Preparation of 1‐substituted‐5‐[(2‐oxo‐2‐phenyl)ethyl]imidazoles

New high yield preparation methods were developed for the pharmaceutically interesting compounds, 1‐benzyl‐, 1‐methyl‐, and 1H‐5‐[(2‐oxo‐2‐phenyl)ethyl]imidazoles 1a‐c , respectively. The title compounds were synthesized by four different methods using various starting materials. Two of the methods involved transformation reactions of the key intermediates, 1‐substituted‐5‐[(2‐nitro‐2‐phenyl)ethenyl]imidazoles 2a‐c and 1‐substituted‐5‐[(2‐nitro‐2‐phenyl)ethyl]imidazoles 3a‐c , while the other two utilized the oxidation of 1‐substituted‐5‐[(2‐hydroxy‐2‐phenyl)ethyl]imidazoles 4a‐c , with chromic oxide, and the umpolung reaction of benzaldehyde followed by a condensation reaction of the umpolung intermediate with imidazolecarboxaldehydes 6a‐c.     

First synthesis of 2‐(2,4,4‐trimethyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[h]chromen‐2‐yl)‐1‐naphthol and 3‐(2,4,4‐trimethyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[g]chromen‐2‐yl)‐2‐naphthol from 1‐ and 2‐naphthol derivatives

Two new structurally isomeric, 2‐(2,4,4‐trimethyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[h]chromen‐2‐yl)‐1‐naphthol ( 1 ) and 3‐(2,4,4‐trimethyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[g]chromen‐2‐yl)‐2‐naphthol ( 3 ) have been synthesized from 2‐acetyl‐1‐naphthol and ethyl‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthoate, respectively, involving Grignard reaction, dehydration of the corresponding tertiary alcohols, and hetero Diels–Alder dimerization. The two benzochromenes ( 1 and 3 ) have been fully characterized by IR, NMR, and HRESIMS data. Their structures are further supported by crystallography of their corresponding acetates ( 2 and 4 ). J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Catalytic Asymmetric Michael Reaction of 5H‐Oxazol‐4‐Ones with α,β‐Unsaturated Acyl Imidazoles

The asymmetric Michael reaction between 5H‐oxazol‐4‐ones and α,β‐unsaturated acyl imidazoles is reported. A novel 2‐benzo[b]thiophenyl‐modified chiral ProPhenol species is synthesized and used as a ligand, leading to good enantioselectivities in this asymmetric conjugate addition reaction. Furthermore, the introduction of phenol additives as achiral co‐ligands is found to improve the reaction’s chemical yields, diastereoselectivities, and enantioselectivities.     

Facile synthesis of new imidazoles from direct reaction of 2,3‐diamino‐1,4‐naphthoquinone with aldehydes

New imidazoles were easily prepared from 2,3‐diamino‐1,4‐naphthoquinone and stoichiometric quantities of the appropriate aldehydes in dimethyl sulfoxide as a solvent. The reaction proceeded for few hours. The procedure can be generalized to different classes of aldehydes. 2‐Methyl‐1H‐naphtho[2,3‐d]imidazole‐4,9‐dione was also obtained in good yield during refluxing of 2,3‐diaminonaphthoquinone in acetic acid. The structure of the newly synthesized imidazoles was extensively investigated using NMR experiments. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

A Convenient Synthesis of 1,2,4‐ and 1,3,4‐Azadiphospholes

A new synthetic route to functionalized neutral and anionic azadiphospholes from easily accessible starting materials is described. Equimolar reaction of Na(OCP) and N‐(2,6‐dimethylphenyl)pivalimidoyl chloride 2 a cleanly affords the imidoxy‐functionalized 1,2,4‐azadiphosphole 3 a . Using Na(OCP) and imidoyl chloride in a 2:1 ratio leads to an anionic four‐membered ring Na[ 4 a ], which has been structurally characterized. During 16 h at room temperature, Na[ 4 a ] rearranges to the anionic 1,3,4‐azadiphospholide Na[ 5 a ] with release of carbon monoxide. Applying the more sterically demanding N‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)pivalimidoyl chloride allows isolation of the 1,3,4‐azadiphospholide Na[ 5 b ] in good yield (>70 %). Possible mechanisms leading to the new isomeric azadiphospholides have been investigated with the aid of high‐level composite calculations.     

Hetaryl‐1,5 Benzodiazepines—Part I: Synthesis of 3‐pyrimidinyl‐ and Imidazolyl‐1,5‐benzodiazepines

Nucleophilic substitution of 3‐bromo‐4‐phenyl‐1H‐[1,5]benzodiazepin‐2‐one ( 1 ) with thiourea or guanidine in presence of potassium carbonate afforded 1,5‐benzodiazepin‐3‐ylimidothiocarbamate 2 or 1,5‐benzodiazepin‐3‐ylguanidine 3 , respectively. Pyrimidylthiobenzodiazepines 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 were obtained via the reaction of compound 2 with malononitrile dimer, diethyl malonate, methylenemalononitriles, or a mixture of an aldehyde and β‐keto esters or acetylacetone, catalyzed using ceric ammonium nitrate. Reaction of compound 2 or 3 with α‐halo esters, nitriles, and/or ketones afforded imidazoles 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , respectively.     

Rh(III)‐Catalyzed Denitrogenative [4+2] Annulation of Benzamides and 3‐Diazoindolin‐2‐imines: Expedient Access to Indolo[2,3‐c] isoquinolin‐5‐ones

An effective and pragmatic strategy for the synthesis of structurally diverse indolo[2,3‐c]isoquinolin‐5‐ones has been developed via a Rh(III)‐catalyzed C?H activation and [4+2] annulation reaction of N‐methoxybenzamides and 3‐diazoindolin‐2‐imines. The reaction involves the efficient formation of two new (one C?C and one C?N) bonds under operationally simple conditions and has the benefits of a broad substrate scope.     

Facile Synthesis of Spirooxindole‐Cyclohexenes via Phosphine‐Catalyzed [4 + 2] Annulation of α‐Substituted Allenoates

A phosphine‐catalyzed [4 + 2] annulation of α ‐substituted allenoate with exocyclic alkene moiety of oxindoles or indan‐1,3‐diones has been developed. Thus, under the catalysis of PPh₃ (20 mol%), a series of spirooxindole‐ or spiroindan‐1,3‐dione‐cyclohexenes have been obtained in moderate to excellent yields and regioselectivity from the annulations of α ‐methyl allenoates with 3‐methyleneoxindoles or 2‐methyleneindan‐1,3‐diones. This method offers an easy access to structurally novel spirocyclohexenes.     

RhII‐Catalyzed [3+2] Cycloaddition of 2 H‐Azirines with N‐Sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐Triazoles

Rh^II‐catalyzed intermolecular [3+2] cycloaddition of 2 H‐azirines with N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles is disclosed, in which a series of fully functionalized pyrroles is produced via rhodium azavinyl carbene intermediates. A distinct feature of this reaction is that the azavinyl carbene serves as a [2 C] equivalent, instead of as [1 C] or aza‐[3 C] synthons, which have been reported previously in cyclopropanations and [3+n] cycloadditions. Moreover, this methodology has also been successfully applied in the total synthesis of URB447 as well as the formal synthesis of Atorvastatin (Lipitor).     

Thermolytic ring closure reactions of 4‐azido‐3‐phenylsulfanyl‐and 4‐azido‐3‐phenylsulfonyl‐2‐quinolones to 12H‐quinolino‐[3,4‐b][1,4]benzothiazin‐6(5H)‐ones

4‐Hydroxy‐3‐phenylsulfanyl‐2‐quinolones 2 and 4‐hydroxy‐3‐sulfonyl‐2‐quinolones 7 , which are readily accessible from 4‐hydroxy‐2‐quinolones 1 and diphenyldisulfide or thiophenol, can be converted to 4‐azido‐3‐phenylsulfanyl‐2‐quinolones 10 or 4‐azido‐3‐phenylsulfonyl‐2‐quinolones 12 via 4‐chloro‐3‐phenylsul‐fanyl‐2‐quinolones 5 or 4‐chloro‐3‐phenylsulfonyl‐2‐quinolones 9 , respectively. Thermolysis of the azides 10 and 12 results in a cyclization reaction to give quinolino[3,4‐b][1,4]benzothiazinone 11 and quino‐lino[3,4‐b][1,4]benzothiazinone dioxides 13 , respectively. The conditions for thermolysis have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).     

Polycyclic N‐Heterocyclic Compounds. Part 78: Synthesis of N‐[2‐([1,2,4]Oxadiazol‐5‐yl)cyclohepten‐1‐yl]formamide Oximes and Their Evaluation as Inhibitors of Platelet Aggregation

N‐[2‐([1,2,4]Oxadiazol‐5‐yl)cyclohepten‐1‐yl]formamide oximes were synthesized by fusion of (6,7,8,9‐tetrahydro‐5H‐cyclohepta[1,2‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐yl)amidines with hydroxylamine hydrochloride through a subsequent rearrangement reaction. Effects of the products as well as the structurally related N‐[4‐([1,2,4]oxadiazol‐5‐yl)‐2,3‐dihydro[1]benzoxepin‐5‐yl]formamide oximes and N‐[4‐([1,2,4]oxadiazol‐5‐yl)‐2,3‐dihydro[1]benzothiepin‐5‐yl]formamide oximes on platelet aggregation were evaluated.     

Syntheses of New Unsymmetrical 2,5‐Disubstituted‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles and 1,2,4‐Triazolo[3,4‐b]‐1,3,4‐thiadiazoles Bearing Thieno[2,3‐c]pyrazolo Moiety

New series of (thieno[2,3‐c]pyrazolo‐5‐yl)‐[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles 10a , 10b , 10c and (thieno[2,3‐c]pyrazol‐5‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐3(2H)‐yl)ethanones 6a , 6b , 6c has been synthesized from thieno[2,3‐c]pyrazole‐5‐carbohydrazide 3 by multistep reaction sequence. (5‐Aryl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl)‐1H‐thieno[2,3‐c]pyrazoles 4a , 4b , 4c were also synthesized from thieno[2,3‐c]pyrazole‐5‐carbohydrazide 3 by cyclization with various aromatic carboxylic acids. The hydrazide 3 was obtained by reaction of thieno[2,3‐c]pyrazole‐5‐carboxylate 2 with hydrazine hydrate in good yield, and compound 2 was obtained by the reaction of 5‐chloro‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐4‐carbaldehyde 1 and 2‐ethyl thioglycolate in presence of sodium alcoholate in good yield.     

Synthesis of 1,3‐Dihydro‐3‐oxo‐2‐benzofuran‐1‐carboxylates via Intramolecular Cyclization of 2‐[2‐(Dimethoxymethyl)phenyl]‐ 2‐hydroxyalkanoates Followed by Oxidation

A novel and efficient method for the preparation of 1,3‐dihydro‐3‐oxo‐2‐benzofuran‐1‐carboxylates 4 under mild conditions has been developed. Thus, the reaction of [2‐(dimethoxymethyl)phenyl]lithiums, generated easily from 1‐bromo‐2‐(dimethoxymethyl)benzenes 1 , with α‐keto esters gives the corresponding 2‐[2‐(dimethoxymethyl)phenyl]‐2‐hydroxyalkanoates 2 . The TsOH‐catalyzed cyclization of these hydroxy acetals is followed by the oxidation of the resulting cyclic acetals 3 with PCC to give the desired products in satisfactory yields. The reaction of [2‐(dimethoxymethyl)‐4,5‐dimethoxyphenyl]lithium with (MeOC?O)₂, followed by treatment with NaBH₄ or organolithiums, affords 2‐[2‐(dimethoxymethyl)‐4,5‐dimethoxyphenyl]‐2‐hydroxyalkanoates 6 , which can similarly be transformed into the corresponding 1,3‐dihydro‐3‐oxo‐2‐benzofuran‐1‐carboxylates 7 in reasonable yields.     

Synthesis of New tert‐Butyl‐ and Bromo‐functionalized [1,2,4]Triazino [5,6‐b]indole‐3‐thiols and Indolo[2,3‐b]quinoxalines

In the present investigation, the synthesis of a series of structurally new and interesting tert‐butyl‐ and bromo‐functionalized [1,2,4]triazino[5,6‐b ]indoles ( 6a – f ) and indolo[2,3‐b ]quinoxalines ( 8a – f ) has been achieved, involving the condensation reaction of 7‐bromo‐5‐tert‐butylisatins ( 4a – f ) with thiosemicarbazide ( 5 ) and benzene‐1,2‐diamine ( 7 ). The substrates 4a – f were prepared through bromination reaction of 5‐tert‐butylisatin ( 3 ) with NBS in PEG‐400 followed by alkylation reaction. The molecular structures of these newly synthesized compounds were elucidated on the basis of their elemental analyses and spectral data.     

Imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazoles,imidazo[2,1‐b]imidazoles and Pyrrolo[1,2‐c]imidazoles. synthesis,structure and evaluation of benzodiazepine receptor binding

As a continuation of our studies on bicyclic heterocycles with benzodiazepine receptor affinity, derivatives with a 5:5 bicyclic skeleton, namely imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazoles, imidazo[2,1‐b]imidazoles and pyrrolo[1,2‐c]imidazoles were prepared. The compounds possessed an aromatic substituent with different spatial arrangement and distance to the bicyclic skeleton. X‐ray structure analysis was performed for Z‐2‐(4‐chlorobenzylidene)‐5,5‐diphenyl‐2,3,5,6‐tetrahydroimidazo[2,1‐b]imidazoline‐3,6‐dione ( 6a ) and 5‐amino‐6‐cyano‐7‐phenyl‐1‐oxo‐3‐thioxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrolo[1,2‐c]imidazole ( 20a ). In contrast to the previously described arylideneimidazo[2,1‐b]thiazepinones the smaller heterocyclic ring systems investigated in this study were devoid of meaningful benzodiazepine receptor affinity as well as anti‐convulsant activity.     

Silver‐Catalyzed Isocyanide–Isocyanide [3+2] Cross‐Cycloaddition Involving 1,2‐Group Migration: Efficient Synthesis of Trisubstituted lmidazoles

Imidazole ring is an important five‐membered aromatic heterocycle that is widely present in natural products and synthetic molecules. The isocyanide–isocyanide [3+2] cross‐cycloaddition reaction constitutes a straightforward method to access imidazoles starting from the easily available chemicals. So far, only three successive reports are known and all lead to the formation of 1,4‐disubstituted imidazoles. Here, we report the first isocyanide–isocyanide [3+2] cross‐cycloaddition reaction allowing for the formation of 1,4,5‐trisubstituted imidazoles under silver catalysis. An unexpected 1,2‐migration of sulfonyl, alkoxycaybonyl, and carbamoyl groups took place during the cyclization process that is responsible for the formation of trisubstituted imidazoles. This report displayed a mechanistically novel synthetic method toward a variety of imidazole derivatives, which are otherwise difficult to access by conventional methods.     

Heterocyclization reaction of 2‐(2‐methylaziridin‐1‐yl)‐3‐ureidopyridines under appel's conditions

The reaction of 2‐(2‐methylaziridin‐1‐yl)‐3‐ureidopyridines 12 with triphenylphosphine, carbon tetra‐chloride, and triethylamine (Appel's conditions) led to the corresponding carbodiimides 13 , which underwent intramolecular cycloaddition reaction with aziridine under the reaction conditions to give the pyridine‐fused heterocycles, 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazo[2′,3′:2,3]imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridines 16 and 12,13‐dihydro‐5H‐1,3 ‐benzodiazepino [2′,3′:2,3] imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridines 17 .     

A series of 1‐[2‐aryl‐1‐diazenyl]‐3‐({3‐[2‐aryl‐1‐diazenyl]perhydrobenzo[d]imidazol‐1‐yl}methyl)perhydrobenzo[d]imidazoles. Synthesis and characterization

Reaction of diazonium salts with solutions of 1,2‐diaminocyclohexane mixed with formaldehyde affords the 1‐[2‐aryl‐1‐diazenyl]‐3‐({3‐[2‐aryl‐1‐diazenyl]perhydrobenzo[d]imidazol‐1‐yl}methyl)perhydrobenzo‐[d]imidazoles ( 6 ), a new series of bis‐triazenes with different connectivity than any previous type of bis‐triazene reported. The products have been characterized principally by NMR and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and unequivocally by X‐ray crystallography. The methylene protons of the perhydroimidazole rings are diastereotopic giving rise to a doublet of doublets pattern in the ¹H NMR spectra. However, detailed analysis of the NMR spectra shows that there is more than one set of doublet‐of‐doublet signals, suggesting the presence of different rotameric forms of the products. The ¹³C NMR spectral assignments were assisted by COSY and DEPT experiments with selected compounds.     

Photoreactive main‐chain liquid‐crystalline polyesters: Synthesis,characterization, and photochemistry

Three series of semiflexible and rigid main‐chain polyesters containing photoreactive mesogenic units derived from p‐phenylenediacrylic acid (PDA) and cinnamic acid have been synthesized by high‐temperature polycondensation. The thermal and mesomorphic properties of the polymers have been determined. The photochemical behavior of polymer P‐[1]‐T, which contains a PDA unit, has been studied both in solution and in films. In solution, [2+2] photocycloaddition, E/Z photoisomerization, and photo‐Fries rearrangement can take place. In contrast, the dominant process in spin‐coated films is the [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction, which causes crosslinking of the polymer. In films, the photochemistry and induction of anisotropy are strongly influenced by the aggregation of the PDA phenylester unit. A dichroism of about 0.2 has been induced in films by irradiation with linearly polarized UV light, and thus the capability of these films to induce optical anisotropy and align liquid crystals has been demonstrated. Liquid‐crystalline cells have been made with polarized irradiated films of P‐[1]‐T as aligning layers. A commercial liquid‐crystalline mixture has been used for this study, and a similar liquid‐crystalline order determined by polarized Fourier transform infrared to a commercial cell with rubbed polyimide as an aligning layer has been detected. Because of crosslinking of the irradiated P‐[1]‐T photoaligning layer, the photoinduced anisotropy is stable at high temperatures, and the liquid‐crystalline molecules are insoluble in the irradiated polymer. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4907–4921, 2005     

Synthesis of nitrogen‐containing heterocycles 10. Reaction of 2‐amino‐1h‐imidazole derivatives with ethoxymethylene compounds

The direct annelation reaction of 4‐substituted 2‐amino‐l‐benzylideneamino‐1H‐imidazoles ( 1 ) or 2‐amino‐1‐isopropylideneamino‐1H‐imidazole ( 8 ) with ethoxymethylenemalononitrile ( I ) gave successfully bicyclic imidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidine compounds 2 and 9 in high yields. The reactions of other ethoxymethylene compounds of lower reactivity, i.e., ethyl ethoxymethylenecyanoacetate ( II ) and diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate ( III ), with 2‐amino‐1H‐imidazoles under similar conditions afforded the corresponding enamines 3, 4 and 10 , which, upon heating in the presence of an acid or a base, could readily be cyclized to form imidazopyrimidines except for 1‐isopropylideneamino compound 10 . In general, the 3‐phenyl compounds ( 3b and 4b ) did not cyclize to the type 2 compound resulting in a full recovery of the starting enamines.