Benzo[a]heptalenes from Heptaleno[1,2‐c]furans. Part 2

It is shown in this ‘Part 2’ that heptaleno[1,2‐c]furans 1 react thermally in a Diels–Alder‐type [4+2] cycloaddition at the furan ring with vinylene carbonate (VC), phenylsulfonylallene (PSA), α‐(acetyloxy)acrylonitrile (AAN), and (1Z)‐1,2‐bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethene (ZSE) to yield the corresponding 1,4‐epoxybenzo[d]heptalenes (cf. Schemes 1, 5, 6, and 8). The thermal reaction of 1a and 1b with VC at 130° and 150°, respectively, leads mainly to the 2,3‐endo‐cyclocarbonates 2,3‐endo‐ 2a and ‐ 2b and in minor amounts to the 2,3‐exo‐cyclocarbonates 2,3‐exo‐ 2a and ‐ 2b . In some cases, the (P*)‐ and (M*)‐configured epimers were isolated and characterized (Scheme 1). Base‐catalyzed cleavage of 2,3‐endo‐ 2 gave the corresponding 2,3‐diols 3 , which were further transformed via reductive cleavage of their dimesylates 4 into the benzo[a]heptalenes 5a and 5b , respectively (Scheme 2). In another reaction sequence, the 2,3‐diols 3 were converted into their cyclic carbonothioates 6 , which on treatment with (EtO)₃P gave the deoxygenated 1,4‐dihydro‐1,4‐epoxybenzo[d]heptalenes 7 . These were rearranged by acid catalysis into the benzo[a]heptalen‐4‐ols 8a and 8b , respectively (Scheme 2). Cyclocarbonate 2,3‐endo‐ 2b reacted with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) at ?70° under regioselective ring opening to the 3‐hydroxy‐substituted benzo[d]heptalen‐2‐yl carbamate 2,3‐endo‐ 9b (Scheme 3). The latter was O‐methylated to 2,3‐endo‐(P*)‐ 10b . The further way, to get finally the benzo[a]heptalene 13b with MeO groups in 1,2,3‐position, could not be realized due to the fact that we found no way to cleave the carbamate group of 2,3‐endo‐(P*)‐ 10b without touching its 1,4‐epoxy bridge (Scheme 3). The reaction of 1a with PSA in toluene at 120° was successful, in a way that we found regioisomeric as well as epimeric cycloadducts (Scheme 5). Unfortunately, the attempts to rearrange the products under strong‐base catalysis as it had been shown successfully with other furan–PSA adducts were unsuccessful (Scheme 4). The thermal cycloaddition reaction of 1a and 1b with AAN yielded again regioisomeric and epimeric adducts, which could easily be transformed into the corresponding 2‐ and 3‐oxo products (Scheme 6). Only the latter ones could be rearranged with Ac₂O/H₂SO₄ into the corresponding benzo[a]heptalene‐3,4‐diol diacetates 20a and 20b , respectively, or with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TfOSiMe₃/Et₃N), followed by treatment with NH₄Cl/H₂O, into the corresponding benzo[a]heptalen‐3,4‐diols 21a and 21b (Scheme 7). The thermal cycloaddition reaction of 1 with ZSE in toluene gave the cycloadducts 2,3‐exo‐ 22a and ‐ 22b as well as 2‐exo,3‐endo‐ 22c in high yields (Scheme 8). All three adducts eliminated, by treatment with base, benzenesulfinic acid and yielded the corresponding 3‐(phenylsulfonyl)‐1,4‐epoxybenzo[d]heptalenes 25 . The latter turned out to be excellent Michael acceptors for H₂O₂ in basic media (Scheme 9). The Michael adducts lost H₂O on treatment with Ac₂O in pyridine and gave the 3‐(phenylsulfonyl)benzo[d]heptalen‐2‐ones 28a and 3‐exo‐ 28b , respectively. Rearrangement of these compounds in the presence of Ac₂O/AcONa lead to the formation of the corresponding 3‐(phenylsulfonyl)benzo[a]heptalene‐1,2‐diol diacetates 30a and 30b , which on treatment with MeONa/MeI gave the corresponding MeO‐substituted compounds 31a and 31b . The reductive elimination of the PhSO₂ group led finally to the 1,2‐dimethoxybenzo[a]heptalenes 32a and 32b . Deprotonation experiments of 32a with t‐BuLi/N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethane‐1,2‐diamine (tmeda) and quenching with D₂O showed that the most acid C? H bond is H? C(3) (Scheme 9). Some of the new structures were established by X‐ray crystal‐diffraction analyses (cf. Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5). Moreover, nine of the new benzo[a]heptalenes were resolved on an anal. Chiralcel OD‐H column, and their CD spectra were measured (cf. Figs. 8 and 9). As a result, the 1,2‐dimethoxybenzo[a]heptalenes 32a and 32b showed unexpectedly new Cotton‐effect bands just below 300 nm, which were assigned to chiral exciton coupling between the heptalene and benzo part of the structurally highly twisted compounds. The PhSO₂‐substituted benzo[a]heptalenes 30b and 31b showed, in addition, a further pair of Cotton‐effect bands in the range of 275–245 nm, due to chiral exciton coupling of the benzo[a]heptalene chromophore and the phenylsulfonyl chromophore (cf. Fig. 10).     

Formation of Heptaleno[1,2-c]furans and Heptaleno[1,2-c]furanones

The dehydrogenation reaction of the heptalene-4,5-dimethanols 4a and 4d , which do not undergo the double-bond-shift (DBS) process at ambient temperature, with basic MnO₂ in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature, leads to the formation of the corresponding heptaleno[1,2-c]furans 6a and 6d , respectively, as well as to the corresponding heptaleno[1,2-c]furan-3-ones 7a and 7d , respectively (cf. Scheme 2 and 8). The formation of both product types necessarily involves a DBS process (cf. Scheme 7). The dehydrogenation reaction of the DBS isomer of 4a , i.e., 5a , with MnO₂ in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature results, in addition to 6a and 7a , in the formation of the heptaleno[1,2-c]-furan-1-one 8a and, in small amounts, of the heptalene-4,5-dicarbaldehyde 9a (cf. Scheme 3). The benzo[a]heptalene-6,7-dimethanol 4c with a fixed position of the C?C bonds of the heptalene skeleton, on dehydrogenation with MnO₂ in CH₂Cl₂, gives only the corresponding furanone 11b (Scheme 4). By [²H₂]-labelling of the methanol function at C(7), it could be shown that the furanone formation takes place at the stage of the corresponding lactol [3-²H₂]- 15b (cf. Scheme 6). Heptalene-1,2-dimethanols 4c and 4e , which are, at room temperature, in thermal equilibrium with their corresponding DBS forms 5c and 5e , respectively, are dehydrogenated by MnO₂ in CH₂Cl₂ to give the corresponding heptaleno[1,2-c]furans 6c and 6e as well as the heptaleno[1,2-c]furan-3-ones 7c and 7e and, again, in small amounts, the heptaleno[1,2-c]furan-1-ones 8c and 8e , respectively (cf. Scheme 8). Therefore, it seems that the heptalene-1,2-dimethanols are responsible for the formation of the furan-1-ones (cf. Scheme 7). The methylenation of the furan-3-ones 7a and 7e with Tebbe's reagent leads to the formation of the 3-methyl-substituted heptaleno[1,2-c]furans 23a and 23e , respectively (cf. Scheme 9). The heptaleno[1,2-c]furans 6a, 6d , and 23a can be resolved into their antipodes on a Chiralcel OD column. The (P)-configuration is assigned to the heptaleno[1,2-c]furans showing a negative Cotton effect at ca. 320 nm in the CD spectrum in hexane (cf. Figs. 3–5 as well as Table 7). The (P)-configuration of (–)- 6a is correlated with the established (P)-configuration of the dimethanol (–)- 5a via dehydrogenation with MnO₂. The degree of twisting of the heptalene skeleton of 6 and 23 is determined by the Me-substitution pattern (cf. Table 9). The larger the heptalene gauche torsion angles are, the more hypsochromically shifted is the heptalene absorption band above 300 nm (cf. Table 7 and 8, as well as Figs. 6–9).     

[Au]/[Pd] Multicatalytic Processes: Direct One‐Pot Access to Benzo[c]chromenes and Benzo[b]furans

A new synthetic protocol that combines the advantages offered by eco‐friendly solvent‐free reactions and sequential transformations is reported. This strategy offers straightforward access to benzo[c]chromenes and benzo[b]furans from commercially available starting materials. This two‐step, one‐pot strategy consists of an Au‐catalyzed hydrophenoxylation process followed by Pd‐catalyzed C?H activation or Mizoroki–Heck reactions. The selectivity of the process towards C?H activation or Mizoroki–Heck reaction can be easily tuned.     

Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Studies of Cyclohepta[b]indoles,Benzo[6,7]Cyclohepta[1,2‐b]Indoles,Indeno[1,2‐b]Indoles,and Benzo[a]Carbazoles

Synthesis and biological evaluation of various tricyclic and tetracyclic indoles are described. A number of these compounds possess in vitro activity against human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (HONE‐1) and gastric adenocarcinoma (NUGC‐3) cell lines.     

Synthesis of Benzo[a]heptalenes via Benzanellation–Aromatization Sequence

A novel approach towards the synthesis of functionalized benzo[a]heptalenes 9 and 10 via a 6π‐electrocyclic ring closure – aromatization sequence of corresponding bis[prop‐2‐enoates] 5 and 6 has been developed (Scheme 1). The starting bis[prop‐2‐enoates] have been prepared from the corresponding dialdehydes 3a and 4a in a Wittig‐Horner reaction, and their UV/VIS properties have also been investigated (Fig. 1 and Table 1). The dehydrogenations of the corresponding diols 1 and 2 to dialdehydes with a number of oxidizing reagents, including MnO₂ in CH₂Cl₂, tetrapropylammonium perruthenate (TPAP), and activated DMSO, have been studied in detail.     

An Efficient Synthesis of Pyrrolo[1,2‐a] or Pyrido[1,2‐a]benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2‐c]quinazoline Derivatives in Ionic Liquids Catalyzed by Iodine

2‐(1H ‐benzo[d ]imidazol‐2‐yl)anilines reacted with haloketones including 5‐chloropentan‐2‐one and 6‐chlorohexan‐2‐one catalyzed by iodine, giving benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2‐c ]pyrrolo[1,2‐a ]quinazoline and 6H ‐benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2‐c ]pyrido[1,2‐a ]quinazoline derivatives, respectively. This domino‐type reaction formed two new heterocycles and three new covalent bonds in one‐pot procedure and provided a green method for the synthesis of fused pentacyclic heterocycles bearing both quinazoline and benzimidazole moieties in ionic liquids.     

One‐pot Synthesis of Benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine Derivatives in Aqueous Conditions

One‐pot reaction of cyclic 1,3‐diketones, dimethylformamide dimethylacetal (DMFDMA) and 2‐(1H‐benzo[d ]imidaz‐2‐yl)acetonitrile was found to be a highly selective process leading to 4‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2‐a ]quinolin‐6‐yl cyanides. Optimized reaction conditions using water as solvent at room temperature or under microwave heating allowed high yields of the target products required no additional purification.     

Benzo[a]azulenediones and 10,10′‐Bibenzo[a]azulene

The oxidation of benzo[a]azulene ( 4 ) with commercial MnO₂ in dioxane/H₂O leads to a number of products in low yield (Table 1). Treatment of 4 with ‘mild’ MnO₂ (MnO₂/C) in dioxane/5% H₂O results in the formation of 10,10′‐bibenzo[a]azulene ( 18 ) in yields of up to 59% of isolated and purified material. Compound 18 exhibits atropisomerism and can be separated by HPLC on a Chiralcel column at room temperature into its stable antipodes (Fig.).     

Alkylation Reactions at the Benzo Moiety of 2,4‐Dimethoxy‐3‐(phenylsulfonyl)benzo[a]heptalenes – Model Compounds of Colchicinoids

Alkylation reactions of 3‐(X‐sulfonyl)benzo[a]heptalene‐2,4‐diols (X=Ph, morpholin‐4‐yl) and their dimethyl ethers were studied. The diols form with K₂CO₃/MeI in aqueous media the 1‐methylated benzoheptalenes, but in yields not surpassing 20% (Table 1). On the other hand, 2,4‐dimethoxybenzo[a]heptalenes can easily be lithiated at C(3) with BuLi and then treated with alkyl iodides to give the 3‐alkylated forms in good yield (Table 2). Surprising is the reaction with two equiv. or more of t‐BuLi since the alkylation at C(4) is accompanied by the reductive elimination of the X‐sulfonyl group at C(3) (Table 3). Most exciting is also the course of 2,4‐dimethoxy‐3‐(phenylsulfonyl)benzo[a]heptalenes in the presence of an excess of MeLi. After the expected exchange of MeO against Me at C(4) (Scheme 6), rearrangement takes place under formation of 4‐benzyl‐2‐methoxybenzo[a]heptalenes and concomitant loss of the sulfonyl group at C(3) (Table 4). In the case of X=morpholin‐4‐yl, rearrangement cannot occur. However, the intermediate benzyl anions of Type E (Scheme 8) react easily with O₂ of the air to build up corresponding benzo[a]heptalene‐4‐methanols (Table 6).     

Benzo[1,2‐c:3,4‐c']bis[1,2,5]selenadiazole, [1,2,5]selenadiazolo‐[3,4‐e]‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole,furazanobenzo‐2,1,3‐thiadiazole,furazanobenzo‐2,1,3‐selenadiazole and related heterocyclic systems

The first synthesis of benzo[1,2‐c:3,4‐c']bis[1,2,5]selenadiazole has been developed starting from commercially available 4‐nitrobenzo‐2,1,3‐selenadiazole. Improved syntheses of the related heterocycles [1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4‐e]‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole, furazanobenzo‐2,1,3‐thiadiazole and furazanobenzo‐2,1,3‐selenadiazole are also reported.     

A ‘One-Pot’ Anellation Method for the Transformation of Heptalene-4,5-dicarboxylates into Benzo[a]heptalenes

It has been found that dimethyl heptalene-4,5-dicarboxylates, when treated with 4 mol-equiv. of lithiated N,N-dialkylamino methyl sulfones or methyl phenyl sulfone, followed by 4 mol-equiv. of BuLi in THF in the temperature range of ?78 to 20°, give rise to the formation of 3-[(N,N-dialkylamino)sulfonyl]- or 3-(phenylsul-fonyl)benzo[a]heptalene-2,4-diols of. (cf. Scheme 4, and Tables 2 and 3). Accompanying products are 2,4-bis{[(N,N-dialkylamino)sulfonyl]methyl}- or 2,4-bis[(phenylsulfonyl)methyl]-4,10a-dihydro-3H-heptaleno[1,10-bc]furan-3-carboxylates as mixtures of diastereoisomers of. cf. Scheme 4, and (Tables 2 and 3) which are the result of a Michael addition reaction of the lithiated methyl sulfones at C(3) of the heptalene-4,5-dicarboxylates, followed by (sulfonyl)methylation of the methoxycarbonyl group at C(5) and cyclization of. (cf. Scheme 5). It is assumed that the benzo[a]heptalene formation is due to (sulfonyl)methylation of both methoxycarbonyl groups of the heptalene-4,5-dicarboxylates of. (cf. Schemes 6 and 8). The resulting bis-enolates 35 are deprotonated further. The thus formed tris-anions 36 can then cyclize to corresponding tris-anions 37 of cyclopenta[d]heptalenes which, after loss of N,N-dialkylamido sulfite or phenyl sulfinate, undergo a ring-enlargement reaction by 1,2-C migration finally leading to the observed benzo[a]heptalenes of. (cf. Schemes 8 and 9). The structures of the new product types have been finally established by X-ray crystal-structure analyses (cf. Figs. 1 and 2 as well as Exper. Part).     

Formation of 6‐Methyl‐7,11‐diphenylheptaleno[1,2‐c]furanones

The dehydrogenation reaction of a mixture of heptalene‐1,2‐ and heptalene‐4,5‐dimethanols 4a and 4b with basic MnO₂ in AcOEt at room temperature led to the formation of the corresponding heptaleno[1,2‐c]furan‐1‐one 6a and heptaleno[1,2‐c]furan‐3‐one 7a (Scheme 2). Both products can be isolated by chromatography on silica gel. The methylenation of the furan‐3‐one 7a with 1 mol‐equiv. of Tebbe's reagent at ?25 to ?30° afforded the 2‐isopropenyl‐5‐methylheptalene‐1‐methanol 9a , instead of the expected 3,6‐dimethylheptaleno[1,2‐c]furan 8 (Scheme 3). Also, the treatment of 7a with Takai's reagent did not lead to the formation of 8 . On standing in solution at room temperature, or more rapidly on heating at 60°, heptalene 9a undergoes a reversible double‐bond shift (DBS) to 9b with an equilibrium ratio of 1 : 1.     

Synthesis of novel pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyridazine,pyrido[1,2‐a]benzimidazole,pyrimido[1,2‐a]benzimidazole and triazolo[4,3‐a]pyrimidine derivatives

4‐Acetyl‐5‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole reacts with dimethylformamide dimethylacetal (DMF‐DMA) to afford the corresponding (E)1‐(5‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)‐3‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)‐2‐propen‐1‐one. The latter product undergoes regioselective 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition with nitrilimines and nitrile oxides to afford the novel 3‐aroyl‐4‐(5‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)carbonyl‐1‐phenylpyrazole and 3‐aroyl‐4‐(5‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)carbonyl isoxazole derivatives, respectively. It reacts also with 1H‐benzimidazole‐2‐acetonitrile, 2‐aminobenzimidazole and 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole to afford the novel pyrido[1,2‐a]benzimidazole, pyrimido[1,2‐a]benzimidazole and the triazolo[4,3‐a]pyrimidine derivatives, respectively. The reaction of 3‐aroyl‐4‐(5‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl) carbonyl‐1‐phenylpyrazole derivatives with hydrazine hydrate led to a new pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyridazine derivatives.     

Polycyclic Aromatic Heterocycles with a Benzo[c][1,2]azaborinine Core

2‐Formylphenylboronic acid condenses with active methylene reagents like α‐amino esters, ketones, and lactams directly to give benzo‐fused 1‐hydroxy‐2,1‐azaborines in good yields within minutes under microwave‐accelerated conditions. The new stable boron heterocycles prepared to demonstrate this approach were characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Three members of a new diboron heteropentacyclic ring system, 5a,12a‐diaza‐5,12‐dibora‐5,12‐dihydroxypentacene‐6,13‐dione, were prepared, and one of these highly fluorescent compounds was characterized by X‐ray crystallography. Some key solid‐state structural features revealed by the X‐ray analysis provide a basis for explaining the limited solubility of these pentaheterocycles in common organic solvents.     

One‐pot Combinatorial Synthesis of Benzo[4,5]imidazo‐[1,2‐a]thiopyrano[3,4‐d]pyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one Derivatives

A series of novel fused tetracyclic benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2‐a]thiopyrano[3,4‐d]pyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one derivatives were synthesized via the reaction of aryl aldehyde, 2H‐thiopyran‐3,5(4H,6H)‐dione, and 1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐amine in glacial acetic acid. This protocol features mild reaction conditions, high yields and short reaction time.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Cascade Reactions of Furan‐ynes with External Nucleophiles Consisting of a 1,2‐Rearrangement: Straightforward Synthesis of Multi‐Substituted Benzo[b]furans

A gold‐catalyzed cycloisomerization of silyl‐protected 2‐(1‐alkynyl)‐2‐alken‐1‐(2‐furanyl)‐1‐ols with various nucleophiles including water, alcohol, aniline, sulfonamide, and electron‐rich arene has been developed. The method provides a highly efficient access to 5,7‐disubstituted or 2,5,7‐trisubstituted benzo[b]furans with a wide diversity of substituents under mild reaction conditions, which are not easily available by other methods. Remarkably, an interesting rearrangement of the alkyl group from C2 to the C3 position of the furan ring takes place during the cyclization process. The following gold‐assisted allylic substitution enables an elaboration of benzo[b]furans on its side chain of the C5 position with a wide range of functional groups.