Reactivity of cyclopropanic δ-oxo-α,β-unsaturated esters towards SmI2: 3-exo-trig cyclisation versus cyclopropane ring opening

trans-(2′,2′-Diphenyl-bicyclopropyl-2-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-5-oxo-pent-2-enoic acid methyl ester 9, undergoes 3-exo-trig cyclisation in the presence of SmI₂ without competitive ring opening of Newcomb's bicyclopropylic probe next to the carbonyl group. From this result, it may be concluded that the absence of ring opening observed earlier in the case of 5-cyclopropyl-4,4-dimethyl-5-oxo-pent-2-enoate 7 is not due to the potentially reversible character of this process. Meanwhile, as deduced from kinetic considerations based on data of the literature, the absence of ring opening does not necessarily mean that formation of ketyl radicals is not involved in the 3-exo-trig cyclisations of δ-oxo-α,β-unsaturated esters.Compounds 7 and 9 cyclise with total syn selectivity, leading ultimately to lactones. This syn selectivity contrasts with that of other alkylic δ-oxo-α,β-unsaturated esters.     

Short and efficient access to imidazo[1,2-a]pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives

Access to N-protected or N-free imidazo[1,2-a]pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives as potential antiviral compounds was achieved in good yields from N-protected 7-amino-8-halo-2-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines by catalytic coupling of terminal acetylenes under mild conditions using [PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂] or [Cu(Phen)(PPh₃)₂]NO₃.     

3-exo-tet Cyclization of 2,2-disubstituted 1,3-dihalopropanes with indium in aqueous and ionic liquid solvent system

The 3-exo-tet cyclization of 2,2-disubstituted 1,3-dihalopropanes with In powder in THF solution of 20% H₂O, dioxane solution of 20% H₂O, and ionic liquids, such as [bmim]Br, [bmim]Cl, and [bmin]BF₄, respectively, was efficiently carried out to form the corresponding 1,1-disubstituted cyclopropanes in good yields. The cyclopropanation of 2,2-disubstituted 1,3-dihalopropanes with In powder in ionic liquids, such as [bmim]Br, [bmim]Cl, and [bmin]BF₄, was markedly accelerated compared with that in a THF solution of 20% H₂O and a dioxane solution of 20% H₂O. The mechanism was proposed to involve the radical 3-exo-tet cyclization of the formed 3-halopropyl radical.     

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.     

Expeditious synthesis of indolizine derivatives via iodine mediated 5-endo-dig cyclization

Iodine-mediated 5-endo-dig cyclization of propargylic esters 2 at room temperature proceeded smoothly to give highly functionalized indolizines 3 in excellent yields. A pyridine group was employed as a nucleophilic partner in this facile process for the first time.     

Synthesis of tricyclic isoindoles and thiazolo[3,2-c][1,3]benzoxazines

The thermolysis of (3R,9bS)-5-oxo-2,3,5,9b-tetrahydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindole-3-carboxylic acids in Ac₂O led to novel 3-methylene-2,5-dioxo-3H,9bH-oxazolo[2,3-a]isoindoles and chiral (9bS)-5-oxo-2,3,5,9b-tetrahydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindoles were obtained on FVP. Starting from l-cysteine methyl ester (3R,10bR)-5-oxo-2,3-dihydro-10bH-[1.3]thiazolo[3,2-c][1,3]benzoxazines were obtained as single stereoisomers. The thermolysis of (3R,10bR)-5-oxo-2,3-dihydro-10bH-[1.3]thiazolo[3,2-c][1,3]benzoxazine-3-carboxylic acid in Ac₂O gave 5-acetyl-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydrothiazole. The structures of methyl (3R,9bS)-5-oxo-2,3,5,9b-tetrahydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindole-3-carboxylate 1a and methyl (2R,4R)-N-chlorocarbonyl-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)thiazolidine-4-carboxylate 9 were determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles using exo- and endo-selective radical cyclizations onto enamides

The effect of positional change of the carbonyl group of enamides on Bu₃SnH-mediated alkyl radical cyclization leading to five-, six-, seven-, and eight-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycles was examined. A 5-exo cyclization is generally preferred over a 6-endo ring closure in systems having an alkyl radical center on the enamide-acyl side chain, whereas enamides having an alkyl radical center opposite to the acyl side chain predominantly gave 6-endo cyclization products. These results suggest that the exo or endo selectivity of radical cyclization onto the alkenic bond of enamides can be controlled by positional change of the carbonyl group. For an understanding of these selectivities, heat of formation for each transition state was calculated. 6-endo-Selective radical cyclization was applied to the radical cascade, enabling a concise synthesis of a cylindricine skeleton. A 7- or 8-endo alkyl radical cyclization, however, predominated over a corresponding 6- or 7-exo ring closure regardless of the positional change of the carbonyl group of enamides.     

Preparation of novel pyridine-fused tris-heterocycles; pyrido[4,3-e]pyrrolo-/pyrido[4,3-e]furano[2,3-c]pyridazines and pyrido[3,4-b]pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrrole

Three novel pyrido-fused tris-heterocycles have been prepared based on a Suzuki coupling and subsequent cyclisation approach. Pyrido[4,3-e]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridazine (3b, 77%) and pyrido[4,3-e]furano[2,3-c]pyridazine (5b, 76%) were obtained by intramolecular diazocoupling. Successful diazocoupling of furan (5b) is thus reported for the first time by NOBF₄ generation of the diazonium intermediate. N-TIPS-pyrido[3,4-b]pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrrole (TIPS-4b) was synthesised by thermal cyclisation of pyridyl nitrene in considerably higher yield (71%) than previously experienced from similar cyclisations, due to TIPS-activation.     

A one-pot synthesis of substituted pyrido[2,3-b]indolizines

An efficient and novel approach to the synthesis of substituted pyrido[2,3-b]indolizine-10-carbonitriles was developed. These structures are practically unavailable through previously described methods. The cascade transformation involves the reaction of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with a stable dimer prepared from 1-(cyanomethyl)pyridinium chloride. The reaction was performed under reflux conditions in ethanol/water and in the presence of sodium acetate. This procedure represents a eco-friendly regioselective approach to the pyrido[2,3-b]indolizine core structure.     

Stereoselective synthesis of dihydrothiadiazinoazines and dihydrothiadiazinoazoles and their pyrolytic desulfurization ring contraction

Intramolecular base catalyzed C-C bond formation led to exclusive stereoselective syntheses of trans-6,7-dihydro-5H-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines, trans-7,8-dihydro-6H-[1,2,4]triazino[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazin-4-ones, and trans-3,4-dihydro-2H-[1,3,4]thiadiazino[2,3-b]quinazolin-10-one. trans-6,7-Dihydro-5H-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines isomerize slowly in CDCl₃ and more rapidly in DMSO-d₆ into the corresponding cis-stereoisomers. The other trans-6,7-dihydro-[1,3,4]thiadiazines isomerize also in DMSO-d₆ into the corresponding cis-stereoisomers. Pyrolytic conversion of these heterocyclic condensed dihydrothiadiazines into their corresponding pyrazolo[5,1-b][1,2,4]triazoles, pyrazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-4-ones and pyrazolo[4,3-b]quinazolin-9-ones via desulfurization ring contraction is described.     

Unprecedentedly mild direct Pd-catalyzed arylation of oxazolo[4,5-b]pyridine

Pd-catalyzed C-2 arylation of oxazolo[4,5-b]pyridine proceeds efficiently at 30 °C and tolerates a variety of aryl halides, including derivatized amino acids for which no racemization was observed during the reaction. Experimental evidence for facile deprotonation of oxazolo[4,5-b]pyridine under the reaction conditions is presented and the nature of the anionic intermediates is computationally examined.     

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.     

3,4-seco-Diterpenoids from Trigonostemon flavidus

Phytochemical investigation on the stems of Trigonostemon flavidus resulted in the isolation of five new 3,4-seco-diterpenoids, trigoflavidones A-E (1-5), structurally related to the main co-occurring known 3,4-seco-sonderianic acid (6) and 3,4-seco-sonderianol (7). Compound 4 possesses new 3,4-seco rearranged ent-pimarane skeletal type, characteristic of a vinyl group at C-8, while 5 features a unique five-membered ring (C₁) fused with a cyclopropane ring (C₂). The structures of the new compounds were established by a combination of spectroscopic data and computational methods. Compounds 1-7 were tested for their cytotoxicities on HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, and SW480 human tumor cell lines.     

One-pot synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives

An efficient one-pot methodology for the synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines was developed by using 5-aminopyrazoles with formamide in presence of PBr₃ as the coupling agent. Among the examples presented in this work, compounds 41 and 54-56 with phenyl or 2-quinolinyl groups at N-1 and p-Me-Ph, p-Cl-Ph, or p-OMe-Ph group at C-3 position in the pyrazole ring possessed better potency against NCI-H226 and NPC-TW01 cancer cells with GI₅₀ values between 18 μM and 39 μM.     

Synthesis of substituted thiazolo[4,5-b]pyridines and other annulated heterocycles via SN2→Thorpe-Ziegler→Thorpe-Guareschi domino reactions

A new combinatorial method for the preparation of substituted thiazolo[4,5-b]pyridines, which utilizes cyanoacetamide, heterocumulenes (isothiocyanates, carbon bisulfide), and ethyl-4-chloroacetoacetate in a new S_N2→Thorpe-Ziegler→Thorpe-Guareschi domino reactions has been developed. The obtained thiazolo[4,5-b]pyridines were then used together with aldehydes and malononitrile in another Knoevenagel reaction→Michael reaction→hetero-Thorpe-Ziegler domino reaction for the synthesis of substituted 4,6-dihydro-5H-pyrano[2,3-d]thiazolo[4,5-b]pyridines.     

Synthesis of 3,4-di-O-acylated glucose-derived furanoid sugar amino acids (Gaa): conformational analysis of a Leu-enkephalin analog containing di-O-myristoylated Gaa

3,4-Di-O-acylated derivatives 1-3 of a glucose-derived furanoid sugar amino acid (Gaa) were synthesized as novel peptide building blocks to study their effects on peptide conformation. Structural analysis of the di-O-myristoylated Gaa 3-containing Leu-enkephalin analog 4 by various NMR techniques and constrained molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies established a well-defined β-turn structure in DMSO-d₆ with an intramolecular hydrogen bond between PheNH → TyrCO.     

Spectroscopic characterization of mechanisms of oxidation of Phe by SO4- radical: A pulse radiolysis study

By using time-resolved kinetic spectrophotometry and pulse radiolysis technique, the oxidation of Phe by SO₄ ^- radical has been investigated both in aqueous and water/acetonitrile mixed solutions. The results reveal that attack of the oxidizing SO₄ ^- radical on Phe leads directly to the formation of Phe cation radical 3 with a strong absorption peak at 310 nm, then it proceeds in three competitive reactions via either hydroxylation, deprotonation or decarboxylation, which were found to be strongly dependent upon the ionization state of the substitutes —COOH and —NH₂ and the nature of the solvents. Decarboxylation takes place only when the carboxyl group is deprotonated. At high pH deprotonation of Phe cation radical 3 is much easier to occur than that in neutral or acid solutions. Moreover, with addition of acetonitrile, deprotonation is more predominant than hydroxylation, whereas in aqueous solutions hydroxylation is much easier to occur.     

Preparation of 2,4,5-trisubstituted pyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolin-3-ones

The preparation of pyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolinones is reported starting from 2-substituted-5-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-oxo-2,4-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-ones. A one-pot protocol, in which condensation with an orthoamide followed by substitution with a primary amine and subsequent S_NAr-cyclization to provide rapid access to 4- and 5-substituted pyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolinones was developed.     

One-pot synthesis of pyrrolidino- and piperidinoquinolinones by three-component aza-Diels-Alder reactions of in situ generated N-arylimines and cyclic enamides

An efficient synthesis of hexahydropyrrolo[3,2-c]quinolin-2-ones and hexahydropyridino[3,2-c]quinolin-2-ones has been developed in moderate to high yields by one-pot two-step aza-Diels-Alder reactions of N-arylimines, formed in situ from anilines and benzaldehydes, with cyclic enamides, formed in situ from 5-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-ones and 6-hydroxypiperidin-2-ones by BF₃·OEt₂-promoted dehydration in dichloromethane at room temperature. The hexahydropyrrolo[3,2-c]quinolin-2-ones were formed as a single exo-stereoisomer in most cases and hexahydropyridino[3,2-c]quinolin-2-ones were formed as a mixture of exo- and endo-isomers favoring the endo-diastereomer.     

A short route to 3-alkynyl-4-bromo(chloro)cinnolines by Richter-type cyclization of ortho-(dodeca-1,3-diynyl)aryltriaz-1-enes

Cleavage of ortho-(dodeca-1,3-diynyl)triazenes in HCl or HBr medium and subsequent cyclization of the resulting diazonium salts is investigated. In the absence of a strong electron-withdrawing substituent, the reaction affords 3-alkynyl-4-bromo(chloro)cinnolines as the only product. A methoxycarbonyl group promotes hydrolysis of 4-halocinnolines which results in the formation of by-products: furo[3,2-c]cinnoline and cinnolinone. Substitution of bromine in 3-(alk-1-ynyl)-4-bromocinnolines is achieved with methylamine, Na₂S and ethynylbenzene affording pyrrolo[3,2-c]cinnoline, thieno[3,2-c]cinnoline and 3,4-diethynylcinnoline, respectively.