Copper‐Complex‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Aerobic Oxidative Cross‐Coupling of 2‐Naphthols: Enantioselective Synthesis of 3,3′‐Substituted C1‐Symmetric BINOLs

A novel chiral 1,5‐N,N‐bidentate ligand based on a spirocyclic pyrrolidine oxazoline backbone was designed and prepared, and it coordinates CuBr in situ to form an unprecedented catalyst that enables efficient oxidative cross‐coupling of 2‐naphthols. Air serves as an external oxidant and generates a series of C₁‐symmetric chiral BINOL derivatives with high enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee) and good yield (up to 87 %). This approach is tolerant of a broader substrates scope, particularly substrates bearing various 3‐ and 3′‐substituents. A preliminary investigation using one of the obtained C₁‐symmetric BINOL products was used as an organocatalyst, exhibiting better enantioselectivity than the previously reported organocatalyst, for the asymmetric α‐alkylation of amino esters.     

Umpolung Reactions of α‐Imino Esters: Useful Methods for the Preparation of α‐Amino Acid Frameworks

This paper summarizes our recent efforts toward the development of tandem reactions utilizing umpolung reactions of α‐imino esters. A highly diastereoselective tandem N‐alkylation–Mannich reaction of α‐imino esters was developed. A tandem N‐alkylation–addition reaction of α‐imino esters derived from ethyl glyoxylate with various aldehydes proceeded to give 1,2‐amino alcohols. The same reaction also proceeded efficiently using a novel flow system comprising two connected microreactors. Novel syntheses of α‐quaternary alkynyl amino esters and allenoates were developed through the use of umpolung N‐addition to β,γ‐alkynyl α‐imino esters, followed by regioselective acylation. In addition, a highly regioselective tandem N‐alkylation–vinylogous aldol reaction of β,γ‐alkenyl α‐imino esters was discovered. N‐Alkylation of α‐iminophosphonates followed by a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction with aldehydes occurred to afford enamines, which can be used in a four‐component coupling reaction with methyl vinyl ketone. α‐N‐Acyloxyimino esters served as highly efficient substrates for the N,N,C‐trialkylation reaction to introduce various nucleophiles at the imino nitrogen and carbon atoms.     

Development of Chemo‐ and Enantioselective Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of α‐Nitroesters

We describe the development of a Pd‐catalyzed decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation of α‐nitro allyl esters to afford acyclic tetrasubstituted nitroalkanes. Optimization of the reaction parameters revealed unique ligand and solvent combinations crucial for achieving chemo‐ and enantioselective C‐alkylation of electronically challenging benzylic nitronates and sterically encumbered 2‐allyl esters. Substrates were efficiently accessed in a combinatorial fashion by a cross‐Claisen/ α‐arylation sequence. The method provides functional group orthogonality that complements nucleophilic imine allylation strategies for α‐tertiary amine synthesis.     

Synthesis of Novel 2‐Amino‐(2‐thioxo‐3‐alkyl‐4‐methyl‐3H‐thiazol‐5‐yl)‐[1,3,4]thiadiazole Derivatives and Their Growth Stimulant Activity

On the base of synthesized 2‐amino and 2‐ethylamino‐(2‐thioxo‐3‐alkyl‐4‐methyl‐3H‐thiazol‐5‐yl)‐[1,3,4]thiadiazoles, their alkyl, acetyl, and alkylacetylamino derivatives are obtained. The alkylation of 2‐ethylamino derivatives can occur at both exo and endo nitrogen atoms of amidine group, and the acetylation takes place exclusively at the exocyclic nitrogen atom. At acetylation of 2‐amino‐[1,3,4]thiadiazoles, only exo substitution is observed. At the further alkylation of these products, a mixture of exo‐ and endo‐substituted forms is obtained. At preliminary screening, the synthesized compounds have shown expressed growth stimulant properties. The activity of the most active derivatives was in the range of 65–100%, compared with that of heteroauxin.     

Synthesis of indazol‐4,7‐dione derivatives as potential trypanocidal agents

The synthesis of new indazol‐4,7‐dione derivatives via 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of diazomethane with 2,3‐dimethyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone ( 2 ) and 1,4‐naphthoquinone ( 7 ) followed by N‐alkylation of the pyrazol nitrogen atom of the corresponding quinones ( 3 ) and ( 8 ) with methyl chloroacetate is described. A series of amides from esters ( 5 ) and ( 10 ) were also obtained. These compounds were tested in vitro as potential anti‐trypanosomal agents. Compounds ( 4 ) and ( 8 ) were found to have significant activity.     

Detailed Studies of the Alkylation Sides of Pyridin‐2‐yl and 4,6‐Dimethylpyrimidin‐2‐yl‐cyanamides

Pyridin‐2‐yl‐ and 4,6‐dimethylpyrimidin‐2‐yl‐cyanamides entered into an alkylation reaction in the form of sodium salts. Pyridin‐2‐yl cyanamide 2 was alkylated at endo‐nitrogen atom of pyridine ring, while 4,6‐dimethylpyrimidin‐2‐yl cyanamide 1 was effectively alkylated at exo‐nitrogen atom of amino cyanamide group. The alkylation of cyanamides 1 and 2 with phenacylbromide gave the corresponding acetophenone derivatives. As a result of their intramolecular cyclization reactions 3‐(4,6‐dimethylpyrimidin‐2‐yl)‐5‐phenyloxazol‐2(3H )‐imine in the case of cyanamide 1 and 2‐amino‐3‐benzoylimidazo[1,2‐a ]pyridine in the case of cyanamide 2 were formed. The alkylated derivatives of pyridin‐2‐ylcyanamide 2 possess visible blue fluorescence with the main peak at 421 – 427 nm.     

SN1‐Type Substitution Reactions of N‐Protected β‐Hydroxytyrosine Esters: Stereoselective Synthesis of β‐Aryl and β‐Alkyltyrosines

The title compounds were prepared by aldol reaction of anisaldehyde and the respective N,N‐dibenzyl glycinates. Deprotection of the nitrogen atom with Pearlman’s catalyst delivered the unprotected β‐hydroxytyrosine esters, which were further N‐protected as N,N‐phthaloyl (Phth) and N‐fluorenylmethylcarbonyloxy (Fmoc) derivatives. The Friedel–Crafts reaction with various arenes was studied employing these alcohols as electrophiles. It turned out that the facial diastereoselectivitiy depends on the nitrogen protecting group and on the ester group. The unprotected substrates (NH₂) gave preferentially syn‐products but the anti‐selectivity increased when going from NHFmoc over NPhth to NBn₂. If the ester substituent was varied the syn‐preference increased in the order Me <Et <iPr. The reactions were shown to be fully stereoconvergent and proceeded under kinetic product control. A model is suggested to explain the facial diastereoselectivity based on a conformationally locked benzylic cation intermediate. The reactions are preparatively useful for the N‐unprotected isopropyl ester, which gave Friedel–Crafts alkylation products with good syn‐selectivity (anti/syn=21:79 to 7:93), and for the N,N‐dibenzyl‐protected methyl ester, which led preferentially to anti‐products (anti/syn=80:20 to >95:5). Upon acetylation of the latter compound to the respective acetate, Bi(OTf)₃‐catalyzed alkylation reactions became possible, in which silyl enol ethers served as nucleophiles. The respective alkylation products were obtained in high yield and with excellent anti‐selectivitiy (anti/syn≥95:5).     

Synthesis of 4‐hydroxyquinolin‐2(1H)‐one analogues and 2‐substituted quinolone derivatives

A versatile synthetic method for preparing 4‐hydroxyquinolone and 2‐substituted quinolone compounds from simple benzoic acid derivatives was demonstrated. The synthetic strategies involve the use of well known ethyl acetoacetate synthesis, malonic ester synthesis and reductive cyclization. The key intermediates were keto esters 4a‐e , which could be transformed to 4‐hydroxyquinolones 5a,b or 2‐substituted quinolone ethyl esters 6a‐c depending on the reaction conditions. 4‐Hydroxyquinolone analogues were prepared and investigated for N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) activity in vitro. Among these derivatives, 6,7‐difluoro‐3‐nitro‐4‐hydroxyquinolin‐2(1H)‐one ( 9 ) exhibited moderate activity.     

Enantioselective Rhodium‐Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation of β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Amino Nitriles: Synthetic Homoenolate Equivalents

An enantioselective rhodium‐catalyzed allylic alkylation of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐amino nitriles is described. This protocol provides a novel approach for the construction of β‐stereogenic carbonyl derivatives via the catalytic asymmetric alkylation of a homoenolate equivalent. The particularly challenging nature of this transformation is highlighted by the fact that three modes of selectivity must be manipulated, namely regio‐ and enantioselectivity, in addition to geometrical control. The γ‐stereogenic cyanoenamine products can be readily hydrolyzed in situ to afford the β‐substituted carboxylic acids, which in turn provide expedient access to a number of related carbonyl derivatives. Additionally, control experiments indicate that the chiral rhodium‐allyl intermediate facilitates the selective formation of the E‐cyanoenamine products, which is critical since the Z‐isomer affords significantly lower enantiocontrol.     

4H‐thieno[3,4‐e]‐ and 4H‐pyrazolo[4,3‐e]‐1,2,4‐thiadiazine 1,1‐dioxides synthesis,chemical properties and evaluation of their Potential Cardiovascular Activity

This paper deals with the synthesis of a number of new 4H‐thieno[3,4‐e] and 4H‐pyrazolo[4,3‐e]‐1,2,4‐thiadiazine 1,1‐dioxide derivatives 1, the study of their chemical behavior in some alkylation reactions and the evaluation of their vasorelaxant effects on spontaneous motility and on tension responses to increased extracellular KCl concentrations in isolated rat portal vein.     

Synthesis of Non‐Racemic 1‐Hydroxycycloalkene‐1‐carboxylic‐Acid Derivatives by Metathesis of α,α‐Dialkylated Glycolate Derivatives

A particularly flexible general way to synthesize 1‐hydroxycycloalkene‐1‐carboxylic‐acid derivatives from 2‐(tert‐butyl)‐2‐methyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐4‐one ( 1 ), a chiral equivalent of glycolic acid, is reported. The method is based on a double enolate alkylation of the glycolate derivative, followed by ring closing metathesis. A formal synthesis of (−)‐quinic acid is reported to demonstrate the potential of this approach.     

Visible‐Light‐Driven N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed γ‐ and ϵ‐Alkylation with Alkyl Radicals

The merging of photoredox catalysis and N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis for γ‐ and ?‐alkylation of enals with alkyl radicals was developed. The alkylation reaction of γ‐oxidized enals with alkyl halides worked well for the synthesis γ‐multisubstituted‐α,β‐unsaturated esters, including those with challenging vicinal all‐carbon quaternary centers. The synthesis of ?‐multisubstituted‐α,β‐γ,δ‐diunsaturated esters by an unprecedented NHC‐catalyzed ?‐functionalization was also established.     

A General and Mild Catalytic α‐Alkylation of Unactivated Esters Using Alcohols

Catalytic α‐alkylation of esters with primary alcohols is a desirable process because it uses low‐toxicity agents and generates water as the by‐product. Reported herein is a NCP pincer/Ir catalyst which is highly efficient for α‐alkylation of a broad scope of unactivated esters under mild reaction conditions. For the first time, alcohols alkylate unactivated α‐substituted acyclic esters, lactones, and even methyl and ethyl acetates. This method can be applied to the synthesis of carboxylic acid derivatives with diverse structures and functional groups, some of which would be impossible to access by conventional enolate alkylations with alkyl halides.     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of N‐Aryl‐4‐(cyano/alkoxycarbonyl)‐5‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H/3H‐1,2,3‐triazole Derivatives

A convenient synthesis of a new series of N‐aryl‐5‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H/3H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐4‐carbonitriles and alkyl N‐aryl‐5‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H/3H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐4‐carboxylic acid esters is reported. The newly synthesized 5‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1,2,3‐triazole derivatives are evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activity. Some of these triazole derivatives have exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity.     

Synthesis and In vitro Antitumor Screening of Novel 2,7‐Naphthyridine‐3‐carboxylic Acid Derivatives

New derivatives of 2,7‐naphthyridine‐3‐carboxylic acid were synthesized. We report the hydrolysis, chlorination, alkylation, and amination of the 2,7‐naphthyridine esters 1 , 2 . A series of Schiff's bases 8a , 8b , 8c , 8d , 8e , 8f , 8g , 8h , 8i , 8j , 9a , 9b , 9b' , 9c , 9d , 9e were produced by treating the obtained hydrazides 6 and 7 with aromatic aldehydes. The anticancer activities of the obtained derivatives were examined. Eighteen of the 24 newly synthesized compounds were qualified by the National Cancer Institute NCI (Bethesda, MD, USA) for in vitro screening against 60 different human tumor cell lines. The most active compound 8i was evaluated against a 60‐cell panel at five concentration levels and proved to be most sensitive towards central nervous system cancer (SF‐539), with GI₅₀ = 0.70 µmol, total growth inhibition = 5.41 µmol, and LC₅₀ = 53.7 µmol.     

Synthesis of 4,5,6,7‐Tetrabromo‐1H‐benzimidazole Derivatives

A convenient and simple method for the preparation of polybrominated benzimidazole derivatives has been described. Reaction of 4,5,6,7‐tetrabromo‐1‐(3‐chloropropyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole, obtained by alkylation of 4,5,6,7‐tetrabromo‐1H‐benzimidazole (TBBi) with 1‐bromo‐3‐chloropropane in the presence of KOH, with morpholine, aniline, benzylamine, N‐methyl piperazine, and 2‐arylpyrrolidines afforded new TBBi derivatives.     

Behavior of 3(2‐pyridinylmethylene)‐5‐aryl‐2(3H)‐furanones and 3(3‐pyridinylmethylene)‐5‐aryl‐2(3H)‐furanones as alkylating agents: A comparative study

3(2‐pyridinylmethylene)‐5‐aryl‐2(3H)‐furanones and 3(3‐pyridinylmethylene)‐5‐aryl‐2(3H)‐furanones were prepared as a mixture of (E) and (Z) stereoisomers by condensing pyridine‐2‐carboxaldehyde and pyridine‐3‐carboxaldehyde with 3‐aroylpropionic acids. The reaction of the furanones 6 and 7 with anhydrous aluminium chloride in benzene led to the formation of 4,4‐diaryl‐1‐(2‐pyridinyl)but‐1,3‐diene ( 8 ) and 4,4‐diaryl‐1‐(3‐pyridinyl)but‐1,3‐diene ( 9 ) as mixtures of geometrical (E,E‐ and E,Z‐) stereoisomers via an intermolecular alkylation mode. When the reaction was carried out in tetrachloroethane as a solvent, the reaction of 6 gave 5‐arylquinoline‐7‐carboxylic acid via intramolecular alkylation mode. This may be considered as a novel method for the synthesis of quinoline derivatives. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

C‐Selective and Diastereoselective Alkyl Addition to β,γ‐Alkynyl‐α‐imino Esters with Zinc(II)ate Complexes

Since umpolung α‐imino esters contain three electrophilic centers, regioselective alkyl addition with traditional organometallic reagents has been a serious problem in the practical synthesis of versatile chiral α‐amino acid derivatives. An unusual C‐alkyl addition to α‐imino esters using a Grignard reagent (RMgX)‐derived zinc(II)ate was developed. Zinc(II)ate complexes consist of a Lewis acidic [MgX]⁺ moiety, a nucleophilic [R₃Zn]^? moiety, and 2 [MgX₂]. Therefore, the ionically separated [R₃Zn]^? selectively attacks the imino carbon atom ,which is most strongly activated by chelation of [MgX]⁺. In particular, chiral β,γ‐alkynyl‐α‐imino esters can strongly promote highly regio‐ and diastereoselective C‐alkylation because of structural considerations, and the corresponding optically active α‐quaternary amino acid derivatives are obtained within 5 minutes in high to excellent yields.     

Synthesis of heterocyclic compounds using amidines as their ene‐1,1‐diamine tautomers. II. Synthesis of 2,3‐dihydropyridine, 3,4‐dihydropyridine and 3,4‐dihydropyrrol‐2‐one derivatives by the reaction of amidines with α, β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds

N‐t‐Butylacetamidines 1 on heating with methyl vinyl ketone, acrolein or crotonaldehyde gave the 2,3‐dihydropyridine derivatives 4,5 or 6 via N‐alkylation of the acetamidines 1 . Reaction of amidines 1 with phenyl 1‐propenyl ketone, benzalacetone or chalcone gave 3,4‐dihydropyridine derivatives 8, 9 or 10 . These were obtained by C‐alkylation, achieved by Michael addition of the acetamidines 1 as their N,C‐tautomers ene‐1,1‐diamines 1 ′ to α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds, and subsequent cyclodehydration of adducts. Reaction of 1 with ethyl 3‐benzoylacrylate gave 3,4‐dihydropyrrol‐2‐one derivatives 13 .     

Highly Enantioselective Formation of α‐Allyl‐α‐Arylcyclopentanones via Pd‐Catalysed Decarboxylative Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation

A highly enantioselective Pd‐catalysed decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation of cyclopentanone derived α‐aryl‐β‐keto esters employing the (R,R)‐ANDEN‐phenyl Trost ligand has been developed. The product (S)‐α‐allyl‐α‐arylcyclopentanones were obtained in excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to >99.9 % ee). This represents one of the most highly enantioselective formations of an all‐carbon quaternary stereogenic center reported to date. This reaction was demonstrated on a 4.0 mmol scale without any deterioration of enantioselectivity and was exploited as the key enantioselective transformation in an asymmetric formal synthesis of the natural product (+)‐tanikolide.