Microwave-assisted solid-phase organic synthesis (MASPOS) as a key step for an indole library construction

[reaction: see text] Microwave-assisted solid-phase organic synthesis (MASPOS) has been demonstrated to significantly facilitate the Cu(II)- or Pd(II)-mediated ring closure of the resin-bound 2-alkynylanilides. Under microwave irradiation at 200 degrees C [for Cu(OAc)(2), NMP] or 160 degrees C [for Pd(MeCN)(2)Cl(2), THF] for 10 min, 1-acyl-2-alkyl-5-arenesulfamoylindoles were obtained, after cleavage from the resin, in 95-99% purities and in 65-82% overall yields via a 5-step synthetic sequence.     

Radical-initiated cyclization as a key step for the synthesis of oxoprotoberberine alkaloids

The oxoprotoberberine alkaloids 1a-d have been synthesized efficiently from the enamide derivatives 2a-d by a radical-initiated cyclization reaction utilizing n-Bu₃SnH/AIBN and CuCl. The enamide derivatives 2a-d were prepared from phenylethylamine analogues 5a-b, followed by acylation with acetic anhydride, Bischler-Napieralski cyclization with POCl₃ and benzoylation with the corresponding bromobenzoyl chloride, respectively.     

One-pot reductive-cyclization as key step for the synthesis of rutaecarpine alkaloids

The quinazolinocarboline alkaloids including rutaecarpine (1a), euxylophoricine A (1b), and euxylophoricine C (1c) have been synthesized efficiently from the ring opened β-carboline derivative as key intermediate by a one-pot reductive-cyclization reaction. The key intermediate was prepared from tryptamine (6) following Bischler-Napieralski cyclization, benzoylation, and oxidative cleavage of the exocyclic double bond.     

Pt(II)-mediated nitrile-tetramethylguanidine coupling as a key step for a novel synthesis of 1,6-dihydro-1,3,5-dihydrotriazines

The coupling between tetramethylguanidine, HN=C(NMe2)2, and coordinated organonitriles in the platinum(II) complexes cis/trans-[PtCl2(RCN)2] (R = Me, Et, Ph) proceeds rapidly under mild conditions to afford the diimino compounds containing two N-bound monodentate 1,3-diaza-1,3-diene ligands [PtCl2{NH=C(R)N=C(NMe2)2}2] (R = Et, trans-1; R = Ph, trans-2; R = Me, cis-3; R = Et, cis-4), and this reaction is the first observation of metal-mediated nucleophilic addition of a guanidine to ligated nitrile. Complexes 1-4 were characterized by elemental analyses (C, H, N), X-ray diffraction, FAB mass spectrometry, IR, and 1H and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopies; assignment of signals from E/Z-forms of 1,3-diaza-1,3-diene ligands and verification of routes for their Z right harpoon over left harpoon E isomerization in solution were performed using 2D 1H,1H-COSY, 1H,13C-HETCOR, and 1D NOE NMR experiments. The newly formed and previously unknown 1,3-diaza-1,3-dienes NH=C(R)N=C(NMe2)2 were liberated from the platinum(II) complexes [PtCl2{NH=C(R)N=C(NMe2)2}2] (1-3) by substitution with 2 equiv of 1,2-bis-(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) to give the uncomplexed HN=C(R)N=C(NMe2)2 species (5-7) in solution and the solid [Pt(dppe)2](Cl)2. The former were utilized in situ, after filtration of the latter, in the reaction with 1,3-di-p-tolylcarbodiimide, (p-tol)N=C=N(tol-p), in CDCl3 to generate (6E)-N,N-dimethyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)-6-[(4-methylphenyl)imino]-1,6-dihydro-1,3,5-triazin-2-amines) (8-10) due to the [4 + 2]-cycloaddition accompanying elimination of HNMe2. The formulation of 8-10 is based on ESI-MS, 1H, 13C{1H} NMR, and X-ray crystal structures determined for 9 and 10. The reaction of 1,3-diaza-1,3-dienes with 1,3-di-p-tolylcarbodiimide, described in this article, constitutes a novel synthetic approach to a useful class of heterocyclic species like 1,6-dihydro-1,3,5-triazines.     

The palladium(0) Suzuki cross-coupling reaction as the key step in the synthesis of aporphinoids

We report a flexible approach to the total synthesis of 4,5-dioxoaporphines based on the palladium(0) catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling of phenylboronic acids with sterically hindered 2-bromo phenyl acetates or bromo phenyl acetamides, followed by sequential bicyclization of biarylacetamides promoted by oxalyl chloride/Lewis acid. The reduction of 4,5-dioxoaporphines provides a chemoselective entry to aporphines, dehydroaporphines and 4-hydroxy-dehydroaporphines. A three-steps total synthesis for (±)-O,O′-dimethylapomorphine from readily accessible precursors is also reported.     

Efficient synthesis of (±)-8,14-cedranoxide using electrochemical method as a key step

(±)-8,14-Cedranoxide has been synthesized starting from 3,4-dimethoxyphenol, wherein 6-acetoxymethyl-2,6-dimethyl-9-methoxytricyclo[5.3.1.0^1,5]undec-9-en-8,11-dione as a key intermediate has been produced efficiently by means of electrochemical methods.     

Enzymatic resolution of a quaternary stereogenic centre as the key step in the synthesis of (S)-(+)-citalopram

The enzymatic resolution of 4-[(4-dimethylamino)-1-(4^′-fluorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-1-butyl]-3-(hydroxymethyl)-benzonitrile, a useful intermediate in the synthesis of enantiomerically pure citalopram, has been studied. Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) catalyzes the enzymatic acetylation of the primary benzylic alcohol with high enantioselectivity at the quaternary stereogenic centre. The enzymatic enantioselective hydrolysis of the 3-acetyloxymethyl derivative catalyzed by CAL-B is also possible.     

The synthesis of 2-benzazocines using ring-closing metathesis as a key step

A number of protected 7-isopropoxy-8-methoxy-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-2-benzazocines were synthesized from 2-allyl-3-isopropoxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde using ring-closing metathesis as the key step. In addition, two 9-isopropoxy-8-methoxy-3,6-dihydro-2-benzazocines were synthesized from 5-isopropoxy-4-methoxy-2-[(1E)-3-phenyl-2-propenyl]benzaldehyde, which in turn was obtained from the thermal Claisen-Cope rearrangement of 4-methoxy-3-{[(2E)-3-phenyl-2-propenyl]oxy}benzaldehyde. Finally, five of the 2-benzazocine compounds were tested for anti-cancer activity.     

Formal total synthesis of (-)-emetine using catalytic asymmetric allylation of cyclic imines as a key step

[reaction: see text] Catalytic asymmetric allylation of 3,4-dihydro-6,7-dimethoxyisoquinoline was carried out using allyltrimethoxysilane in the presence of Cu(I) and tol-BINAP. The allyl adduct thus obtained was transformed to a chiral synthetic intermediate for (-)-emetine in good yield. The procedure was applied to the total synthesis of ent-emetine.     

Electrochemical oxidation of tetramethoxy precursor as a key step for the synthesis of coenzyme Q10

The feasibility of electrosynthesis of coenzyme Q₁₀ (1) by electrooxidation of tetramethoxy precursor (2) has been investigated at carbon, Pt and BDD anodes in a divided cell. The process strongly depends on the applied potential, anode material and water content of the solvent. At carbon anodes in CH₃CN/CH₂Cl₂ + 0.15 M Bu₄NBF₄ at proper operative conditions high faradic efficiency (>60%) and excellent selectivity (95–97%) of the target product were obtained.     

General method for the synthesis of substituted phenanthridin-6(5H)-ones using a KOH-mediated anionic ring closure as the key step

Substituted phenanthridin-6(5H)-ones were obtained in a two-step procedure involving a Suzuki cross-coupling reaction followed by a KOH-mediated anionic ring closure. The influence of the nature and the position of the substituents on the cyclization step were studied. This methodology offers a general and practical route to diversely substituted phenanthridin-6(5H)-ones.     

Crystallization-induced chiral inversion as the key step for synthesis of (S)-2-acetylthio-3-phenylpropanoic acid from l-phenylalanine

[reaction: see text] A novel crystallization-induced chiral inversion of (S)-2-bromo-3-phenylpropanoic acid to its (R)-enantiomer with excellent enantiomeric excess (96-99%) is achieved. Optically pure (S)-2-acetylthio-3-phenylpropanoic acid can be prepared in good yield from inexpensive and commercially available l-phenylalanine via diazotization/bromination, chiral inversion, and thioacetate substitution reactions.     

A facile synthesis of the basic steroidal skeleton using a Pauson-Khand reaction as a key step

A high-yield synthesis of steroid-type molecules under mild reaction conditions is achieved in two steps involving nucleophilic addition of alkynyl cerium reagent to an easily enolizable carbonyl compound (beta-tetralone) followed by an intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction.     

Palladium-catalysed cross-coupling as a key step in the synthesis of pyridyl-benzamides, -benzylamines and -sulfonamides

Novel N-, O- and S-substituted pyridyl-benzamides, -benzylamines and -sulfonamides were prepared by means of palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reactions. The synthetic approach, using Pd₂(dba)₃ as palladium source and rac-BINAP as supporting ligand, proved to be successful for CN, CO and CS cross-coupling reactions. One of the substrates underwent an unexpected nucleophilic aromatic substitution of fluorine, rather than the expected CN cross-coupling reaction.     

Formal synthesis of salinosporamide A using a nickel-catalyzed reductive aldol cyclization-lactonization as a key step

Application of a sequential nickel-catalyzed reductive aldol cyclization-lactonization reaction in a short formal synthesis of salinsporamide A, a potent 20S proteasome inhibitor and anti-cancer compound, is described.     

Assisted desolvation as a key kinetic step for crystal growth

The crystallization of materials from a supersaturated solution is a fundamental chemical process. Although several very successful models that provide a qualitative understanding of the crystal growth process exist, in most cases the atomistic detail of crystal growth is not fully understood. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations of the morphologically most important surfaces of barite in contact with a supersaturated solution have been performed. The simulations show that an ordered and tightly bound layer of water molecules is present on the crystal surface. The approach of an ion to the surface requires desolvation of both the surface and the ion itself leading to an activated process that is rate limiting for two-dimensional nucleation to occur. However, desolvation on specific surfaces can be assisted by anions adsorbed on the crystal surface. This hypothesis, corroborated by crystallization and scanning electron microscopy studies, allows the rationalization of the morphology of barite crystals grown at different supersaturations.     

Total synthesis of (−)-elegansidiol by using an abnormal Beckmann fragmentation of Hajos ketone oxime as a key step

Abnormal Beckmann fragmentation of Hajos ketone oxime regioselectively forms of a chiral 1-oxygenated 2,2-dimethyl-4-methylene-cyclohexan skeleton. Using this transformation as a key step, the total synthesis of (−)-elegansidiol, an oxygenated mono-carbocyclic sesquiterpenoid, was achieved.     

2,5‐Dibromopyridine as a key building block in the synthesis of 2,5‐disubstituted pyridine‐based liquid crystals

Fifteen 2,5‐disubstituted pyridine based liquid crystals were synthesized exploiting the different reactivities of the bromine atoms in 2,5‐dibromopyridine under Negishi coupling conditions. Convenient approaches to both 2‐iodo‐5‐alkyl‐pyridines and 2‐alkyl‐5‐bromopyridines were also developed. The liquid crystalline behaviour of the synthesized materials was investigated using DSC and polarizing microscopy. The charge mobility of 2‐(4‐heptyloxyphenyl)‐5‐heptylpyridine was measured using the time of flight technique.     

Pd(II)-catalysed aminocarbonylation as a key step in the total synthesis of C-6 homologues of 1-deoxynojirimycin and 1-deoxy-l-idonojirimycin

The first successful Pd(II)-catalysed aminocarbonylation of the highly substituted benzylaminoalkene 5 allows the direct preparation of fused piperidine lactones 3 and 4, which are subsequently converted to the novel C-6 homologue of 1-deoxynojirimycin 1 and 1-deoxy-l-idonojirimycin 2. The study of the influence of various catalytic conditions on the diastereoselectivity and product distribution of the key aminocarbonylation is presented.