Microwave promoted improved regioselective synthesis of 1H,3H,6H[2]benzopyrano[4,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4-diones by radical cyclisation

In this work, two new effective methodologies have been adopted for the preparation of 5-(2′-bromobenzyloxy)pyrimidine-2,4-diones 6(a–k). In the first methodology, 5-hydroxy uracils 4(a–f) were alkylated with 2-bromobenzyl bromide 5a or 2-bromo-5-methoxy benzyl bromide 5b under phase transfer catalysis condition using lithium hydroxide/tetrabutyl ammonium bromide in N,N-dimethylformamide at 45 °C, and in the second method, the microwave irradiation (MWI) protocol has been exploited by mixing 5-hydroxy uracils 4(a–f) with 30 % excess of 2-bromobenzyl bromide 5a or 2-bromo-5-methoxy benzyl bromide 5b. A catalytic amount of TBAB and potassium carbonate was added and irradiated in an open Erlenmeyer flask in a microwave oven for 3–12 min. The tributyltin hydride-mediated radical cyclisation of 6(a–k) was carried out under MWI to generate 1H,3H,6H[2]benzopyrano[4,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4-diones 7(a–k) in 80–89 % yield, and the reaction time was shortened compared to the previously reported conventional radical cyclisation method.     

A synthesis of rhodotorulic acid

A comparative study of the catalytic hydrogenation of benzyloxyamine hydrochloride (2a·HCl), benzyl benzohydroxamate (2b), and benzohydroxamic acid (3b) using PdC as a catalyst has disclosed that 2a·HCl smoothly undergoes the hydrogenolytic cleavage at both the benzyl—O and NO bonds, whereas 2b almost selectively suffers benzyl—O cleavage. The use of the benzyl group for protecting a hydroxamic acid function, suggested by the hydrogenolysis study, was embodied in the synthesis of rhodotorulic acid (1) starting with the reaction of 2a with bromide 5 to give 8. The key intermediate l-9 was conveniently prepared by the selective, asymmetric deacetylation of 8 using Taka-diastase. Conversion of l-9 into amino ester l-13 through the N^α-protected amino acid (l-11) and ester l-12 and coupling of l-11 with l-13 yielded dipeptide ll-14. Removal of the tert-butoxycarbonyl group from ll-14 and cyclization of the resulting amino ester produced the penultimate benzyl hydroxamate (ll-15), which was debenzylated selectively with PdC and hydrogen to furnish 1.     

Efficient and selective Stille cross-coupling of benzylic and allylic bromides using bromobis(triphenylphosphine)(N-succinimide)palladium(II)

Allylic and benzylic bromides are cross-coupled with organostannanes efficiently using the precatalyst [Pd(NCOC₂H₄CO)(PPh₃)₂Br] 1. Significantly, these reactions do not require the use of hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) as the solvent, or additional ligands, such as trifurylphosphine or triphenylarsine. Selectivity for benzyl bromide over bromobenzene is observed for precatalyst 1, against the precatalysts, bromobis(triphenylphosphine)(benzyl)palladium(II) and bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) bromide.     

Electrochemical immobilization of a benzylic film through the reduction of benzyl halide derivatives: deposition onto highly ordered pyrolytic graphite

The reactivity of electrogenerated benzyl radicals at carbon surfaces was examined through the cathodic reduction of the corresponding bromide derivatives. 4-Nitrobenzyl bromide and benzyl bromide were reduced in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surfaces. Electroproduced films were examined using electrochemistry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Experiments show the formation of strongly adherent deposits and the occurrence of electrografting processes. They are based on radical generation and the reaction of the radical with the substrate. As expected, the thickness of the organic film increases with deposition time but the deposit displays a lower compactness than previously reported for the electroreduction of aryl diazonium salts. Interestingly for benzyl derivatives, the reduction potential required for the electrografting could be rendered much more positive by simply using an iodide-type supporting electrolyte.     

C-Nitroso compounds—XXXV : Reaction of organometallic compounds with 1-chloro-1-nitroso-2,2,6,6-tetramethylcyclohexane

Reaction of Grignard reagents and organolithium compounds (RM) with the congested 1-chloro-1-nitroso-2,2,6,6-tetramethylcyclohexane 1 leads to the formation of significant amounts of the reduction product 2,2,6,6-tetramethylcyclohexanone oxime 3 (61–90%) together with the corresponding oxime O-R ether 4 (0–11%). Attack on nitrogen is unimportant as shown by very low yields of nitrone. Formation of the products is rationalised with a pathway involving transfer of an electron from RM to 1. This leads—after separation of MCI—to a radical pair consisting of R and the relatively stable iminoxy radical 2 (Schemes 1 and 2). Combination of these radicals explains formation of oxime ether 4 and nitrone 5, while reaction of iminoxy radical 2 with excess of RM can give oxime 3. Reactive radicals R (i.e. Me, Ph, and to a minor extent n-Bu) are furthermore capable of abstracting hydrogen from the solvent (diethyl ether, toluene, or cumene), and the solvent derived radicals can also combine with 2 on oxygen, under formation of oxime ether (26% of 6a). The corresponding benzyl- and cumyl ethers 6b and 6c are only formed in trace amounts because dimerisation of benzyl radicals (7%) and cumyl radicals (22%) is favoured.     

Redox catalysis versus heterogeneous one-electron catalysis. Mixed reduction of arenes and alkyl halides at specific palladized electrodes

Reduction of aromatic compounds (A) is achieved in the presence of alkyl halides RX (X = I or Br) at Ag–Pd electrodes in organic solvents. Those electrodes allow the one-electron reduction of RX with the selective formation of free radicals R. This new process (heterogeneous one-electron catalysis, H1EC) was used to alkylate in situ arenes. This mode of alkylation leads to re-visit previous results concerning redox catalysis published by Henning Lund when more conventional electrodes (like glassy carbon or mercury) were used and afforded similar results within a totally different potential scale. These preliminary results underline the reactivity differences between the molecular electrode (A⁻) and the almost ideal catalysis process (facile and specific liberation of free alkyl radicals).     

Hydroesterification of styrene using an in situ formed Pd(OTs)2(PPh3)2 complex catalyst

Hydroesterification of styrene to 3-phenyl propionate 1, and 2-phenyl propionate 2, has been studied using a Pd(OTs)₂(PPh₃)₂ catalyst formed in situ from Pd(OAc)₂, PPh₃ and p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-tsa). Because of the weakly coordinating properties of the TsO⁻ ligand, the catalyst has vacant coordination sites capable of easy activation of reactants. The presence of water is found to be necessary for the reaction and hydrogen enhances the catalytic activity under certain conditions (with Pd:p-tsa=1). The beneficial effect of hydrogen, p-tsa and water is discussed in terms of favoring the formation of a Pd–H species, which initiates the catalytic cycle through the insertion of styrene into this bond with formation of a Pd-alkyl intermediate, which inserts CO to give a Pd-acyl intermediate, which, upon nucleophilic attack of the alkanol on the carbon atom of the acyl ligand, yields the final product and the starting hydride back to the catalytic cycle. p-tsa would favor the formation of a Pd–H species by reactivating any Pd(0) species that may form during the course of catalysis. Water would favor the formation of a Pd–H species through a reaction closely related to the water–gas shift reaction. The effect of various ligands, promoters, solvents and alcohols on catalytic activity as well as selectivity pattern has been studied. Regioselectivity to the branched product, 2, increases with decrease in basicity of the phosphorous ligands as well as steric bulk around the palladium center and polarity of the medium.     

Efficient synthesis of N-benzyl-3-aminopyrrolidine-2,5-dione and N-benzyl-3-aminopyrrolidin-2-one

Reaction of N-tert-butyloxycarbonylasparagine (Boc-Asn) with 2 equiv of benzyl bromide in presence of cesium carbonate led to N-benzyl-3-Boc-amino-pyrrolidin-2,5-dione 1a (N-benzyl-3-Boc-aminosuccinimide). Borane dimethylsulfide reduced 3-Boc-aminopyrrolidine-2,5-dione 1a into 3-Boc-aminopyrrolidin-2-one 2a. The same procedure could also be used to prepare derivatives 1 and 2 substituted on the aromatic ring.     

Synthesis of two (S)-indoline-based chiral auxiliaries and their use in diastereoselective alkylation reactions

Two chiral auxiliaries, 2-[(S)-indolin-2-yl]propan-2-ol 1a and (S)-2-(2-methoxypropan-2-yl)indoline 1b, were synthesised from enantiomerically pure (S)-indoline-2-carboxylic acid 3. High diastereoselectivities in alkylations of enolates of the propanoylamides derived from the two auxiliaries are presented. Surprisingly, both auxiliaries induced the same selectivity at the newly created stereogenic centre. The benzyl bromide and n-butyl iodide alkylation reactions showed diastereomeric ratios that were moderate (81:19) to very good (96:4) and with very good yields (86–98%). When LiCl was used as an enolate coordinating agent, in the benzylation of the enolate from propanoylated auxiliary 1a, a very high crude diastereomeric ratio was obtained (99.7:0.3).     

The catalytic hydrogenolysis of 1-phenylbicyclo[4.1.0]heptane and the corresponding azidirine and epoxide

The hydrogenolysisof 1-phenylbicyclo[4.1.0]heptane (1a), cis-1-phenyl-2-methylbicyclo[4.1.0]heptane (1b), 1-phenyl-7-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane (2) and 1-phenyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane (3) was studied using Ni, Pd, Rh and Pt as catalysts. The hydrogenolysis of the C₁C₇ bond of 1a and 1b led to the selective formation of trans-1-phenyl-2-methylcyclohexane (4a) with retention of configuration. Compound 1a gave not only 4a but also phenylcycloheptane (6a), which is the product of C₁C₆ bond fission, and the ratio of 6a to 4a increased in the sequence: Ni ? Pd, Rh < Pt. No C₁C₆ bond fission was observed in the hydrogenolysis of 1b. These results can be explained by a mechanism involving the formation of the π-benzyl complex.trans-2-Phenylcyclohexylamine (8) was obtained stereoselectively in the hydrogenolysis of 2 over Raney Ni. This selective formation can be ascribed to the competition of “SN i” and “radical” processes. The Pd catalysed hydrogenolysis gave cis-2-phenylcyclohexylamine (9) as the main product, while the presence of sodium hydroxide promoted the formation of 8.Raney Ni catalysed hydrogenolysis of 3 yielded a mixture of phenylcyclohexane (13) and 2-phenylcyclohexanols (10 and 11). trans-2-Phenylcyclohexanol (10) was the dominant isomer; the hydrogenolysis resulted in the predominant configurational retention. Compound 13 was confirmed to be produced via 1-phenylcyclohexene (12). This deoxygenation may be explained by a mechanism involving the radical cleavage reaction of 3. The presence of sodium hydroxide led to the formation of cis-2-phenylcyclohexanol (11). The Pd catalysed hydrogenolysis also gave mainly 11.The difference in behaviour of cyclopropane, azidirine and epoxide we ascribe to the differences in the affinity for the catalyst and differences in the electronegativity between C, N and O atoms.     

A new chiral oxazoline derived from camphor and its conversion to (R)-2-methylalkanoic acids

(1S,5R,7R)-(−)-10,10-Dimethyl-3-ethyl-4-oxa-2-azatricyclo[5.2.1.0^1,5]dec-2-ene 2 was prepared in 95% yield from (1S)-1-amino-2-exo-hydroxyapocamphane 1. The chiral oxazoline could be alkylated (LDA/THF/−78°C/RX, RX=ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl iodides or benzyl bromide) to 3 in 95% yield and >95% diastereoselectivity, and the products hydrolysed to (R)-2-methylalkanoic acids 4 (43–47% yield, 93–98% e.e.).     

A synthetic approach to C-nor-D-homosteroids based on a cascade of radical cyclisations from a vinylcyclopropane-substituted acyl radical precursor

Treatment of the arylvinylcyclopropane-substituted seleno ester 5 with Bu₃SnH–AIBN, under high dilution in benzene at 80 °C, led to a 1:1 mixture of C10 methyl epimers of the C-nor-D-homosteroid ring system 24/25. The homosteroid was formed from 5 via a cascade of sequential acyl 13-endo trig radical macrocyclisation, benzyl radical 5-exo trig transannulation and alkyl radical transannulation reactions (Scheme 1). The macrocyclic dienone 23 was also isolated as an intermediate in the radical cascade between 5 and 24/25, and the dioxolanes 29 were interesting by-products. The cascade of radical cyclisations leading to the homosteroid 24/25 from the acyl radical precursor 5 is compared and contrasted with similar radical cascades from arylvinylcyclopropane-substituted alkyl radical precursors, i.e, 30→31 and 32b→38.     

Pd/Sn mediated three-component cascade coupling (3-C) approaches

The 3-C³strategy involves (i) Pd(0)/SnX₂ (X = Cl, Br) mediated generation of allyltin(IV) from allyl bromide in anhydrous DCM, (ii) formation of homoallyloxytin(IV) intermediate I from allyltin(IV) and an aldehyde, and (iii) coupling of I with an aldehyde, an aryl epoxide or an arene as the third partner to afford tetrahydropyrans, benzyl tetrahydropyrans or 4,4-diarylbut-1-enes, respectively.     

New findings in the alkylation and N-deprotection of (4S)-4-methyl-2-benzyl-2,4-dihydro-1H-pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones

Alkyl halides behave differently to benzyl halides in C-1 alkylation of the title compounds. The syn and anti 1,4-disubstituted diastereomers thus obtained show different regioselectivity by further alkylation leading to the 1,4,4- and 1,1,4-trisubstituted compounds, respectively. Alkylation is always directed anti with respect to the bulkier substituent at C-1 or C-4. Debenzylation attempts on 2-benzyl-derivatives 1b by treatment with HCOOH and C/Pd or H₂/C–Pd/MeOH/H⁺ led to C-1 oxidised or 7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-derivatives. Deprotection of 2-p-methoxybenzyl- and 2-(2,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-derivatives with CAN and with TFA/anisole, respectively, was successful, but in the latter case epimerization at C-1 occurred.     

The catalytic hydrogenolysis of benzylamine derivatives

The hydrogenolysis of optically active ethyl 2-amino-2-phenylpropionate (I), its N-methyl (II), and N,N-dimethyl (III) derivatives was studied using Raney Ni and Pd as the catalysts. The Raney Ni catalysed hydrogenolysis of II and III, as well as the reaction catalysed by Pd, occurred predominantly with inversion of configuration; this is not in accord with the hydrogenolysis of corresponding benzyl alcohols. This difference can be ascribed to the difference of the affinity for Ni between N and O atoms. The “SN_Ni” process may be inhibited in the Raney Ni catalysed hydrogenolysis of II and III since the amino group acts as a self-catalyst poison, and the “S_N2” process appears to be preferable to the “S_Ni” one. The predominance of the configurationally inversion was also observed in the Pd catalysed hydrogenolysis of I. These results over Pd are reasonable in reflecting that the N atom has not so high affinity for Pd. The hydrogenolysis of a quarternary ammonium bromide of I was also reported.     

Mono- and dinuclear cyclopalladates as catalysts for Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions in predominantly aqueous media

Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of aryl halides with arylboronic acids were performed in predominantly aqueous media employing two mono- and two dinuclear cyclopalladated complexes as catalysts. These complexes are [Pd(HL)Cl] (I), [Pd(L)(PPh₃)] (II), [Pd₂(μ-dppb)(L)₂] (III) and [Pd₂(μ-dppf)(L)₂] (IV); where H₂L, dppb and dppf represent 4-methoxy-N′-(mesitylidene)benzohydrazide, 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane and 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene, respectively. The reactions were conducted using potassium carbonate as base in presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) at 70/90 °C in dimethylformamide–water (1:20) mixture. Among the four catalysts used, the dinuclear complex IV turned out to be the most effective and afforded moderate to excellent yields with broad substrate scope.     

Oxidative addition of N-halosuccinimides to palladium(0): the discovery of neutral palladium(II) imidate complexes, which enhance Stille coupling of allylic and benzylic halides

The Stille coupling of organostannanes and organohalides, mediated by air and moisture stable palladium(II) phosphine complexes containing succinimide or phthalimide (imidate) ligands, has been investigated. An efficient synthetic route to several palladium(II) complexes containing succinimide and phthalimide ligands, has been developed. cis-Bromobis(triphenylphosphine)(N-succinimide)palladium(II) [(Ph₃P)₂Pd(N-Succ)Br] is shown to mediate the Stille coupling of allylic and benzylic halides with alkenyl, aryl and allyl stannanes. In competition experiments between 4-nitrobromobenzene and benzyl bromide with a cis-stannylvinyl ester, (Ph₃P)₂Pd(N-Succ)Br preferentially cross-couples benzyl bromide, whereas with other commonly employed precatalysts 4-nitrobromobenzene undergoes preferential cross-coupling. Furthermore, preferential reaction of deactivated benzyl bromides over activated benzyl bromides is observed for the first time. The type of halide and presence of a succinimide ligand are essential for effective Stille coupling. The type of phosphine ligand is also shown to alter the catalytic activity of palladium(II) succinimide complexes.     

Synthesis of Rosavin and its analogues based on a Mizoroki-Heck type reaction

The Rosavin framework could be constructed with either phenylboronic acids, the protected arabinopyranosyl bromide 4 or the protected xylopyranosyl bromide 5, along with allyl O-β-d-glucopyranoside 7 that could be easily prepared based on direct β-glucosidation between allyl alcohol and d-glucose using the immobilized β-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21). The key reaction was the Pd(II)-catalyzed Mizoroki-Heck type reaction between allyl β-d-glucopyranoside congeners 9 or 10 and arylboronic acids. Deprotection of the coupling products afforded synthetic Rosavin 1, 4-methoxycinnamyl 6-O-(α-l-arabinopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside 2, and cinnamyl 6-O-(β-d-xylopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside 3, which were identical with the natural products in respect to the specific rotation and spectral data.     

Transition-metal-free insertion of benzyl bromides into 2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)benzaldehyde: One-pot switchable syntheses of benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]quinolin-5(7H)-ones and 3-arylquinolin-4-ones mediated by base

A transition-metal-free insertion of benzyl group between aldehyde and imidazole of 2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)benzaldehyde was achieved for the first time. Two diverse sets of quinolin-4-one derivatives: benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]quinolin-5(7H)-ones (2) and 3-arylquinolin-4-ones (3) were synthesized based on identical starting materials 2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)benzaldehydes (1) and benzyl bromides. In the preparations, two key intermediates I and II were involved and might be synthesized in situ through the reaction of an intra-Breslow intermediate with benzyl bromide via an enol attack in the presence of base or a NHC-based enamine attack in the absence of base, respectively, in which the intra-Breslow intermediate might function as a nucleophilic reagent by following two novel different pathways.     

The photochemical reaction between 1,4-dicyanonaphtalene and methylbenzenes: Electron transfer and formation of benzylic radicals

The photochemical reaction of 1,4-dicyanonaphtalene (1) in the presence of methylbenzenes (2a–c) in acetonitrile affords 1 - benzyl - 4 - cyanonaphtalenes (3), 1 - benzyl - 1,4 - dicyano - 1,2 - dihydronaphtalenes (4), 2 - benzyl - 1,4 - dicyano - 1,2 - dihydronaphtalenes (5 and 6) and the tetracyclic derivatives 7 and 8. Compounds 3, 7 and 8 are not the products of subsequent transformations of compound 4. No photochemical reaction is observed in non-polar media, in which, on the contrary, exciplex emission is detected. Experiments in the presence of electron acceptors, electron donors and strong acids support the idea that the reaction is initiated by electron transfer from the methylbenzenes to singlet excited 1, followed by protolytic equilibrium of the benzylic radical cation to the corresponding radical, which is the attacking species.