nearly planar 2,4-imidazolidine-dione tautomer proved to be more acidic than the corresponding amide NH proton. Phenyl substituents at the ring nitrogen atoms and at C-5 are twisted from the plane of the hydantoin ring; in case ofortho substituents restricted rotation about the N-aryl bond was found and the barrier to rotation determined by dynamic NMR spectroscopy. For 5-benzyl substituents, afolded conformation of the two rings, due to intramolecular interactions, was found and for 5-exo-methylene substituted hydantoins the relevant E/Z isomerism at theexo-cyclic C, C double bond was studied. In addition, the¹H and¹³C chemical shifts of the hydantoins proved to excellently indicate the electronic distribution along the hydantoin ring moiety. Finally, the mass spectrometric fragmentation of the hydantoins is critically discussed.Dedicated to Prof. Rolf Borsdorf on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

Thermal properties of novel polymers based on poly(hydantoin-methyl-p-styrene) and their substrates

The following compounds have been synthesized: (a) hydantoins 5,5-dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (1), 1??,3??-dihydrospiro[imidazolidine-4,2??-indene]-2,5-dione (2), 3??,4??-dihydro-1??H-spiro[imidazolidine-4,2??-naphthalene]-2,5-dione (3); (b) monomers: 5,5-dimethyl-3-(4-vinylbenzyl)imidazolidine-2,4-dione (4), 1-(4-vinylbenzyl)-1??,3??-dihydrospiro[imidazolidine-4,2??-indene]-2,5-dione (5), 1-(4-vinylbenzyl)-3??,4??-dihydro-1??H-spiro[imidazolidine-4,2??-naphthalene]-2,5-dione (6), (two of them are unknown: 5 and 6); (c) macromolecular compounds: poly(chloromethyl-p-styrene) (7), used as reference, and three polymers (two of them are novel) obtained by substitution of hydantoins 1?C3 to poly(methyl-p-styrene) (8?C10). Their thermal properties have been studied by thermogravimetry. It was found that the chemical structure, tautomerization, and intermolecular interaction influence the thermal stability of substrates. The presence of phenyl rings causes the increase of resistance of studied hydantoins. The obtained polymers are characterized by significantly improved thermal stability comparing to poly (chloromethyl-p-styrene). The mechanism of thermal degradation of investigated polymers and explanation of their thermal resistance has been proposed. The relatively high temperatures of glass transition of polymers have been determined by DSC.     

Non-phosgene route to unsymmetrical ureas from N-Cbz-α-amino acid amides

A convenient method toward the synthesis of α-amino acid-derived unsymmetrical ureas 2 is described herein. This route involves an interesting rearrangement of amides of N-Cbz-α-amino acids 1, which presumably entails the intermediacy of hydantoins that is followed by hydrolysis to afford unsymmetrical ureas 2 in quantitative yields and high purity.     

Investigation of Masked N-Acyl-N-isocyanates: Support for Oxadiazolones as Blocked N-Isocyanate Precursors

In contrast to carbon-substituted isocyanates that are common building blocks, N-substituted isocyanates remain underdeveloped and reports on their N-acyl derivatives (i. e. amido-isocyanates) are exceedingly rare. Herein, amido-isocyanates were investigated in the context of syntheses of aza-tripeptide and hydantoins subunits starting from simple bench-stable precursors. A key finding is that the amido-isocyanate formed in situ cyclized to yield an oxadiazolone, and that under suitable reaction conditions this heterocycle is a traceless blocked (masked) N-isocyanate. Using organic bases as catalysts and upon heating, oxadiazolone formation is observed, and various nucleophiles to provide the desired aza-dipeptides or hydantoins in moderate to high yields. Further support for an amido-isocyanate intermediate was obtained using carboxylic acids as nucleophiles, affording N-acylhydrazide products.     

Trapping of a phosphazide intermediate in the Staudinger reaction of tertiary phosphines with azides and its application to the synthesis of analogs of the marine alkaloid midpacamide

A new method based on the reaction of an E-phosphazide, an intermediate in the Staudinger reaction between triphenylphosphine with an azide, with heterocumulenes allows the one-pot, two-component synthesis of a number of analogs of the pyrrole-imidazole marine alkaloid midpacamide. The procedure, which involves sequential treatment of the appropriate α-azido ester with triphenylphosphine and isothiocyanate leads to the thiohydantoin product after aqueous workup. The cyclization conditions can also be adapted to the synthesis of hydantoins by using isocyanates.     

Synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted hydantoins as possible anticonvulsants

Seven newer 1,3-disubstituted hydantoins ( 17–23 ) were synthesized from 4-alkoxyanilines. The anticonvulsant activity of these substituted hydantoins and their precursor carbamides ( 10–16 ) was reflected by their ability to provide 28–80% and 30–70% protection, respectively, against pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions in mice. In general, substituted hydantoins possessed greater anticonvulsant activity than their corresponding precursor carbamides.     

One‐Pot Synthesis and Characterization of Some New Types of 5,5′‐Disubstituted Bis(imidazolidine‐2,4‐diones)

The synthesis and structural elucidation of some novel 5,5′‐disubstituted spiro and nonspiro‐bis‐hydantoins are reported. The Bucherer Burge's method has been modified for the preparation of some 5,5′‐substituted bis(imidazolidine‐2,4‐dione) derivatives starting with diketones ( 1–5 ) and dialdehydes ( 6 , 7 ). In some cases, diastereoisomeric mixtures of compounds were obtained. The resulting bis‐hydantoins ( 8–11 , 13 , 14 ) have not to our knowledge been previously reported in the literature.     

Synthesis of hydantoins and dihydrouracils via thermally-promoted cyclization of ureidoacetamides

The synthesis of hydantoins and dihydrouracils from ureidoacetamides has been carried out at high temperature in glycol solvents. A series of substrates were prepared and examined to determine the effect of substrate structure, N-acyl substitution (X), and solvent on the course of the reaction. A dramatic effect was observed when using ureidoacetamides (e.g., X=N-methyl-N-phenyl), which led to higher yields, faster reaction times, and lower racemization of chiral substrates. The rate of racemization of a chiral hydantoin in the presence of dibenzylamine and N-methyl aniline has also been determined. The thermal cyclization methodology has been applied to the preparation of a complex hydantoin.     

Synthesis of 1,3,5-trisubstituted hydantoins by regiospecific domino condensation/aza-Michael/O-->N acyl migration of carbodiimides with activated alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acids

[reaction: see text] Carbodiimides and suitably activated alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acids react effectively to afford a vast array of 1,3,5-trisubstituted hydantoins by means of a regiospecific domino condensation/aza-Michael/N-->O acyl migration. The reaction works well in very mild conditions (20 degrees C, dichloromethane) with fumaric acid derivatives bearing an electron-withdrawing group in the beta position. Good results have been obtained also with less activated substrates bearing only one electron-withdrawing group in the beta position, using more polar solvents (acetonitrile, DMF), and in the presence of a base (2,4,6-trimethylpyridine). Reactions with asymmetric carbodiimides are generally highly chemo- and regioselective, giving rise to the formation of a single regioisomeric hydantoin. However, asymmetric carbodiimides bearing one alkyl group and one aryl group can produce variable amounts of N-acylurea byproducts. The latter could be easily recovered and transformed into the corresponding hydantoins. A detailed study of the influence of key reaction parameters such as solvent, base, and structure of the reactants on the reaction outcome and mechanism is presented. This methodology is particularly convenient for the synthesis of trifluoromethyl-substituted hydantoins, which could be interesting as bioactive compounds in medicinal chemistry, as well as precursors of the corresponding alpha-amino acids.