Ophiuroidine, the first indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline alkaloid from the Caribbean brittle star Ophiocoma riisei

A new indoloquinazoline alkaloid, ophiuroidine 1, having an indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,12-dione skeleton, was isolated from the Caribbean ophiuroid, Ophiocoma riisei. The structure of 1 was determined as 4,8,9-trihydroxyindolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,12-dione from spectroscopic data. Ophiuroidine 1 is the first example of an indoloquinazoline alkaloid found in a marine invertebrate.     

Syntheses of the marine alkaloids 6-oxofascaplysin,fascaplysin and their derivatives

A simple approach towards the pyrido[1,2-a:3,4-b′]diindole system via the reaction of indigo with methylene active compounds was used for the syntheses of the marine alkaloids 6-oxofascaplysin, fascaplysin, and their derivatives. It was also demonstrated that the reaction with ketones led to indigo decomposition and the formation of isatin derivatives. The derivative of fascaplysin with a phenyl substituent at C-7 demonstrated 2–3 times greater inhibitory activity against selected cancer cell lines than fascaplysin.     

The first syntheses of 3-bromofascaplysin, 10-bromofascaplysin and 3,10-dibromofascaplysin—marine alkaloids from Fascaplysinopsis reticulata and Didemnum sp. by application of a simple and effective approach to the pyrido[1,2-a:3,4-b′]diindole system

A simple and practical approach for the synthesis of the marine sponge pigment fascaplysin was used for the total syntheses of its natural derivatives, the marine alkaloids 3-bromofascaplysin, 10-bromofascaplysin, and 3,10-dibromofascaplysin. The conditions of each step were revised, and as a result these compounds were produced by identical procedures with total yields of 40-43%.     

A novel synthetic route for the total synthesis of (±)-uleine

In this study, a new synthetic route for the total synthesis of (±)-uleine is described. The important step in the synthesis of this alkaloid consists of an intramolecular cyclization of the D ring of the azocino[4,3-b]indole skeleton. Reduction of (N-methyl){3-β-ethyl-4-oxo-2,3,4,9-tetrahydrospiro[1H-carbazole-1,2′(1,3)dithiolane]-2-yl}-2-acetamide with borane yielded the corresponding (N-methyl){3-β-ethyl-4-hydroxy-2,3,4,9-tetrahydrospiro[1H-carbazole-1,2′(1,3)dithiolane]-2-yl}-2-acetamide, which underwent acid-catalyzed ring closure to produce azocino[4,3-b]indole core. Finally, the synthesis of (±)-uleine was completed through several steps from the azocino[4,3-b]indole core.     

Galanthamine analogs: 6H-benzofuro[3a,3,2,-e,f][1]benzazepine and 6H-benzofuro[3a,3,2-e,f][3]benzazepine

The known cholinesterase inhibitory capability of the Amarylidaceae alkaloid galanthamine prompted preparation of analogs in which the position of the nitrogen within the azepine ring is altered. The analogs 6H-benzofuro[3a,3,2-e,f][1]benzazepine and 6H-benzofuro[3a,3,2-e,f][3]benzazepine were prepared in 19 and 2.5%, respectively, following Kametani and Shimizu approaches, respectively. The aniline derivative 6H-benzofuro[3a,3,2-e,f][1]benzazepine failed to undergo most of the reactions typical for galanthamine. Thus, it neither oxidized to the analogous narwedine, nor epimerized to the analogous epigalanthamine, nor reduced to the lycoramine analog, under the conditions used for galanthamine.     

Facile preparation of cyclopropanes from 2-iodoethyl-substituted olefins and 1,3-dihalopropanes with zinc powder

Two efficient, simple, cheap, and environmentally benign preparations of cyclopropanes were achieved. One is the formation via 3-exo-trig manner from various electron-deficient 2-iodoethyl-substituted olefins with zinc powder in a mixture of t-butyl alcohol and water, and the other is the formation via 3-exo-tet manner from various 1,3-dihalopropanes with zinc powder in ethanol.     

Spironaamidine, a new spiroquinone-containing alkaloid from the marine sponge Leucetta microraphis

Spironaamidine (1), a unique spiroquinone-containing alkaloid, was isolated from the marine sponge, Leucetta microraphis, along with two known imidazole alkaloids, naamidine H (2) and (9E)-clathridine 9-N-(2-sulfoethyl)imine (3). Spironaamidine (1) showed antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus.     

6-endo Versus 5-exo radical cyclization: streamlined syntheses of carbahexopyranoses and derivatives by 6-endo-trig radical cyclization

Three factors that can direct 6-endo radical cyclization over 5-exo ring closure: substitution at C-5, vinyl radical cyclization and ring strain, have been considered in the context of the preparation of carbapyranoses from carbohydrate derivatives. As a result, alkyl radicals in substrates containing a strain inducing 2,3-O-isopropylidene ring, and vinyl radical in non-strained compounds undergo a completely regioselective 6-endo-trig ring closure leading to carbasugar derivatives.     

Intramolecular 4+2 cycloaddition of thieno[2,3-e][1,2,4]triazines: routes towards condensed thieno[2,3-b]pyridines

Synthetic approaches towards new condensed thienopyridine ring systems including furo[2,3-b]thieno[3,2-e]pyridines, bisthieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-e]pyridines, 5H-chromeno[2,3-b]thieno[3,2-e]pyridines, 5H-benzo(f)chromeno[2,3-b]thieno[3,2-e]pyridines have been achieved by application of intramolecular 4+2 cycloaddition reactions of suitably designed thieno[2,3-e][1,2,4]triazines tethered with alkene or alkyne terminals.     

Facile synthesis of regio-isomeric naphthofurans and benzodifurans

Naphtho[1,2-b]furans 1a-f, naphtho[2,1-b]furans 2a-f, benzo[1,2-b:5,4-b′]difurans 3a-b, benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]difurans 4a-b, and benzo[1,2-b:4,3-b′]difurans 5a-b were synthesized by base-catalyzed cyclization reaction of the corresponding o-alkoxybenzoylarene derivatives. The o-alkoxybenzoylarenes were obtained from the etherification reaction of the o-hydroxybenzoylarenes, which were prepared either by the reaction of methoxyarenes with benzoyl chloride in the presence of aluminum chloride or by photo-Fries rearrangement of aryl benzoates.     

New use of bis(benzotriazolyl)-1,2-(dialkylamino)ethanes for the synthesis of 2-H-3-dialkylamino imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine derivatives

First direct synthesis of 2-H-3-N-dialkyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazines is described. This approach makes use of accessible substituted pyrazines and the assistance of benzotriazole. In such a manner we accomplished the introduction of cyclic amines at C-3 of the scaffold in a convenient formal cyclisation procedure. Detailed examples and utility of this approach are presented herein.     

Synthesis of granulatimide bis-imide analogues

The synthesis of dipyrrolo[3,4-a:3,4-c]carbazole-1,3,4,6-tetraones, structurally related to granulatimide is reported. These compounds can be considered as granulatimide analogues in which a maleimide heterocycle replaces the imidazole moiety. The synthesis of pyridino[2,3-b]dipyrrolo[3,4-e:3,4-g]indole-1,3,4,6-tetraones is also reported. In these compounds, a 7-azaindole unit replaces the indole moiety present in the granulatimide and isogranulatimide structures.     

Palladium-mediated C-N, C-C, and C-O functionalization of azolopyrimidines: a new total synthesis of variolin B

A new total synthesis of the alkaloid variolin B is achieved by a selective and sequential palladium-mediated functionalization of a trihalo-substituted pyrido[3′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine. This intermediate is obtained by a new heterocyclization reaction between an appropriate bromomethyl azaindole and N-tosylmethyl dichloroformimide. The methodology may be effective for the synthesis of some analogs by substitution on the relatively unexplored C4 and C9 positions of the alkaloid.     

Zyzzyanone A, a novel pyrrolo[3,2-f]indole alkaloid from the Australian marine sponge Zyzzya fuliginosa

A new dipyrroloquinone, zyzzyanone A 1, having a pyrrolo[3,2-f]indole-4,8(1H,7H)-dione skeleton, was isolated from the Australian marine sponge Zyzzya fuliginosa, along with the known pyrroloquinoline alkaloids, makaluvamines C, E, G, H, and L, and damirones A and B. The structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic data. Zyzzyanone A 1 shows moderate cytotoxic activity against mouse Ehrlich carcinoma cells (IC₅₀ 25 μg/mL), inhibits the cell division of fertilized sea urchin eggs at a concentration of 25 μg/mL, and exhibits UV-A and UV-B absorbing activity.     

Synthesis of novel dipyrazolo[3,4-b:3,4-d]pyridines and study of their fluorescence behavior

A convenient route was successfully developed for the synthesis of novel heterocycles such as pyrazolo[3,4-h][1,6]naphthyridine and dipyrazolo[3,4-b:3,4-d]pyridine (DPP) from pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine in good yield. The DPP derivatives synthesized were further studied for their fluorescence properties.     

Studies on uracils: a facile one-pot synthesis of oxazino[4,5-d]-, pyrano[2,3-d]-, pyrido[2,3-d]- and pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidines using microwave irradiation in the solid state

N,N-Dimethyl-5-formylbarbituric acid 1 reacts with maleimide 2 and phenyl isocyanate/phenyl isothiocyanate 4 under microwave-assisted conditions in the solid phase to afford pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidines 3 and oxazino[4,5-d]pyrimidines 5 in excellent yields. Under identical conditions, N,N-dimethyl-6-amino-5-formyluracil 6 reacts with 2 and 4 to give pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivative 7 and pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidines 8 in high yields.     

Grignard reagent-promoted 6-endo-dig cyclization: instantaneous synthesis of original dipyrido[1,2-a:3′,4′-d]imidazole

Dipyrido[1,2-a:3′,4′-d]imidazole derivatives can be readily synthetized from various 3-alkyne-2-cyanoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via an efficient Grignard reagent-promoted 6-endo-dig cyclization of nitrile to alkynes. A previous optimization of the Sonogashira coupling reaction at C(3) of the 2-cyanoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine was necessary as this coupling reaction is known to be largely influenced by the nature of the 2-substituent.     

Efficient palladium-mediated or base-induced 5-endo-dig cyclisation of C5-alkynylated pyrimidine derivatives: conventional and microwave-assisted synthesis of novel furo[2,3-d]pyrimidines

A series of the novel 5-alkynyl- and furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives in which the sugar moiety is replaced by a methoxymethyl (MOM) group is synthesised using the Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction under both conventional and microwave conditions, in good to excellent yields. The 5-endo-dig cyclisation of 5-alkynylpyrimidine derivatives promoted by a Pd-catalyst or base gives the corresponding furo[2,3-d]pyrimidines in good yields.     

Gold-catalyzed cyclization of 1-alkynyl cyclopropyl tert-butyl carbonate to construct multifunctionalized vinyl cyclopropane derivatives

A convenient new method was developed to prepare two types of vinyl cyclopropane derivatives through gold-catalyzed cyclization of 1-alkynyl cyclopropyl tert-butyl carbonates 2. Different from the previous reported 5-exo-dig route, the 6-endo-dig addition is the preferred pathway to provide six-membered cyclized carbonates. Two factors, including stereoelectronic effect and steric effect might affect the regioselectivity. Therefore, low steric aliphatic substrates afforded only six-membered isomers. The synthetic utility of compound 3 was also explored to afford a series of β-carbonyl cyclopropanol derivatives.     

A novel and efficient synthesis of pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,4,7-trione and pyrido[2,3-d:6,5-d] dipyrimidine-2,4,6,8-tetrone derivatives

An efficient and direct procedure for the synthesis of pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,4,7-trione derivatives has been described under microwave-assisted conditions. Reaction of 6-amino-1,3-dimethyluracil with aromatic aldehydes resulted in the formation of pyrido[2,3-d:6,5-d] dipyrimidine-2,4,6,8-tetrone derivatives.