Asymmetric synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles via organocatalytic[3 + 2] annulation of substituted 2-vinylindoles with azlactones

The chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed asymmetric[3+2]annulation of substituted 2-vinylindoles with azlactones has been established.This reaction represented a practical approach for the synthesis of structurally diverse pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles with two vicinal stereocenters including one tetrasubstituted stereocenter in good yields and good stereoselectivities under mild conditions.     

Gold-catalyzed intermolecular reactions of propiolic acids with alkenes: [4 + 2] annulation and enyne cross metathesis

A gold-catalyzed intermolecular reaction of propiolic acids with alkenes led to a [4 + 2] annulation or enyne cross metathesis. The [4 + 2] annulation proceeds with net cis-addition with respect to alkenes and provides an expedient route to α,β-unsaturated δ-lactones, for which preliminary asymmetric reactions were also demonstrated. For 1,2-disubstituted alkenes, unprecedented enyne cross metathesis occurred to give 1,3-dienes in a completely stereospecific fashion. DFT calculations and experiments indicated that the cyclobutene derivatives are not viable intermediates and that the steric interactions during concerted σ-bond rearrangements are responsible for the observed unique stereospecificity.     

A novel reactivity of SeO(2) with 1,3-dienes: formation of syn 1,2- and 1,4-diols via a facile C-Se bond oxidation

[reaction: see text] A novel reaction between 1,3-dienes and selenium dioxide to give syn 1,2- and 1,4-diol cyclic selenites was studied in detail. This study indicates that an initial concerted [4 + 2] cycloaddition followed by a stereospecific carbon-selenium bond oxidation is involved in this unprecedented syn dihydroxy addition reaction mediated by selenium dioxide.     

Nouveaux heterocycles tricycliques synthese de derives de l'aza-2 pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole

The synthesis of aza-2 pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole derivatives was achieved by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate with a mesoionic ion.     

An efficient approach to azirino and pyrrolo-fused dibenzazepines. Conformations of substituted dibenzo[c,f]pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepines

An effective approach to azepino-fused heterocycles is described. trans-1-Aryl-7,11b-dihydro-1H-azirino[1,2-a]dibenzo[c,f]azepines were synthesised via a domino sequence: isomerization of gem-dichloroaziridine-intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation of the tethered benzene ring catalysed by SnCl(4) and subsequent hydride induced intramolecular cyclization. Cycloaddition of dibenzazepinium ylides, generated by heating these aziridines, to activated C[double bond]C, C[triple bond]C dipolarophiles and fullerene C(60), leads to derivatives of dibenzo[c,f]pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepine. The reaction proceeds with complete stereoselectivity via cycloaddition of only W-ylide, which due to the high barrier does not undergo E,Z-isomerization under the reaction conditions. It was found that 2,3,9,13b-tetrahydro-1H-dibenzo[c,f]pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepine systems can exist in conformations of two types depending on the substituents at the pyrrolidine carbons in β-position with respect to nitrogen. Details of cycloaddition reactions and the conformational behavior of cycloadducts were studied by DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level.     

TiCl4/t-BuNH2-promoted hydroamination/annulation of delta-keto-acetylenes: synthesis of novel pyrrolo[1,2-a]indol-2-carbaldehydes

[reaction: see text] An original TiCl(4)/t-BuNH(2)-mediated hydroamination/annulation domino reaction of delta-keto-acetylenes is described. The synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole-2-carbaldehydes, starting from 2-carbonyl-1-propargyl-1H-indoles runs under mild reaction conditions. A conceivable mechanism is also discussed. TiCl(4) has proved to be an effective multiactivity reagent: catalyst/Lewis acid/water scavenger. Some unpublished 2-carbonyl-1-propargyl-1H-indoles are prepared by means of Suzuki- and Negishi-type reactions.     

Pyrrolodiazines. 2. Structure and Chemistry of Pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine and 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Its Azomethine Ylides

A new synthesis of the pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine system from pyrrole is described. In light of the ab initio calculations carried out on this heterocyclic system some of its basic chemistry was investigated and included electrophilic substitution, addition of organolithium reagents, metalation with lithium diisopropylamide and subsequent reaction with electrophiles, and formation of salts by quaternization of the nonbridgehead nitrogen. N-ylides obtained from these salts undergo 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with suitable dipolarophiles to give dipyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines, pyrazolo[1,5-a]-pyrrolo[2,1-c]pyrazines, and heterobetaines. Examples of intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions are also reported.     

Synthesis of isoxazolo[2,3-a]quinoxalines and pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction

The isoxazolo[2,3-a]quinoxalines 11a,b and pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines 12a,b were selectively synthesized from the 2-substituted 6-chloroquinoxaline 4-oxides 10a,b . The pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines 12a,b were clarified to be produced by the ring transformation of the isoxazolo[2,3-a]quinoxalines 11a,b . The pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines 14a,b were obtained from both 2,6-dichloroquinoxaline 4-oxide 9 and compounds 12a,b .     

Thermolysis of 6-Aryl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes in the Presence of N-Arylmaleimides

Heating of 6-aryl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes in the presence of N-arylmaleimides gives rise to 2,9-diarylperhydropyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrazole-1,3-diones. It is presumed that thermal cleavage of the C-N bond in the diaziridine fragment of the 6-aryl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes results in formation of labile azomethinimines that react with N-arylmaleimides to afford the products of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The rate of accumulation thereof depends only on the character of substituents in the aromatic ring of the 1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes and is independent of maleimide. The thermal isomerization of 6-aryl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes without 1,3-dipolarophiles yields the corresponding 2-pyrazolines.     

Design of a cyclopropyl quinone methide reductive alkylating agent. 2

A cyclopropyl quinone methide is formed by elimination of a leaving group from an appropriately functionalized hydroquinone. The presence of a carbon spacer results in the formation of a fused ring rather than the classic methide species. Discussed herein is cyclopropyl quinone methide formation from a pyrido[1,2-a]indole ring system. Both nucleophilic and electrophilic attack on the fused cyclopropane ring results in pyrido[1,2-a]indole and azepino[1,2-a]indole products. The stereoelectronic effect plays less a role in the relatively flexible pyrido[1,2-a]indole system compared to its role in the pyrrolo[1,2-a]-indole system. A 13C label on the fused cyclopropane ring permitted the rapid identification of complex rearrangement products observed in this study.     

Synthesis of isoindolo[2,1-a]quinoline derivatives and their effects on N2-induced hypoxia

A variety of isoindolo[2,1-a]quinoline derivatives as well as the following related heterocycles have been prepared: 11b,12-dihydro-5H-isoindolo[2,1-b][2]benzazepine-7,13-dione (8a), 7,8,14,14a-tetrahydroisoindolo[2,1-c][3]benzazocine-5, 13-dione (8b), 6a,7-dihydroisoquinolino[2,3-a]quinoline-5,12-dione (12), 2,3,3a-4-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoline-1,5-dione (14), and pyrido[2',3':3,4]pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoline-5,11(5H)-dione (17). The key synthetic step involves an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction of acid chlorides such as isoindole-1-acetyl chlorides (4), the acids (3) of which were prepared starting with 2-arylisoindole-1,3(2H)-diones (2-arylphthalimides) (1). The protective effects of isoindolo[2,1-a]quinoline derivatives (19 and 20) against N2-induced hypoxia were examined. Among them, 6-(diethylaminomethyl)isoindolo[2,1-a]quinoline-5,11(5H)-dio ne (19b) showed the most potency.     

Formylation of pyrrolo-[1,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]pyrazines

The formylation of pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines containing alkyl, aryl, or hetaryl substituents in positions 1 and 6 of the heterocycle has been studied. It has been shown that formylation of 1-phenyl-and 1-(2 thienyl)pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine occurs selectively at the α-position of the pyrrole ring. In all of the remaining examples the reaction course depends on substituent, reagent ratio, and reaction time. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 88–93, January, 2008.     

Efficient One-pot Synthesis of Pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline and Pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoline Derivatives

A one-pot sequential reaction for efficient synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline and pyrrolo[1,2-a]-quinoline derivatives has been developed. The reaction included firstly the Cu-catalyzed three-component reaction of isoquinoline(quinoline), acetylenedicarboxylate and alkynylbenzene and then Cs₂CO₃-promoted intramolecular cyclization reaction of initially formed 1-alkenyl-2-alkynyl-1,2-dihydroisoquinoline(1,2-dihydroquinoline).     

Synthesis of 5-azaindolizine derivatives by the palladium-catalyzed intermolecular formal [3+2] cycloaddition of alkylidenecyclopropanes with 1,2-diazines

The palladium-catalyzed formal [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of alkylidenecyclopropanes with 1,2-diazines proceeded smoothly to give the corresponding 5-azaindolizine derivatives in good to allowable yields. For example, in the presence of 5 mol % of Pd(PPh(3))(4), the reaction of 1-propylhexylidenecyclopropane with phthalazine or with pyridazine proceeded at 120 degrees C without solvent, and the corresponding 2-(1-butylpentyl)pyrrolo[2,1-a]phthalazine or 6-(1-butylpentyl)pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyridazine was obtained in 61% or 49% yield, respectively.     

Crowned Macrocycles Containing Two Pyrrolo[1,2-a] Indoles Created By Intramolecular Fusion

Heterocyclic fused-ring systems are of utmost importance because of their presence in many natural products with biological activity. Pyrroloindoles are tricyclic heterocycles that are present in various bioactive and medicinally valuable compounds. Herein, we report the synthesis of phenylene-bridged bis-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole crowned macrocycles 1 – 3 in which the pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole moieties were formed via intramolecular fusion. The macrocycles were thoroughly characterized by 1D and 2D NMR, HRMS and X-ray crystallographic studies. The X-ray structure revealed that the two pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole moieties were parallel to each other, and one pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole unit was deviated by an angle of 9.54° while the other pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole unit was deviated by an angle of 12.0° from the mean plane defined by 28 core atoms. The macrocycles 1 – 3 absorb in the visible region and readily undergo oxidations because of their electron rich nature. The macrocycles 1 – 3 upon treatment with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) generates the corresponding cation radicals 1 – 3 ^.+ which were stable in the open air for a week. The cation radicals 1 – 3 ^.+ absorb strongly in the NIR region and the experimental observations on crowned macrocycles 1 – 3 were corroborated by DFT and TD-DFT studies.     

A modular CuI-L-proline catalyzed one-pot route for the rapid access of constrained and privileged hetero-atom-linked medium-sized ring systems

An efficient CuI-L-proline catalyzed one-pot synthesis was developed to generate a collection of skeletally diverse heterocyclic ring systems with sizes ranging from 6 to 9. A salient feature of this design strategy is its modular synthetic utility using an S_N2 reaction followed by a microwave assisted CuI-L-proline hetero-arylation, which has granted access to a series of heterocyclic frameworks including: benzo[e]pyrrolo[1,2-a][1,4]diazepin, benzo[e]pyrrolo[1,2-a][1,4]diazocin, benzo[e]pyrido[1,2-a][1,4]diazocinones, dibenzo[b,f][1,5]diazoninones, dihydrodibenzo[b,e][1,4]thiazepine, dibenzo[b,e][1,4]thiazocine and benzo[6,7][1,4]diazepino[1,2-a]indole. Moreover, the synthetic procedures described herein, allows rapid entries to synthetically challenging medium-sized heterocyclic systems with good overall yields.     

Chemistry of pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole- and pyrido[1,2-a]indole-based quinone methides. Mechanistic explanations for differences in cytostatic/cytotoxic properties

In the present study we investigate pyrido[1,2-a]indole- and pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole-based quinones capable of forming quinone methide and vinyl quinone species upon reduction and leaving group elimination. Our goals were to determine the influence of the 6-membered pyrido and the 5-membered pyrrolo fused rings on quinone methide and vinyl quinone formation and fate as well as on cytostatic and cytotoxic activity. We used the technique of Spectral Global Fitting to study the fleeting quinone methide intermediate directly. Conclusions regarding quinone methide reactivity are that carbonyl O-protonation is required for nucleophile trapping and that the pKa value of this protonated species is near neutrality. The abnormally high protonated carbonyl pKa values are due to the formation of an aromatic carbocation species upon protonation. The fused pyrido ring promotes quinone methide and vinyl quinone formation but slows nucleophile trapping compared to the fused pyrrolo ring. These findings are explained by the presence of axial hydrogen atoms in the fused pyrido ring resulting in more steric congestion compared to the relatively flat fused pyrrolo ring. Consequently, pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole-based quinones exhibit more cytostatic activity than the pyrido[1,2-a]indole analogues due to their greater nucleophile trapping capability.     

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of novel 3,4-diphosphacyclobutenes bearing silyl groups

[reaction: see text] Copper-mediated homocoupling of sterically hindered 2-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1-trialkylsilyl-2-phosphaethenyllithiums afforded 1,2-bis(trialkylsilyl)-3,4-diphosphacyclobutenes (1,2-dihydrodiphosphetenes) through a formal electrocyclic [2+2] cyclization in the P=C-C=P skeleton as well as 2-trimethylsilyl-1,4-diphosphabuta-1,3-diene. Reduction of 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)-3,4-diphosphacyclobutenes followed by quenching with electrophiles afforded ring-opened products, (E)-1,2-bis(phosphino)-1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)ethene and (Z)-2,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-diphosphabut-1-ene. The structures of the ring-opened products indicated E/Z isomerization around the C=C bond after P-P bond cleavage of 5, and the isomerization of the P-C=C skeleton. Ring opening of 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)-3,4-diphosphacyclobutenes affording (E,E)- and (Z,Z)-1,4-diphosphabuta-1,3-dienes was observed upon desilylation.     

Synthesis of dihydrofurocoumarins via palladium-catalyzed annulation of 1,3-dienes by o-iodoacetoxycoumarins

[reaction: see text] A variety of biologically interesting dihydrofurocoumarins have been synthesized in high yields by the palladium-catalyzed annulation of 1,3-dienes by o-iodoacetoxycoumarins. This reaction is very general and regioselective, and a wide variety of terminal, cyclic, and internal 1,3-dienes can be utilized.     

Trifluoroacetylation of pyrrolo[1,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]pyrazines

A study was carried out on the reaction of pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines containing an alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl substituent at C-1 with trifluoroacetic anhydride. Trifluoroacetylation products may be formed either by reaction in the pyrrole ring or at the aryl or aralkyl groups at C-1. Products of electrophilic substitution at C-6 are formed in the trifluoroacetylation of pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines containing at C-1 a substituent bulkier than a methyl group but lacking substituents at C-6 (the α-position of the pyrrole ring). __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1226–1233, August, 2007.