4-Trichloroacetyl-1,2,3-triazoles: A versatile building block for rapid assessment of carbohydrazides and rufinamide derivatives

This work reports the synthesis of a series of (1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)carbohydrazides (2), which were obtained from 4-trichloroacetyl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles (1). Triazoles 1 were synthesized by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction, starting from 4-alkoxy-1,1,1-trichloroalk-3-en-2-ones and benzyl azides and easily (15 min) converted to 2 by reaction with hydrazine hydrate (73–82% yield). Carbohydrazides 2 proved to be a versatile building block for constructing a series of fluorinated heterocycles analogous to rufinamide, i.e., 1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles, a pyrrole derivative, and a 2-pyrazoline, through [4+1]–, [1+4]–, and [3+2]–cyclocondensation reactions, respectively. Finally, and according to the Lipinski’s rule of five, 2,6-difluorobenzylated 1,2,3-triazoles can be considered as potential candidates for further biological activity assays.     

Mannich reaction of pyrrole and dimethylpyrrole with monoamines and diamines

The Mannich reaction of pyrrole with ethylenediamine dihydrochloride and formaldehyde gave two compounds: N¹,N¹,N²,N²-tetrakis(pyrrol-2-ylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine 1 and 1,3-bis(pyrrol-2-ylmethyl)imidazolidine 2 in poor yields. Conversely, the reaction of pyrrole with propylenediamine dihydrochloride afforded macrocyclic compound 3 containing two pyrrole rings bridged by two dimethylenehexahydropyrimidine moieties in 50% yield. The reaction of 2,5-dimethylpyrrole with methylamine hydrochloride and formaldehyde gave novel bicycle 4 consisting of a dimethyltetrahydro-1,3-diazepine ring fused with a 2,5-dimethylpyrrole ring. The reaction of 2,5-dimethylpyrrole with ammonium chloride gave the tripodal ligand tris(2,5-dimethylpyrrol-3-yl)methylamine 5 in 62% yield. The structures of 2–4 were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

(+)-(S)-α-diethoxyphosphorylvinyl p-tolyl sulfoxide: A new chiral Michael acceptor and dienophile

The tittle reagent, (+)-(S)-1, was prepared from (+)-(S)_s-α-diethoxy-phosphorylethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide 2 by phenylselenylation-deselenylation procedure. Its reactivity was demonstrated by diastereoselective Michael addition of ethanethiol giving rise to 3, tandem Michael addition/intramolecular Horner--Wittig reaction with 2-formyl pyrrole leading to the corresponding pyrrolizine sulfoxide 5 and cycloaddition with cyclopentadiene affording the diastereomeric adducts 6. The steric course of the Diels-Alder reaction is briefly discussed.     

Preparation of novel pyrrol-2-one derivatives via an effective synthesis of new oxazole scaffold

A convenient procedure for the preparation of oxazole and pyrrole derivatives is described. 2-Amino-1,3-oxazol-2-ones 3a,b were first synthesized from the cyclocondensation reactions of cyanamide (2) with 4-ethoxycarbonyl-5-aryl-2,3-furandione 1a,b, and then new pyrrol-2-ones 5 were synthesized from the reaction of the compounds 3 with various aromatic amines 4.     

Synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles: vilsmeier formylation of some 3-methylindol-2-yl ketones and 3(3-methylindol-2-yl)propenoic ester

3-Methylindol-2-yl methyl ketone reacted with phosphoryl chloride in dimethylformamide to give 3-chloro-3(3-methylindol-2-yl), propenal (4). 2-Carbomethoxy- and 2-carbethoxy-1-chloro- 9H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indol-9-ylidene acetaldehyde (10a and b) were formed by reaction with the same reagent of 3(3-methylindol-2-yl) propenoate (7) and 3(3-methylindol-2-yl)-3-oxopropanoate (2) respectively. In the latter case, 2-carbethoxy-1-chloro-3-dimethylamino-9-methyl-3H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole (9b) was isolated as an intermediate. The structure of the pyrroloindolylidene acetaldehydes was proved by synthesis of the chromophore from 4-acetyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-pyrrole-2-carboxylate (26). The preparation and behaviour of 1-phenylpyrrole-2,4- and 3,4-dicarboxylates, monomethylated in the pyrrole ring, is described. These compounds were prepared during a search for a satisfactory route to a starting material for the synthesis of compounds related to 10a and b. The saponification of such diesters is remarkably selective, and in the case of the 2,4-dicarboxylates, contradicts accepted generalisations concerning the lability of pyrrole α,β-diesters to selective hydrolysis.     

Nucleosides and nucleotides. 191 : Ring expansion reaction of 1-[2,3,5-tri-o-TBS-4α-formyl-β-D-ribo-pentofuranosyl]uracil by treating with (methylene)triphenylphosphorane to give a new nucleoside containing dihydrooxepine ring at the sugar moiety

When 1-[2,3,5-tri-O-TBS-4α-formyl-β-D-ribo-pentofuranosyl]uracil (5) was treated with (methylene)triphenylphosphorane in THF, an unusual ring-expansion reaction occurred to give a nucleoside (7) containing dihydrooxepine ring at the sugar moiety. A deuterium-label experiment showed that one carbon unit derived from the ylide was incorporated into the 5'-position of 7. A ring cleavage between the C-3' and C-4' of 5 during the reaction was suggested.     

One-pot synthesis of macrocyclic compounds possessing two cyclobutane rings by sequential inter- and intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition reactions

Sensitized photocycloaddition reactions of 6,6′-dimethyl-4,4′-[1,3-bis(methylenoxy)phenylene]-di-2-pyrone (1) with electron-poor α,ω-diolefins such as ethylene diacrylate (2a) and polyoxyethylene dimethacrylates (2b-d) afforded site- and stereoselective macrocyclic dioxatetralactones (3a-d) and (4b) having 18- to 25-membered rings across the C5-C6 and C5′-C6′ double bonds, or C5-C6 and C3′-C4′ double bonds in 1, respectively. Similar photoreactions of 1 with electron-rich α,ω-diolefins such as poly(ethylene glycol)divinyl ether (2e and 2f) afforded crown ether-type macrocyclic compounds (5e and 5f) having 18- and 21-membered rings across the C3-C4 and C3′-C4′ double bonds in 1, respectively. The stereochemical features of 3b, 5e-xx, and 5e-nn were determined by the X-ray crystal analysis. The reaction mechanism was inferred by MO methods.     

Synthesis and reactions of two stereoisomeric [4.5.5.5]fenestranes with bridgehead substituents

The [4.5.5.5]fenestranes 2 and 3 with two different functionalities were prepared in seven steps with overall yields of 5% and 10%, respectively. For introduction of a bridgehead double bond the removal of the tertiary hydroxy group was investigated in the two stereoisomeric hydroxyketones 12 and 15. Whereas the dehydration readily occurred in 12, a ring opening reaction was observed for 15.     

Synthesis of pyrrole urea and pyrrole carbonylurea derivatives

A series of urea and carbonylurea distamycin analogs whereby the linker has two NH groups for hydrogen bonding with base pairs of DNA were synthesized. The urea and carbonylurea derivatives are prepared from the in situ generation of pyrrole isocyanate (prepared from compound 3) and acyl isocyanate (compound 9), followed by the reaction with an amine. The synthetic feasibility for the further transformations of the pyrrole urea and pyrrole carbonylurea derivatives was also addressed. The binding abilities of these molecules to calf thymus DNA were evaluated by DNA melting temperature (T_m) analysis.     

Topologically driven tandem radical cyclization-based strategy for the synthesis of oxa- and aza-cages

Tandem radical cyclization-based strategy for the synthesis of oxa- and aza-cage compounds is described. The aryl iodides 1 and N-tosyl propargylated amine 8 lead to oxa- and aza-cages, respectively, after two tandem 5-exo-trig radical cyclizations. The alcohols 11 on reaction with ⁿBu₃SnH and AIBN give rise to the oxa-cages 14 bearing the tributyltin moiety after three tandem 5-exo-trig cyclizations. On the other hand, reaction of the propargyl ether 16 under similar conditions furnishes the oxa-cage 17 by a 5-exo-trig, 4-exo-trig, 5-exo-trig tandem radical cyclization sequence.     

Direct alkylation of pyrrole with vinyl substituted aromatics: versatile precursors for the synthesis of porphyrinoid macrocycles

5-Substituted dipyrromethane analogues (8), (23) and (25) were synthesized by the reaction of 2-vinylpyrroles, 2-vinylthiophene or 2-vinylbenzenes with excess pyrrole in the presence of Lewis acids. Accordingly, tripyrromethane analogues could be obtained by starting with 2,5-divinyl thiophene or 2,6-divinylbenzenes. The reaction usually gave moderate yields and catalyst-dependent was seen in some cases. The reaction is compatible with other reported dipyrromethane syntheses and could be applied for the construction of unusual porphyrins.     

One-pot syntheses of dihydro benzo[b][1,4]thiazepines and -diazepines via coupling-isomerization-cyclocondensation sequences

2,4-Di(hetero)aryl substituted 2,3-dihydro benzo[b][1,4]heteroazepines 7 and 9 (hetero=S, NH) can be readily synthesized in a one-pot process initiated by a coupling-isomerization sequence of an electron poor (hetero)aryl halide 4 and a terminal propargyl alcohol 5 subsequently followed by a cyclocondensation with 2-mercapto or 2-amino anilines 6 or 8, respectively. In addition, the structures were established unambiguously by an X-ray structure analysis of 9b.     

Sodium dithionite initiated fluoroalkylation of trimethoxybenzenes, mesitylene and pyrroles with BrCF2CF2Br

Sodium dithionite initiated reaction of 1,2-dibromotetrafluoroethane with 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene (1a) in an acetonitrile-water mixture proceeded efficiently at ambient temperature to give 1-(2-bromotetrafluoroethyl)-2,4,6-trimethoxybenzene (2) almost quantitatively. Similar reaction with 1,2,3-trimethoxybenzene (1b) gave only reasonable yield of regioisomers of (2-bromotetrafluoroethyl)-trimethoxybenzenes 3 and 4 and small amount of a substitution product of the central trimethoxy group, 1-(2-bromotetrafluoroethyl)-2,6-dimethoxybenzene (5). The reaction with mesitylene (6) gave complex mixtures from which, depending on the temperature and a mesitylene/BrCF₂CF₂Br ratio, the expected (2-bromotetrafluoroethyl)mesitylene (8) or a dimeric product, 4,4′-bis(2-bromo-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl)-1,3,5,1′,3′,5′-hexamethylbicyclohexyl-2,5,2′,5′-tetraene (7), were isolated in a yield of 18 and 13%, respectively. The reactions of BrCF₂CF₂Br with pyrrole (9) and 1-methylpyrrole (11) gave the respective alkylated compounds, 2-(2-bromotetrafluoroethyl)pyrrole (10) and 2-(2-bromotetrafluoroethyl)-1-methylpyrrole (12) in over 70% yields; the former was found to be fairly unstable. The reactivity of the terminal bromine atom in 1-(2-bromotetrafluoroethyl)-2,4,6-trimethoxybenzene (2) was also investigated.     

A short-cut from 1-acetyl adamantane to 2-(1-adamantyl)pyrroles

The oxime of 1-acetyl adamantane 2 is added to acetylene (KOH/DMSO, 70 °C, initial acetylene pressure 13 atm, 30 min) to afford the corresponding O-vinyl oxime 5 in 80% yield. The latter upon heating (DMSO, 120 °C, 1 h) gives 2-(1-adamantyl)pyrrole 3, 1-acetyl adamantane 1, and adamantane (6:3:1 mass ratio), the yield of the pyrrole 3 being 83% (based on 1-acetyl adamantane 1 consumed). Under harsher conditions (NaOH/DMSO, 130 °C, atmospheric pressure of acetylene, 4 h) oxime 2 reacts with acetylene to furnish pyrrole 3, 1-acetyl adamantane 1, 1-vinyl adamantane 9, and adamantane (6:7:3:1 mass ratio), with the isolated yield of pyrrole 3 reaching 34%. Under pressure (NaOH/DMSO, 120 °C, initial acetylene pressure 14 atm, 1 h) the same reaction leads to 2-(1-adamantyl)-1-vinylpyrrole 4 and ketone 1 in 48% (based on consumed ketone 1) and 24% yields, respectively. The pyrrole 4 is easily deprotected to the corresponding 1H-pyrrole 3 in 77% yield by treatment (aqueous MeCN) with Hg(OAc)₂ and NaBH₄.     

The novel transition metal free synthesis of 1,1′-biazulene

Reaction of 1-azulenyl methyl sulfoxide (1) under acidic conditions gave the 1,1′-biazulene derivative 3. Methylmercapt groups of 3 were readily converted to formyl groups by Vilsmeier reaction to afford 3,3′-diformyl-1,1′-biazulene (4), which reacted with pyrrole in the presence of acetic acid to give the parent 1,1′-biazulene (5). Reaction of 5 with pyridine in the presence of Tf₂O gave 3,3′-dihydropyridyl-1,1′-biazulene derivative 6. 3,3′-(4-Pyridyl)-1,1′-biazulene (7) was obtained by the reaction of 3 with KOH in EtOH at room temperature in good yield.     

Nucleophilic addition reaction of aromatic compounds with α-chloroglycidates in the presence of Lewis acid

The epoxide 1 obtained by the Darzens condensation reaction of aldehydes with methyl dichloroacetate, reacted with aromatic compounds in the presence of aluminium chloride to afford α-aryl-β-chloro-α-hydroxyalkanoate 3. The intra-molecular nucleophilic addition of epoxide 1′ gave cyclisation compound 4. The scope and limitation of these reaction were studied for various aldehydes and aromatic compounds. The reaction was also studied in the presence of aluminium chloride supported on alumina or silica gel, which is thought to be a mild Lewis acid and harmless for environment.     

3-Phenacylideneoxindoles with tosylmethyl isocyanide and MeOH through C–C bond cleavage: facile synthesis of pyrrole and 2H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline derivatives

A novel reaction of 3-phenacylideneoxindoles (1) with tosylmethyl isocyanide (2a) and MeOH through C–C bond cleavage has been developed. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions, providing a powerful synthetic tool for the construction of pyrrole derivatives (3) from easily accessible starting materials and synthesis of 2H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolines (4) by further dehydration of 3.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel second-order NLO-chromophores bearing pyrrole as an electron donor group

Two series of novel push–pull 1-(4-(thiophen-2-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrroles 3–5 were designed to explore the consequence of using different electron accepting moieties linked to the thiophene at the arylthiophene bridge or to the pyrrole heterocycle, which plays the role of donor group. Compound 2 showed a different reactivity behavior in the presence of the Vilsmeier reagent or with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) giving compounds 4a and 4b functionalized, respectively, at the 2 or on the 3-position of the pyrrole heterocycle. Their optical (linear and first hyperpolarizability), electrochemical, and thermal properties have been examined. Hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) in dioxane solutions using a fundamental wavelength of 1064 nm was employed to evaluate their second-order nonlinear optical properties. Of these systems, thiobarbituric acid derivative 5b functionalized in the thiophene ring exhibits the largest first hyperpolarizability (β=2480×10^?30 esu, T convention) compared to the corresponding compound 4c substituted on the pyrrole heterocycle (β=290×10^?30 esu, T convention). Good to excellent thermal stabilities were also obtained for push–pull compounds 4 and 5 (270–288 °C). This multidisciplinary study shows that modulation of the optical and electronic properties can be achieved by introduction of the acceptor groups in the thiophene of the arylthiophene bridge. The measured molecular first hyperpolarizabilities and the observed electrochemical behavior are quite sensitive to the position of acceptor group on the heterocyclic system (on the thiophene or on the pyrrole ring) as well as the strength of the acceptor moieties. Moreover, the combination of their good nonlinearity and high thermal stability make them good candidates for second-order nonlinear optical applications.     

Microwave-induced generation and reactions of nitrile sulfides: an improved method for the synthesis of isothiazoles and 1,2,4-thiadiazoles

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of nitrile sulfides, generated by microwave-assisted decarboxylation of 1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-ones, have been investigated. By this approach ethyl 1,2,4-thiadiazole-5-carboxylates 3 were prepared in good yield by cycloaddition of the nitrile sulfides to ethyl cyanoformate. Similarly, reaction of benzonitrile sulfide with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) afforded dimethyl 3-phenylisothiazole-4,5-dicarboxylate (5). In contrast, o-hydroxybenzonitrile sulfide, generated from the corresponding oxathiazolone 2d, reacted with DMAD to give methyl 4-oxo-4H-[1]benzopyrano[4,3-c]isothiazole-3-carboxylate (8) in high yield. A ca. 1:1 mixture of ethyl 3-phenylisothiazole-4- and 5-carboxylates (6,7) was formed from benzonitrile sulfide and ethyl propiolate. The corresponding reaction with diethyl fumarate gave diethyl trans-4,5-dihydro-3-phenylisothiazole-4,5-dicarboylate (10). 3-Arylisothiazoles, unsubstituted at both the 4- and 5-positions, were prepared from the reaction of 5-aryl-1,3,4-oxathiazolones with norbornadiene by a pathway involving cycloaddition of the nitrile sulfide to the norbornadiene, followed by retro-Diels-Alder extrusion of cyclopentadiene from the resulting isothiazoline cycloadduct 12. In summary, the use of microwave irradiation, rather than conventional heating methods, allows nitrile sulfide generation and reactions to be carried out in shorter times, with easier work-up and, in some cases, in higher yields.     

Synthesis of bisquinoline–pyrrole oligoamide as G-quadruplex binding ligand

A one-pot procedure using ammonium formate under palladium catalysis for the reductive dechlorination and reduction of nitro group of 4-chloro-8-nitro–quinoline derivatives has be successfully carried out. This has lead to the synthesis of bisquinoline–pyrrole oligoamide 1, which show significant G-quadruplex selectivity in preference to duplex DNA. The cooperativity between the bisquinoline and pyrrole oligoamide moieties for good binding affinity to G-quadruplex was proven by synthesizing 2 and 3 lacking a quinoline ring and pyrrole amide, respectively, and both show much reduce affinity to G-quadruplex. Altogether, the results demostrate that the appropriate combination of two chromophores to form the hybride can attenuate binding affinity and selectivity towards G-quadruplex, an important criteria for the rational drug design.