Asymmetric Synthesis of Spirocyclic β‐Lactams through Copper‐Catalyzed Kinugasa/Michael Domino Reactions

The first copper‐catalyzed highly chemo‐, regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselective Kinugasa/Michael domino reaction for the desymmetrization of prochiral cyclohexadienones is described. In the presence of a chiral copper catalyst, alkyne‐tethered cyclohexadienones couple with nitrones to generate the chiral spirocyclic lactams with excellent stereoselectivity (up to 97 % ee, >20:1 dr). The new method provides direct access to versatile highly functionalized spirocyclic β‐lactams possessing four contiguous stereocenters, including one quaternary and one tetra‐substituted stereocenter.     

Synthesis of 3,4‐Fused Tricyclic Indoles Using 3‐Alkylidene Indolines as Versatile Precursors

In this personal account, our recent studies of novel synthetic methods of 3,4‐fused tricyclic indole derivatives using 3‐alkylidene indoline derivatives as versatile precursors are discussed. Two types of cascade reactions producing 3,4‐fused tricyclic 3‐alkylidene indolines were developed based on a palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular Heck insertion to an allene‐allylic amination cascade and a platinum‐catalyzed intramolecular Friedel‐Crafts type C?H coupling‐allylic amination cascade. Furthermore, three types of 3,4‐fused tricyclic indoles were accessible from a single 3‐alkylidene indoline precursor via acid‐promoted olefin isomerization or oxidative treatments. The application of the developed methods to the synthesis of natural products bearing a 3,4‐fused tricyclic indole skeleton, (?)‐aurantioclavine, fargesine, and synthetic studies of dragmacidin E are also highlighted.     

A Convenient Synthesis of Imidazolidin‐4‐ones via Domino Reactions

A series of imidazolidin‐4‐one derivatives was synthesized via a domino reaction of aldiminoesters and dialkylzinc. Chiral ligands were also examined in this reaction to obtain optically active products.     

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.     

Nitriles in Heterocyclic Synthesis: Reactivity of 2‐(Benzothiazol‐2‐ylmethyl)‐1,3‐thiazol‐4(5H)‐one towards α,β‐Unsaturated Nitriles

The reaction of 2‐(benzothiazol‐2‐ylmethyl)‐1,3‐thiazol‐4(5H)‐one 1 with α,β‐cinnamonitrile derivatives 2a‐n have been reported.     

Synthesis of Some New Spiro,Isolated and Fused Heterocycles Based on 1H‐indole‐2‐One

The reaction of 3‐benzoylcyanomethylidine‐1(H)‐indole‐2‐one ( 1 ) with a variety of active methylene compounds, thioglycolic acid, glycine, hydrazine hydrate and phenyl hydrazine led to the formation of compounds 4a‐d‐10 . 3‐Thiosemicarbazide‐1(H)‐indole‐2‐one 2 on reaction with α‐halocarbonyl compounds gave compounds 11a‐c, 12a‐c . The latter compounds on heating with phosphoryl chloride, cyclization takes place via losing water to give the angular tetracyclic compounds 13a,b and 14a‐c . Cyanoacetic hydrazone derivative 3 readily cyclized upon heating in triethyl orthoformate to give the tricyclic system, oxopyridazino indole 15 . On the other hand, the reaction of 3 with benzylidine malononitrile and benzylidene ethylcyanoactate gave the pyranyl hydrazone derivatives 16a,b .     

Redox‐Neutral Coupling between Two C(sp3)−H Bonds Enabled by 1,4‐Palladium Shift for the Synthesis of Fused Heterocycles

The intramolecular coupling of two C(sp³)?H bonds to forge a C(sp³)?C(sp³) bond is enabled by 1,4‐Pd shift from a trisubstituted aryl bromide. Contrary to most C(sp³)?C(sp³) cross‐dehydrogenative couplings, this reaction operates under redox‐neutral conditions, with the C?Br bond acting as an internal oxidant. Furthermore, it allows the coupling between two moderately acidic primary or secondary C?H bonds, which are adjacent to an oxygen or nitrogen atom on one side, and benzylic or adjacent to a carbonyl group on the other side. A variety of valuable fused heterocycles were obtained from easily accessible ortho‐bromophenol and aniline precursors. The second C?H bond cleavage was successfully replaced with carbonyl insertion to generate other types of C(sp³)‐C(sp³) bonds.