The intramolecular aromatic nucleophilic substitution as a route to tricyclic β-lactams. Synthesis of the novel 4-oxa-7-azabicyclo[4.2.0]octane skeleton

Sodium borohydride-carbonyl reduction of the novel 3-(2-fluoro-5-nitro) phenyl-4-benzoyl-2-azetidinones 3 and 7 gave quantitatively the stereoisomeric carbinols (4R^∗,5S^∗)-4 and (4R^∗,5R^∗)-5. Treatment of the latter with sodium hydride gave the title compounds 8 and 9, respectively, with good overall yield. The rationale of the stereochemical relationships outlined in the sequences 3 (or 7)→4→8 and 3 (or 7)→5→9 is given according to the conformational and keto-enol equilibria of the reactant(s).     

The microbiological transformation of steroidal saponins by Curvularia lunata

The microbiological transformation of polyphyllin I (compound I), polyphyllin III (compound II), polyphyllin V (compound III) and polyphyllin VI (compound IV) by Curvularia lunata into their corresponding subsaponins, for example, diosgenin-3-O-α-l-arabinofuranosyl (1→4)-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound V), diosgenin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1→4)-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound VI), diosgenin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound VII) and pennogenin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound VIII), were studied in this paper. Curvularia lunata is able to hydrolyze terminal rhamnosyls that are linked by 1→2 C- bond to sugar residues of steroidal saponins at C-3 position with high activity and regioselectivity.     

Proanthocyanidin glycosides from the leaves of Quercus ilex L. (Fagaceae)

From the polar extracts of the leaves of Quercus ilex L., two new proanthocyanidin glycosides, namely afzelechin-(4α→8)-catechin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside (1) and afzelechin-(4α→8)-catechin-3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (2), were isolated in addition to catechin (3), proanthocyanidin B₃ (4), prodelphinidin C (5), dehydrodicatechin A (6), quercetin (7) and six known flavonol glucosides with their acylated derivatives (8-13) and ellagic acid (14). The structures of all isolated compounds were established by spectroscopic means, mainly 1D and 2D NMR, as well as LC/MS and HR-MS spectrometric analyses. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was determined by CD measurements. The proanthocyanidin glycosides are especially interesting, as they possess the sugar in the upper unit of the dimer, which is rare for this type of compounds.     

X-ray diffraction studies of two azametallatranes. Peculiarities of structures of N,N′,N″-tris(trimethylsilyl)azametallatranes using DFT calculations

Single crystal structures of N(CH₂CH₂NSiMe₃)₃Si-Vinyl (1) and N(CH₂CH₂NSiMe₃)₃Si-n-Butyl (2) were determined by X-ray diffraction studies: both compounds show weak transannular N_ax→M interactions (1, d(N_ax→Si)=2.712(1) Å, 2, d(N_ax→Ge)=2.743(3) Å). General trends for molecular structures of the group 14 elements (Si, Ge, Sn) azametallatranes are discussed with also included DFT calculations data.     

Efficient and regioselective chromium(0)-catalyzed reaction of 2-substituted furans with diazo compounds: stereoselective synthesis of (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters

Pentacarbonyl(η²-cis-cyclooctene)chromium(0) (1) catalyzes efficiently reactions of diazo compounds with electron-rich furans. The reaction of 2-methoxyfuran (2) with alkyl α-diazoarylacetate (3a-g) furnishes the (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters (4a-g) in excellent yields. These reactions are highly regioselective. The cyclopropanation intermediates formed from 1 and diazo compounds 3a-g always arise from a carbene addition to the less substituted CC bond of 2. The resulting cyclopropanation product undergoes a ring opening reaction to form the corresponding (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters (4a-g). The pentacarbonylchromium(0)-catalyzed reactions of 2-alkylfuran (5a-b) with ethyl α-diazophenylacetate (3a) and 9-diazo-9H-fluorene (3h) produce the 1(E),3(E)-butadienes (6a-d) in very good yields.     

Solid-state and solution photocycloadditions of 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones with maleimide

Solid-state photosensitized reactions of 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones (1b,c) with maleimide (2) afforded endo-endo double-[4+2] cycloadducts (3b,c) with high stereoselectivity. Sensitized photoreactions of 1a-d with 2 in solution gave exo-endo double-[4+2] cycloadducts (4a-d). 2-Pyrones 1a-d were photolyzed to give carboxylic acids (5a-d) via their valence isomerization in the solid state and in solution. Such kinds of photoreaction of the 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones were dramatically different from regio- and stereoselective [2+2] cycloadditions of 4-alkyloxy-2-pyrones. The photoreaction mechanisms of 1 with 2 and 1 itself were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction analysis and MO calculations.     

The first reductive cyclization by lithium aluminum hydride: stereospecific reductive cyclization of 1-(methoxycarbonylmethyl)imidazolidin-4-ones

The first LiAlH₄-driven reductive cyclization of the bifunctional 1-(methoxycarbonylmethyl)imidazolidin-4-ones, (−)-1a-c or(+)-1a-c, stereospecifically generated the corresponding 1,6-diaza-4-oxa-bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes, (−)-3a-c or(+)-3a-c, with a novel bicyclic system.     

Catalyst- and steric-controlled alkenylation via chemoselective C-H activation and C-Br activation in Heck reaction of methyl 1-(2-bromoaryl)-3-(2-furyl/thienyl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylates and diethyl 1-(2-bromoaryl)-3-(2-furyl/thienyl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2,2-dicarboxylate derivatives

Pd(II)-catalyzed alkenylation of methyl 1-(2-bromoaryl)-3-(2-furyl/thienyl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate derivatives 1(a-d) resulted in the formation of 3(a-d) exclusively via C-H activation in the heteroaryl moiety. Similar observations were observed for the corresponding diester analogues 4(a-d) to form 5(a-d). Normal Heck reaction, however, was observed in the case of 1(a-f) to furnish 2(a-f) when the reaction was carried out with Pd(0) catalyst generated in situ. Pd(0)-catalyzed vinylation of 4(a-f) via C-Br oxidation, however, failed due to steric reason.     

Simple preparation of phenylpropenoid β-d-glucopyranoside congeners by Mizoroki-Heck type reaction using organoboron reagents

Palladium(II)-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation between allyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) and arylboronic acid congeners gave the corresponding cinnamyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl- β-d-glucopyranosides (4a-m) in good yield. Among them, coupling products 4a-m were converted to not only the naturally occurring phenylpropenoid β-d-glucopyranoside analogues (1a-e) but also the unnaturally ones (1f-m).     

Environmentally benign syntheses of flavanones

Mild and environmentally benign methods for the syntheses of flavanones are described. The reaction of o-hydroxyacetophenones (1) and benzaldehydes (2) in water in the presence of DABCO at room temperature gave 3-hydroxy-1-(2-hydroxylphenyl)-3-arylpropan-1-ones (3a-i) as intermediates. Followed by an intramolecular dehydration of the 3a-i with the modified Mitsunobu’s reaction, the target flavanones (4a-i) were obtained. Moreover, the reaction of 1 and 2 at the same conditions but at reflux gave flavanones in one pot with good yields.     

Domino routes to substituted benzoindolizines: tandem reorganization of 1,3-dipolar cycloadducts of nitrones with allenic esters/ketones and alternative cycloaddition-palladium catalyzed cyclization pathway

Reactions of C-(4-oxo-4H[1]benzopyran-3-yl)-N-phenyl nitrones (7) with allenic esters (8a-c) and allenic ketones (18a-d) furnish benzoindolizines (9a-k, 19a-d) in good yields. The formation of benzoindolizines is postulated to involve regioselective addition of 1,3-dipole to C2-C3 π bond of allenic esters/ketones followed by domino transformation of the cycloadducts, which involve an intramolecular aza Diels-Alder reaction in the intermediate C. DFT calculations of various parameters for diene and dienophile components in the proposed intermediate C have revealed that conformational constraints imposed by the alkyl groups (R=Me, Et) favor intramolecular aza-Diels-Alder cycloaddition. An alternative domino route to benzoindolizines (9a,d,g) involving sequential one-pot cycloaddition of azadienes (22a-c) with silyl-enol ether (23) followed by palladium(0)-catalyzed Heck coupling reaction has also been developed. Both these approaches represent novel domino routes for the synthesis of benzoindolizines.     

Synthesis and properties of 5-[bis(1-heteroazulen-3-yl)methylidene]pyrimidine-2,4,6(1,3,5H)-triones

The synthesis and properties of a novel type of 5-[bis(1-heteroazulen-3-yl)methylidene]pyrimidine-2,4,6(1,3,5H)-triones (13a-c) and (14a-c) are studied. The synthetic procedure is based on addition of bis(1-heteroazulen-3-yl)methyl cations with barbituric acid and subsequent oxidation by o-chloranil. Structural characteristics of 13a-c and 14a-c were clarified on inspection of the ¹³C NMR spectral data and X-ray crystal analysis. Based on the investigation of the UV-vis spectra of 13a-c and 14a-c and their protonated cations, conformational change of the heteroazulene-moiety and the barbituric acid-moiety is suggested. In the CV measurements of 13a-c and 14a-c, two reversible reduction waves are observed, indicating the stabilizing ability of heteroazulenes toward the corresponding radical and anion species. Furthermore, 13a-c and 14a-c exhibit one irreversible oxidation wave and the corresponding reduction wave appearing in a far negative region, which suggested a conformational change in the radical cation during the redox process. The conformational change is rationalized on the basis of the MO calculations.     

Synthesis and properties of 7,7-bis(heteroazulen-3-yl)-8,8-dicyano-1,4-quinodimethanes

The synthesis and properties of a novel type of 7,7-bis(heteroazulen-3-yl)-8,8-dicyano-1,4-quinodimethanes (9a-c) are studied. The synthetic method is based on a TFA-catalyzed electrophilic aromatic substitution on the heteroazulenes with 4-(dicyanomethyl)benzaldehyde to afford the corresponding methane derivatives, followed by oxidative hydrogen abstraction with DDQ. The polarization of 9a-c is evaluated by the inspection of their ¹³C NMR and IR spectra. Based on the investigation of the UV-Vis spectra of 9a-c and protonated cations 10a-c, conformational changes of the heteroazulene-moiety and (dicyanomethyl)phenyl group are suggested. In the CV measurements of 9a-c, two reversible reduction waves are observed, indicating the stabilizing ability of heteroazulenes toward the corresponding radical and anion species. Furthermore, 9a-c exhibit two irreversible oxidation waves, which suggest a conformational change in the radical cation during the redox process. The conformational change is rationalized on the basis of the MO calculations.     

Osmium assisted C-H activation and CN cleavage of N-(2′-hydroxyphenyl) benzaldimines. Synthesis, structure and electrochemical properties of some organoosmium complexes

Reaction of N-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-4-R-benzaldimines (L-R, R = OCH₃, CH₃, H, Cl and NO₂) with [Os(PPh₃)₃Br₂] in refluxing 2-methoxyethanol in the presence of triethylamine affords two families of organoosmium complexes (1-R and 2-R). In both 1-R and 2-R complexes a benzaldimine ligand is coordinated to the metal center as tridentate C,N,O-donor. In the 1-R complexes, a bidentate N,O-donor imionsemiquinonate ligand, derived from the hydrolysis of another benzaldimine, and a PPh₃ ligand are also coordinated to osmium. In the 2-R complexes, a carbonyl, derived from decarbonylation of 4-R-benzaldehyde (derived from the same hydrolysis stated above), and two PPh₃ ligands take up the remaining coordination sites on osmium. Structures of the 1-Cl and 2-OCH₃ complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallography. All the 1-R and 2-R complexes are diamagnetic, and show characteristic ¹H NMR signals and intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. Cyclic voltammetry on the 1-R complexes shows a reversible Os(III)-Os(IV) oxidation within 0.47-0.67 V (vs SCE), followed by an irreversible oxidation of the imionsemiquinonate ligand within 1.10-1.36 V. An irreversible Os(III)-Os(II) reduction is also displayed by the 1-R complexes within −1.02 to −1.14 V. Cyclic voltammetry on the 2-R complexes shows a reversible Os(II)-Os(III) oxidation within 0.29-0.51 V, followed by a quasi-reversible oxidation within 1.04-1.29 V, and an irreversible reduction of the coordinated benzaldimine ligand within −1.16 to −1.31 V.     

Detosylation of 3-amino-1-tosylindole-2-carbonitriles using DBU and thiophenol

Attempted detosylation of the 3-amino-1-(p-tosylamino)indole-2-carbonitriles 4a-c using either K₂CO₃ in EtOH or DBU in PhH at reflux gives unexpectedly the 3-(N-p-tosylamino)indole-2-carbonitriles 5a-c, respectively in high yields. Nevertheless, treatment of 1-(p-tosylamino)indoles 4a-c with thiophenol and DBU in PhH at reflux gives the detosylated 3-aminoindole-2-carbonitriles 5a-c. Reaction mechanisms supporting the tosyl migration (4→5) and the reductive detosylation (4→2) are proposed. All new compounds are fully characterised.     

The biomimetic synthesis of SNF4435C and SNF4435D, and the total synthesis of the polyene metabolites aureothin, N-acetyl-aureothamine and spectinabilin

Full details of the biomimetic conversion of polyene metabolite spectinabilin (5) into the isomeric natural products SNF4435C (1) and SNF4435D (2) by a cascade of E/Z-isomerizations and electrocyclizations are reported. Additionally, short total syntheses of the related natural products (±)-aureothin (3), (±)-N-acetyl-aureothamine (4) and (±)-spectinabilin (5) are presented. The key steps in the synthesis of (±)-3, (±)-4 and (±)-5 are the construction of the tetrahydrofuran motif using a palladium-catalyzed cycloaddition and the ruthenium-catalyzed cross metathesis of alkene 17 to form the common intermediate, boronic ester 24, which was further transformed using a trans-selective Suzuki coupling with a dibromide and a stereospecific Negishi-type methylation.     

Neat total synthesis of six monoterpenic alkaloids of the actinidine series

A concise enantiopure synthesis of six monoterpenic alkaloids of the actinidine series possessing a cyclopenta[c]pyridine skeleton, (+)-deoxyrhexifoline (4), (+)-boschniakinic acid (5), (+)-boschniakine (6), (−)-plantagonine (7), (−)-indicaine (8) and (−)-tecostidine (9) is reported starting with the chiral precursor 3-bromo-5-((4R)-phenyloxazolin-2-yl)pyridine (10). It involves a C-4 regioselective connection of a butene appendice and an intramolecular 5-exo-trig Heck annulation sequence followed by hydrogenation of the exocyclic alkene. Mixture of (3R)- and (3S)-7-((4R)-phenyloxazolin-2-yl)cyclopenta[c]pyridines was separated by HPLC before being transformed into enantiopure natural products (4-9) by modification of the oxazoline group.     

An efficient microwave assisted synthesis of novel class of Rhodanine derivatives as potential HIV-1 and JSP-1 inhibitors

(Z)-5-(2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)-2-oxoethylidene)-3-phenyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one (7a-q) derivatives have been synthesized by the condensation reaction of 3-phenyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones (3a-h) with suitably substituted 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxoacetaldehyde (6a-d) under microwave condition. The thioxothiazolidine-4-ones were prepared from the corresponding aromatic amines (1a-e) and di-(carboxymethyl)-trithiocarbonyl (2). The aldehydes (6a-h) were synthesized from the corresponding acid chlorides (5a-d) using HSnBu₃.     

The alicyclic ring contraction of perfluoro-1-phenyltetralin in reaction with antimony pentafluoride

Perfluoro-1-phenyltetralin (1) heated with antimony pentafluoride at 130 °C, then treated with water, gave a mixture of perfluorinated 3-methyl-2-phenylindenone (3), 3-methyl-2-phenylindene (4), 3-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-phenylindan (5), 1-methyl-3-phenylindan (6), 9-methyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydroanthracene (7), and 1,9-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-β-naphthindan (8). When heated with SbF₅ in the presence of HF, then treated with water, compound 1 is transformed to a mixture of products 3-6. The reaction at 170 and 200 °C forms compounds 3-6 together with perfluoro-2-(cyclohexen-1-yl)-3-methylindene (10).     

Ruthenium(II) complexes with tetradentate pyridylthioazoimine [N,S,N,N] ligands: Synthesis, crystal structure and spectroscopy

The Ru(II) complexes cis-[Ru(L)Cl₂] (C1-C3) of novel tetradentate NSNN ligands (L) {where L is C₅H₄N-CH₂-S-C₆H₄NC(COCH₃)-NN-C₆H₄X, and X is H (L1), CH₃ (L2) and Br (L3)}, were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy (IR, UV/vis and NMR), cyclic voltammetry and crystallography. The tetradentate ligands were isolated as the amidrazones H₂L {where H₂L is C₅H₄N-CH₂-S-C₆H₄NH-C(COCH₃)N-NH-C₆H₄X and X is H (H₂L1), CH₃ (H₂L2) and Br (H₂L3)} as shown by crystallography of H₂L1, but oxidize to azoimines during the formation of the Ru(II) complexes. A crystallographic analysis of C1 showed that the Ru(II) centre is in a distorted octahedral coordination sphere in which the tetradentate ligand occupies three equatorial sites and one axial site (two azoimine nitrogens and a thio sulfur in the equatorial plane and an axial pyridine nitrogen) and two chlorides occupying axial and equatorial coordination sites. The Ru(II) oxidation state is greatly stabilized by the novel tetradentate ligand, showing Ru(III/II) couples ranging from 1.43 to 1.51 V. The absorption spectrum of C1 in acetonitrile was modelled by time-dependent density functional theory.