Visible-light-mediated cascade difunctionalization/cyclization of alkynoates with acyl chlorides for synthesis of 3-acylcoumarins

A new visible-light-mediated radical cyclization of alkynoates with acyl chlorides is described for the one-pot construction of diverse 3-acylcoumarins with high efficiency and selectivity. This method is successful by sequential difunctionalization of an alkynes CC triple bond with the CCl bonds of acyl chloride and aromatic C(sp²)H bonds. The cyclization is proposed to simultaneously form two new carbon–carbon bonds, and involves radical acylation, 5-exo-trig cyclization, and ester migration.     

Four-component synthesis of alkyl [2-[(cyclohexylamino)carbonyl]-4-oxo-2H-chromen-3(4H)-ylidene]methyl 3,4,5,6-tetrahalophthalates via a domino O-acylation/α-addition cyclization/alcoholysis sequence

A novel protocol was developed for the synthesis of alkyl [2-[(cyclohexylamino)carbonyl]-4-oxo-2H-chromen-3(4H)-ylidene]methyl 3,4,5,6-tetrahalophthalate derivatives via the one-pot, four-component domino O-acylation/α-addition cyclization/alcoholysis reaction of tetrahalophthalic anhydrides, 3-formylchromones, cyclohexyl isocyanide and various alcohols. The highlights of this novel cascade reaction include mild reaction conditions, easy workup, and high bond efficiency resulting in the formation of four new bonds (two CO, one CO and one CC) in a single operation.     

Transition-metal-free,atom-economical cascade synthesis of novel 2-sulfonated-benzo[f][1,7]naphthyridines and their cytotoxic activities

An efficient, transition-metal-free cascade synthetic method has been developed for new 2-aryl/heteroaryl sulfonated benzo[f][1,7]naphthyridines. It is tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) mediated highly regioselective sulfonylation?cyclization?aromatization process between N-(3-aryl/heteroarylprop-2-yn-1-yl)quinolin-3-amines and aryl/heteroaryl sulfonylhydrazides. This synthetic protocol offers one-step strategy for CS and CC bond formations with a broad range of functional group tolerance. It is a simple, mild, and atom-economical route for the synthesis of various valuable functionalized 1, 2-aryl/heteroaryl sulfonated benzo[f][1,7]naphthyridines in moderate yields. Since the core motif of 2-sulfonated benzo[f][1,7]naphthyridines are biologically and pharmaceutically important (TLR activity 7, 8 modulators). Additionally, the synthesized derivatives were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activities against six human cancer cell lines including lung (NCIH23), colon (HCT15), gastric (NUCG-3), renal (ACHN), prostate (PC-3), and breast (MDA-MB-231) cell lines. These compounds displayed significant cytotoxic activities against all tested human cancer cell lines.     

Selective synthesis of benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines via copper-catalyzed tandem annulation of alkynylbenzonitriles with 2-Iodoanilines

An efficient copper-catalyzed cascade cyclization reaction for selectively synthesizing a variety of benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline derivatives has been developed. The reaction features the formation of three different CN bonds in sequence. In the presence of Cu(OAc)₂ and KO^tBu, o-alkynylbenzonitriles and 2-iodoanilines proceeded smoothly to obtain the corresponding benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines in moderate to good yields.     

A facile one-pot synthesis of 2-o-cyanoaryl oxazole derivatives mediated by CuCN

A convenient, inexpensive and effective approach to the synthesis of 2-o-cyanoaryl oxazole derivatives has been developed. Generally, the copper-mediated cyclization/coupling reactions afforded corresponding 2-cyanoaryl oxazoles and oxazolines in moderate to excellent yields. The functionalized oxazole derivatives may be useful in biological chemistry and medicinal science. Our investigation indicates that the formation of the oxazole ring might favor the CC bond forming process on the ortho-position of the aryl ring. And CuCN plays dual roles as a Lewis acid catalyst and a C-nucleophile in this transformation.     

Cu catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction for the synthesis of 3-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinones

A new convenient strategy for the synthesis of 3-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinone derivatives featuring regioselective CC coupling has been developed. This is a Cu (II) catalyzed cross dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) involving enamino-ketones of benzyl amines and di-alkyl acetylenedicarboxylate, followed by cyclization by primary amines. TBHP (tert-butyl hydroperoxide) has been used as the oxidant to promote the coupling protocol. This synthetic route principally demonstrates the scope of CDC reaction and also applicable to gram-scale synthesis.     

Two‐Dimensional Oligo(phenylene‐ethynylene‐butadiynylene)s: All‐Covalent Nanoscale Spoked Wheels

Round and round : Covalently bound spokes induce an efficient template‐directed cyclization towards a rigid molecular wheel (see figure) and afford dramatically increased shape‐persistence properties compared with non‐strutted macrocycles.

     

Novel strategy for the preparation of 3-perfluoroalkylated-2H-indazole derivatives

A simple and novel methodology for the synthesis of 3-perfluoroalkylated-2H-indazole derivatives has been elaborated. The perfluoroalkylation of readily available 2-nitrobenzaldimines bearing electron donating groups was performed using the Ruppert-Prakash reagent and its analogues to afford α-difluoromethylated, α-trifluoromethylated and α-pentafluoroethylated benzylamines. A final reductive cyclization mediated by SnCl₂·2H₂O led to 2H-indazoles containing perfluoroalkyl groups via the generation of a new NN bond in moderate to good yields.     

Novel synthesis of perfluoroalkylated indolizinylphosphonates via a DIPEA-promoted one-pot process

DIPEA-promoted one-pot synthesis of perfluoroalkylated indolizinylphosphonates by the reaction of pyridines 1, bromomethyl ketones 2 with perfluoroalkynylphosphonates 3 is described. This procedure is compatible with a broad range of functional groups in both pyridines and ketones with good yields. The reaction proceeds through a tandem CN bond formation followed by an intramolecular cyclization.     

The cycloacylation — 1,3‐Acylrearrangement sequence as tool for highly substituted pyrrolones

The cyclization reactions between bis‐imidoylchlorides 1 and ketones, which possess different CH‐acidity, were investigated. Diphenylacetone 2 reacts under mild conditions via C,O‐cyclization of the preformed enolate to yield the iminofurane derivative 3 . Upon treatment with trifluoroacetic acid, the latter can be rearranged quantitatively into the pyrrolone 5 . In contrast, 1,3‐acetonedicarboxylate 9 and cyclohexanone 12 immediately lead to highly substituted pyrrolones 11 and 14 . Obviously, the primarily formed cyclization products undergo a very fast 1,3‐acyl rearrangement (Dimroth‐/Mumm‐Rearrangement). The structures of the maleiimide 11 and the indolone 14 were determined by single crystal X‐ray structure analysis. Due to its amino/imino substructure, compound 3 is an efficient ligand for metal complexation reactions, exemplified by the synthesis of two different Zn‐complexes 7 and 8 .     

Synthetic scope, computational chemistry and mechanism of a base induced 5-endo cyclization of benzyl alkynyl sulfides

We present an experimental and computational study of the reaction of aryl substituted benzyl 1-alkynyl sulfides with potassium alkoxide in acetonitrile, which produces 2-aryl 2,3-dihydrothiophenes in poor to good yields. The cyclization is most efficient with electron withdrawing groups on the aromatic ring. Evidence indicates there is rapid exchange of protons and tautomerism of the alkynyl unit prior to cyclization. Theoretical calculations were also conducted to help rationalize the base induced 5-endo cyclization of benzyl 1-propynyl sulfide (1a). The potential energy surface was calculated for the formation of 2,3-dihydrothiophene in a reaction of benzyl 1-propynyl sulfide (1a) with potassium methoxide. Geometries were optimized with CAM-B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) in acetonitrile with the CPCM solvent model. It is significant that the benzyl propa-1,2-dien-1-yl sulfane (6) possessed a lower benzylic proton affinity than the benzyl prop-2-yn-1-yl sulfane (8) thus favoring the base induced reaction of the former. From benzyl(propa-1,2-dien-1-yl sulfane (6), 2,3-dihydrothiophene can be formed via a conjugate base that undergoes 5-endo-trig cyclization followed by a protonation step.     

Pathways of cycloaddition of carbodiimides to N-alkenylidenetriflamides: A theoretical study

Possible cyclization pathways for the reaction of (1E,2E)-N-(but-2-en-1-ylidene)triflamide with N,N'-dimethylcarbodiimide have been investigated by DFT and MP2 calculations. The [4+2] route is shown to be thermodynamically unfavorable due to a small content of the reactive s-cis conformer of the azadiene. The [2_CN+2_CN] route has ΔGº>0 and therefore is thermodynamically forbidden. The only allowed route is the [2_CN+2_CC] cycloaddition, which has ΔGº < 0 and leads to 2-methylimino-3-(2-trifliminomethyl)-1,4-dimethylazetidine with further isomerization to 3-(triflamidomethylidene)-2-methylimino-1,4-dimethylazetidine in full agreement with the experimental results. These results indicate the necessity of considering free energy changes rather than only enthalpy changes for accurate prediction of the course of cyclization reactions.     

Sequenced cyclizations involving intramolecular capture of alkyl-oxyaminyl radicals. Synthesis of heterocyclic compounds

A cascade radical cyclization process involving oxime ethers tethered to a brominated phenyl and an activated olefin moiety is described. The generated aryl radicals using tri-n-butyltin hydride react with the CN bond to yield neutral alkyl-oxyaminyl radicals, which were then simultaneously captured by the activated double bond to provide heterocyclic systems with a pyrrolidinic nucleus.     

Thermal reactions of N‐alkyl‐2‐benzylaniline and N‐alkyl‐N′‐phenyl‐o‐phenylenediamine: An unusual route to 2‐phenylindole and 2‐phenylbenzimidazole

Thermal cyclization reactions of N‐alkyl‐2‐benzylaniline 1a‐d and N‐alkyl‐N′‐phenyl‐o‐phenylenediamine 2a‐b were carried out expecting to get seven‐membered heterocyclic compounds. However, the results show that aside from the formation of the normally expected six‐membered ring products of acridine 5 , anthracene 6 , and phenazine 8 , thermal cyclization of N‐alkyl‐2‐benzylaniline and N‐alkyl‐N′‐phenyl‐o‐phenylenediamine also resulted to the unexpected formation of 2‐phenylindole 3 and 2,3‐diphenylindole 4 , and 2‐phenylbenzimidazole 7 , respectively.     

Synthesis of cyclic olefins via Mitsunobu C-alkylation followed by Ramberg-Bäcklund ring contraction

Cyclic olefins were prepared via a novel synthetic approach that involves the formation of two CC bonds in a potentially stereoselective fashion. The first bond is formed by employing a Mitsunobu dehydrative C-alkylation; the second CC bond involves a ring contraction via Ramberg-Bäcklund rearrangement.     

Selectively N‐Protected Enantiopure 2,5‐Disubstituted Piperazines: Avoiding the Pitfalls in Solid‐Phase Fukuyama–Mitsunobu Cyclizations

Robust protocol! A diverse array of piperazine scaffolds was obtained by a robust solid‐phase‐synthesis protocol involving multistep elaboration of a resin‐bound aziridine (see scheme). Microwave‐assisted on‐resin protectinggroup introduction and manipulation as well as intramolecular Fukuyama–Mitsunobu cyclization conditions were key features.

     

One-pot synthesis of [1,2,4]Triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines from azines and benzylidenemalononitriles via copper-catalyzed tandem cyclization

A simple and efficient copper-catalyzed tandem radical cyclization reaction has been discovered for the synthesis of triaryl [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines from easily accessible azines and benzylidenmalononitriles. The new transformation involves multiple CH/CC bonds cleavage and CC/CN bonds formation, with extrusion of gaseous hydrogen and methane. A wide variety of substrates with different functional groups could be converted into the corresponding products in good yields. The fused heterocycles have strong blue fluorescence with large Strokes shifts and high quantum yields.     

Facile ring-closure cyclization of arenes by nucleophilic C-alkylation reaction in ionic liquid

A novel synthetic method using an ionic liquid (IL) for a six-membered ring-closure cyclization is described. The ring-closure cyclization by nucleophilic C-alkylation was achieved with various halo- and alkanesulfonyloxyalkyl aromatic compounds in high yields with minimal byproducts using ILs as the reaction media in the absence of any catalyst. For example, the cyclization of 2-(3-methanesulfonyloxy-propoxy)naphthalene (1a) to 2,3-dihydro-1H-naphtho[2,1-b]pyran (2) in IL [bmim][PF₆] proceeded selectively at 150 °C for 24 h in 85% yield.     

A novel synthesis of indole derivatives by the reaction of N‐arylhydroxamic acids with malononitrile

An approach to indole derivatives from N‐arylhydroxamic acids and malononitrile via a [3,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement and intramolecular cyclization is described. Reactions of N‐arylhydroxamic acids 1a‐c, 2a‐c and 3a‐c with malononitrile in the presence of triethylamine at room temperature gave the corresponding α‐cyanoacetamide derivatives 4a‐c, 5a‐c, 6a‐c, 7a‐c and 8a‐c . Thermal treatment of 4a‐c, 5a‐c and 7a‐c with a base, e.g. triethylamine and sodium methoxide, caused intramolecular cyclization and deacylation to afford the corresponding indole derivatives 9‐11 .