Pd2dba3/P(i-BuNCH2CH2)3N: a highly efficient catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of trans-4-N,N-diarylaminostilbenes and N,N-diarylaminostyrenes

A Pd₂dba₃/P(i-BuNCH₂CH₂)₃N catalyzed one-pot synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted trans-4-N,N-diarylaminostilbenes and both symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted N,N-diarylaminostyrene derivatives is reported. The procedure involves two or more palladium catalyzed sequential coupling reactions (an amination and an inter-molecular Heck reaction) in one-pot using the same catalyst system with two different aryl halides, including aryl chlorides and hetero aryl halides as the coupling partners.     

Stereoselective radical cyclizations of N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,X(X=O, S)-acetals

2-Alkyloxazolines and 2-alkylthiazolines react with 2-halobenzoyl chlorides to form N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,O-acetals and N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,S-acetals in excellent yields, respectively. These ketene acetals readily undergo stereocontrolled aryl radical cyclizations to afford the central six-membered rings of substituted-2,3,10,10α-tetrahydrooxazolo[3,2-b]isoquinolin-5-ones and their 2,3,10,10α-tetrahydrothiazolo[3,2-b]isoquinolin-5-one analogs. The tertiary N,O- and N,S-radicals formed upon aryl radical reaction at the ketene-N,X(X=O, S)-acetal double bond appear to have reasonable stability. The stereoselectivity in hydrogen abstractions by these intermediate radicals from both Bu₃SnH and (Me₃Si)₃SiH was investigated. The N,S-heterocyclic fused ring products may have potential medical value.     

Alkynylation of N-tosylimines with aryl acetylenes promoted by ZnBr2 and N,N-diisopropylethylamine in acetonitrile

We found a suitable condition for the effective alkynylation of N-tosylimines with aryl acetylenes. The reaction of N-tosylimines and aryl acetylenes in the presence of ZnBr₂ and DIEA (N,N-diisopropylethylamine) in CH₃CN afforded the desired N-tosyl propargylamines in moderate to good yields.     

DAB-Cy as an inexpensive and effective ligand for palladium-catalyzed homocoupling reaction of aryl halides

A novel catalytic system of PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂ with N,N′-dicyclohexyl-1,4-diazabutadiene (DAB-Cy) ligand was successfully used in reductive coupling of aryl halides.     

New strategy for the synthesis of N-aryl pyrroles: Cu-catalyzed C-N cross-coupling reaction of trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline with aryl halides

trans-4-Hydroxy-l-proline is used for the first time as an effective nucleophilic coupling partner with aryl halides mediated by copper iodide with Cs₂CO₃ as the base and DMSO as the solvent. Utilizing this protocol cross-coupling of trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline with a wide variety of substituted aryl halides to produce N-aryl pyrroles in moderate to good yields.     

Transition-metal-free approach to synthesis of indolines from N-(ortho-chloromethyl)aryl amides and iodonium ylides

A transition-metal-free method for the synthesis of indolines has been developed. In the presence of K₂CO₃, the cyclization reaction of N-(ortho-chloromethyl)aryl amides and iodonium ylides proceeded smoothly at room temperature in moderate to good yields.     

Synthesis of N-aryl-aza-crown ethers via Pd-catalyzed amination reactions of aryl chlorides with aza-crown ethers

The Pd₂(dba)₃/P(i-BuNCH₂CH₂)₃N (1) catalyst system effectively catalyzes the coupling of aza-crown ethers with electronically diverse aryl chlorides, affording N-aryl-aza-crown ethers in good yields. The Pd₂(dba)₃/P(i-BuNCH₂)₃CMe (2) catalyst system containing the more constrained bicyclic triaminophosphine is useful for aryl chlorides possessing base-sensitive ester, nitro, and nitrile functional groups.     

Regioselective synthesis of substituted 1-indanols, 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans and 2,3-dihydroindoles by electrochemical radical cyclization using an arene mediator

Electrochemical reduction of haloarenes carrying 2-(1-hydroxybut-3-enyl), 2-allyloxy or N-allyl-N-methylamino group in the presence of phenanthrene as a mediator generated the corresponding aryl radicals and gave the corresponding 5-exo cyclization products in good yields. Higher regio- and stereoselectivities than those of usual radical cyclization using AIBN-Bu₃SnH were achieved.     

Facile N-tert-butoxycarbonylation of amines using La(NO3)3·6H2O as a mild and efficient catalyst under solvent-free conditions

Facile N-tert-butoxycarbonylation of amines is described by the treatment of various primary, secondary, benzylic and aryl amines with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate in the presence of catalytic amounts of La(NO₃)₃·6H₂O under solvent-free conditions at room temperature to afford N-tert-butylcarbamates in excellent yields.     

Synthesis of meso-furyl porphyrins with N4, N3S, N2S2 and N3O porphyrin cores

A series of meso-furyl porphyrins with four different porphyrin cores (N₄, N₃S, N₂S₂ and N₃O) were synthesized and characterized. The comparison of NMR, optical and fluorescence properties of meso-furyl porphyrins with porphyrins with six-membered aryl groups indicates that electronic properties of porphyrins were changed drastically on the introduction of furyl groups at meso positions. The maximum shifts in spectral bands were observed for meso-furyl porphyrins with N₂S₂ core. On protonation, the absorption bands of meso-furyl porphyrins were further red shifted. All these changes were ascribed to the possibility of more planarity of the meso-furyl porphyrins due to the small size of the furyl groups which results in extending the π-delocalisation of the porphyrin ring in to the furyl groups.     

Palladium-catalyzed C–S bond formation by using N-amido imidazolium salts as ligands

N-Amido imidazolium salt was employed as a ligand in the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides and thiols, and showed good activity in the formation of thioether. The best combination for the coupling with aryl bromides was N-amido imidazolium salt 2 and NaHMDS, and that for the coupling with aryl iodides was N-amido imidazolium salt 1 and KO^tBu. The coupling reactions were conducted in the presence of Pd(OAc)₂ (1 mol %) in DMSO at 80 °C for 12 h.     

AlCl3 induced C-N bond formation followed by Pd/C-Cu mediated coupling-cyclization strategy: synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines as anticancer agents

AlCl₃ facilitated C-N bond forming reaction between 2,3-dichloroquinoxaline and anilines affording a convenient method for the preparation of N-aryl substituted 3-chloroquinoxalin-2-amines. A related N-benzyl derivative, however, was prepared via a conventional method. These N-alkyl/aryl substituted 3-chloroquinoxalin-2-amines on coupling with terminal alkynes in toluene under Pd/C-Cu catalysis afforded a range of 1,2-disubstituted pyrrolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines within 3-5 h in good to excellent yields. Some of the compounds synthesized showed promising anti-proliferative properties when tested in vitro against two cancer cell lines. Docking studies indicated that these molecules interact well with human Akt in silico.     

Spin trapping of alkoxyl radicals generated from 5-methyl and 5-aryl-3-alkoxy-4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thiones in photochemically induced and microwave-initiated reactions

Methoxyl and isopropoxyl radicals were generated from N-alkoxy-4,5-dimethylthiazole-2(3H)-thiones (λ_max∼320 nm) and 5-aryl derivatives (aryl=p-XC₆H₄; X=MeO, H, AcNH, Cl) (λ_max∼335 nm) in photochemically and microwave-induced reactions. Alkoxyl radicals were trapped with dimethylpyrrolidine N-oxide and characterized as spin adducts via EPR. Cumyloxyl radicals were liberated in a similar manner from N-cumyloxy-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thione. A noteworthy bathochromic shift was found for the lowest energy transition of N-(hydroxy)indeno[2,1-d]thiazole-2(3H)-thione (λ_max=376 nm), if compared to the UV-vis absorption of N-hydroxy-4-methyl-5-phenylthiazole-2(3H)-thione (λ_max=338 nm). Syntheses of alkoxyl radical precursors and procedures for conducting N,O-homolysis are described in a full account.     

Solvent-controlled selective synthesis of a trans-configured benzimidazoline-2-ylidene palladium(II) complex and investigations of its Heck-type catalytic activity

Reaction of N,N′-dimethylbenzimidazolyl iodide (A) with Pd(OAc)₂ in DMSO gives selectively trans-bis(N,N′-dimethylbenzimidazoline-2-ylidene) palladium(II) diiodide (trans-2) in 77% yield. The selective formation of the trans-coordination isomer and thus the cis-trans rearrangement is driven by the insolubility of trans-2 in DMSO. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy confirm the trans-geometry of the square planar Pd(II) complex. Catalytic studies show that cis-1 and trans-2 are highly efficient in the Mizoroki-Heck coupling reaction of aryl bromides and activated aryl chlorides both in DMF and [N(n-C₄H₉)₄]Br as ionic liquid. The catalytic activities of Pd(II) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands derived from benzimidazole are comparable to their imidazole-derived analogues.     

Highly efficient synthesis of aryl ketones by PEPPSI-palladium catalyzed acylative Suzuki coupling of amides with diarylborinic acids

An improved acylative cross-coupling of various N-methyl-N-tosyl amides with diarylborinic acids for synthesis of aryl ketones is developed. In most cases, aryl ketones could be obtained in excellent yields by using 1?mol% 2,6-diisopropylphenylimidazolylidene and 3-chloropyridine co-supported palladium chloride as catalyst in the presence of 3 equiv. K₂CO₃ as base in refluxing THF. The readily prepared and cost-effective substrates, N-methyl-N-tosylamides and diarylborinic acids, and the commercially available catalyst system promise a practical and efficient access to aryl ketones.     

A novel synthesis of N(1)-(substituted)-pyrimido[5,4-e]-1,2,4-triazine-5,7(1H,6H)-diones

A new synthesis of N₁-(substituted)-pyrimido[5,4-e]-1,2,4-triazine-5,7(1H,6H)-diones, which are analogues of the natural product toxoflavin, is reported. Condensation of preformed alkyl or aryl hydrazones with 6-chloro-3-methyl-5-nitrouracil efficiently provides pyrimidotriazinediones in a three-step process that broadens the scope of R₁ substituents.     

Total synthesis and structure revision of deacetylravidomycin M

Total synthesis of the unnatural enantiomer of deacetylravidomycin M was accomplished. The key steps include, (1) aryl C-glycosidation of the azido-bearing fucosyl acetate 2 by using catalytic Sc(OTf)₃, (2) the [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of alkoxybenzyne bearing an azido sugar to ketene silyl acetal, and (3) the ring expansion reaction of alkoxybenzocyclobutenone. The synthesis revealed that the natural product is not the proposed amine, but the corresponding N-oxide.     

An efficient and simple Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction based on the N-methylpyrrolidine-Ba(OH)2 catalytic system

By using of precise catalytic amount of N-methylpyrrolidine (5 mol %) and Ba(OH)₂ (1.5 mol %) in H₂O/CH₃OH 5/1 or CH₃OH/CH₂Cl₂ 3/1 solvent mixtures at T=0 °C a Morita-Baylis-Hillman derivatives could be obtained in good to excellent yield from 2-cyclopenten-1-one, 2-cyclohexen-1-one and formaldehyde and diverse aryl aldehydes after suitable reaction time.     

A Keggin heteropoly acid as an efficient catalyst for an expeditious, one-pot synthesis of 1-methyl-2-(hetero)arylbenzimidazoles

The Keggin heteropoly acid, silicotungstic acid, H₄SiW₁₂O₄₀, has been demonstrated to be highly efficient for an expeditious, one-pot synthesis of 1-methyl-2-(hetero)arylbenzimidazoles from N-methyl-1,2-phenylenediamine and (hetero)aryl aldehydes in ethyl acetate at room temperature. The catalyst works equally well for N-phenyl-1,2-phenylenediamine.     

Fluorination and chlorination of nitroalkyl groups

Heterocycles substituted with a nitromethyl (CH₂NO₂) or phenyl-nitromethyl (CHPhNO₂) group were prepared by reaction of a methyl- or phenylmethyl-substituted heterocycle, respectively, with lithium di-isopropylamide followed by quenching the intermediate carbanion with methyl nitrate. Conversion of CH₂NO₂ attached to an alkyl or aryl moiety into a dichloronitromethyl (CCl₂NO₂) group was achieved using N-chlorosuccinimide and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in dichloromethane. Similarly, CH₂NO₂ attached to an alkyl or aryl group was converted into difluoronitromethyl (CF₂NO₂) using either 1-chloromethyl-4-fluoro-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis(tetrafluoroborate) (Selectfluor™) or N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide with DBU as base and dichloromethane as solvent. Reaction of ω-nitroacetophenone with Selectfluor/DBU in dimethylformamide followed by acidification and distillation gave the parent difluoronitromethane in a useful ‘one-pot’ procedure.