Facile Synthesis of Some New Pyrazole-Based 2-Thioxo-4-thiazolidinone

5-Ethoxymethylene-2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinone (1) reacts with hydrazine hydrate at room temperature to afford 5-(hydrazinylmethylene)-2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinone (3). Compound 3 condensed with different aromatic aldehydes 6a–d in ethanol in the presence of a few drops of piperidine to give the corresponding Schiff’s bases 7a–d. On the other hand, compound 3 reacts with o-hydroxybenzaldehyde derivatives 8a and 8b in refluxing ethanol catalyzed by a few drops of piperidine to yield 1H-inadzolyl-2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinones 9a and 9b. Reaction of compound 3 with α-ketoesters 10a and 10b or α-diketones 10c–e in refluxing glacial acetic acid furnished the pyrazolyl-2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinone derivatives 11a–e. Also, compound 3 reacts with some different enaminones 12a–f in refluxing glacial acetic acid to afford the new pyrazolyl-2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinone derivatives 13a–f. Pyrazoles 15a–d was obtained via reaction of compound 3 with chalcones 14a–d in dimethylformamide (DMF). The structures of all the newly synthesized products were confirmed on the basis of their elemental and spectral data, and a plausible mechanism has been postulated to account for their formation.     

trans-Aconitic acid-based hetero-Diels-Alder reaction in the synthesis of thiopyrano[2,3-d][1,3]thiazole derivatives

The hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of 5-arylideneisorhodanines with trans-aconitic acid proceeds as a regio- and diastereoselective process with spontaneous decarboxylation of the [4+2]-adduct to furnish thiopyrano[2,3-d][1,3]thiazole (2) and chromeno[4′,3′:4,5]thiopyrano[2,3-d]thiazole (3) derivatives analogously to the use of itaconic acid as a dienophile. Conversely, the one-pot, three-component reaction of 5-arylideneisorhodanines, trans-aconitic acid and anilines proceeded without decarboxylation, leading to novel rel-(5′R,6′R,7′R)-5′-carboxy-7′-aryl-1-aryl-3′,7′-dihydro-2H,2′H,5H-spiro[pyrrolidin-3,6′-thiopyrano[2,3-d]thiazol]-2,2′,5-triones 4. Interestingly, the use of trans-aconitic acid trimethyl ester led to the opposite regioselectivity, yielding rel-(5R,6S,7S)-5-methyloxycarbonylmethyl-2-oxo-7-aryl-3,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-thiopyrano[2,3-d]thiazol-5,6-dicarboxylates 5. Selected compounds were examined for trypanocide activity against the bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei where compound 4e showed the highest activity (IC₅₀ = 6.74 μM).     

An efficient synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2-[(2R)-arylmorpholin-2-yl]ethanols,key intermediates of tachykinin receptor antagonist

We report herein an efficient and practical synthetic method for the preparation of enantiomerically pure 2-[(2R)-arylmorpholin-2-yl]ethanols 1a–d, key intermediates of tachykinin receptor antagonist. Sharpless catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation of 4a–d was employed to introduce the required absolute stereochemistry, and cyclization of 7a–d was accomplished by the Mitsunobu reaction.     

Syntheses of extreme sterically hindered 4-methoxyboronic acids

4-Iodoanisoles 3a,b, 3d and 4-bromoanisoles 4a-d were readily obtained. An extreme steric hindrance precluded obtaining 3c. Catalytic borylation of 3a,b, 3d followed by hydrolysis of boronic ester 26a,b, 26d easily provided the boronic acids 5a,b, 5d. Compounds 5a and 5d were also synthesised, starting from 4a and 4d, by halogen/metal exchange. Because of a too important steric hindrance, this last reaction failed with 4c and 4b led to the unexpected but stable boronic ester 6. The final obtaining of 5b required a strongly basic hydrolysis with heating.     

Baker's yeast mediated reduction of dihydroxyacetone derivatives

Several monoprotected dihydroxyacetone derivatives 4a–d and their acetates 5a–d were prepared and subjected to biotransformation with baker's yeast. The simple chemical modification of the substrates (i.e. transforming the relatively small hydrophilic hydroxymethyl group into a larger hydrophobic acetoxymethyl moiety) inverted the sense of enantiotope selectivity of these reductions yielding optically active diols 6a–d, or their enantiomeric acetates (7a–d) and diols (ent-6a–d), respectively.     

Optically active 1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethanols and ethane-1,2-diols by enantiotopic selective bioreductions

Enantiotopic selective reduction of 1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethanones 1a–d, 1-(benzofuran-2-yl)-2-hydroxyethanones 4a–c and 2-acetoxy-1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethanones 3a–c was performed by baker's yeast for preparation of optically active (benzofuran-2-yl)carbinols [(S)-5a–d, (S)-6a–c and (R)-6a–c, enantiomeric excess from 55 to 93% ee].     

A regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition for the synthesis of novel spiro-chromene thiadiazole derivatives

A variety of 4′-(4-R-phenyl)-4-(methylthio)-2′-phenyl-2′H-spiro[chromene-2,5′-[1,2,3]thiadiazole] 5a–d and 5′-(4-R-phenyl)-4-(methylthio)-3′-phenyl-3′H-spiro[chromene-2,2′-[1,3,4]thiadiazole] 6a–d were synthesized regioselectively through the reaction of 4-(methylthio)-2H-chromene-2-thione 2 with diarylnitrilimines under refluxing dry chloroform. Whilst the reaction of 4-(allylthio)-2H-chromene-2-thione 3 with diarylnitrilimines under similar reaction conditions afforded the corresponding 4-(allylthio)-5′-(4-R-phenyl)-3′-phenyl-3′H-spiro[chromene-2,2′-[1,3,4]thiadiazole] 7a–d and 5-(4-R-phenyl)-2′-methyl-3-phenyl-2′,3′-dihydro-3H-spiro[[1,3,4]thiadiazole-2,4′-thieno[3,2-c]chromene] 9a–d as two unisolable diastereoisomeric forms. The structures of the obtained spiro cycloadduct thiadiazoles have been assigned by means of spectroscopic measurements.     

Synthesis of 1,3-diaryl-1H-benzo[g]indazoles

A facile three-step synthetic route toward 1,3-diaryl-1H-benzo[g]indazoles 1a–1n starting with 3,4-dimethoxy-2-allylbenzaldehyde (6) in modest total yield is described. The facile route was carried by aldol condensation of aldehyde 6 with aryl methyl ketones 5a–5d in alkaline MeOH at reflux, Knorr pyrazole synthesis of the resulting chalcones 4a–4d with aryl hydrazines 3a–3e in EtOH at reflux followed by DDQ-mediated aromatization in toluene at reflux, and oxidative cleavage annulation of olefins 2a–2n with the one-pot combination of OsO₄/NaIO₄/HOAc in the aqueous THF at reflux.     

Stereoselective intramolecular cycloadditions of homochiral N-alkenoyl aryl azides

Starting from the commercially available (S)-1-phenylethylamine and l-alanine benzylester, we synthesised the homochiral N-alkenoyl aryl azides 2a–2d. The intramolecular cycloaddition of unsubstituted 2a and 2b gave enantiopure 3,3a-dihydro-1,2,3-triazolo[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepine-4(6H)-ones 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b, while phenyl-substituted 2c and 2d gave enantiopure 1,1a-dihydro-2H-azirino[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine-4(6H)-ones 5c, 5d, 6c and 6d.     

1H NMR and kinetics studies of the reaction of 4-methyl, 4-bromo and 3-trifluoromethyl benzyltriflones with aromatic nitro-compounds

Rate measurements are reported for the reactions in methanol of carbanions derived from benzyltriflones, 2a–c, with 4-nitrobenzofurazan derivatives, 4a and 4b, to give anionic σ-adducts. ¹H NMR studies in DMSO-d₆ of the reaction of benzyltriflones, 2, and 4-nitrobenzofurazan, 4a, in the presence of triethylamine are consistent with products formed by the elimination of trifluoromethyl sulfinic acid from σ-adducts initially formed by carbanion attack at the 5-position of 4a. Evidence for the high steric requirements of the benzyltriflone anions come from the low value of β; the slope of the linear plot of values of log k₅ versus pK_a.     

A facile approach for the synthesis of novel substituted 4H-chromenes and condensation reactions of 4H-chromenes leading to chromenopyrrolones and triazolylchromenopyrrolones

A facile method has been developed for the synthesis of 4H-chromene-3-carboxylates 3a–d by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 2-hydroxy-2H-chromene-3-carboxylates 2a–d with triethylsilane in the presence of BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂. Cyclocondensation of 4H-chromene-3-carboxylates 3a–d with benzylamines 4a–d afforded a series of 2,3-dihydrochromenopyrrolones 5a–p and with propargylamine afforded 2-propynyl-2,3-dihydrochromenopyrrolones 6a–d. Click reaction of 6a–d with benzyl azides 7a–d provided a series of 1H-1,2,3-triazolylmethyl-2,3-dihydrochromenopyrrolones 8a–p. Thus synthesized compounds 3a–d, 5a–p, 6a–d, and 8a–p are novel heterocyclic compounds and being reported for the first time.     

Simple and condensed β-lactams-I : The application of diketene in β-lactam synthesis. The synthesis and functional group manipulations of diethyl 3-acetyl-4-oxoazetidine-2,2-dicarboxylates

Acylation of the N-substituted diethyl aminomalonates 3a–3d with diketene furnished the ring tautomers 6a–6d of the expected acetoacetyl derivatives 5. By treatment with iodine and sodium ethoxide compounds 6a–6d are smoothly converted into the β-lactam derivatives 2a–2d. Deethoxycarbonylation of the ethylene ketals 7a–7d of the latter furnishes mixtures of the corresponding diastereomeric monoesters 8 and10. The ethoxycarbonyl groups of the trans esters 8 are more reactive than those of the cis isomers 10. This permits, under appropriate conditions, selective alkaline hydrolysis and NaBH₄ reduction of the trans esters 8 in the presence of the cis esters 10. Reduction of the cis ester 10c under more forceful conditions furnishes the trans hydroxymethyl derivative 11c.     

Amidoalkylation of mercaptans with glyoxylic acid derivatives

The synthesis of α-alkyl mercaptohippuric acid (3a–d), N-benzyloxycarbonyl-α-methylthioglycine (3e) and their methyl esters (5a–d) by the amido-alkylation of mercaptans with α-hydroxyhippuric acid (2a), α-hydroxy-N-benzyloxycarbonylglycine (2b) and their methoxymethyl ester derivatives 4a and 4b is described. Oxidation with m-chloroperbenzoic acid afforded the corresponding sulfoxides and sulfones and treatment with N-bromosuccinimide in methanol or chlorine in carbon tetrachloride solution exchanged the sulfur containing side chain for a methoxy or a chloro group respectively. (4a, 8).     

Efficient syntheses of thiadiazoline and thiadiazole derivatives by the cyclization of 3-aryl-4-formylsydnone thiosemicarbazones with acetic anhydride and ferric chloride

3-Aryl-4-formylsydnone 4′-phenylthiosemicarbazones 3a-d and 3-aryl-4-formylsydnone thiosemicarbazones 3e-h are effective precursors of sydnonyl-substituted heterocycles. The thiosemicarbazones 3a-d reacted with acetic anhydride (4a) to give 4-acetyl-2-phenylamino-5-(3-arylsydnon-4-yl)-4,5-dihydro-[1,3,4]thiadiazoles 5a-d and 4-acetyl-2-(N-phenylacetamido)-5-(3-arylsydnon-4-yl)-4,5-dihydro-[1,3,4]thiadiazoles 6a-d. However, under similar method, thiosemicarbazones 3e-h produced only 4-acetyl-2-acetamido-5-(3-arylsydnon-4-yl)-4,5-dihydro-[1,3,4]thiadiazoles 6e-h in high yield. The sydnonyl-substituted thiadiazole derivatives 7a-h were also obtained successfully by the cyclization of 3-aryl-4-formylsydnone thiosemicarbazones 3a-h with ferric chloride (4b). In the cyclization, the thiosemicarbazones 3a-d are more reactive than the thiosemicarbazones 3e-h.     

Solid-state and solution photocycloadditions of 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones with maleimide

Solid-state photosensitized reactions of 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones (1b,c) with maleimide (2) afforded endo-endo double-[4+2] cycloadducts (3b,c) with high stereoselectivity. Sensitized photoreactions of 1a-d with 2 in solution gave exo-endo double-[4+2] cycloadducts (4a-d). 2-Pyrones 1a-d were photolyzed to give carboxylic acids (5a-d) via their valence isomerization in the solid state and in solution. Such kinds of photoreaction of the 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones were dramatically different from regio- and stereoselective [2+2] cycloadditions of 4-alkyloxy-2-pyrones. The photoreaction mechanisms of 1 with 2 and 1 itself were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction analysis and MO calculations.     

Stereoselective reduction of chiral trans-3-acetyl-4-alkylpyrrolidin-2-ones

A number of trans-3-acetyl-4-alkylpyrrolidin-2-ones 8a–d and 11a,b were prepared and reduction of the keto group, carried out with KBH₄ in CH₃OH, led mainly to 3-hydroxyethylpyrrolidin-2-ones 13a–d and 19a,b with high stereoselection. Configuration of the newly formed stereogenic centre on the hydroxyethyl chain was assigned by ¹H NMR data supported by molecular mechanic calculations and eventually confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis of p-iodobenzoate derivative 15.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 2-(α-hydroxyalkyl)benzimidazoles

Lithiated oxazolo[3,4-a]benzimidazole 4 reacted with various alkyl halides to give oxazolo[3,4-a]benzimidazoles 5a–d in good yields as single diastereoisomers. (R)-Benzimidazol-2-yl carbinols 6a–d were obtained upon hydrolysis under acidic conditions of 1H,3H-oxazolo[3,4-a]benzimidazole derivatives.     

One-pot multicomponent synthesis of some 5,6-dihydro-benzo[h]quinoline derivatives

5,6-Dihydrobenzo[h]quinoline derivatives 4a–f and 5a–c were prepared via condensation of the corresponding arylidenes 2, with 1-tetralone in the presence of ammonium acetate and sodium methoxide, respectively, following thermal, microwave and ultrasound methodologies. The yields of 4a–f were moderate when the latter two methodologies used, but the products were pure. Ultrasound and microwave irradiation methods were also used in the synthesis of 4-aryl-3-cyano-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-benzo[h]quinoline-2-ones (6a–e) and its analogues 7a,b. The majority of compounds 4–7 were synthesized via one-pot multicomponent reactions of aldehydes, active cyanomethylene compounds, 1-tetralone and ammonium acetate. Attempts to cyclocondensation of the aminocyano derivative 4a,d with acetic anhydride in presence of conc. H₂SO₄ failed; instead the acetylamino derivative 8 was isolated. On the other hand, refluxing of 4d with formamide in DMF led to the formation of dihydrobenzo-pyrimidoquinoline 9 giving good yield. All prepared condensates were structurally elucidated by various spectroscopic methods. Screening of the potential cytotoxicity for compounds 4a–f on five cell lines, namely: colorectal carcinoma (HCT-116), Hepatocellular carcinoma (HEPG2), Human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7), Cervix adenocarcinoma (HELA) and Glioblastoma (U251), did not show any cytotoxic activity.     

Synthesis of 3-methyl- and 3,4-dimethylfurans using alkoxide,thiolate, and phenoxide-mediated cyclization of 4-oxahepta-1,6-diynes bearing sulfur and selenium functional groups

We have reported sodium alkoxide- or aryloxide-mediated cyclization of 4-oxahepta-1,6-diynes bearing the phenylsulfanyl group 1a–d. The reactions with diverse sodium alkoxides and aryloxide produced 4-alkoxymethyl- and 4-aryloxymethylfurans 2aa–2db in good to high yields. Although reactions with sodium benzenethiolate yielded 3,4-bis(phenylsulfanylmethyl)furans 5a–g, they readily desulfanylated in the presence of tributyltin hydride/AIBN to give the 3-methyl- and 3,4-dimethylfuran derivatives 6a–g. This method’s utility was demonstrated by the synthesis of tetrahydronaphthalenyl furan derivatives bearing alkoxy- and aryloxymethyl substituents.     

Kinetic resolution of 1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethanols by lipase-catalyzed enantiomer selective reactions

Kinetic resolution of racemic 1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethanols rac-1a–d was performed by lipase-catalyzed enantiomer selective acylation (E≫100) yielding (1R)-1-acetoxy-1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethanes (R)-2a–d and (1S)-1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethanols (S)-1a–d in highly enantiopure form. The degree of enantiomer selectivity for enzymatic alcoholysis/hydrolysis processes starting from racemic 1-acetoxy-1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethane rac-2 was also tested under various conditions including supercritical CO₂ medium. Racemization-free lipase-catalyzed ethanolysis of the (1R)-1-acetoxy-1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethanes (R)-2a–d yielded almost quantitatively the enantiopure (1R)-1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethanols (R)-1a–d.