A simple and one-pot synthesis of 2,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted 4,5-dihydro-3H-1,4-benzodiazepines

2,3,4,5-Tetrasubstituted 4,5-dihydro-3H-1,4-benzodiazepines were synthesized in one-pot by a new sequential Ugi 4CC/Staudinger/aza-Wittig reaction, starting from easily accessible o-azidobenzaldehyde, α-amino ketone hydrochloride, isocyanide and carboxylic acid.     

Regioselective alkylation of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran by xanthate-mediated free radical nonchain process

An intermolecular xanthate-mediated free radical nonchain addition reaction is introduced for the regioselective alkylation of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran. Additionally, we observed that the free radical nonchain reaction depends on the nature of the radical precursor.     

Chiral diethylzinc complexes with diamine ligands: synthesis, crystal structure and enantioselective solvent-free alkylation

In search for conglomerates of stereochemically labile organometallic reagents, three new complexes between diethylzinc and diamine ligands have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. Ligands include N,N,N′,N′-tetraethylethylenediamine (teeda), N-isopropyl-N,N′,N′-trimethylethylenediamine (itmeda), and (−)-sparteine (spa). Diethylzinc forms monomeric complexes, exhibiting a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry around zinc in all three complexes, viz. [ZnEt₂(teeda)] (1), [ZnEt₂(itmeda)] (2), and [ZnEt₂(spa)] (3). Both 1 and 2 are stereochemically labile and exhibit chiral complexes, displaying different types of conformational chirality, but they form racemic crystals. By using the chiral crystals of 3 in a nucleophilic addition to benzaldehyde in the absence of solvent at low temperature, an increase in ee from approximately 8 to 10% was obtained (compared to the same reaction in solution). It thus seems feasible, not only to retain the enantioselectivity obtained in solution, but perhaps even to increase the ee by using solventless reactions.     

A computational study of the thermal opening of benzocyclobutenes to (E)- and (Z)-xylylenes

The structures of eleven 1-substituted benzocyclobutenes and corresponding (E)-o-xylylenes and (Z)-o-xylylenes have been calculated at the Becke3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level. Some o-xylylenes are plane and even some (Z)-isomers. In three cases (substituent: methoxy, amino and formamido groups), the (Z)-isomer is more stable than the (E)-isomer. The regioselectivity of the Diels-Alder reaction between (o)-xylylenes and propene or ethylvinylether is discussed according to the frontier OM coefficients.     

Bi- and trinuclear oxalamidinate complexes of palladium as catalysts in the copper-free Sonogashira reaction and in the Negishi reaction

The binuclear complex [(acac)Pd(oxam)Pd(acac)] 1 (oxam: tetraphenyl oxalic amidinate) has been prepared from H₂oxam and Pd(acac)₂ in excellent yield. The complex was characterized by elemental analyses, mass spectroscopy, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray single crystal diffraction analyses. 1 consists of a bimetallic centrosymmetric unit in which the planar oxam ligand acts in a bis-chelating fashion. Each palladium center is in a planar environment.The complex 1 acts as highly selective pre-catalyst in the copper-free Sonogashira reaction between 4-bromoacetophenone and phenylacetylene. Its long-time catalytic activity is higher than that of the related binuclear complex 2 (oxam: tetra-p-tolyl oxalic amidinate) or that of the trinuclear compound [(acac)Pd(oxam)Zn(oxam)Pd(acac)] (3), the solid-state structure of which was also determined by an X-ray structural analysis of single crystals. In addition, 2 is an active and extremely selective pre-catalyst for the Negishi reaction between 3,5,6,8-tetrabromophenanthroline and R-CC-ZnCl (R: Ph, (ⁱprop)₃Si) to form tetra-alkyne-substituted derivatives.     

Racemic [1SR,2RS,(RS)]-N-cyano(phenyl)methyl-1-aminoindan-2-ol: crystal structure and reactivity towards thermal epimerization in the solid state

A diastereomeric mixture of racemic α-amino nitriles [1SR,2RS,(SR)]- (1) and [1SR,2RS,(RS)]-N-cyano(phenyl)methyl-1-aminoindan-2-ol (2) was thermally epimerized in the solid state to give diastereopure [1SR,2RS,(SR)]-1. The reaction was about 26 times slower than the same reaction of a mixture of their enantiopure counterparts, showing that different mechanisms operated between the two transformations. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that in the former transformation, racemic-compound crystals of 2 were converted into conglomerate crystals of 1, while in the latter, enantiomeric crystals of 2 were converted into enantiomeric crystals of 1. The difference in the reactivity toward the epimerization between the racemic and the enantiopure mixture could be rationalized by the difference in the stability of compound 2 in the two crystal forms.     

An efficient route to diverse H-pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinolines via sequential multi-component/cross-coupling reactions

Multi-component reaction of 2-alkynylbenzaldehyde, sulfonohydrazide, electrophile (bromine or iodine), and ketone or aldehyde under mild conditions proceeds smoothly to afford the functionalized H-pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinolines in good yields. This one-pot process involves intermolecular condensation, electrophilic cyclization, nucleophilic addition, intramolecular condensation, and aromatization. The resulting halo-containing H-pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinolines could be further elaborated via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions.     

One-pot synthesis of disulfide-linked N-sulfonylazetidin-2-imines via a copper-catalyzed multicomponent cascade reaction

A copper-catalyzed, three-component reaction between a sulfonyl azide, an alkyne, and a 2-aminothiophenol derived Schiff base is reported. This novel one-pot procedure involves a click reaction, a formal [2+2] cycloaddition, and S–S coupling, therefore, providing a unique method for the synthesis of novel disulfide-linked N-sulfonylazetidin-2-imines under mild conditions.     

Synthesis of C-glycosyl β-amino acids by asymmetric Mannich-type three-component reactions

C-Galactosyl and C-ribosyl β-amino acids were prepared by one-pot InCl₃-catalyzed Mannich-type three-component condensation (3CC) by combining the corresponding formyl C-glycoside, p-methoxybenzyl amine, and a ketene silyl acetal. In each case the reaction was highly stereoselective and afforded only one single product in good to excellent yields.     

One-pot synthesis of aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts from α-oxo ketene-S,S-acetals, arylaldehydes and nitriles

Promoted by TiCl₄, a series of α-(1,3-dithiolan-2-ylidene)-β-amino carbonyl derivatives--the aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts, have been synthesized from α-oxo cyclic ketene-S,S-acetals, arylaldehydes, and nitriles in good to excellent yields. A mechanism involving sequential Morita-Baylis-Hillman and Ritter reactions for this novel one-pot, three-component reaction is described.     

Diels-Alder reactions of pyridinone o-quinodimethanes generated from substituted sulfolene[3,4-c]pyridin-4(1H)-ones

1-Benzyl-3-(bromomethyl)-2(1H)-pyrazinone was converted to [3,4-c] sulfolene pyridinone 8a and further (1- or 3-) substituted derivatives having a dienophilic side chain on the sulfolene ring. Thermolytic extrusion of sulfur dioxide from o-QDM precursor 8 led to generation of 3,4-dimethylene-2(1H)-pyrazinone 9, which was reacted in situ with various dienophiles. Thermolysis of the substituted precursors resulted in intramolecular cycloaddition of the corresponding o-QDM intermediates     

Synthesis of optically active gem-difluorocyclopropanes through a chemo-enzymatic reaction strategy

The synthesis of a chiral difluorocyclopropane building block has been accomplished using lipase-catalyzed reaction; the prochiral diacetate of cis-1,3-bishydroxymethyl-2,2-difluorocyclopropane was converted to the corresponding chiral monoacetate by the Alcaligenes lipase (lipase QL)-catalyzed hydrolysis with >99% enantiomeric excess. Enantiomerically pure trans-1,3-bishydroxymethyl-2,2-difluorocyclopropane was also obtained through the Pseudomonas cepacia SL-25 lipase (lipase SL)-catalyzed reaction. The synthesis of the chiral trans,trans-bis-gem-difluorocyclopropane derivatives has been accomplished using the same lipase technology; trans,trans-1,6-bishydroxymethyl-2,2,5,5-tetrafluorobicyclopropane was obtained in optically active form using the lipase SL-catalyzed hydrolysis of the corresponding diacetate.     

Generation of 5,6-dimethylene-2(1H)-pyridinones from [3,4-b] sulfolene pyridinones and application in Diels-Alder reactions

2(1H)-Pyrazinones were converted into various [3,4-b] sulfolene pyridinones 19-21, serving as precursors for thermolytic conversion into the corresponding 5,6-dimethylene 2(1H)-pyridinone ortho-quinodimethanes. These were trapped in situ by reaction with various dienophiles. Tethering of precursor 19 with a dienophilic side chain attached to the 7-position of the [3,4-b] sulfolene pyridinone also enabled intramolecular cycloaddition when no rearrangement by 1,5-H-shift was viable.     

Solvent-free reactions of fullerenes and N-alkylglycines with and without aldehydes under high-speed vibration milling

The solvent-free reactions of fullerenes and N-alkylglycines with and without aldehydes (RCHO) 2a-e under high-speed vibration milling (HSVM) conditions have been investigated. Fulleropyrrolidines 4a-e (C₆₀(CH₂N(CH₃)CHR), R=H (4a), C₆H₅ (4b), p-NO₂-C₆H₄ (4c), p-CH₃O-C₆H₄ (4d), p-(CH₃)₂N-C₆H₄ (4e)) were obtained in moderate yields from reactions of C₆₀ with aldehydes 2a-e and N-methylglycine (Prato reaction). In all these solvent-free reactions, 4a was found to be formed besides 4b-e, indicating that fullerenes can react with N-substituted glycines in the absence of aldehyde to give fulleropyrrolidines. For this novel reaction, a possible reaction mechanism involving an electron transfer process has been proposed. Intrigued by this observation, the dependence of the yield on the reagent ratio for the reaction of C₆₀ with paraformaldehyde and/or N-methylglycine was examined to search the optimal conditions. The reaction of C₇₀ with paraformaldehyde and/or N-methylglycine under HSVM conditions was also studied and was found to give the positional isomers of [70]fulleropyrrolidines.     

Synthesis of fluorinated imines and carbodiimides from azides via aza-Wittig reaction

The Staudinger reaction of fluoroalkylazides were studied. A series of N-fluoroalkylimines were synthesized via aza-Wittig reaction of N-fluoroalkyliminophosphoranes. The N,N′-difluoroalkylated carbodiimide was also synthesized via the reaction of N-fluoroalkyliminophosphoranes with carbon dioxide or carbon disulfide.     

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.     

Wittig olefination and thiol mediated 7-endo-trig radical cyclization: novel synthesis of oxepin derivatives

Thiophenol-mediated 7-endo radical cyclization for the synthesis of seven-membered cyclic ethers is described. This method can be successfully applied to synthesize various benzoxepin derivatives, which are present in many natural products as building blocks. Alkenyl radicals are generated from easily available terminal alkynes and thiophenol.     

Stille reaction over cis-halocyclohexadienediol derivatives

Stille reaction was performed with several halo cis-diol derivatives by reaction with allyltributyltin in the presence of a palladium catalyst forming allyl cis-dihydrodiol derivatives. These couplings were conducted with conventional heating as well as with microwave irradiation. Allylbenzene cis-dihydrodiol was obtained with excellent yield using mild conventional heating. However, if the diol moiety is protected with the isopropylidene group, the expected product is obtained only under microwave irradiation. The unusual reactivity observed for the polyoxygenated derivatives suggests assistance of the free hydroxyls in the catalytic cycle.     

A convergent and stereoselective synthesis of a seco-precursor of macrolactin A

A seco-precursor of macrolactin A was synthesized by coupling two advanced segments. Wittig reaction and Horner-Emmons reaction were utilized to construct the three characteristic E,Z and E,E dienes. The C₁-C₁₀ segment was synthesized through Horner-Emmons reaction with phosphonate reagent. The α-alkylation of sulfone stabilized anion with allyl bromide followed by desulfonation gave the C₁₁-C₂₄ segment.     

Truncated diastereoselective Passerini reaction, a rapid construction of polysubstituted oxazole and peptides having an α-hydroxy-β-amino acid component

The reaction of aldehydes and ketones, including aliphatic and aromatic ones, with amides of α-isocyano-β-phenylpropionic acid in toluene in the presence of lithium bromide gives 2,4,5-trisubstituted oxazoles in good to excellent yield. Protected chiral α-amino aldehydes participate in this reaction to give, after hydrolysis of the oxazoles, norstatine-containing peptides in good overall yield. The nucleophilic addition of isonitriles to N,N-dibenzylphenylalanal is investigated for the first time and is found to be stereoselective leading predominantly to the anti-adduct (dr=9/1). On the other hand, the reaction between the N-Boc phenylalanal and isonitrile is non-stereoselective.