Molybdenum pentachloride (MoCl5) or molybdenum dichloride dioxide (MoO2Cl2): advanced catalysts for thioacetalization of heterocyclic, aromatic and aliphatic compounds

A new, convenient and mild method for thioacetalization of heterocyclic, aromatic and aliphatic compounds catalyzed by MoCl₅ or MoO₂Cl₂ is described. This novel method is important for the synthesis of the difficult to prepare heterocyclic thioacetals such as the pterin thioacetals and it offers significant advantages such as high conversion, short reaction times and simplicity in operation.     

Novel one step synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and Zolimidine via iron/iodine-catalyzed Ortoleva-King type protocol

Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines form versatile scaffolds in pharmaceutical industry arising from their diverse biological activities. The synthesis of these molecules thus has been of great interest and resulted in the development of a large number of new methodologies. Herein we describe the first iron-catalyzed Ortoleva-King type protocol towards the synthesis of these fused heterocyclic compounds. This methodology employs cheap and easily available FeCl₃·6H₂O and molecular iodine as the catalytic system. The procedure has been well explored by extending the substrate scope with a variety of aromatic ketones and 2-aminopyridines to furnish different imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives in moderate to good yields. A successful application of this protocol was also demonstrated by achieving direct one step synthesis of the gastro protective drug, Zolimidine.     

What are the pKa values of C-H bonds in aromatic heterocyclic compounds in DMSO?

A first-principle method has been successfully developed for the prediction of pK_a values of aromatic heterocyclic compounds in DMSO solution with a precision of 1.1 pK_a units. Comparison of theoretical results and experimental data (where available) also shows excellent consistency. Armed with this useful approach, the pK_a values for a series of aromatic heterocycles were calculated in DMSO. Moreover, a discussion of the relationships between hydrogen acidities and molecular structures is conducted for the first time (determinants of C-H acidities, substituent effects, and some practical use of dehydrometalation). These statistics could be useful for synthetic chemists to design proper routes for introduction of aromatic heterocyclic moiety, especially when dehydrometalation reactions are used.     

Triflic acid promoted synthesis of polycyclic aromatic compounds

The triflic acid (CF₃SO₃H) promoted cyclizations of 2-styrylbiaryls are found to be useful for the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic compounds, including functionalized derivatives of polycyclic aromatic compounds and heterocyclic systems. The reaction involves cationic cyclization followed by an elimination of benzene from the intermediate product.     

Nitroethylene nitroethylation of amines

The nitroethylation of amiens is demonstrated to be a general reaction for bases in the pK_a range of 2 – 8 and that it proceeds through a key intra-molecular quenching step. The reaction, illustrated with aromatic amines, aliphatic amines and heterocyclic bases, offers $\text{inter}$$\text{alia}$ attractive routes to diverse heterocyclic systems.     

CuI/L-Proline-Catalyzed Synthesis of Vinyl Sulfides in 95% Alcohol

A method for the synthesis of vinyl sulfides using the simple CuI/L-proline as a catalyst system is reported. The best yields were obtained in the 95% ethanol with 10 mol% CuI, 20 mol% L-proline, and 1.2 equiv of K₂CO₃. The amino acids act as base and excellent promoter for the copper-catalyzed coupling reactions, and this protocol tolerates both aromatic and heterocyclic thiols and avoids using other expensive additives.     

Cu(I) metal organic framework catalyzed C–C and C–N coupling reactions

DABCO (1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) based Cu(I) metal organic framework (here after represented as Cu(I)-MOF) catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction of iodobenzene and phenylacetylene was conducted smoothly to afford diphenylacetylene in excellent yield under N₂ atmosphere. For comparative study, piperidine based Cu(I) clusters were also investigated. Among these catalysts, Cu(I)-MOF exhibited higher activity with good selectivity for the C–C cross-coupled product. Cu(I) catalysts investigated in this study exhibited similar activity in the C–C homo-coupling reaction of phenylacetylene in O₂ atmosphere. Application of these catalysts was extended in the C–N coupling reactions between phenylboronic acid and aromatic/aliphatic/heterocyclic amines. Cu(I)-MOF can be readily recovered from the reaction mixture and reused for several cycles without loss in the catalytic activity.     

One-Step Dialkoxylation of Aromatic Diamines with Trialkyl Phosphate

Alkylesters of orthophosphoric acids have been used for alkylation of phenols¹, anilines², and nitrogen heterocyclic compounds.³ However, no example is reported on their use as an alkoxylating agent for aromatic amines. We have found that alkyl phosphates can act as alkoxylating agents for aromatic diamines in the presence of H₂O or aqueous H₃PO₄. We now report the one-step dialkoxylation of aromatic diamines such as diaminoanthracene and -naphthalene by trialkyl phosphates.     

Efficient and mild Strecker-type reaction of nitrones catalyzed by MgI2 etherate

An efficient Strecker-type reaction of nitrones with trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) catalyzed by MgI₂ etherate has been achieved in a short time under mild condition. The condensations of aromatic nitrones, heterocyclic nitrones, and aliphatic nitrones with TMSCN are performed in good to excellent yields. Further dehydration of α-cyanohydroxylamine smoothly produced the α-imine nitrile in good yields by hydrolysis with the treatment of 2.0?mol/L HCl in methanol.     

Synthesis of 1,2,4-triazole dendrimers

A convergent synthetic strategy towards novel 1,2,4-triazole dendrimers, in which 3,5-dichloro-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole was used as the heterocyclic building block, was successfully explored. Nucleophilic aromatic substitution at this novel AB₂-monomer was used as the key step in the propagation of the heterocyclic dendrons and these dendrons were attached to both a 1,3,5-triazine and a methylene core. The peripheral 1,2,4-triazole could be varied not only by nucleophilic aromatic substitution but also by Suzuki cross-coupling. The presented dendrimers are promising candidates to be used in applications where the large number of heteroatoms can be exploited or a better resistance to the applied conditions is required.     

Utility and Synthetic Uses of Mannich Reaction: An Efficient Route for Synthesis of Thiadiazino‐[1,3,5][3,2‐a]benzimidazoles

The utilities of the Mannich reaction in synthetic organic chemistry are reviewed. The behaviors of Mannich reactions on several bifunctional heterocyclic compounds have been reported. A new class of heterocyclic compounds, thiadiazino[1,3,5][3,2‐a]benzimidazoles 12a–g, were obtained by reaction of 2‐mercaptobenzimidazole with primary aliphatic amines in a one‐step synthesis. An attempt to apply this reaction using primary aromatic amines lead to the formation of the well‐known Mannich bases 11a–g rather than the N‐substituted thiadiazines 13.     

Phenalenones. IV. Heterocycles from 3-hydroxyphenalenone (I)

3-Hydroxyphenalenone reacts with o-disubstituted benzenes (substituents: NH₂, OH, CH₂OH and SH), aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes to give the various heterocyclic compounds which are fused with phenalene ring. These reactions resemble those of 1,3-cyclohexanediones in many respects.     

Green synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted isoxazol-5(4H)-ones using ZnO@Fe3O4 core–shell nanocatalyst in water

An effective and environmentally benign methodology for the synthesis of isoxazol-5(4H)-one derivatives has been developed using a ZnO@Fe₃O₄ core–shell nanocatalytic system. The one-pot, multicomponent reaction of an aromatic/heterocyclic aldehyde, hydroxylamine hydrochloride and ethyl acetoacetate under aqueous conditions at slightly elevated temperature resulted in the formation of title compounds in extremely good yields. The present new protocol is environmentally friendly as it offers heterocyclization with some interesting promising features such as safety, atom efficiency, low cost, mild conditions, minimal waste, catalyst recyclability, water as a solvent, easy workup and possession of excellent functional group tolerance for the synthesisis of structurally diverse isoxazole derivatives. All products were characterized by spectral and analytical methods. A representative title derivative was studied for its structure by single crystal X-ray diffraction method.     

A Fast and Highly Efficient Protocol for Reductive Amination of Aromatic Aldehydes Using NaBH4 and Isoxazole Amines in an Ionic Liquid Medium

Reductive amination of aromatic aldehydes using NaBH₄ and isoxazole amines is carried out in a Brønsted acidic ionic liquid 1‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [(HMIm)BF₄]. The ionic liquid plays dual roles of solvent as well as catalyst for the efficient transformation of aromatic aldehydes to heterocyclic substituted amines in excellent yields without any undesired side product formation. The newly synthesized compounds ( 3 , 6 and 7 ) were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and mass spectral techniques.     

Cyclopolycondensation. XIII. New synthetic route to fully aromatic poly(heterocyclic imides) with alternating repeating units

Fully aromatic poly(heterocyclic imides) of high molecular weight were prepared by the cyclopolycondensation reactions of aromatic diamines with new monomer adducts prepared by condensing orthodisubstituted aromatic diamines with chloroformyl phthalic anhydrides. The low-temperature solution polymerization techniques yielded tractable poly(amic acid), which was converted to poly(heterocyclic imides) by heat treatment to effect cyclodehydration at 250–400°C under reduced pressure. In this way, the polyaromatic imideheterocycles such as poly(benzoxazinone imides), poly(benzoxazole imides), poly(benzimidazole imides) and poly(benzothiazole imides) were prepared, which have excellent processability and thermal stability both in nitrogen and in air. The poly(amic acids) are soluble in such organic polar solvents as N,N-dimethyl-acetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, and dimethyl sulfoxide, and the films can be cast from the polymer solution of poly(amic acids) (η_inh = 0.8–1.8). The film is made tough by being heated in nitrogen or under reduced pressure to effect cyclodehydration at 300–400°C. The polymerization was carried out by first isolating the monomer adducts, followed by polymerization with aromatic diamines. On subsequently being heated, the open-chain precursor, poly(amic acid), undergoes cyclodehydration along the polymer chain, giving the thermally stable ordered copolymers of the corresponding heterocyclic imide structure.     

Simple Synthesis of 3‐Oxopropanenitriles via Electrophilic Cyanoacetylation of Heterocycles with Mixed Anhydrides

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of 3‐oxopropanenitriles from variously substituted heterocyclic compounds via direct electrophilic cyanoacetylation is described. A series of heterocyclic 3‐oxopropanenitriles ( 2a , 2b , 2c , 2d , 2e , 2f , 2g , 2h , 2i , 2j , 2k ) have been synthesized using mixed anhydride (acetic or trifluoroacetic anhydride:cyanoacetic acid) in the presence of Mg(ClO₄)₂·2H₂O as catalyst. This method can be extended also for the cyanoacetylation of electron poor aromatic compounds.     

AN EFFICIENT PRO CEDURE FOR THE PREPARATION OF MONO,AND DI-BIS-INDOLYL METHANES CATALYZED BY MOLIBDATOPHOSPHORIC ACID

H ₃ PMo ₁₂ O ₄₀ · xH ₂ O was found to be an effective catalyst for the preparation of bis-indolyl derivatives from indole and aromatic, aliphatic, heterocyclic aldehydes or ketones in ethanol at room temperature.     

Catalytic oxidation of thiols to disulfides using iodine and CeCl3·7H2O in graphite

A very simple procedure for the efficient oxidation of thiols to disulfides catalyzed by I₂/CeCl₃·7H₂O in graphite and ethyl acetate as the solvent, in an open system at room temperature is described. The reaction proceeds cleanly under mild conditions and was performed with aromatic, aliphatic, and heterocyclic thiols.     

Mass spectrometric screening and identification of acidic metabolites in fulvic acid fractions of contaminated groundwater

The anaerobic microbial degradation of aromatic and heterocyclic compounds is a prevalent process in contaminated groundwater systems. The introduction of functional groups into the contaminant molecules often results in aromatic and heterocyclic and succinic acids. These metabolites can be used as indicators for prevailing degradation processes. Therefore, there is a strong interest in developing analytical methods for screening and identification of these metabolites. In this study, neutral loss scans (NLS) by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry with losses of CO₂ (NL ?m/z?=?44) and C₂H₄(CO₂)₂ (NL ?m/z?=?116) were applied for the first time successfully to screen selectively for acidic and succinic metabolites of aromatic and heterocyclic contaminants in two fulvic acid fractions from a contaminated site and a downstream region of a tar oil-polluted groundwater. Identification of these preselected signals was performed by high-resolution mass spectrometry with a liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry instrument. High-resolution mass and mass fragmentation data were then compared with a list of known metabolites from a literature search or matched with chemical databases supported with in silico fragmentation. Based on authentic analytical standards, several compounds from NLS were identified (e.g., 4-hydroxy-3-methylbenzoic acid, benzylsuccinic acid, naphthyl-2-methylsuccinic acid, 2-carboxyindane, and 2-carboxybenzothiophene) and tentatively identified (e.g., benzofuranmethylsuccinic acid and dihydrocarboxybenzothiophene) as aromatic, phenolic, heterocyclic, and succinic acids. The acidic metabolites were found exclusively in the contaminated region of the aquifer which indicates active biodegradation processes and no relevant occurrence of acidic metabolites in the downstream region.

In search of the smallest boroxol-type heterocyclic ring system: Planar hexagonal B3S3+ cluster with double 6π/2σ aromaticity

Boroxol (B₃O₃) rings and relevant hexagonal B₃S₃ structural blocks are ubiquitous in boron oxide/sulfide glasses, crystals, and high-temperature liquids. However, the isolation of an ultimate heterocyclic B₃O₃ or B₃S₃ cluster in the free-standing form, with as few as six atoms, has been unsuccessful so far. We report on computational design of the simplest case of such a system: the highly symmetric D_3h B₃S₃⁺ (¹A₁′) cluster. It is the well-defined global minimum on the potential energy surface, following global searches and electronic structure calculations at the B3LYP and single-point CCSD(T) levels. Chemical bonding analysis reveals an ideal system with skeleton Lewis B S σ single bonds and unique double 6π/2σ aromaticity, which underlies its stability. The cluster turns out to be an inorganic analog of the 3,5-dehydrophenyl cation, a typical double π/σ aromatic system. It offers an example for chemical analogy between boron-based heterocyclic clusters and aromatic hydrocarbons. Double π/σ aromaticity is also a new concept in heterocyclic boron clusters. Previous systems such as borazine, boroxine, and boronyl boroxine only deal with π aromaticity as in benzene.