Generation of N‐Heterocycles via Tandem Reactions of N ′‐(2‐Alkynylbenzylidene)hydrazides

As a powerful synthon, N ′‐(2‐alkynylbenzylidene)hydrazides have been utilized efficiently for the construction of N‐heterocycles. Since N ′‐(2‐alkynylbenzylidene)hydrazides can easily undergo intramolecular 6‐endo cyclization promoted by silver triflate or electrophiles, the resulting isoquinolinium‐2‐yl amides can proceed through subsequent transformations including [3 + 2] cycloaddition, nucleophilic addition, and [3 + 3] cycloaddition. Several unexpected rearrangements via radical processes were observed in some cases, which afforded nitrogen‐containing heterocycles with molecular complexity. Reactive partners including internal alkynes, arynes, ketenimines, ketenes, allenoates, and activated alkenes reacted through [3 + 2] cycloaddition and subsequent aromatization, leading to diverse H‐pyrazolo[5,1‐a]isoquinolines with high efficiency. Nucleophilic addition to the in situ generated isoquinolinium‐2‐yl amide followed by aromatization also produced H‐pyrazolo[5,1‐a]isoquinoline derivatives when terminal alkynes, carbonyls, enamines, and activated methylene compounds were used as nucleophiles. Isoquinoline derivatives were obtained when indoles or phosphites were employed as nucleophiles in the reactions of N ′‐(2‐alkynylbenzylidene)hydrazides. A tandem 6‐endo cyclization and [3 + 3] cycloaddition of cyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylates with N ′‐(2‐alkynylbenzylidene)hydrazides was observed as well. Small libraries of these compounds were constructed. Biological evaluation suggested that some compounds showed promising activities for inhibition of CDC25B, TC‐PTP, HCT‐116, and PTP1B.

     

Hydroamination Reactions of Alkynes with ortho‐Substituted Anilines in Ball Mills: Synthesis of Benzannulated N‐Heterocycles by a Cascade Reaction

It was demonstrated that ortho‐substituted anilines are prone to undergo hydroamination reactions with diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in a planetary ball mill. A sequential coupling of the intermolecular hydroamination reaction with intramolecular ring closure was utilized for the syntheses of benzooxazines, quinoxalines, and benzothiazines from readily available building blocks, that is, electrophilic alkynes and anilines with OH, NH, or SH groups in the ortho position. For the heterocycle formation, it was shown that several stress conditions were able to initiate the reaction in the solid state. Processing in a ball mill seemed to be advantageous over comminution with mortar and pestle with respect to process control. In the latter case, significant postreaction modification occurred during solid‐state analysis. Cryogenic milling proved to have an adverse effect on the molecular transformation of the reagents.     

A Transition‐Metal‐Free Synthesis of Multisubstituted Imidazoles

A novel and simple t‐BuOLi/I₂‐mediated synthesis of 1,2,4‐trisubstituted imidazoles was developed without transition‐metal added. The transition‐metal‐free strategy tolerated a range of substrates and provided products in moderate to good yields with 100% regioselectivity.     

Rapid Synthesis of Fused N‐Heterocycles by Transition‐Metal‐Free Electrophilic Amination of Arene CH Bonds

We disclose an efficient and operationally simple protocol for the preparation of fused N‐heterocycles starting from readily available 2‐nitrobiaryls and PhMgBr under mild conditions. More than two dozen N‐heterocycles, including two bioactive natural products, have been synthesized using this method. A stepwise electrophilic aromatic cyclization mechanism was proposed by DFT calculations.     

Efficient Synthesis of Eight‐Membered Nitrogen Heterocycles from O‐Propargylic Oximes by Rhodium‐Catalyzed Cascade Reactions

Azocine derivatives were successfully synthesized from O‐propargylic oximes by means of a Rh‐catalyzed 2,3‐rearrangement/heterocyclization cascade reaction. Moreover, the chirality of the substrate was maintained throughout the cascade process to afford the corresponding optically active azocines.     

Multicomponent Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Unsaturated N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Precursors and Their Related Transition‐Metal Complexes

A low‐cost, modular, and easily scalable multicomponent procedure affording access in good yields and excellent selectivity (up to 93 %) to a wide range of (a)chiral unsymmetrical 1‐aryl‐3‐cycloalkyl‐imidazolium salts is disclosed. Electronic and steric properties of the corresponding unsymmetrical unsaturated N‐heterocyclic carbene (U₂‐NHC) ligands were evaluated and evidenced strong electron donor ability, high steric discrimination, and modular steric demand.     

Advancements in the Synthesis and Applications of Cationic N‐Heterocycles through Transition Metal‐Catalyzed C−H Activation

Cationic N‐heterocycles are an important class of organic compounds largely present in natural and bioactive molecules. They are widely used as fluorescent dyes for biological studies, as well as in spectroscopic and microscopic methods. These compounds are key intermediates in many natural and pharmaceutical syntheses. They are also a potential candidate for organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). Because of these useful applications, the development of new methods for the synthesis of cationic N‐heterocycles has received a lot of attention. In particular, many C?H activation methodologies that realize high step‐ and atom‐economies toward these compounds have been developed. In this review, recent advancements in the synthesis and applications of cationic N‐heterocycles through C?H activation reactions are summarized. The new C?H activation reactions described in this review are preferred over their classical analogs.     

A Facile Access to Polyfunctional Oxygen‐containing Heterocycles via Intramolecularly Formed Protic Oxonium Ylide Trapping Processes

Based on the assumption that intramolecularly formed protic oxonium ylides could be trapped by electrophiles, transition‐metal‐catalyzed reactions of diazoesters bearing a primary hydroxy group with electron‐deficient aldehydes and isatins were examined. Good to high chemo‐ and diastereoselectivities were achieved with reactions catalyzed by Cu(hfacac)₂. The reactions were assumed to occur via tandem intramolecular protic oxonium ylide formation and subsequent aldol‐type addition. They not only provided an efficient entry to 3‐substituted 1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one heterocycles with at least one quaternary carbon center but also provided experimental evidence for a stepwise pathway for the transition‐metal‐catalyzed intramolecular O? H insertion of diazo compounds.     

PdII‐Catalyzed Oxidative Tandem aza‐Wacker/Heck Cyclization for the Construction of Fused 5,6‐Bicyclic N,O‐Heterocycles

A Pd^II‐catalyzed oxidative tandem cyclization was developed for the construction of fused 5,6‐bicyclic N, O‐heterocycles. This reaction was enabled by the combined use of a 3‐methylpyridine ligand and pentafluorobenzoic acid additive. A range of heterocyclic products with different substituents could be prepared in moderate to good yields via this methodology. Several transformations, including a scaled‐up preparation of product 2 a , were also carried out showing the good applicability of our methodology.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene–Phosphinidyne Transition Metal Complexes

The N‐heterocyclic carbene–phosphinidene adduct IPr?PSiMe₃ is introduced as a synthon for the preparation of terminal carbene–phosphinidyne transition metal complexes of the type [(IPr?P)ML_n] (ML_n=(η⁶‐p‐cymene)RuCl) and (η⁵‐C₅Me₅)RhCl). Their spectroscopic and structural characteristics, namely low‐field ³¹P NMR chemical shifts and short metal–phosphorus bonds, show their similarity with arylphosphinidene complexes. The formally mononegative IPr?P ligand is also capable of bridging two or three metal atoms as demonstrated by the preparation of bi‐ and trimetallic RuAu, RhAu, Rh₂, and Rh₂Au complexes.     

Metal‐Free Hydrogen Atom Transfer from Water: Expeditious Hydrogenation of N‐Heterocycles Mediated by Diboronic Acid

A hydrogenation of N‐heterocycles mediated by diboronic acid with water as the hydrogen atom source is reported. A variety of N‐heterocycles can be hydrogenated with medium to excellent yields within 10 min. Complete deuterium incorporation from stoichiometric D₂O onto substrates further exemplifies the H/D atom sources. Mechanism studies reveal that the reduction proceeds with initial 1,2‐addition, in which diboronic acid synergistically activates substrates and water via a six‐membered ring transition state.     

Transition‐Metal‐Free Trifluoromethylthiolation of N‐Heteroarenes

A general and efficient methodology for the direct transition metal free trifluoromethylthiolation of a broad range of biologically relevant N‐heteroarenes is reported employing abundant sodium chloride as the catalyst. This method is operationally simple, exhibits high functional group tolerance, and does not require protecting groups.     

Facile Access to Transition‐Metal–Carbonyl Complexes with an Amidinate‐Stabilized Chlorosilylene Ligand

Three transition‐metal–carbonyl complexes [V( L )(CO)₃(Cp)] ( 1 ), [Co( L )(CO)(Cp)] ( 2 ), and [Co( L₂ )(CO)₃]⁺[CoCO)₄]^? ( 3 ), each containing stable N‐heterocyclic‐chlorosilylene ligands ( L ; L =PhC(NtBu)₂SiCl) were synthesized from [V(CO)₄(Cp)], [Co(CO)₂(Cp)], and Co₂(CO)₈, respectively. Complexes 1 , 2 , 3 were characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, EI‐MS spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The molecular structures of compounds 1 , 2 , 3 were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Cascade Reactions for Synthesis of Carbo‐ and Heterocycles: Selectivity and Diversity

This account describes our recent efforts devoted to gold chemistry since 2009. Based on furyl–Au 1,3‐dipole analogues and related gold carbene intermediates, a rich variety of gold‐catalyzed cascade reactions have been developed, which provide facile access to a diverse range of novel carbo‐ and heterocycles. In these reactions, the selectivity can be well controlled by the catalyst (ligand and metal), substrate or reagent. In addition, we have also developed the corresponding enantioselective variants, which are guided by bis(phosphinegold) complexes derived from axially chiral scaffolds and asymmetric gold/chiral Brønsted acid relay catalysis.     

Access to Oxoquinoline Heterocycles by N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Ester Activation for Selective Reaction with an Enone

Organocatalytic ester activation is developed for a highly selective cascade reaction between saturated esters and amino enones. The reaction involves activation of the β‐carbon atom of the ester as a key step. This method allows a single‐step access to multicyclic oxoquinoline‐type heterocycles with high enantiomeric ratios.