Remote substituent effects in ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions: an experimental and theoretical study

The effects of a remote substituent on the regioselectivity of ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions of 2-substituted norbornenes with alkynes have been investigated experimentally and theoretically using density functional theory. Most of the cycloadditions occurred smoothly at room temperature, giving the exo cycloadducts in excellent yields. Regioselectivities of 1.2:1 to 15:1 were observed with various substituents on the C-2 position of the norbornenes. Exo-C-2-substituents usually showed greater remote substituent effects on the regioselectivities of the cycloadditions than the corresponding endo-C-2-substituents. The regioselectivity of the cycloadditions with C-2 substituents containing an exocyclic double bond (sp2 hybridized carbon at C-2) are much higher than the cycloadditions with the exo and endo 2-substituted norbornenes. Theoretical studies predicted the same trends as experiment and matched the experimental product ratios well. The nature of the regioselectivity in this reaction is discussed. Different strengths of the pi(C5-C6)-->pi(C2-Y) or pi(C5-C6)-->sigma(C2-Y) orbital interactions in 2-substituted norbornenes result in different degrees of C5-C6 double bond polarization. Stronger C5-C6 polarization will increase the difference in the activation energies between the major and minor pathways and thus lead to greater regioselectivities.     

Preparation of vinylogous 2-sulfonylindolines by the palladium-catalyzed heteroannulation of o-iodoanilines with dienyl sulfones and their further transformation to indoles and carbazoles.

The palladium-catalyzed heteroannulation of o-iodoanilines with dienyl sulfones provides a convenient route to vinylogous 2-sulfonylindolines 3. The reaction proceeds in DMF/water in the presence of potassium carbonate and catalytic palladium(II) acetate and is compatible with both electron-donating and -withdrawing substituents in the para position of the aniline, and with an alkyl substituent at C-2 of the dienyl sulfone. The indolines underwent oxidation with DDQ to afford the corresponding indoles 4. The latter were then employed as dienes in Diels-Alder reactions with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD), methyl propiolate, or methyl acrylate. In the case of the latter two dienophiles, the cycloadditions were highly regioselective, affording the corresponding 1,3-products (with respect to the relative positions of the sulfone and ester groups), exclusively. The cycloadducts from acetylenic dienophiles were converted to the corresponding carbazoles by elimination of the sulfone moiety with DBU, and that from methyl acrylate was subjected to reductive desulfonylation and oxidation to the corresponding carbazole with DDQ. The method thus provides access to carbazoles with various substituents at the 3-, 4-, and 6-positions.     

Reduction of Indolin-2-ones and Desulfurization of Indoline-2-thiones to Indoline and Indole Derivatives

Reduction of indolin-2-ones with lithium aluminium hydride (LAH) or diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL) and desulfurization of indoline-2-thiones with Raney-Ni were investigated. Treatment of indoline-2-ones 1 with LAH or DIBAL yield indoles 4 and/or indolines 3 in moderate-to high yield depending on the substituents at N and C(3) of 1 . Indoline-2-thiones 2 were desulfurized with Raney-Ni to give indoles 4 and/or indolines 3 .     

Regiochemical switching in Diels-Alder cycloadditions by change in oxidation state of removable diene sulfur substituents. Synthesis of carbazoles by sequential heteroannulation and Diels-Alder cycloaddition

The palladium-catalyzed heteroannulation of N-carbobenzyloxy-o-iodoanilines with 1-phenylthio-1,3-butadiene afforded indolines 7, which were oxidized with DDQ to produce vinylogous 2-(phenylthio)indoles 8. The latter compounds underwent highly regioselective Diels-Alder cycloadditions with methyl propiolate in the presence of MeAlCl(2) or AlCl(3), with simultaneous elimination of benzenethiol, to afford methyl N-(carbobenzyloxy)carbazole-3-carboxylates 9 and, in some cases, the N-deprotected derivatives 11. This is the opposite regiochemistry of that observed previously with the corresponding sulfone analogues of 8. Thus, the regiochemistry of the cycloaddition can be effectively controlled by appropriate choice of oxidation state of the diene sulfur substituent.     

Preparation,structure, and unique thermal [2+2], [4+2], and [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of 4-vinylideneoxazolidin-2-one

The terminal allene C(alpha)=C(beta) bonds of 4vinylidene-2-oxazolidinone (2) readily undergo [2+2] cycloaddition with a wide variety of terminal alkynes, alkenes, and 1,3-dienes irrespective of their electronic nature under strictly thermal activation conditions (70-100 degrees C) and provide 3substituted (Z)-methylenecyclobutenes 6, 3substituted methylenecyclobutanes 7 and 8, and 3vinylmethylenecyclobutanes 9, respectively, in good to excellent yields. Alkenes react with 2 with complete retention of configuration. The [2+2] cycloaddition is concluded to proceed via a concerted [(pi(2s)+pi(2s))(allene) + pi(2s)] Hückel transition state on the basis of experimental evidences and quantum mechanical methods. Some highly polarized enones and nitrile oxide, on the other hand, react with 2 selectively at the internal C(4)=C(alpha) double bonds and give spiro compounds 10 and 11, respectively. The bent allene bonds (173-176 degrees) and the unique reactivity associated with 2 are attributed to a low-lying LUMO (C(alpha)=C(beta)) that is substantiated by a through-space sigma*(N-SO(2))-pi*(C(alpha)=C(beta)) orbital interaction.     

Transition-Metal Free Catalytic Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl Indolines by [4+1] Cycloaddition of Trifluoromethyl Benzoxazinones with Sulfur Ylides

Stereoselective catalytic synthesis of 3-trifluoromethyl indolines through the [4+1] cycloaddition of benzoxazinones and sulfur ylides in a transition-metal-free manner was developed. In the presence of a catalytic amount of sodium hydride, aza-ortho-quinone methide intermediates were formed from trifluoromethyl benzoxazinones through decarboxylation after the first nucleophilic attack of sulfur ylides, which progressed to a second nucleophilic attack of sulfur ylides, resulting in the [4+1] cycloaddition. The key for this catalytic transformation is the dual attack of sulfur ylides on substrates. This unique transition-metal-free protocol is applicable to the synthesis of non-fluorinated vinyl-, ethynyl- or methyl-substituted indolines. The synthesis of 3-trifluoromethyl indoles was also achieved described under stoichiometric conditions.     

Intermolecular Formal Cycloaddition of Indoles with Bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes by Lewis Acid Catalysis

Herein, we develop a new approach to directly access architecturally complex polycyclic indolines from readily available indoles and bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes (BCBs) through formal cycloaddition promoted by commercially available Lewis acids. The reaction proceeded through a stepwise pathway involving a nucleophilic addition of indoles to BCBs followed by an intramolecular Mannich reaction to form rigid indoline-fused polycyclic structures, which resemble polycyclic indole alkaloids. This new reaction tolerated a wide range of indoles and BCBs, thereby allowing the one-step construction of various rigid indoline polycycles containing up to four contiguous quaternary carbon centers.     

1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions of C-(2-Nitro)-styryl-N-phenyl Nitrone Leading to the Regiospecific and Stereospecific Synthesis of New Isoxazolidine Derivatives

New substituted isoxazolidine derivatives have been synthesized through regiospecific and stereospecific 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of C-(2-nitro)-styryl-N-phenyl nitrone with reactive dipolarophiles in excellent yields and effects of substituents have been noted.     

Tuning the reactivity and chemoselectivity of electron-poor pyrroles as dienophiles in cycloadditions with electron-rich dienes

Activation by Lewis acid catalysis and high pressure allows pyrrole derivatives to react with electron-rich dienes in normal electron demand [4+2] cycloadditions, provided that the aromatic ring is substituted by at least two electron-withdrawing groups. The dienophilic behavior of the heterocycle is expressed through the involvement of either the aromatic carbon-carbon double bond in an all-carbon process or the carbonyl moiety of the substituent in a heterocycloaddition reaction. In this regard, the nature of the heterocyclic substituents is shown to have a dramatic influence and to direct both the reactivity and the chemoselectivity of the cycloaddition.     

Heterogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of unprotected indoles in water: a green solution to a long-standing challenge

An environmentally benign procedure for the hydrogenation of unprotected indoles is described. The hydrogenation reaction is catalyzed by Pt/C and activated by p-toluenesulfonic acid in water as a solvent. The efficacy of the method is illustrated by the hydrogenation of a variety of substituted indoles to their corresponding indolines which were obtained in excellent yields.     

Sulfur ylide-initiated thio-claisen rearrangements. The synthesis of highly substituted indolines

The coupling of rhodium carbenoids from vinyl diazoacetates with 2-thio-3-alkyl indoles was found to generate C(3) quaternary substituted indolines via a thionium ylide-initiated [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement.     

Assessing stereoelectronic effects in dipolar cycloadditions yielding fused thiazolopyridone rings

We report a combined experimental and computational study on the cycloadditions of bicyclic 1,3-thiazolium-4-olates, derived from thiazolidin-2-thiones, with asymmetrically-substituted acetylenes. These results provide further mechanistic insights into the above dipolar cycloadditions and enable an unequivocal characterization by NMR spectroscopy of regiochemical patterns as previous derivatives had substituents at both C-2 (in the dipole) and C-6 (in products). Accordingly, new dihydrothiazolopyrid-2-ones have been obtained from a thioisomünchnone lacking substitution at C-2. With the aim of assessing the steric hindrance as well as the facial stereoselection induced by a bulky group on the Si face (relative to C-7a) of the mesoionic heterocycle, a chiral thioisomünchnone has also been obtained along with the resulting optically active thiazolopyridones. A computational study of these particular cycloadditions, largely based on an NBO analysis, allowed us to evaluate the influence of substituents on intermolecular steric repulsions, charge transfers, as well as solvent effects.     

One-pot cyclization of 2-aminophenethyl alcohols: a novel and direct approach to the synthesis of N-acyl indolines

A unique one-pot cyclization of 2-aminophenethyl alcohols with carboxylic acids in the presence of PPh3, CCl4, and NEt3 furnished the formation of N-acyl indolines in good to excellent yields. This new approach provides an efficient, scalable, low-cost, and direct access to the biologically important indolines which are further oxidizable to indoles and oxindoles.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 3,6-di(pyridin-2-yl)pyridazines: unexpected ketone and aldehyde cycloadditions

3,6-Di(pyridin-2-yl)pyridazines are an interesting class of compounds because of their metal-coordinating ability resulting in the self-assembly into [2x2] gridlike metal complexes with copper(I) or silver(I) ions. These and other substituted pyridazines can be prepared by the inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reactions between acetylenes and 1,2,4,5-tetrazines. In this contribution, the effect of (superheated) microwave conditions on these generally slow cycloadditions is described. The cycloaddition of acetylenes to 3,6-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine could be accelerated from several days reflux in toluene or N,N-dimethylformamide to several hours in dichloromethane at 150 degrees C. In addition, the unexpected cycloaddition of the enol tautomers of various ketones and aldehydes to 3,6-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine is described in detail providing an alternative route for the synthesis of (substituted) pyridazines.     

Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Indolines: Asymmetric Hydrogenation at Ambient Temperature and Pressure with Cationic Ruthenium Diamine Catalysts

A highly enantioselective synthesis of indolines by asymmetric hydrogenation of 1H‐indoles and 3H‐indoles at ambient temperature and pressure, catalyzed by chiral phosphine‐free cationic ruthenium complexes, has been developed. Excellent enantio‐ and diastereoselectivities (up to >99 % ee, >20:1 d.r.) were obtained for a wide range of indole derivatives, including unprotected 2‐substituted and 2,3‐disubstituted 1H‐indoles, as well as 2‐alkyl‐ and 2‐aryl‐substituted 3H‐indoles.     

Thorpe-Ingold effect in copper(II)-catalyzed formal hydroalkoxylation-hydroarylation reaction of alkynols with indoles

The use of Cu(OTf)₂ as a catalyst for tandem hydroalkoxylation-hydroarylation reaction of alkynes tethered with hydroxyl group is reported. The reaction proceeds at 60 °C or even at room temperature with 5 mol % catalyst loading and produces C-3-substituted indoles in good to high yields. The method was shown to be applicable to a broad range of indoles, containing electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents, and alkynol substrates bearing sterically demanding substituents in the tether. Interestingly, it was found that Thorpe-Ingold effect is operating for this cyclization reaction. Easy availability and low cost of Cu(OTf)₂ make this method attractive and amenable for large-scale synthesis compared to known literature methods.     

Preparation of 3-arylmethylindoles as selective COX-2 inhibitors

The 3-arylmethylation of indoles using TMSOTf/Et₃SiH with a wide variety of substituted benzaldehydes has been accomplished. Under these mild Lewis acid mediated reductive conditions, it was demonstrated that indoles bearing both 6-MeSO₂ and 2-methyl substituents could be 3-arylmethylated in good to excellent yields to afford the corresponding 3-arylmethyl indoles, effective as selective COX-2 inhibitors. In addition, the viability of this method for the reductive alkylation of indoles by ketones was demonstrated and shown to be C-3 regioselective. For indoles bearing both a 6-MeSO₂ and 2-cyano substituent where this indole reductive alkylation methodology was unsuccessful, an unprecedented Pd(0) mediated arylorganozinc coupling with the requisite substituted 3-methylcarbonatomethylindole proved successful in affording the desired 2-cyano-6-MeSO₂-3-arylmethylindoles effective as selective COX-2 inhibitors.     

A facile synthesis of N,3-disubstituted indoles and 3-hydroxyl indolines via an intramolecular SNAr of fluorinated amino alcohols

In this Letter, we describe a practical and highly versatile method for the preparation of N,3-disubstituted indoles and 3-hydroxyl indolines. This synthetic strategy relies on an epoxide-opening followed by an intramolecular S_NAr of the resulting fluoroaryl amino alcohols. The reaction afforded 3-hydroxyl indolines when carried out at lower temperature for the derivatives bearing multi-fluorine substituents at the aromatic ring.     

One-step construction of tetrahydro-5H-indolo[3,2-c]quinolines from benzyl azides and indoles via a cascade reaction sequence

A novel one-step assembly of tetrahydro-5H-indolo[3,2-c]quinolines from benzyl azides and indoles via a formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition is described. A cascade reaction sequence, which involves benzyl azide-to-iminium rearrangement followed by two sequential Pictet-Spengler reactions, generates the tetracycles in moderate to excellent yields. The current method is applicable to a broad substrate scope and holds significant potential in constructing polycyclic indolines with tertiary and/or quaternary carbon centers.     

Regioselective Formation of Substituted Indoles: Formal Synthesis of Lysergic Acid

A Diels–Alder reaction-based strategy for the synthesis of indoles and related heterocycles is reported. An intramolecular cycloaddition of alkyne-tethered 3-aminopyrones gives 4-substituted indolines in good yield and with complete regioselectivity. Additional substitution is readily tolerated in the transformation, allowing synthesis of complex and non-canonical substitution patterns. Oxidative conditions give the corresponding indoles. The strategy also allows the synthesis of carbazoles. The method was showcased in a formal synthesis of lysergic acid.