Photocatalytic Difunctionalization of Vinyl Ureas by Radical Addition Polar Truce–Smiles Rearrangement Cascades

We report tandem alkyl-arylations and phosphonyl-arylations of vinyl ureas by way of a photocatalytic radical-polar crossover mechanism. Addition of photoredox-generated radicals to the alkene forms a new C−C or C−P bond and generates a product radical adjacent to the urea function. Reductive termination of the photocatalytic cycle generates an anion that undergoes a polar Truce–Smiles rearrangement, forming a C−C bond. The reaction is successful with a range of α-fluorinated alkyl sodium sulfinate salts and diarylphosphine oxides as radical precursors, and the conformationally accelerated Truce–Smiles rearrangement is not restricted by the electronic nature of the migrating aromatic ring. Formally the reaction constitutes an α,β-difuctionalisation of a carbon–carbon double bond, and proceeds under mild conditions with visible light and a readily available organic photocatalyst. The products are α,α-diaryl alkylureas typically functionalized with F or P substituents that may be readily converted into α,α-diaryl alkylamines.     

Photocatalytic Difunctionalization of Vinyl Ureas by Radical Addition Polar Truce–Smiles Rearrangement Cascades

We report tandem alkyl‐arylations and phosphonyl‐arylations of vinyl ureas by way of a photocatalytic radical‐polar crossover mechanism. Addition of photoredox‐generated radicals to the alkene forms a new C?C or C?P bond and generates a product radical adjacent to the urea function. Reductive termination of the photocatalytic cycle generates an anion that undergoes a polar Truce–Smiles rearrangement, forming a C?C bond. The reaction is successful with a range of α‐fluorinated alkyl sodium sulfinate salts and diarylphosphine oxides as radical precursors, and the conformationally accelerated Truce–Smiles rearrangement is not restricted by the electronic nature of the migrating aromatic ring. Formally the reaction constitutes an α,β‐difuctionalisation of a carbon–carbon double bond, and proceeds under mild conditions with visible light and a readily available organic photocatalyst. The products are α,α‐diaryl alkylureas typically functionalized with F or P substituents that may be readily converted into α,α‐diaryl alkylamines.     

Metal Free Bi(hetero)aryl Synthesis: A Benzyne Truce–Smiles Rearrangement

A new benzyne transformation is described that affords versatile biaryl structures without recourse to transition‐metal catalysis or stoichiometric amounts of organometallic building blocks. Aryl sulfonamides add to benzyne upon fluoride activation, and then undergo an aryl Truce–Smiles rearrangement to afford biaryls with sulfur dioxide extrusion. The reaction proceeds under simple reaction conditions and has excellent scope for the synthesis of sterically hindered atropisomeric biaryl amines.     

Medium‐Sized‐Ring Analogues of Dibenzodiazepines by a Conformationally Induced Smiles Ring Expansion

Analogues of dibenzodiazepines, in which the seven‐membered nitrogen heterocycle is replaced by a 9–12‐membered ring, were made by an unactivated Smiles rearrangement of five‐ to eight‐membered heterocyclic anthranilamides. The conformational preference of the tertiary amide in the starting material leads to intramolecular migration of a range of aryl rings, even those lacking electron‐withdrawing activating groups, and provides a method for n →n +4 ring expansion. The medium‐ring products adopt a chiral ground state with an intramolecular, transannular hydrogen bond. The rate of interconversion of their enantiomeric conformers depends on solvent polarity. Ring size and adjacent steric hindrance modulate this hidden hydrophilicity, thus making this scaffold a good candidate for drug development.     

Asymmetric Catalytic Formal 1,4‐Allylation of β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Ketoesters: Allylboration/Oxy‐Cope Rearrangement

A highly enantioselective formal conjugate allyl addition of allylboronic acids to β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters has been realized by employing a chiral Ni^II/N,N′‐dioxide complex as the catalyst. This transformation proceeds by an allylboration/oxy‐Cope rearrangement sequence, providing a facile and rapid route to γ‐allyl‐α‐ketoesters with moderate to good yields (65–92 %) and excellent ee values (90–99 % ee). The isolation of 1,2‐allylboration products provided insight into the mechanism of the subsequent oxy‐Cope rearrangement reaction: substrate‐induced chiral transfer and a chiral Lewis acid accelerated process. Based on the experimental investigations and DFT calculations, a rare boatlike transition‐state model is proposed as the origin of high chirality transfer during the oxy‐Cope rearrangement.     

Six-Step Continuous Flow Synthesis of Diclofenac Sodium via Cascade Etherification/Smiles Rearrangement Strategy: Tackling the Issues of Batch Processing

Diclofenac sodium is a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) as over-the-counter (OTC) medication for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Herein, the development of an intensified six-step continuous flow synthesis of diclofenac sodium from commercially available aniline and chloroacetic acid is described. A challenging and unprecedented etherification/Smiles rearrangement cascade of 2-chloro-N-phenylacetamide and 2,6-dichlorophenol into hydroxyacetyldiphenylamine operated with the precise control of reaction conditions in continuous flow was realized as the key step in this multistep synthetic chemistry. The undesired amide hydrolysis in Smiles rearrangement was addressed and the extra installation of N-chloroacetyl group in current industrial batch mode was avoided. Diclofenac sodium was obtained in 63 % isolated yield with an average yield of above 90 % for each step in a total residence time of 205 min.     

Tandem Insertion–[1,3]‐Rearrangement: Highly Enantioselective Construction of α‐Aminoketones

An enantioselective synthesis of α‐aminoketone derivatives were readily available through a tandem insertion–[1,3] O‐to‐C rearrangement reaction. The rhodium salt and chiral N,N′‐dioxide‐indium(III) complex make up relay catalysis, which enables the O?H insertion of benzylic alcohols to N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles, and asymmetric [1,3]‐rearrangement of amino enol ether intermediates, subsequently. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that the [1,3] O‐to‐C rearrangement step proceeded through an ion pair pathway.     

gem‐Difluoroolefination of Diaryl Ketones and Enolizable Aldehydes with Difluoromethyl 2‐Pyridyl Sulfone: New Insights into the Julia–Kocienski Reaction

The direct conversion of diaryl ketones and enolizable aliphatic aldehydes into gem‐difluoroalkenes has been a long‐standing challenge in organofluorine chemistry. Herein, we report efficient strategies to tackle this problem by using difluoromethyl 2‐pyridyl sulfone as a general gem‐difluoroolefination reagent. The gem‐difluoroolefination of diaryl ketones proceeds by acid‐promoted Smiles rearrangement of the carbinol intermediate; the gem‐difluoroolefination is otherwise difficult to achieve through a conventional Julia–Kocienski olefination protocol under basic conditions due to the retro‐aldol type decomposition of the key intermediate. Efficient gem‐difluoroolefination of aliphatic aldehydes was achieved by the use of an amide base generated in situ (from CsF and tris(trimethylsilyl)amine), which diminishes the undesired enolization of aliphatic aldehydes and provides a powerful synthetic method for chemoselective gem‐difluoroolefination of multi‐carbonyl compounds. Our results provide new insights into the mechanistic understanding of the classical Julia–Kocienski reaction.     

Studies on phenothiazines. Part 16 . Synthesis and spectral studies of substituted 1,2-dichlorophenothiazines

Synthesis of the title compounds by the Smiles rearrangement has been reported. 1,2-Dichloro-7-substituted phenothiazines have been prepared by the Smiles rearrangement of 3,4-dichloro-2-formamido-2′-nitro-4′-substituted-diphenyl sulphides. The latter were obtained by the formylation of the diphenyl sulphides obtained by the condensation of 2-amino-3,4-dichlorobenzenethiol with o-halogenonitrobenzenes. 9-Nitrophenothiazines have been prepared by the reaction of 2-amino-3,4-dichlorobenzenethiol with substituted o-halonitrobenzenes containing a nitro group at both ortho positions to the halo atom in which Smiles rearrangement occurs in situ. The ir, nmr and mass spectral studies are also included.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Regioselective C‐Benzylation via a Rearrangement Reaction: Access to Benzyl‐Substituted Anilines

An unprecedented C‐benzylation rearrangement reaction, catalyzed by palladium, is reported. The reaction proceeds by rearrangement leading to the direct synthesis of para or ortho benzyl‐substituted N‐methylanilines. The product is obtained in high regioselectivity, without the need to use a ligand for the catalytic process.     

Smiles rearrangements in a series of berberine analogues containing a secondary acetamide fragment

Smiles rearrangements occurring in the derivatives of the isoquinoline alkaloid, berberine, containing an oxyacetic acid fragment at C-9 are described. Methyl-2-(9-demethoxyberberinebromide-9-yl)oxyacetate reacts with an excess of propylamine followed by sequential aminolysis and Smiles rearrangement leading to 2-hydroxy-N-(berbero-9-yl)-N-propylacetamide in 80% yield. Reactions of berberrubine with secondary amides of bromoacetic acid via Smiles rearrangement give N-substituted 2-hydroxy-N-(berbero-9-yl)acetamides (yields 20–36%). In some cases, the intermediate secondary amides were isolated.     

Synthesis of polybenzamide–ureas from N-mesyloxyphthalimide and diamines

Novel polybenzamide-ureas have been synthesized by the polymerization of N-mesyloxyphthalimide with diamines in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone in the presence of acid acceptors. The polymerization probably proceeds through the formation of ring-opened adducts, followed by elimination and rearrangement yielding 2-isocyanatobenzamide derivatives, which were subsequently reacted to give polybenzamide-ureas. These polymers had inherent viscosities of 0.12–0.34 and were soluble in a wide range of solvents, including pyridine and m-cresol, as well as polar aprotic solvents. All of the polymers had low softing temperatures in the range of 140–260°C, and thermal analyses showed that marked decomposition of the polymers occurred at around 200–300°C, presumably forming quinazolinedione rings by intramolecular deamination.     

Studies on phenothiazines. Part 11. Synthesis and spectral studies of substituted 1-chloro/methyl/nitrophenothiazines

Synthesis of the title compounds by the Smiles rearrangement has been reported. 1-Nitrophenothiazines have been prepared by the reaction of 2-amino-3-chloro/methyl/methoxythiophenol with substituted o-halonitrobenzenes in ethanolic sodium hydroxide, in which Smiles rearrangement occurs in situ. 1-chloro/methyl-7-substituted phenothiazines have been prepared by Smiles rearrangement of 3-chloro/methyl-2-formamido-2′-nitro-4′-substituted diphenyl sulphides. The latter were prepared by the formylation of the diphenyl sulphides obtained by the condensation of 2-amino-3-chloro/methylthiophenols with substituted o-halogenonitrobenzenes in ethanolic sodium acetate. Spectral studies are also included.     

Transition-Metal-Free C2-Functionalization of Pyridines through Aryne Three-Component Coupling

The direct C2-functionalization of pyridines through a transition-metal-free protocol by using aryne multicomponent coupling is demonstrated. The reaction allowed a broad-scope synthesis of C2-substituted pyridine derivatives bearing the −CF₃ group in good yields with α,α,α-trifluoroacetophenones as the third component. Activated keto esters could also be employed as the third component in this formal 1,2-di(hetero)arylation of ketones. Performing the reaction under dilute conditions inhibited the competing pyridine–aryne polymerization pathway. Nucleophilic attack by the initially generated pyridylidene intermediate on the carbonyl followed by an S_NAr process resembling the Smiles rearrangement affords the desired products.     

Studies of transformations of 4-X-2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-2′-aminosubstituted diphenyl ethers in DMF

The rate of cyclization of pentafluoro- (1) and 4-Cl-2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-2-NHY-diphenyl ethers (2a, Y=Ac;2b, Y=H;2c, Y=Me) to form phenoxazines on refluxing in DMF increases with an increase in the nucleophilicity of the amino group. The cyclization of the N-acetyl derivative2a is followed by the Smiles rearrangement, whereas the transformation of ethers2b andc, containing free amino and N-methylamino groups, respectively, includes mainly an attack on the amino group at theortho-position of the fluorinated ring. In the case of ether2c, introduction of K₂CO₃ into the reaction mixture results in cyclization with the Smiles rearrangement.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1101–1105, June, 1993.     

Base‐Promoted C→N Acyl Rearrangement: An Unconventional Approach to α‐Amino Acid Derivatives

We have discovered that N‐alkyl aminomalonates undergo a fast and selective intramolecular C→N acyl rearrangement reaction in the presence of a strong base, leading to N‐protected glycinates in excellent yield. Moreover, the fact that the reaction proceeds through a nucleophilic enolate intermediate has been used for implementing a tandem rearrangement/alkylation sequence that has been applied to the preparation of synthetically relevant nonproteinogenic tertiary and quaternary N‐alkyl α‐amino acids in a very simple and reliable way.     

O-arylative Passerini reactions

The three-component addition of isocyanides to phenol derivatives and aldehydes proceeds easily in methanol to form O-arylated compounds in a new Passerini-type reaction. The key step of the conversion lies in an irreversible Smiles rearrangement of intermediate phenoxyimidate adducts. It represents the first use of a Smiles rearrangement in a Passerini reaction. [reaction: see text]     

Synthesis of polypyrimidoquinazolinetetraones from N,N′-bis(mesyloxy)pyromellitimide and aromatic diamines

A novel class of polypyrimidoquinazolinetetraones was synthesized by the polymerization of N,N′-bis(mesyloxy)pyromellitimide with aromatic diamines in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone in the presence of triethylamine as an acid acceptor. The polymerization proceeded probably through the formation of ring-opened adducts, followed by elimination and rearrangement yielding polyamide-isocyanates, which in turn were cyclized to give polypyrimidoquinazolinetetraones. These polymers, which were soluble in strong acids, had inherent viscosities in the range of 0.17–0.27. Thermogravimetric analyses indicated that they began to decompose at around 450°C in air.     

Studies on phenothiazines. Part 7. Synthesis of 3-substituted 2-aminobenzenethiols and their conversion into phenothiazines

Synthesis of substituted 1-nitrophenothiazines is reported by the Smiles rearrangement in situ, which involves condensation of 3-chloro or methyl-2-aminobenzenethiol with o-halonitrobenzenes (2,4,6-trinitochloro-benzene, 1,4-dichloro-2,6-dinitrobenzene, 2,4,6-tribromo-1,3-dinitrobenzene) in the presence of ethanolic sodium hydroxide. Ir and mass spectral studies are included.     

Generation and Rearrangement of N,O‐Dialkenylhydroxylamines for the Synthesis of 2‐Aminotetrahydrofurans

A new diastereoselective route to 2‐aminotetrahydrofurans has been developed from N,O‐dialkenylhydroxylamines. These intermediates undergo a spontaneous C?C bond‐forming [3,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement followed by a C?O bond‐forming cyclization. A copper‐catalyzed N‐alkenylation of an N‐Boc‐hydroxylamine with alkenyl iodides, and a base‐promoted addition of the resulting N‐hydroxyenamines to an electron‐deficient allene, provide modular access to these novel rearrangement precursors. The scope of this de novo synthesis of simple nucleoside analogues has been explored to reveal trends in diastereoselectivity and reactivity. In addition, a base‐promoted ring‐opening and Mannich reaction has been discovered to covert 2‐aminotetrahydrofurans to cyclopentyl β‐aminoacid derivatives or cyclopentenones.