Synthesis of dihydrobenzoimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines

A one-pot protocol toward several substituted 5,6-dihydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines 1 starting with 2-allylbenzaldehydes 2 was described. The process was carried out the one-pot condensation/hydroamination reaction of substituted 2-allylbenzaldehydes 2 with 1,2-diaminobenzenes 3 in refluxing toluene in good yields. Skeleton 2 was prepared via one-pot ortho-metalative PhBCl₂-mediated double alkylation of hydroxybenzaldehyde 4 with LDA in moderate yields.     

A one-pot conversion of ortho-alkynyl benzaldehydes into indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines

The conversion of readily available 2-halobenzaldehydes into indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines in two operations represents a very direct entry to this class of molecules.     

The synthesis of indolo- and pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines

The synthesis of fused isoquinolines from N-benzyl protected indoles and pyrroles is described. For example, treatment of t-butyl-2-(2-formyl-3,4-dihydro-1-naphthalenyl)-3-methyl-1H-indole-1-carboxylate with KOBu^t in DMF provided 14-methyl-8-phenylbenzo[h]indolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline in good yield. Analogous N-benzylpyrrole precursors could similarly be cyclized to give pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines.     

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.     

Synthesis of substituted benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and its condensed analogues using Pd(0)-catalyzed cyclization/C-H activation

An efficient route for the synthesis of benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and its condensed analogues has been developed via the palladium-catalyzed cyclization/C-H activation of N-allyl and N-methallyl derivatives of benzimidazoles.     

One pot synthesis of imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles and benzo[d]thiazolo[3,2-a]imidazoles

A series of imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole and benzo[d]thiazolo[3,2-a]imidazole analogues were synthesized by stirring an equimolar mixture of dibenzoylacetylene with imidazole/thiazole derivatives in toluene or acetonitrile at room temperature. The products were generated in good yields and characterized by standard analytical techniques such as IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectrometry. The structure of products 19, 20, 22, 24 and 25 were also unambiguously confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis.     

7,8,9,10-Tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines in the search for new indolizine derivatives

7,8,9,10-Tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines were obtained by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of their corresponding N-ylides with olefinic (acrylonitrile) and symmetrical or non-symmetrical acetylenic dipolarophiles (methyl/ethyl propiolate, dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate). Also, stable 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinolinium dicyanomethylide was isolated and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

One-pot two-step tandem reactions for selective synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and dihydro-, tetrahydro-derivatives

A sequential one-pot two-step tandem reaction for selective and efficient synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline and its dihydro- and tetrahydro-derivatives has been developed. The tandem reactions of isoquinoline, α-halogenated methylene compounds, aromatic aldehydes, and cyanoacetamide firstly give tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines as main products. The corresponding pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and dihydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines can be obtained directly by controlling oxidation with DDQ. The mechanism of this tandem reaction involved the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of isoquinolinium ylide as the key step. A unique elimination of the amido group preferring to the cyano group has been observed.     

Synthesis of novel indolo[2,3-c]quinolinones via Ugi-4CR/palladium-catalyzed arylation

In this letter, an expedient method was developed for the construction of novel indolo[2,3-c]quinolinone derivatives via palladium-catalyzed arylation of Ugi adducts obtained from the reaction of indole-2-carboxylic acid, various aromatic aldehydes, 2-bromoanilines, and isocyanides. The reaction proceeded efficiently with various starting materials to produce the indoloquinolinone scaffolds in good yields.     

Cu(OTf)2-promoted efficient synthetic route towards glycospiro-pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines

A simple, convenient and efficient protocol for the construction of an array of glycospiro-pyrroloisoquinolines using isoquinolinium ylide and a carbohydrate-derived exocyclic olefin in the presence of Cu(OTf)₂–Et₃N catalytic system is described. Isoquinoline and alkylbromoacetates/2-bromoacetophenones were employed to generate the azomethine ylides in the presence of Et₃N in refluxing toluene and subsequent exposure to the olefin led to the desired isoquinoline derivatives.     

Synthesis of bridgedhead azolo[3,2-a]pyrimidines and imidazo[2,1-b]thiazines through ring transformation of 2H-pyran-2-ones

Suitably functionalized 3-carbomethoxy/cyano-2H-pyran-2-ones are excellent synthons for the synthesis of arenes and heteroarenes of therapeutic importance. The compounds 6-aryl-3-cyano-4-methylsulfanyl-2H-pyran-2-ones have been transformed into bridgedhead azolopyrimidines and imidazothiazines through thermal and base-induced ring transformation reactions with aminoazoles and imidazolidin-2-thiones, respectively.     

Syntheses of indolo[3,2,1-d,e]phenanthridines and isochromeno[3,4-a] carbazoles: palladium catalyzed intramolecular arylation via C-H functionalization

A new synthetic route has been developed for the preparation of indolo[3,2,1-d,e]phenanthridines and isochromeno[3,4-a]carbazoles via palladium catalyzed intramolecular biaryl coupling reactions. The coupling reactions proceeded smoothly and in high yields under ligand-free conditions with the catalytic system Pd(OAc)₂/Cs₂CO₃/TBAB. Under optimized reaction conditions no halogen-reduced products were observed.     

A new total synthesis of an indolo[3,2-j]phenanthridine alkaloid calothrixin B

A new total synthesis of calothrixin B is described. The key step is an allene-mediated electrocyclic reaction involving the indole 2,3-bond for the construction of a suitable 4-oxygenated 2,3,4-trisubstituted carbazole ring system.     

Thiadiazole fused indolo[2,3-a]carbazoles as new building blocks for optoelectronic applications

New indolo[2,3-a][1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-c]carbazoles including functional groups (halide or hydroxyl groups) on the meta positions relative to the nitrogen atoms which are known to be the most conjugated, have been synthesized following two synthetic routes. The characterizations of their optical and electrochemical properties evidence their potential as new building blocks for optoelectronic materials.     

An efficient synthesis of [1,4]pyridazinooxazine[3,4-a]tetrahydro isoquinolines

A series of fused isoquinoline-pyridazinooxazine chimera were prepared in good overall yield from phenethylamide 1 and 4,5-dichloropyridazin-3-one 2 via Smiles rearrangement and Pictet-Spengler cyclization.     

A biomimetic synthesis of the indolo[3,2-j]phenanthridine alkaloid, calothrixin B

A biomimetic approach to calothrixin B via a hypothetical metabolite, 6-formylindolo[2,3-a]carbazole, is described. The construction of a suitable indolo[2,3-a]carbazole ring system was carried out using an allene-mediated electrocyclic reaction involving two [b]-bonds of indoles as the key step.     

Novel 6-substituted benzothiazol-2-yl indolo[1,2-c]quinazolines and benzimidazo[1,2-c]quinazolines

The synthetic route to and a preliminary biological evaluation of novel indolo[1,2-c]quinazolines (8) and benzimidazo[1,2-c]quinazolines (9) are described. The products were obtained by condensation of the appropriate diamines (e.g. 2-(2-aminophenyl)indole or 2-(2-aminophenyl)benzimidazole) with 2-cyanobenzothiazoles. This work further demonstrates the general applicability of microwaves for a facile and rapid access to original heterocycles with potential pharmaceutical value.     

An easy ABD→ABCD strategy to indolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-4-one. Synthesis of deplancheine and yohimbane

The efficient synthesis of indolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-4-ones 2 is described in two steps via formal [3+3] cycloaddition reaction of α-sulfonyl tryptaminylacetamide 4 with various α,β-unsaturated esters 5 and the regioselective reduction of the resulting glutarimides 3 with sodium borohydride then sequent further dehydrated cyclization in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate. The useful building block is applied to synthesize deplancheine (1a) and yohimbane (1b).     

Pd-mediated synthesis of novel pentacyclic benzoazepino[2,1-a]isoindoles from enamides of Baylis-Hillman adducts

Novel pentacyclic benzoazepino[2,1-a]isoindole derivatives were synthesized by palladium-mediated consecutive cyclization from enamides of Baylis-Hillman adducts.     

A facile method for the synthesis of steroidal and nonsteroidal 5-methyl pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines

The steroidal and nonsteroidal 5-methyl pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines were synthesized by the reaction of steroidal/nonsteroidal α,β-unsaturated ketones and 3-amino-1H-pyrazoles/5-amino-1H-pyrazoles in the presence of KO^tBu in ethanol under reflux condition.