Bromenium‐Catalysed Tandem Ring Opening/Cyclisation of Vinylcyclopropanes and Vinylcyclobutanes: A Metal‐Free [3+2+1]/[4+2+1] Cascade for the Synthesis of Chiral Amidines and Computational Investigation

We present a detailed study of a [3+2+1] cascade cyclisation of vinylcyclopropanes (VCP) catalysed by a bromenium species (Br^δ+? X^δ?) generated in situ, which results in the synthesis of chiral bicyclic amidines in a tandem one‐pot operation. The formation of amidines involves the ring‐opening of VCPs with Br? X, followed by a Ritter‐type reaction with chloramine‐T and a tandem cyclisation. The reaction has been further extended to vinylcyclobutane systems and involves a [4+2+1] cascade cyclisation with the same reagents. The versatility of the methodology has been demonstrated by careful choice of VCPs and VCBs to yield bicyclo[4.3.0]‐, ‐[4.3.1]‐ and ‐[4.4.0]amidines in enantiomerically pure form. On the basis of the experimental observations and DFT calculations, a reasonable mechanism has been put forth to account for the formation of the products and the observed stereoselectivity. We propose the existence of a π‐stabilised homoallylic carbocation at the cyclopropane carbon as the reason for high stereoselectivity. DFT studies at B3LYP/6‐311+G** and M06‐2X/6‐31+G* levels of theory in gas‐phase calculations suggest the ring‐opening of VCP is initiated at the π‐complex stage (between the double bond and Br? X). This can be clearly perceived from the solution‐phase (acetonitrile) calculations using the polarisable continuum model (PCM) solvation model, from which the extent of the ring opening of VCP was found to be noticeably high. Studies also show that the formation of zero‐bridge bicyclic amidines is favoured over other bridged bicyclic amidines. The energetics of competing reaction pathways is compared to explain the product selectivity.     

Synthesis of Novel Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐2‐amines from Arylamines and Nitriles via Sequential Addition and I2/KI‐Mediated Oxidative Cyclization

A novel and practical strategy for the construction of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐2‐amine frameworks has been developed. The present sequential approach involves addition of arylamines to nitriles and I₂/KI‐mediated oxidative C?N bond formation without purification of the intermediate amidines. This operationally simple synthetic process provides a facile access to a variety of new 2‐amino substituted imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines and related heterocyclic compounds in an efficient and scalable fashion.     

Transferred multipolar atom model for 10β,17β‐dihydroxy‐17α‐methylestr‐4‐en‐3‐one dihydrate obtained from the biotransformation of methyloestrenolone

Biotransformation is the structural modification of compounds using enzymes as the catalysts and it plays a key role in the synthesis of pharmaceutically important compounds. 10β,17β‐Dihydroxy‐17α‐methylestr‐4‐en‐3‐one dihydrate, C₁₉H₂₈O₃·2H₂O, was obtained from the fungal biotransformation of methyloestrenolone. The structure was refined using the classical independent atom model (IAM) and a transferred multipolar atom model using the ELMAM2 database. The results from the two refinements have been compared. The ELMAM2 refinement has been found to be superior in terms of the refinement statistics. It has been shown that certain electron‐density‐derived properties can be calculated on the basis of the transferred parameters for crystals which diffract to ordinary resolution.     

A [4+1] Cyclative Capture Approach to 3H‐Indole‐N‐oxides at Room Temperature by Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed CH Activation

The rhodium(III)‐catalyzed [3+2] C? H cyclization of aniline derivatives and internal alkynes represents a useful contribution to straightforward synthesis of indoles. However, there is no report on the more challenging synthesis of pharmaceutically important N‐hydroxyindoles and 3H‐indole‐N‐oxides. Reported herein is the first rhodium(III)‐catalyzed [4+1] C? H oxidative cyclization of nitrones with diazo compounds to access 3H‐indole‐N‐oxides. More significantly, this reaction proceeds at room temperature and has been extended to the synthesis of N‐hydroxyindoles and N‐hydroxyindolines.     

Pd‐NHC catalysed Carbonylative Suzuki coupling reaction and its application towards the synthesis of biologically active 3‐aroylquinolin‐4 (1H)‐one and acridone scaffolds

We have unfolded a convenient and mild protocol for the synthesis of diaryl ketones via Pd‐ NHC catalysed carbonylative Suzuki coupling reaction. Notably, this method offers advantages like no use of toxic CO gas, shorter reaction time, high yield, and broad substrate scope. Several sensitive functional groups (like‐COMe, ‐COOMe, ‐F, ‐Cl, ‐Br, ‐NH₂, ‐CN) are well tolerated in this reaction. In addition, we have also demonstrated a new efficient route for the synthesis of biologically active and pharmaceutically important 2‐substituted 3‐Aroylquinolin‐4(1H)‐ones and acridone scaffolds.     

Synthesis,Docking, and Bioavailability of 2′‐Oxo‐3‐phenylspiro[cyclopropane‐1,3′‐indoline]‐2,2‐dicarbonitriles as Antibacterial Agents In Silico

An efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of N‐alkylated 2′‐oxo‐3‐phenylspiro[cyclopropane‐1,3′‐indoline]‐2,2‐dicarbonitrile from 3‐chloroindolin‐2‐one and 2‐benzylidenemalononitrile by using triethylamine as a base at room temperature and obtained the products in moderate to good yields. In extension, the scope of the reaction has been investigated by stepwise and one‐pot methods. Furthermore, in silico antibacterial activity was carried out in order to understand possible binding modes of novel derivatives with the active site of DNA gyrase A enzyme, and the results were well complemented. Additionally, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion properties of compounds have shown drug likeness with good oral absorption and moderate blood–brain barrier permeability.     

Sodium Formate‐Catalyzed One‐Pot Synthesis of Benzopyranopyrimidines and 4‐Thio‐substituted 4H‐Chromenes via Multicomponent Reaction at Room Temperature

A simple, straightforward and highly efficient multicomponent one‐pot synthesis of a series of pharmaceutically interesting benzopyranopyrimidine and 4H‐chromene derivatives has been developed on the basis of low‐cost and environment‐friendly sodium formate catalyst via tandem reactions of salicylic aldehydes, malononitrile, and cyclic secondary amines in ethanol at room temperature. Nature of nucleophile used in this reaction directs the course of the reaction; cyclic secondary amines result in the formation of benzopyrano[2,3‐d]pyrimidines, whereas thiophenol furnish corresponding 4‐thio‐subtituted 4H‐chromenes under the same reaction conditions. High atom‐economy, good yields, eco‐friendly, and mild reaction conditions are some of the important features of this protocol.     

Organocatalyzed Asymmetric Friedel‐Crafts Reactions: An Update

The Friedel‐Crafts alkylation (F‐CA) reaction is a special kind of carbon?carbon bond formations, which is frequently being used for the formation of such bond in some aromatic rings in organic synthesis. Its asymmetric variant gives enantiorich products. Commonly, an in situ organocatalyzed asymmetric Friedel‐Crafts alkylation (AF‐CA) proceeds via generation of an enamine as an intermediate. The organocatalyzed‐AF‐CA was discovered and established in the mid‐1980s and reviewed comprehensively in 2010. In this report, we are trying to update the applications of novel organocatalysts in the AF‐CA as a versatile synthetic strategy, which is frequently used in the effective asymmetric synthesis of complex molecules, pharmaceutically important compounds and most importantly in the total synthesis of biologically active natural products.     

Remote meta‐C–H Cyanation of Arenes Enabled by a Pyrimidine‐Based Auxiliary

An easily removable pyrimidine‐based auxiliary has been employed for the remote meta ‐C−H cyanation of arenes. The scope of this Pd‐catalyzed cyanation reaction using copper(I) cyanide as the cyanating agent was demonstrated with benzylsilanes, benzylsulfonates, benzylphophonates, phenethylsulfonates, and phenethyl ether derivatives. The method was utilized for the synthesis of pharmaceutically valuable precursors.     

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Aminohalogenation of Fluorinated N′‐Aryl‐N‐Propargyl Amidines for the Synthesis of Imidazole Derivatives under Mild Conditions

A procedure for the synthesis of fluorinated imidazole derivatives from propargyl amidines has been developed. Under gold(I) catalysis, propargyl amidines were converted into 5‐fluoromethyl imidazoles in the presence of Selectfluor through a cascade cyclization/fluorination process. In contrast, imidazole‐5‐carbaldehydes were obtained in high yields when N‐iodosuccinimide (NIS) was used as the halogenating reagent. The polarity of the solvent and light had significant impact on the formation of the carbaldehydes. These transformations showed excellent functional‐group tolerance. An unfluorinated substrate with an electron‐withdrawing group also underwent aminohalogenation to give the corresponding product in good yield. Mechanistic investigation revealed the general pathways of these transformations.     

A One‐Pot Synthesis of N‐Aryl‐2‐Oxazolidinones and Cyclic Urethanes by the Lewis Base Catalyzed Fixation of Carbon Dioxide into Anilines and Bromoalkanes

The multicomponent assembly of pharmaceutically relevant N‐aryl‐oxazolidinones through the direct insertion of carbon dioxide into readily available anilines and dibromoalkanes is described. The addition of catalytic amounts of an organosuperbase such as Barton's base enables this transformation to proceed with high yields and exquisite substrate functional‐group tolerance under ambient CO₂ pressure and mild temperature. This report also provides the first proof‐of‐principle for the single‐operation synthesis of elusive seven‐membered ring cyclic urethanes.     

K2CO3‐Promoted Cascade Michael‐Alkylation Reactions: A Facile Preparation of Diethyl trans‐2,3‐Disubstituted 1,1‐Cyclopropanedicarboxylates

A cascade Michael‐alkylation reaction of diethyl benzylidenemalonates with chloroacetophenones was realized by using K₂CO₃ as the promoter. With this method, a series of diethyl trans‐2,3‐disubstituted 1,1‐cyclopropane‐ dicarboxylates have been facilely synthesized in moderate yields under mild conditions. The relative configurations of two typical products were confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis.     

Bioinspired Peony‐Like β‐Ni(OH)2 Nanostructures with Enhanced Electrochemical Activity and Superhydrophobicity

Constructing complex nanostructures has become increasingly important in the development of hydrogen storage, self‐cleaning materials, and the formation of chiral branched nanowires. Several approaches have been developed to generate complex nanostructures, which have led to novel applications. Combining biology and nanotechnology through the utilization of biomolecules to chemically template the growth of complex nanostructures during synthesis has aroused great interest. Herein, we use a biomolecule‐assisted hydrothermal method to synthesize β‐phase Ni(OH)₂ peony‐like complex nanostructures with second‐order structure nanoplate structure. The novel β‐Ni(OH)₂ nanostructures exhibit high‐power Ni/MH battery performance, close to the theoretical capacity of Ni(OH)₂, as well as controlled wetting behavior. We demonstrate that this bioinspired route to generate a complex nanostructure has applications in environmental protection and green secondary cells. This approach opens up opportunities for the synthesis and potential applications of new kinds of nanostructures.     

Total Synthesis of Marine Eicosanoid (−)‐Hybridalactone

(?)‐Hybridalactone ( 1 ) is a marine eicosanoid isolated from the red alga Laurencia hybrida. This natural product contains cyclopropane, cyclopentane, 13‐membered macrolactone and epoxide ring systems incorporating seven stereogenic centers. Moreover, this compound has an acid‐labile skipped Z,Z‐diene motif. In this paper, we report on the total synthesis of (?)‐hybridalactone ( 1 ). The unique eicosanoid (?)‐hybridalactone ( 1 ) was synthesized starting from optically active γ‐butyrolactone 2 in a linear sequence comprising 21 steps with an overall yield of 21.9 %. A key step in the synthesis of (?)‐hybridalactone ( 1 ) is the methyl phenylsulfonylacetate‐mediated one‐pot synthesis of the cis‐cyclopropane‐γ‐lactone derivative. This reaction provided an efficient and stereoselective access to cis‐cyclopropane‐γ‐lactone 12 . Further elaboration of the latter compounds through desulfonylation, epoxidation, oxidation, Wittig olefination and Shiina macrolactonization afforded (?)‐hybridalactone.     

Dimerization of Dimethyl 2‐(Naphthalen‐1‐yl)cyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylate in the Presence of GaCl3 to [3+2], [3+3], [3+4], and Spiroannulation Products

In the presence of a catalytic amount of GaCl₃, dimethyl 2‐(naphthalen‐1‐yl)cyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylate 5 undergoes selective [3+2]‐annulation‐type dimerization to give a polysubstituted cyclopentane containing two naphthalenyl substituents in the vicinal position (Scheme 2). Treatment of the same cyclopropane with an equimolar amount of GaCl₃?THF results in dimerization with electrophilic attack on each of the benzene rings to give [3+3] and [3+4] annulation products. The latter represent a new type of dimerization of donor? acceptor cyclopropanes. Finally, under conditions of double catalysis with GaCl₃, 3,3,5,5‐tetrasubstituted 4,5‐dihydropyrazole, this cyclopropane‐dicarboxylate undergoes stereospecific dimerization as a result of electrophilic ipso‐attack to give a tetracyclic pentaleno[6a,1‐a]naphthalene derivative (Scheme 5). Possible reaction mechanisms are proposed.     

3,3,10,10‐Tetra­methyl‐1,2‐di­thia‐5,8‐di­aza­cyclo­deca‐4,8‐diene

The title compound, C₁₀H₁₈N₂S₂, acts as an important precursor for the synthesis of the pharmaceutically important di­amine­di­thiol ligand system. The mol­ecule has a local twofold axis and the arrangement of the S₂N₂ donor atoms in the macrocycle is anticlinal.     

Determination of the electron density in methyl (±)‐(1S,2S,3R)‐2‐methyl‐1,3‐diphenylcyclopropanecarboxylate using refinements with X‐ray scattering factors from wavefunction calculations of the whole molecule

The molecule of the title compound, C₁₈H₁₈O₂, is a substituted cyclopropane ring. The electron density in this molecule has been determined by refining single‐crystal X‐ray data using scattering factors derived from quantum mechanical calculations. Topological analysis of the electron densities in the three cyclopropane C—C bonds was carried out. The results show the effects of this substitution on these C—C bonds.     

Regioselective Synthesis of 3‐(Imidazol‐4‐yl) Indolin‐2‐Ones under Microwave Heating

A formal [3 + 2] cyclization reaction of 3‐(2‐oxo‐2‐arylethylidene)indolin‐2‐ones and amidines has been developed, regioselectively affording a series of new 3‐(imidazol‐4‐yl)indolin‐2‐ones in good to excellent yields. The reaction was easily conducted in ethylene glycol using Cs₂CO₃ as a base promoter under microwave irradiation. Flexible structural modification, and broad functional group compatibility as well as mild reaction conditions make this strategy a useful and attractive process of library generation for drug discovery.     

Aza‐Belluš‐Claisen Rearrangement‐Enabled Synthesis of Racemic Tapentadol and Its Stereoisomers

A concise synthesis of racemic Tapentadol and its stereoisomers was presented. The key step was a TiCl₄·THF₂‐catalzyed aza‐Belluš‐Claisen rearrangement to create two vicinal tertiary carbon stereogenic centers. The subsequent reduction of amide and hydrogenation of alkene delivered Tapentadol and its stereoisomers. The current approach offers a practical synthetic route to access this class of pharmaceutically significant molecules.     

Oxazoline‐Based Organocatalyst for Enantioselective Strecker Reactions: A Protocol for the Synthesis of Levamisole

A chiral oxazoline‐based organocatalyst has been found to efficiently catalyze asymmetric Strecker reactions of various aromatic and aliphatic N‐benzhydrylimines with trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) as a cyanide source at ?20 °C to give α‐aminonitriles in high yield (96 %) with excellent chiral induction (up to 98 % ee). DFT calculations have been performed to rationalize the enantioselective formation of the product with the organocatalyst in these reactions. The organocatalyst has been characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, as well as by other analytical methods. This protocol has been extended to the synthesis of the pharmaceutically important drug molecule levamisole in high yield and with high enantioselectivity.