Transformations of Methyl 2‐[(E)‐2‐(Dimethylamino)‐1‐(methoxycarbonyl)ethenyl]‐1‐methyl‐1H‐indole‐3‐carboxylate

A simple and efficient synthesis of novel 2‐heteroaryl‐substituted 1H‐indole‐2‐carboxylates and γ‐carbolines, compounds 1 – 3 , from methyl 2‐(2‐methoxy‐2‐oxoethyl)‐1‐methyl‐1H‐indole‐3‐carboxylate ( 4 ) by the enaminone methodology is presented.     

Synthesis of 15‐Cyano‐12‐oxopentadecano‐15‐lactone and 15‐Cyano‐ 12‐oxopentadecano‐15‐lactam

15‐Cyano‐12‐oxopentadecano‐15‐lactone was synthesized in 59% total yield starting from 2‐nitrocyclododecanone by Michael addition to acrylaldehyde, followed by reaction with trimethylsilylcyanide, hydrolysis, ring‐expansion, and Nef reaction. A two‐step, one‐pot synthesis of intermediate 2‐hydroxy‐4‐(1‐nitro‐2‐oxycyclododecyl)butanenitrile from 3‐(1‐nitro‐2‐oxocyclododecyl)propanal was developed and the conditions for the Nef reaction were studied. 15‐Cyano‐12‐oxopentadecano‐15‐lactam was synthesized in 40% total yield starting from 2‐nitrocyclododecanone by Michael addition to acrylaldehyde, followed by Strecker reaction, ring‐expansion, and Nef reaction. The conditions for the Strecker and Nef reactions were studied. The structures of the target compounds, intermediates, and by‐product were characterized by IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and elemental analysis or MS.     

Unexpected Reaction Course of 3‐Amino‐5‐aryl‐1H‐pyrazoles with Dialkyl Dicyanofumarates

On treatment of 3‐amino‐5‐aryl‐1H‐pyrazoles 1 with dialkyl dicyanofumarates (=(E)‐but‐2‐enedioates) 4 in boiling 1,2‐dichloroethane, two competitive reactions occurred leading to 3‐aryl‐5‐cyano‐6,7‐dihydro‐6‐oxo‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐4‐carboxylates 10 and 7‐amino‐2‐arylpyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine‐5,6‐dicarboxylates 11 . In DMF at room temperature, as well as at 100°, only compounds 10 were isolated. The formation of the major products of type 10 was rationalized via Michael addition of 1 as a C(4)‐nucleophile onto 4 , followed by HCN elimination and lactamization. On the other hand, the minor products 11 result from a Michael addition of 1 onto 4 via the NH₂ group, and subsequent HCN elimination and cyclization. The structures of the products have been established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Ethyl 1,4‐Dihydro‐4‐oxo‐1,8‐naphthyridine‐3‐carboxylates by a Tandem SNAr‐Addition‐Elimination Reaction

A series of N‐substituted 1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐1,8‐naphthyridine‐3‐carboxylate esters has been prepared in two steps from ethyl 2‐(2‐chloronicotinoyl)acetate. Treatment of the β‐ketoester with N,N‐dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) gave a 95% yield of the 2‐dimethylaminomethylene derivative. Subsequent reaction of this β‐enaminone with primary amines in DMF at 120^oC for 24 h then afforded the target compounds in 47–82% yields by a tandem S_NAr‐addition‐elimination reaction. Synthetic and procedural details as well as a mechanistic rationale are presented.     

Studies with enaminones: synthesis of new coumarin‐3‐yl azoles,coumarin‐3‐yl azines,coumarin‐3‐yl azoloazines,coumarin‐3‐yl pyrone and coumarin‐2‐yl benzo[b]Furans

3‐Acetylcoumarine was condensed with dimethylformamide dimethylacetal (DMFDMA) to yield the enaminone, which reacts readily with hydroxylamine and with hydrazines to yield coumarin‐3‐ylisoxazoles and coumarin‐3‐ylpyrazoles respectively. Reaction of the enaminone with benzamidine hydrochloride and 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐1H‐triazole affords the pyrimidine and triazolo[3,4‐b]pyrimidine. The enaminone reacts with hippuric acid and with the dithiocarboxylic acid to yield pyranones. The reaction of the enaminone with 3‐amino‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole gives the triazolo[3,4‐b]pyrimidine. The enaminone underwent self dimerization on reflux in acetic acid ammonium acetate to yield the coumarinyl pyridines and reacted with ketone under the same conditions to yield the pyridine. The reaction of the enaminone with 1,4‐benzoquinone and 1,4‐naphthoquinone gives benzofuryl coumarine derivatives.     

Ethyl 1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐3‐quinolinecarboxylates by a tandem addition‐elimination‐SNAr reaction

The ethyl 1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐3‐quinolinecarboxylate ring structure, important in several drug compounds, has been prepared in two steps from ethyl 2‐(2‐fluorobenzoyl)acetate. Treatment of this β‐ketoester with N,N‐dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal gives a 97% yield of the 2‐dimethylaminomethylene derivative. Reaction of this β‐enaminone with primary amines in N,N‐dimethylformamide at 140°C for 48 h then affords the 1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐3‐quinolinecarboxylate esters in 60–74% yields by a tandem addition‐elimination‐S_NAr reaction. The synthesis of the starting material as well as procedural details and a mechanistic scenario are presented. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Syntheses of the Macrocyclic Spermine Alkaloids (±)‐Budmunchiamine A – C

The syntheses of four macrocyclic spermine alkaloids, (±)‐budmunchiamine A – C ( 1a – c ) and (±)‐budmunchiamine L4 ( 1 ), were accomplished by Michael addition of spermine to the α,β‐unsaturated esters 3a – d , followed by cyclization of the resulting α,ω‐tetraamino esters 4a – d with triethoxyantimony; N‐methylation of the amino lactams 6a – c yielded the budmunchiamines A – C ( 1a – c ).     

Synthesis and Transformation of Methyl 2‐(6‐Hydroxy‐2‐phenylpyrimidin‐4‐yl)acetate: Simple Preparation of Pyrimidines with Heterocyclic Substituents

A simple and efficient synthesis of four new substituted pyrimidines, compounds 9a – d , from the title compound 3 is described. Conversion of 3 to methyl (E)‐3‐(dimethylamino)‐2‐(6‐methoxy‐2‐phenylpyrimidin‐4‐yl)prop‐2‐enoate ( 4 ), followed by condensation with various dinucleophiles according to the ‘enaminone methodology’, afforded the target compounds 9 in medium‐to‐good yields.     

Convenient Synthesis of Various Substituted Homotaurines from Alk‐2‐enamides

Various substituted homotaurines (=3‐aminopropane‐1‐sulfonic acids) 6 were readily synthesized in satisfactory to good yields via the Michael addition of thioacetic acid to alk‐2‐enamides 3 (→ 4 ), followed by LiAlH₄ reduction (→ 5 ) and performic acid oxidation (Scheme 1). The configuration of ‘anti’‐disubstituted homotaurine ‘anti’‐ 6h was deduced from the 3‐(acetylthio)alkanamide (=S‐(3‐amino‐1,2‐dimethyl‐3‐oxopropyl) ethanethioate)‘anti’‐ 4h formed in the Michael addition, which was identified via the Karplus equation analysis, and confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The current route is an efficient method to synthesize diverse substituted homotaurines, including 1‐, 2‐, and N‐monosubstituted, as well as 1,2‐, 1,N‐, 2,N‐, and N,N‐disubstituted homotaurines (Table).     

Efficient Synthesis of (3E)‐3‐[Amino(aryl)methylidene]chromane‐2,4‐diones (=(3E)‐3‐[Amino(aryl)methylene]‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2,4(3H)‐diones) via a Three‐Component Reaction

The Michael‐type addition of a 4‐hydroxycoumarin (=4‐hydroxy‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) 1 to a β‐nitrostyrene (=(2‐nitroethenyl)benzene) 2 in the presence of AcONH₄ leads to substituted (3E)‐3‐[amino(aryl)methylidene]chroman‐2,4‐diones (=(3E)‐3‐[amino(aryl)methylene]‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2,4(3H)‐diones) 4 (Table 1). High yields, short reaction time, and easy workup are advantages of this novel one‐pot three‐component reaction.     

Synthesis of a Benzannulated Pyrrolizidine by a Copper‐Catalyzed Intramolecular α‐Arylation Reaction

A synthetic route to the pyrrolo[1,2‐a]indole ring system (benzannulated pyrrolizidine) involving a base‐induced intramolecular aza‐Michael reaction as the key C? N bond‐forming penultimate step, followed by a Cu‐catalyzed intramolecular α‐arylation reaction, to provide the tricyclic framework over six steps is described.     

Ultrasound‐Assisted Synthesis of 3‐(Arylamino)‐1‐ferrocenylpropan‐1‐ones

A successful aza‐Michael addition of arylamines to a conjugated enone, acryloylferrocene, has been achieved by ultrasonic irradiation of the mixture of these reactants and the catalyst, i.e., montmorillonite K‐10. This solvent‐free reaction, yielding ferrocene containing Mannich bases, 3‐(arylamino)‐1‐ferrocenylpropan‐1‐ones, considered as valuable precursors in organic synthesis, has been performed by using a simple ultrasonic cleaner. Among 17 synthesized β‐amino ketones, three were new ones, and these were fully characterized by spectroscopic means. X‐Ray crystallographic analysis of three of these crystalline products enabled the insight into the conformational details of these compounds. All compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against six Gram‐positive and five Gram‐negative strains in a microdilution assay. The observed promising antibacterial activity (with a MIC value of 25 μg/ml (ca. 0.07 μmol/ml) as the best result for almost all tested compounds against Micrococcus flavus) seems not only to be compound but also bacterial species‐specific.     

Efficient Conjugate Addition of 1H‐Indoles to Electron‐Deficient Olefins Catalyzed by Silica‐Supported Sodium Hydrogen Sulfate (NaHSO4 ⋅ SiO2)

A simple, mild, rapid, and highly efficient method for the conjugate addition of 1H‐indoles to electron‐deficient olefins has been developed using NaHSO₄ ? SiO₂ as heterogeneous catalyst. The conversion proceeds at room temperature, and the corresponding Michael adducts are formed in good‐to‐excellent yields.     

A New Synthesis of Optically Active 3‐Substituted (3S)‐3,4‐Dihydro‐5‐(perfluoroalkyl)‐2H‐[1,4]oxazepin‐7‐ones

Optically active (perfluoroalkyl)‐oxazepin‐7‐ones were synthesized in two steps starting from ethyl perfluorobut‐2‐ynoate by direct addition of optically active amino alcohols via intermolecular Michael addition and lactone formation.     

One‐Pot Syntheses of 2‐(2‐Sulfanyl‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetic Acid Derivatives via Reactions of 3‐(2‐Isothiocyanatophenyl)prop‐2‐enoic Acid Derivatives with Thiols or Sodium Sulfide

Two efficient methods for the preparation of 2‐(2‐sulfanyl‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetic acid derivatives 3 under mild conditions have been developed. The first method is based on the reaction of 3‐(2‐isothiocyanatophenyl)prop‐2‐enoates 1a – 1c with thiols in the presence of Et₃N in THF at room temperature, leading to the corresponding dithiocarbamate intermediates 2 , which underwent spontaneous cyclization at the same temperature by an attack of the S‐atom at the prop‐2‐enoyl moiety in a 1,4‐addition manner (Michael addition) to give 2‐(2‐sulfanyl‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetates in one pot. The second method involves treatment of 3‐(2‐isothiocyanatophenyl)prop‐2‐enoic acid derivatives 1b – 1d with Na₂S leading to the formation of 2‐(2‐sodiosulfanyl‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetic acid intermediates 5 by a similar addition/cyclization sequence, which are then allowed to react with alkyl or aryl halides to afford derivatives 3 . 2‐(2‐Thioxo‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetic acid derivatives 6 can be obtained by omitting the addition of halides.     

One‐Pot Diastereoselective Synthesis of Densely Functionalized 2H‐Indeno[2,1‐b]furans. Single‐Crystal X‐Ray Structure of Dimethyl 8,8a‐Dihydro‐8‐oxo‐8a‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethoxy)‐2H‐indeno[2,1‐b]furan‐2,3‐di­carboxylate

Highly reactive 1 : 1 intermediates were produced in the reaction of Ph₃P and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates (=dialkyl but‐2‐ynedioates). Protonation of these intermediates by alcohols (2,2,2‐trichloroethanol, propargyl alcohol (=prop‐2‐yn‐1‐ol), MeOH, benzyl alcohol, and allyl alcohol (=prop‐2‐en‐1‐ol) led to vinyltriphenylphosphonium salts 4 , which underwent a Michael addition reaction with the conjugate base to produce the corresponding stabilized phosphonium ylides 5 (Scheme). Wittig reaction of the stabilized phosphonium ylides with ninhydrin ( 6 ) led to the corresponding densely functionalized 2H‐indeno[2,1‐b]furans 10 in fairly good yields (Table 1). The structures of the final products were confirmed by IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The configuration of dimethyl 8,8a‐dihydro‐8‐oxo‐8a‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethoxy)‐2H‐indeno[2,1‐b]furan‐2,3‐dicarboxylate ( 10a ) was established by a single‐crystal X‐ray structure determination, establishing that the one‐pot multicomponent condensation reaction was completely diastereoselective.     

Synthesis of Polysubstituted Benzenes via the Vinylogous Michael Addition of Alkylidenemalononitriles to 2‐(1,3‐Dioxo‐1H‐inden‐2(3H)‐ylidene)malononitrile

An efficient synthesis for polysubstituted benzenes was successfully developed by the reaction of ninhydrin (=2,2‐dihydroxyindane‐1,3‐dione), malononitrile (=propanedinitrile), and alkylidenemalononitrile. The method involves vinylogous Michael addition of alkylidenemalononitrile to 2‐(1,3‐dioxo‐1H‐inden‐2(3H)‐ylidene)malononitrile, which formed by condensation of malononitrile and ninhydrin in the presence of Et₃N, and the alcoholic solvent has participated in the reaction as a reagent. The method has the advantages of good yields and of not requiring a metal catalyst. The structures were confirmed spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS) and by elemental analyses, and, in the case of 2c , by X‐ray crystallography. A plausible mechanism for this reaction is proposed (Scheme).     

Synthesis of a Novel Tri‐enaminone as Building Block for Polyaza‐heterocycles

The new tri‐enaminone, namely, 3,4‐bis (3‐dimethylamino‐2‐propenoyl)‐1‐[4‐(3‐dimethylamino‐2‐propenoyl)phenyl]‐5‐methyl‐1H‐pyrazole was prepared and used as building block for synthesis of novel polyaza‐heterocycles. The latter compounds were obtained via an efficient one‐pot reaction of the tri‐enaminone with 1,3‐dipoles and various electrophilic and nucleophilic reagents. The structures of the new products were confirmed based on elemental and spectral analyses. Also, alternative synthetic methods were carried out wherever possible as further evidence for some of the newly synthesized products.     

Synthesis of (4Z)‐4‐(Arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones by the Reaction of Ethyl (2Z)‐3‐Aryl‐2‐isothiocyanatoprop‐2‐enoates with Organolithium Compounds

A convenient one‐pot method for the preparation of (4Z)‐4‐(arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones 2 and 3 from ethyl (2Z)‐3‐aryl‐2‐isothiocyanatoprop‐2‐enoates 1 , which can be easily prepared from ethyl 2‐azidoacetate and aromatic aldehydes, has been developed. Thus, these α‐isothiocyanato α,β‐unsaturated esters were treated with organolithium compounds, including lithium enolates of acetates, to provide 5‐substituted (4Z)‐4‐(arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones, 2 , and 2‐[(4Z)‐(4‐arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐2‐thioxo‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐5‐yl]acetates, 3 .     

Enantioselective Michael Addition of the 2‐(1‐Ethylpropoxy)acetaldehyde to N‐[(1Z)‐2‐Nitroethenyl]acetamide – Optimization of the Key Step in the Organocatalytic Oseltamivir Synthesis

Organocatalytic Michael addition of alkoxyacetaldehyde 1 to N‐protected 2‐nitroethene‐1‐amine 2 (Scheme 2) is a key step in the synthesis of an important antiviral agent, oseltamivir. Screening of a large array of structurally diverse acids as potential promoters led to the identification of several useful acidic additives for this reaction (Tables 1–4). Also other reaction parameters were investigated with the aim of improving the diastereoselectivity of the Michael addition, while maintaining high enantiomer purity and yield (Tables 5 and 6).