Rhodium-Catalyzed Regio- and Diastereoselective [3+2] Cycloaddition of gem-Difluorinated Cyclopropanes with Internal Olefins

Direct synthesis of gem-difluorinated carbocyclic molecules represents a longstanding challenge in organic chemistry. Herein, a Rh-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reaction between readily available gem-difluorinated cyclopropanes (gem-DFCPs) and internal olefins has been developed, enabling the efficient synthesis of gem-difluorinated cyclopentanes with good functional group compatibility, excellent regioselectivity and good diastereoselectivity. The resulting gem-difluorinated products can undergo downstream transformations to access various mono-fluorinated cyclopentenes and cyclopentanes. This reaction demonstrates the use of gem-DFCPs as a type of “CF₂” C3 synthon for cycloaddition under transition metal catalysis, which provides potential strategy for synthesizing other gem-difluorinated carbocyclic molecules.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Intramolecular Reductive Heck Desymmetrization of Cyclopentenes: Access to Chiral Bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes

A palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric reductive Heck reaction of unactivated aliphatic alkenes, with eliminable β‐hydrogen atoms, has been realized for the first time. A series of optically active bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes bearing chiral quaternary and tertiary carbon stereocenters were obtained in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities, exhibiting good functional‐group tolerance and scalability. Moreover, deuterated optically active bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes were also obtained in high efficiency.     

Interrupted Intramolecular Hydroaminomethylation of N-Protected-2-vinyl Anilines: Novel Access to 3-Substitued Indoles or Indoline-2-ols

A new synthetic alternative to the synthesis of 3-methyl indoles and 3-methyl indoline-2-ols with an excellent atomic economy is presented in this study. It is demonstrated that the intramolecular interrupted hydroaminomethylation (HAM) reaction is a powerful tool for the formation of these compounds, which exhibit wide-ranging biological activity. Several N-Protected-2-vinyl anilines were synthesized and involved in the reaction producing the corresponding 3-methylindole or 3-methyl indoline-2-ol depending on the nature of the N-protecting groups.     

Iridium(I)‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Hydrocarbonation of Alkenes: Efficient Access to Cyclic Systems Bearing Quaternary Stereocenters

A catalytic, versatile and atom‐economical C−H functionalization process that provides a wide variety of cyclic systems featuring methyl‐substituted quaternary stereocenters is described. The method relies on the use of a cationic Ir^I–bisphosphine catalyst, which promotes a carboxamide‐assisted activation of an olefinic C(sp²)−H bond followed by exo‐cyclization to a tethered 1,1‐disubstituted alkene. The extension of the method to aromatic and heteroaromatic C−H bonds, as well as developments on an enantioselective variant, are also described.     

One-Pot Sequence of Staudinger/aza-Wittig/Castagnoli–Cushman Reactions Provides Facile Access to Novel Natural-like Polycyclic Ring Systems

Realization of the one-pot Staudinger/aza-Wittig/Castagnoli–Cushman reaction sequence for a series of azido aldehydes and homophthalic anhydrides is described. The reaction proceeded at room temperature and delivered novel polyheterocycles related to the natural product realm in high yields and high diastereoselectivity. The methodology has been extended to three other cyclic anhydrides. These further unravel the potential of the Castagnoli–Cushman reaction in generating polyheterocyclic molecular scaffolds.     

Solid-phase Microextraction with Benzoxy-calix[6]arene Fiber Coupled to Gas Chromatography for the Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Water

Headspace solid-phase microextraction(HS-SPME) with sol-gel calix[6]arene-containing fiber followed by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector was used to examine the composition and distribution of seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) in water. The novel SPME fiber exhibited higher extraction efficiency to PAHs compared with poly(dimethylsiloxane) and other calixarene-containing fibers. Extraction/retention mechanism based on the interactions between calixarenes and PAHs was discussed. ...     

Rapid Access to Tricyclic Systems: Highly Endoselective Diels-Alder Reaction of Cycloalkenones with Cyclic Dienes Under Microwave Irradiation

Abstract

Cis fused ring systems are synthesized in good yields under microwave irradiation conditions in the presence of AlCl₃ as a catalyst within short time periods.     

Asymmetric Proline‐Catalyzed Addition of Aldehydes to 3H‐Indol‐3‐ones: Enantioselective Synthesis of 2,3‐Dihydro‐1H‐indol‐3‐ones with Quaternary Stereogenic Centers

The proline‐catalyzed addition of various aliphatic aldehydes to sterically hindered 2‐aryl‐substituted 3H‐indol‐3‐ones affords 2,2‐disubstituted 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐indol‐3‐one derivatives with excellent enantioselectivities. In addition, the synthesis of a chiral derivative, (S)‐2‐(2‐bromophenyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐2‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐1H‐indol‐3‐one, which can be used as an intermediate for the preparation of the natural product hinckdentine A was accomplished with a high level of enantioselectivity.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric [4+2] Cycloaddition of 2-Methylidenetrimethylene Carbonate with Alkenes: Access to Chiral Tetrahydropyran-Fused Spirocyclic Scaffolds

A palladium-catalyzed asymmetric [4+2] cycloaddition of 2-methylidenetrimethylene carbonate with alkenes derived from pyrazolones, indandione, or barbiturate has been successfully developed, affording pharmacologically interesting chiral tetrahydropyran-fused spirocyclic scaffolds. The target compounds were generated in good to excellent yields and with high enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee). Furthermore, this cycloaddition reaction could be efficiently scaled up, and several synthetic transformations were accomplished for the construction of other useful chiral spiropyrazolone and spiroindandione derivatives.     

Cu(I)/Pd(II)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Hydroamidation and C-H Dehydrogenative Coupling of ortho-Alkynyl-N-arylbenzamides for Access to Isoindolo[2,1-a]Indol-6-Ones

An efficient, atom-economic and one-pot synthesis of isoindolo[2,1-a]indol-6-ones via CuI/Pd(OAc)₂-catalyzed intramolecular hydroamidation of alkynyl group, and C-H dehydrogenative coupling of ortho-alkynyl-N-arylbenzamides has been developed. This transformation occurs with the use of oxygen as the oxidant, and water is the only by-product. The reaction shows a high tolerance to a variety of functional groups, and affords isoindolo[2,1-a]indol-6-ones in good to high yields.     

Comparison of Stereoselectivity of Intramolecular Cyclization of Aldehydes Tethered with Conjugated Esters Induced by O-Stannyl and O-Samarium Ketyls to Form the Tetrahydrofuran Ring Systems

Several (E)- and (Z)-ω-formyl-5-oxa-2-substituted-α,β-unsaturated esters ( 6Za-6Zc; 6Ea-6Ec; 6Eb′-6Ec′; 6Zb′-6Zc′ ) were prepared in high yields. They were subjected to cyclization of their intramolecular ketyl radicals induced by either samarium(II) iodide or tributyltin hydride. These two reagents gave distinct stereoselectivities. More bicylic lactone than monocyclic hydroxy-ester was formed when tributyltin hydride was used, but the opposite stereoselectivity was obtained when samarium(II) iodide was used. The effect of double-bond configuration, heteroatom and substituent on stereoselectivity is described.     

Metal-Free Reductive Coupling of para-Quinone Methides with 4-Cyanopyridines Enabled by Pyridine-Boryl Radicals: Access to Pyridylated Diarylmethanes with Anti-Cancer Activity

Reported herein is a streamlined protocol to produce pyridylated diarylmethanes through pyridine-boryl radical induced reductive coupling between para-quinone methides (p-QMs) and 4-cyanopyridines using bis(pinacolato)diboron (B₂pin₂) as a templated reagent. The metal-free process is characterized by an operationally simple approach, excellent chemoselectivity (1,2- vs. 1,6-selectivity), and a broad substrate scope with good functional group compatibility. The mechanistic studies provided important insights into the reductive cross-coupling process between diarylmethyl radical and pyridine-boryl radical. Moreover, part of the obtained pyridylated diarylmethane products were screened against a panel of cancer cell lines, and 3 v was confirmed to significantly inhibit the proliferation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells. This method offers a platform for the preparation of new lead compounds with antitumor activity.     

Intramolecular acylation of α-sulfinyl carbanions with masked α,β-unsaturated esters: a general strategy to 5-alkylidene-2-cyclopentenones

A general method for the preparation of 5-alkylidene-2-cyclopentenones and their 2-phenylsulfanyl substituted derivatives, involving the intramolecular acylation of α-sulfinyl carbanions with cyclopentadiene-α,β-unsaturated esters as the key reaction followed by flash vacuum pyrolysis, is described. The reactions start from readily available Diels-Alder adducts, synthons of α-carbanions of α,β-unsaturated esters.     

Cascade Transformations of 1-R-Ethynyl-9,10-anthraquinones with Amidines: Expanding Access to Isoaporphinoid Alkaloids

The interaction of acetamidine and phenylamidine with peri-R-ethynyl-9,10-anthraquinones in refluxing n-butanol leads to the formation of cascade transformations products: addition/elimination/cyclization―2-R-7H-dibenzo[de,h]quinolin-7-ones and(or) 2-R-3-aroyl-7H-dibenzo[de,h]quinolin-7-ones. The anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties of the new 2-R-7H-dibenzo[de,h]quinolin-7-ones were investigated in vivo, in vitro, and in silico. The synthesized compounds exhibit high anti-inflammatory activity at dose 20 mg/kg (intraperitoneal injection) in the models of exudative (histamine-induced) and immunogenic (concanavalin A-induced) inflammation. Molecular docking data demonstrate that quinolinones can potentially intercalate into DNA similarly to the antitumor drug doxorubicin.     

Silver-Catalyzed Cascade Cyclization of Amino-NH-1,2,3-Triazoles with 2-Alkynylbenzaldehydes: An Access to Pentacyclic Fused Triazoles

An operationally simple Ag(I)-catalyzed approach for the synthesis of isoquinoline and quinazoline fused 1,2,3-triazoles was developed by a condensation and amination cyclization cascade of amino-NH-1,2,3-triazoles with 2-alkynylbenzaldehydes involving three new C-N bond formations in one manipulation, in which the group of -NH of the triazole ring serves as a nucleophile to form the quinazoline skeleton. The efficient protocol can be applied to a variety of substrates containing a range of functional groups, delivering novel pentacyclic fused 1,2,3-triazoles in good-to-excellent yields.