Formal [4+2]‐Annulation of Vinyl Azides with N‐Unsaturated Aldimines

Highly functionalized quinolines and pyridines could be synthesized by BF₃?OEt₂‐mediated reactions of vinyl azides with N‐aryl and N‐alkenyl aldimines, respectively. The reaction mechanism could be characterized as formal [4+2]‐annulation, including unprecedented enamine‐type nucleophilic attack of vinyl azides to aldimines and subsequent nucleophilic cyclization onto the resulting iminodiazonium ion moieties.     

Photochemistry of N‐(2‐Acylphenyl)‐2‐methylprop‐2‐enamides: Competition between Photocyclization and Long‐Range Hydrogen Abstraction

The photochemical reactions of various ‘N‐methacryloyl acylanilides’ (=N‐(acylphenyl)‐2‐methylprop‐2‐enamides) have been investigated. Under irradiation, the acyl‐substituted anilides 1a – 1c and 1o afforded exclusively the corresponding quinoline‐based cyclization products of type 2 (Table 1). In contrast, irradiation of the benzoyl (Bz)‐substituted anilides 1e – 1h afforded a mixture of the open‐chain amides 4e – 4h and the cyclization products 2e – 2h . Irradiation of the para‐acyl‐substituted anilides 6a – 6e and 6h afforded the corresponding quinoline‐based cyclization products of type 5 as the sole products (Table 2). The formation of the cyclization products 2a – 2c and 2o can be rationalized in terms of 6π‐electron cyclization, followed by thermal [1,5] acyl migration, and that of compounds 3p, 5a – 5e , and 5h can be explained by a 6π‐electron cyclization only. The formation of the open‐chain amides 4e – 4h probably follows a mechanism involving a 1,7‐diradical, C and a spirolactam of type D (Scheme). Long‐range ζ‐H abstraction by the excited carbonyl O‐atom of the benzoyl group on the aniline ring is expected to proceed via a nine‐membered cyclic transition state, as proposed on the basis of X‐ray crystallographic analyses (Fig. 2).     

Two‐step Synthesis of New γ‐Lactones via Cyclization of 7‐Chloro‐2‐(methoxycarbonyl)‐4‐6‐dimethylocta‐(2E,4E,6E)‐trienoic acid

A new rapid synthesis of γ‐lactones, cis fused with a cyclopentenic ring by thermal cyclization of 7‐chloro‐2‐(methoxycarbonyl)‐4‐6‐dimethylocta‐7‐phenyl (or methyl) (2E,4E,6E)‐trienoic acids was reported. The key step implicates an intramolecular cyclization to a cyclopentenyl cation, according to an electrocyclic π_2s + π_2a conrotatory process, published in a recent paper (from the corresponding diacids). We have investigated the thermal behavior of the corresponding half‐esters since; if the cyclization obeys to the proposed mechanism, the diacids, half‐esters must also cyclize in a similar manner. Saponification of these led to γ‐dilactones via intermediary cyclopropanes. Mechanistic pathways were investigated.     

Model Construction for the A–B–C Ring System of Lysergic Acid via Vilsmeier–Haack‐Type Cyclization of 1H‐Indole‐4‐propanoic Acid Derivatives

Vilsmeier–Haack‐type cyclization of 1H‐indole‐4‐propanoic acid derivatives was examined as model construction for the A–B–C ring system of lysergic acid ( 1 ). Smooth cyclization from the 4 position of 1H‐indole to the 3 position was achieved by Vilsmeier–Haack reaction in the presence of K₂CO₃ in MeCN, and the best substrate was found to be the N,N‐dimethylcarboxamide 9 (Table 1). The modified method can be successfully applied to an α‐amino acid derivative protected with an N‐acetyl function, i.e., to 27 (Table 2); however, loss of optical purity was observed in the cyclization when a chiral substrate (S)‐ 27 was used (Scheme 5). On the other hand, the intramolecular Pummerer reaction of the corresponding sulfoxide 20 afforded an S‐containing tricyclic system 22 , which was formed by a cyclization to the 5 position (Scheme 3).     

Unexpected Ritter Reaction During Acid‐Promoted 1,3‐Dithiol‐2‐one Formation

A series of aryl‐substituted 1,3‐dithiol‐2‐ones was prepared by the Bhattacharya? Hortmann cyclization method. Unexpectedly, a Ritter reaction occurred during the acid‐catalyzed cyclization at the cyano group of the aryl substituents and 1,3‐dithiol‐2‐ones bearing a carboxy or a carboxamide group could be selectively obtained (see 1 and 2a in Scheme 1). The formation of the acid or the amide functionality was temperature‐dependent so that the one or the other group could be introduced selectively by modifying the reaction temperature.     

Synthesis of Imidazo[2,1‐b][2H‐1,3,4]thiadiazines and 1,2,4‐Triazolo[3,4‐b][2H‐1,3,4]thiadiazines

Imidazo[2,1‐b][2H‐1,3,4]thiadiazines were prepared by cyclization of 2‐amino‐5‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐6H‐1,3,4‐thiadiazine with α‐haloketones. 1,2,4‐Triazolo[3,4‐b][2H‐1,3,4]thiadiazines were prepared by cyclization of 4‐amino‐5‐sulfanyl‐l,2,4‐triazoles with phenacyl bromides.     

Synthesis of 2‐Unsubstituted 1,3‐Selenazoles by Cyclization of Selenoformamide with α‐Bromocarbonyl Compounds

2‐Unsubstituted 1,3‐selenazoles were prepared by cyclization of selenoformamide with α‐bromoacetophenones. Parent 1,3‐selenazole was prepared by cyclization of selenoformamide with α‐bromoacetaldehyde.     

A Cascade Synthesis of Hetero‐arylated Triarylmethanes Through a Double 5‐endo‐dig Cyclization Sequence

A sequential two‐step method for the synthesis of hetero‐arylated triarylmethanes through a Ag‐catalyzed sequential double cyclization–nucleophilic addition cascade is described. This methodology basically involves an initial 5‐endo‐dig cyclization of o‐alkynyl anilines to provide 2‐substituted indole derivatives, which then react with 2‐(2‐enynyl)‐pyridines to afford indolizine‐containing unsymmetrical triarylmethanes through another 5‐endo‐dig cyclization.     

Ligand‐Controlled Regiodivergent Nickel‐Catalyzed Annulation of Pyridones

The 1,6‐annulated 2‐pyridone motif is found in many biologically active compounds and its close relation to the indolizidine and quinolizidine alkaloid core makes it an attractive building block. A nickel‐catalyzed C? H functionalization of 2‐pyridones and subsequent cyclization affords 1,6‐annulated 2‐pyridones by selective intramolecular olefin hydroarylation. The switch between the exo‐ and endo‐cyclization modes is controlled by two complementary sets of ligands. Irrespective of the ring size, the regioselectivity during the cyclization is under full catalyst control. Simple cyclooctadiene promotes an exo‐selective cyclization, whereas a bulky N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand results in an endo‐selective mode. The method was further applied in the synthesis of the lupin alkaloid cytisine.     

Synthesis of new methylated thieno[2,3‐a] and [3,2‐b]carbazoles by reductive cyclization of 6‐(2′‐Nitrophenyl)benzo[b]thiophenes obtained by palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling isabel

The synthesis of new methylated thieno[2,3‐a] and [3,2‐b]carbazoles (5) (R=H) was achieved by a palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling, intramolecular reductive cyclization sequence of reactions. The cyclization precursors 6‐(2′‐nitrophenyl)benzo[b]thiophenes (3) were obtained by Suzuki cross‐coupling of 6‐boronated methylbenzo[b]thiophenes intermediates (2) with 2‐bromo or iodonitrobenzene. The boronated intermediates (2) were prepared via bromine‐lithium exchange followed by boron transmetalation and coupled in situ using Pd(OAc)₂ giving thus a “one‐pot” three steps reaction from the 6‐bromobenzo[b]thio‐phenes (1) to the cyclization precursors (3) . In the reductive cyclization step, N‐ethylthienocarbazoles (5) (R=Et) were also obtained. Several experiments have been made varying the amount of triethylphosphite and the time of reaction, to avoid their formation.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Bioactivity of Thiazolo[3,2‐b]‐[1,2,4]‐triazoles and Isomeric Thiazolo[2,3‐c]‐[1,2,4]‐triazoles

Synthesis of 2‐(o‐nitrophenyl)‐6‐arylthiazolo[3,2‐b]‐[1,2,4]‐triazoles 4 and its isomer 3‐(o‐nitrophenyl)‐5‐arylthiazolo[2,3‐c]‐[1,2,4]‐triazoles 6 has been achieved starting from the appropriate 1‐(o‐nitrobenzoyl)‐3‐thiosemicarbazide 1 . Compound 1 on condensation with α‐haloketones gives 2‐(o‐nitrobenzoyl)hydrazino‐4‐arylthiazole hydrobromide 5 , which, on cyclization with POCl₃, affords thiazolo[3,2‐b]‐[1,2,4]‐triazoles 6 and not the isomeric thiazolo[3,2‐b]‐[1,2,4]‐triazoles 4 . This has been established by an unequivocal synthesis of 4 through polyphosphoric acid cyclization of 5‐aroylmethylmercapto‐3‐o‐nitrophenyl‐[1,2,4]‐triazole 3 . Compound 3 was synthesized by condensation of α‐haloketones with 5‐mercapto‐3‐(o‐nitrophenyl)‐[1,2,4]‐triazole 2 , obtained cyclization of 2‐(o‐nitrobenzoyl)hydrazinecarbothioamide 1 with NaOH. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of some of the compounds have also been evaluated.     

Construction of Novel Tetrahydro‐β‐carboline‐1‐thione Spirooxindoles by Brønsted Acid Mediated Formal [3+3] Cyclization of 3‐Indolylmethanols with 3‐Isothiocyanato Oxindoles

p‐Toluenesulfonic acid mediated formal [3+3] cyclization of 3‐indolylmethanols with 3‐isothiocyanato oxindoles was realized. This transformation allowed for the synthesis of a series of novel tetrahydro‐β‐carboline‐1‐thione spirooxindoles in moderate to excellent yields (up to 99%) with generally good diastereoselectivities (up to >20:1). The structure of one product was determined by an X‐ray crystal structural analysis.     

Synthesis of six new 2‐Aryl‐N‐biphenyl benzimidazoles and crystal structure of methyl 4′ [(2‐p‐Chlorophenyl‐1H‐benzimidazole‐1‐yl)‐methyl]biphenyl‐2‐carboxylate

Six new 2‐aryl‐N‐biphenyl benzimidazoles were designed and synthesized, starting with O‐phenylenediamine and carboxylic acids via cyclization, followed by N‐alkylation. All new compounds were identified by H NMR, IR, MS spectra and elemental analysis. The crystal structure of methyl 4′‐[(2‐p‐chlorophenyl‐1H benzimidazole‐1‐yl)methyl]biphenyl‐2‐carboxylate ( 4f ) was determined by single crystal X‐raydiffraction.     

Synthesis of some fused β‐carbolines including the first example of the pyrrolo[3,2‐c]‐β‐carboline system

Condensation of 1‐methyl‐β‐carboline‐3‐carbaldehyde with ethyl azidoacetate and subsequent thermolysis of the resulting azidopropenoate was used to [c] annulate a pyrrole ring onto the β‐carboline moiety, thus producing the first example of the pyrrolo[3,2‐c]‐β‐carboline ring system. The latter ring system results from cyclization at the C‐4 carbon, whereas cyclization at the N‐2 nitrogen atom also occurs to form a pyrazolo[3,2‐c]‐β‐carboline ring system. Condensation of β‐carboline‐1‐carbaldehyde with ethyl azidoacetate produced a non‐isolable intermediate, which immediately underwent cyclization, however in this case cyclization occurred via attack at the ester and the azide remained intact. The resulting 5‐azidocanthin‐6‐one was transformed to the first examples of 5‐aminocanthin‐6‐ones. β‐Carboline‐1,3‐dicarbaldehyde failed to give an acceptable reaction with ethyl azidoacetate, but did undergo selective condensation with dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate at the C‐1 carbaldehyde with concomitant cyclization to form a highly functionalized 2‐formyl‐canthine derivative.     

Cascade Nitration/Cyclization of 1,7‐Enynes with tBuONO and H2O: One‐Pot Self‐Assembly of Pyrrolo[4,3,2‐de]quinolinones

Here we describe the one‐pot construction of the pyrrolo[4,3,2‐de]quinolinone scaffold by a cascade nitration/cyclization sequence of 1,7‐enynes with tBuONO and H₂O. The cascade proceeds through alkene nitration, 1,7‐enyne 6‐exo‐trig cyclization, C? H nitrations, and redox cyclization, and exhibits excellent functional group tolerance. The mechanism was investigated using in situ high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HR‐MS).     

A new dimerization reaction producing 2‐amino‐9‐oxopyrrolo‐[2,1‐b]quinazoline‐1‐carbonitriles and analogous pyrrolo‐[1,2‐a]thieno[3,2‐d] pyrimidinecar bonitriles

A series of 2‐alkylthio‐4‐oxo‐3‐quinazolineacetonitriles 4 and 2‐alkylthio‐4‐oxothieno[3,2‐d]pyrimidine‐3‐acetonitriles 8 was prepared. Upon treatment with sodium hydride, compounds 4 and 8 react to give 2‐amino‐4,9‐dihydro‐9‐oxopyrrolo[2,1‐b]quinazoline‐1‐carbonitriles 9 and 6‐amino‐4,9‐dihydro‐9‐oxopyrrolo[1,2‐a]thieno[3,2‐d]pyrimidine‐7‐carbonitriles 10 , respectively. The transformation of compounds 4 and 8 to the tricyclic aminonitriles 9 and 10 involves a dimerization step followed by a pyrrole cyclization. The tert‐butyl ester derivatives 4d and 8d upon treatment with sodium hydride underwent a Thorpe‐Ziegler cyclization to provide enaminoesters of fused 1,3‐thiazines ( 16 and 17 , respectively) as major products.     

Total Synthesis of Murrayanine Involving 4,5‐Dimethyleneoxazolidin‐2‐ones and a Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Diaryl Insertion

A new total synthesis of the natural carbazole murrayanine ( 1 ) was developed by using the 4,5‐dimethyleneoxazolidin‐2‐one 12 as starting material. The latter underwent a highly regioselective Diels–Alder cycloaddition with acrylaldehyde (=prop‐2‐enal; 13 ) to give adduct 14 (Scheme 3). Conversion of this adduct into diarylamine derivative 9 was carried out via hydrolysis and methylation (Scheme 4). Differing from our previous synthesis, in which such a diarylamine derivative was transformed into 1 by a Pd^II‐stoichiometric cyclization, this new approach comprised an improved cyclization through a more efficient Pd⁰‐catalyzed intramolecular diaryl coupling which was applied to 9 , thus obtaining the natural carbazole 1 in a higher overall yield.     

Photocycloaddition of Cyclohex‐2‐enones to 2‐Methylbut‐1‐en‐3‐yne

Irradiation (350 nm) of 2‐alkynylcyclohex‐2‐enones 1 in benzene in the presence of an excess of 2‐methylbut‐1‐en‐3‐yne ( 2 ) affords in each case a mixture of a cis‐fused 3,4,4a,5,6,8a‐hexahydronaphthalen‐1(2H)‐one 3 and a bicyclo[4.2.0]octan‐2‐one 4 (Scheme 2), the former being formed as main product via 1,6‐cyclization of the common biradical intermediate. The (parent) cyclohex‐2‐enone and other alkylcyclohex‐2‐enones 7 also give naphthalenones 8 , albeit in lower yields, the major products being bicyclo[4.2.0]octan‐2‐ones (Scheme 4). No product derived from such a 1,6‐cyclization is observed in the irradiation of 3‐alkynylcyclohex‐2‐enone 9 in the presence of 2 (Scheme 4). Irradiation of the 2‐cyano‐substituted cyclohexenone 12 under these conditions again affords only traces of naphthalenone 13 , the main product now being the substituted bicyclo[4.2.0]oct‐7‐ene 16 (Scheme 5), resulting from [2+2] cycloaddition of the acetylenic C−C bond of 2 to excited 12 .     

Synthesis of 2‐Aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐3‐sulfanyl‐1H‐isoindol‐1‐ones by Pummerer‐Type Cyclization of N‐Aryl‐2‐(sulfinylmethyl)benzamides

An efficient method for the synthesis of 2‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐3‐sulfanyl‐1H‐isoindol‐1‐ones 1 via Pummerer‐type cyclization of N‐aryl‐2‐(sulfinylmethyl)benzamides 2 is described. Thus, treatment of these sulfinyl‐benzamides 2 , easily prepared from 2‐(bromomethyl)benzoates 3 in three steps, with Ac₂O at ca. 100° resulted in the formation of the desired isoindolones 1 in generally good yields.     

Radical 4‐exo Cyclizations onto O‐Alkyloxime Acceptors: Towards the Synthesis of Penicillin‐Containing Antibiotics

The 4‐exo cyclizations of two types of carbamoyl radicals onto O‐alkyloxime acceptor groups were studied as potential routes to 3‐amino‐substituted azetidinones and hence to penicillins. A general synthetic route to ‘benzaldehyde oxime oxalate amides’ (= 2‐[(benzylideneamino)oxy]‐2‐oxoacetamides; see, e.g., 10c ) of 2‐{[(benzyloxy)imino]methyl}‐substituted thiazolidine‐4‐carboxylic acid methyl esters 9 was developed (Scheme 3). It was shown by EPR spectroscopy that these compounds underwent sensitized photodissociation to the corresponding carbamoyl radicals but that these did not ring close. An analogous open‐chain precursor, benzaldehyde O‐(benzylaminoacetaldehyde‐O‐benzyloxalyl)oxime, 15 , lacking the 5‐membered thiazolidine ring, was shown by EPR spectroscopy to release the corresponding carbamoyl radical (Scheme 4). The latter underwent 4‐exo cyclization onto its C?NOBn bond in non‐H‐atom donor solvents. The rate constant for this cyclization was determined by the steady‐state EPR method. Spectroscopic evidence indicated that the reverse ring‐opening process was slower than cyclization.