Gold‐Catalyzed Cyclization of 1‐(Indol‐3‐yl)‐3‐alkyn‐1‐ols: Facile Synthesis of Diversified Carbazoles

Efficient cyclization of 1‐(indol‐3‐yl)‐3‐alkyn‐1‐ols in the presence of a cationic gold(I) complex, leading to annulated or specific substituted carbazoles, was observed. Depending on the reaction conditions and substitution pattern, divergent reaction pathways were discovered, furnishing diversified carbazole structures. Cycloalkyl‐annulated [b]carbazoles are obtained through 1,2‐alkyl migration of the metal‐carbene intermediates; cycloalkyl‐annulated [a]carbazoles are formed through a Wagner–Meerwein‐type 1,2‐alkyl shift; carbazole ethers are constructed through ring‐opening of the cyclopropyl group by nucleophilic attack of water or an alcohol.     

Fe‐catalyzed hydrohalogenative cyclization of cyclohexadienone‐containing enynes

A Fe‐catalyzed hydrohalogenative cyclization of cyclohexadienone‐containing 1,n‐enynes to give three different types of compounds is discussed. 1,6‐enynes with a stoichiometric amount of FeX₃ provided cis‐hydrobenzofurans with moderate stereoselectivity, whereas the reaction with TMSX (X = Cl, Br) as the halide source in the presence of Fe catalyst improved the stereoselectivity of halide addition highly. The alkyl vs aryl shows difference that the reaction of 1,6‐enynes bearing an alkylethynyl group gave meta alkenated phenols (2 examples) whereas a similar reaction of 1,6‐enynes with an arylethynyl group delivered only cis‐hydrobenzofurans (12 examples). 1,7‐enynes afforded tricyclic products (4 examples). The different reactivity of 1,6‐ and 1,7‐enynes is probably influenced by the formation of a six‐membered chair‐like intermediate in 1,6‐enynes.     

Bismuth compounds in organic synthesis. A one-pot synthesis of homoallyl ethers and homoallyl acetates from aldehydes catalyzed by bismuth triflate

[reaction: see text] Three one-pot methods for the conversion of aldehydes to homoallyl ethers catalyzed by Bi(OTf)(3).xH(2)O (1 < x < 4) have been developed. The one-pot synthesis of homoallyl ethers can be achieved either by in situ generation of the acetal followed by its reaction with allyltrialkylsilane or by a three-component synthesis in which the aldehyde, trimethylorthoformate or an alkoxytrimethylsilane and allyltrimethylsilane are mixed together in the presence of bismuth triflate (0.1-1.0 mol %). In addition, a three-component synthesis of homoallyl acetates, which is achieved by reacting the aldehyde, acetic anhydride, and allyltrimethylsilane in the presence of bismuth triflate (3.0-5.0 mol %), has been developed. The use of a relatively nontoxic, easy to handle, and inexpensive catalyst adds to the versatility of these methods.     

Dual roles of alkyl alcohols as syndiotactic‐specificity inducers and accelerators in the radical polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide and some properties of syndiotactic poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)

The effects of simple alkyl alcohols on the radical polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide in toluene at low temperatures were investigated. We succeeded in the induction of syndiotactic specificity and the acceleration of polymerization reactions at the same time by adding simple alkyl alcohols such as 3‐methyl‐3‐pentanol (3Me3PenOH) to N‐isopropylacrylamide polymerizations. The dyad syndiotacticity increased with a decrease in the temperature and an increase in the bulkiness of the added alcohol and reached up to 71% at ?60 °C in the presence of 3Me3PenOH. With the assistance of NMR analysis, it was revealed that the alcohol compounds played dual roles in this polymerization system; an alcohol compound coordinating to the N? H proton induced syndiotactic specificity, and that hydrogen‐bonded to the C?O oxygen accelerated the polymerization reaction. The effect of syndiotacticity on the properties of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)s was also examined in some detail. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4450–4460, 2006     

Trimethylsilyl Iodide‐Promoted Aza‐Prins Cyclization for the Synthesis of 4‐Iodopiperidines

The aza‐Prins cyclization of homoallyl N‐tosylamine with aliphatic aldehydes gives trans‐2‐alkyl‐4‐iodo‐1‐tosylpiperidines. This method is chemoselective as it works only with the aliphatic aldehydes, and, in the case of aromatic aldehydes, the starting materials are recovered.     

A rhodium‐catalyzed route for oxidative coupling and cyclization of 2‐aminobenzyl alcohol with ketones leading to quinolines

2‐Aminobenzyl alcohol undergoes oxidative cyclization with aryl(alkyl), alkyl(alkyl) and cyclic ketones in dioxane at 80° in the presence of a catalytic amount of RhCl(PPh₃)₃ along with KOH to afford the corresponding quinolines in good yields. The catalytic pathway seems to be proceeded via a sequence involving initial oxidation of 2‐aminobenzyl alcohol to 2‐aminobenzaldehyde by a rhodium catalyst, cross aldol reaction between 2‐aminobenzaldehyde and ketones, and cyclodehydration.     

Three‐Component One‐Pot Synthesis of Indeno[2′,1′:5,6]Pyrido[2,3‐d]Pyrazole Derivatives in Aqueous Media

A series of indeno[2′,1′:5,6]pyrido[2,3‐d]pyrazoles was synthesized by the three‐component reaction of aldehyde, 5‐amino‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenylpyrazole and 1,3‐indenedione in the presence of SDS in aqueous media. The structures were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, high resolution mass spectra and were further confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis.     

Analogues of α‐Campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐Trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde) as Building Blocks for (+)‐β‐Necrodol (= (1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐Trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol) and Sandalwood‐like Alcohols

To complete our panorama in structure–activity relationships (SARs) of sandalwood‐like alcohols derived from analogues of α‐campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde), we isomerized the epoxy‐isopropyl‐apopinene (?)‐ 2d to the corresponding unreported α‐campholenal analogue (+)‐ 4d (Scheme 1). Derived from the known 3‐demethyl‐α‐campholenal (+)‐ 4a , we prepared the saturated analogue (+)‐ 5a by hydrogenation, while the heterocyclic aldehyde (+)‐ 5b was obtained via a Bayer‐Villiger reaction from the known methyl ketone (+)‐ 6 . Oxidative hydroboration of the known α‐campholenal acetal (?)‐ 8b allowed, after subsequent oxidation of alcohol (+)‐ 9b to ketone (+)‐ 10 , and appropriate alkyl Grignard reaction, access to the 3,4‐disubstituted analogues (+)‐ 4f,g following dehydration and deprotection. (Scheme 2). Epoxidation of either (+)‐ 4b or its methyl ketone (+)‐ 4h , afforded stereoselectively the trans‐epoxy derivatives 11a,b , while the minor cis‐stereoisomer (+)‐ 12a was isolated by chromatography (trans/cis of the epoxy moiety relative to the C₂ or C₃ side chain). Alternatively, the corresponding trans‐epoxy alcohol or acetate 13a,b was obtained either by reduction/esterification from trans‐epoxy aldehyde (+)‐ 11a or by stereoselective epoxidation of the α‐campholenol (+)‐ 15a or of its acetate (?)‐ 15b , respectively. Their cis‐analogues were prepared starting from (+)‐ 12a . Either (+)‐ 4h or (?)‐ 11b , was submitted to a Bayer‐Villiger oxidation to afford acetate (?)‐ 16a . Since isomerizations of (?)‐ 16 lead preferentially to β‐campholene isomers, we followed a known procedure for the isomerization of (?)‐epoxyverbenone (?)‐ 2e to the norcampholenal analogue (+)‐ 19a . Reduction and subsequent protection afforded the silyl ether (?)‐ 19c , which was stereoselectively hydroborated under oxidative condition to afford the secondary alcohol (+)‐ 20c . Further oxidation and epimerization furnished the trans‐ketone (?)‐ 17a , a known intermediate of either (+)‐β‐necrodol (= (+)‐(1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol; 17c ) or (+)‐(Z)‐lancifolol (= (1S,3R,4Z)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐(4‐methylpent‐3‐enylidene)cyclopentanemethanol). Finally, hydrogenation of (+)‐ 4b gave the saturated cis‐aldehyde (+)‐ 21 , readily reduced to its corresponding alcohol (+)‐ 22a . Similarly, hydrogenation of β‐campholenol (= 2,3,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐1‐ene‐1‐ethanol) gave access via the cis‐alcohol rac‐ 23a , to the cis‐aldehyde rac‐ 24 .     

New syntheses and spectral properties of pteridine‐related heterocycles from 2,5‐diamino‐3,6‐dicyanopyrazine

The reaction of 2,5‐diamino‐3,6‐dicyanopyrazine ( 1 ) as a new pyrazine raw material with alkyl isocyanate in the presence of sodium hydride gave novel heptahydroirnidazo[4,5‐g]pteridine‐2,6,8‐trione ( 2 ), but with tertiary butyl isocyanate gave trihydroimidazo[4,5‐b]pyrazine‐2‐ones ( 3 ). Similar reaction of 1 with alkyl thioisocyanate followed by alkyl iodide gave tetrahydropyrimido[4,5‐g]pteridines ( 4 ). The reac tion of 1 with alkylamine gave the amine‐adduct of the cyano groups which was further reacted with arylaldehyde to give the pyrimido[4,5‐g]pteridine ( 10 ). The products prepared are all of interest as potential pesticides and fluorescent chromophores.     

A Visible‐Light‐Promoted O‐Glycosylation with a Thioglycoside Donor

Visible‐light irradiation of 4‐p‐methoxyphenyl‐3‐butenylthioglucoside donors in the presence of Umemoto's reagent and alcohol acceptors serves as a mild approach to O‐glycosylation. Visible‐light photocatalysts are not required for activation, and alkyl‐ and arylthioglycosides not bearing the p‐methoxystyrene are inert to these conditions. Experimental and computational evidence for an intervening electron donor–acceptor complex, which is necessary for reactivity, is provided. Yields with primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohol acceptors range from moderate to high. Complete β‐selectivity can be attained through neighboring‐group participation.     

Synthesis of a New Library of Pyrano‐phenazine Derivatives via a Novel Three‐Component Protocol

The pyrano‐phenazine derivatives 6 were synthesized by an efficient procedure using the reaction between benzo[a]phenacin‐5‐ols with the condensation product of an aldehyde with Meldrum's acid in the presence of a catalytic amount of Et₃N at ambient temperature. The procedure is very simple, and products could be separated from the reaction media by simple filtration. High functional‐group tolerance both in the benzo[a]phenazin‐5‐ol and aldehyde moieties, facile reaction procedure, medium‐to‐high yields, and simple separation of the products from the reaction media are the advantages of this route.     

Zwitterionic [(4‐n‐Alkyl‐1,4‐bisazoniacyclohex‐1‐yl)methyl]pentafluorosilicates: A New Class of Surface‐Active Compounds with a Hexacoordinate Silicon Atom

A series of [(4‐n‐alkyl‐1,4‐bisazoniacyclohex‐1‐yl)methyl]pentafluorosilicates (alkyl = hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl; compounds 14 – 18 ) were synthesized and studied for their surface activity. The zwitterionic pentafluorosilicates with hexacoordinate Si atoms 14 – 18 were prepared by reaction of the respective [(4‐n‐alkylpiperazin‐1‐yl)methyl]trimethoxysilanes [obtained by treatment of (MeO)₃SiCH₂Cl with the respective n‐alkylpiperazine in the presence of NEt₃] with HF in water/ethanol. Surface tension measurements with solutions of 14 – 18 in 0.01 M hydrochloric acid proved that these compounds are surfactants, the increase of the n‐alkyl chain length resulting in an increase of surface activity ( 14 → 18 ). The equilibrium surface tension vs concentration isotherms for 14 – 17 (solutions of “surface‐chemically pure” samples in 0.01 M hydrochloric acid) were analyzed quantitatively.     

Surfactant Effect on Kinetic of Reaction of Some Sulphonamides with p‐Dimethylaminobenzaldehyde: Surfactant‐Modified Determination of Sulphonamides in Aqueous Solution

Kinetics of condensation reactions of six sulpha drugs (I‐VI) with p‐dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (DAB) in a weakly acidic EthOH/H₂O solution have been studied spectrophotometrically. The reaction was found to be first order with respect to DAB and zero order with respect to sulphonamide. The rate constants, activation energies, and other related thermodynamic functions have been determined. The effect of the presence of anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) on the kinetics of this reaction in aqueous solution has been investigated. The observed rate constants increase with increasing the amount of SDS except for those of sodium sulphacetamide (VI). The surfactant molecules enhance the reaction rates (14–113 times) in concentrations less than critical micellar concentration (cmc). A developed spectrophotometric method for determining sulphonamides in aqueous solution by their reactions with an excess of DAB in the presence of SDS and HCl (pH = 2) at a wavelength of 447 nm has been introduced. Microgram amounts of sulphonamides can be estimated with accuracy better than ± 1.5% and reproducibility less than ± 0.064%. The results of application to sulphonamides in pure form indicate that the presented method is simple, sensitive, precise, accurate, and comparable to the colorimetric Bratton‐Marshall standard procedure. The effect of interferences and application of the presented method to two pharmaceutical preparations have been investigated.     

Mechanistic Origin of Cross‐Coupling Selectivity in Ni‐Catalysed Tishchenko Reactions

Mechanistic studies have been performed for the recently developed, Ni‐catalysed selective cross‐coupling reaction between aryl and alkyl aldehydes. A mono‐carbonyl activation (MCA) mechanism (in which one of the carbonyl groups is activated by oxidative addition) was found to be the most favourable pathway, and the rate‐determining step is oxidative addition. Analysing the origin of the observed cross‐coupling selectivity, we found the most favourable carbonyl activation step requires both coordination of the aryl aldehyde and oxidative addition of the alkyl aldehyde. Therefore, the stronger π‐accepting ability of the aryl aldehyde (relative to alkyl aldehyde) and the ease of oxidative addition of the alkyl aldehyde (relative to aryl aldehyde) are responsible for the cross‐coupling selectivity.     

Oxidation of 7,8‐diaminotheophylline with lead tetraacetate and reaction of the oxidation product, 6‐cyanoimino‐5‐diazo‐1,3‐dimethylpyrimidine‐2,4‐dione with alcohols or amines

Oxidation of 7,8‐diaminotheophylline (1) with lead tetraacetate in refluxing toluene gave a mixture of 3‐amino‐5,7‐dimethylpyrimido[4,5‐e][1,2,4]triazine‐6,8‐dione ( 2 ) and 6‐cyanoimino‐5‐diazo‐1,3‐dimethylpyrimidine‐2,4‐dione ( 4 ). The latter was transformed to 2 by the reaction with 1‐propanethiol in quantitative yield. The reaction of 4 with methanol, ethanol and 1‐propanol in the presence of rhodium ( II ) acetate gave 5‐alkoxy‐6‐(2‐alkyl‐3‐isoureido)‐1,3‐dimethylpyrimidine‐2,4‐diones ( 7a‐c ). A similar reaction of 4 with alkylamines such as n‐propylamine, n‐butylamine, isobutylamine and n‐hexylamine gave a mixture of 7‐alkyl‐8‐aminotheophyllines ( 8a‐d ) and (5‐alkylamino‐1,3‐dimethyl‐2,4‐dioxopyrimidin‐6‐yl)cyanamides ( 9a‐d ).     

Bismuth triflate–L(−)‐proline catalyzed synthesis of chiral 2,5‐diaryl‐2,3‐dihydropyrano[2,3‐b]quinolin‐4‐ones

The synthesis of chiral (2R) 2,5‐diaryl‐2,3‐dihydropyrano[2,3‐b]quinolin‐4‐ones, was achieved, at ambient temperature, by the reaction of 3‐acetyl‐4‐aryl‐carbostyril and an aldehyde, in the presence of bismuth triflate–L(?)‐proline complex, formed in situ. The products were obtained in 62–78% yield with high enantioselectivity (72–96% ee). J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Diastereoselective synthesis of substituted 2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1‐benzazepine‐5‐carboxylic esters by a tandem reduction‐reductive animation reaction

An efficient, diastereoselective synthesis of substituted and unsubstituted 2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1‐benzazepine‐5‐carboxylic esters has been developed based on the tandem reduction‐reductive amination reac tion. Catalytic hydrogenation of a series of 2‐(2‐nitrophenyl)‐5‐oxoalkanoic esters initiates a reaction sequence involving (1) reduction of the aromatic nitro group, (2) condensation of the N‐hydroxylamino (or amino) nitrogen with the side chain carbonyl, and (3) reduction of the seven‐membered cyclic imine. Cyclizations that produce 2‐alkyl‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1‐benzazepine‐5‐carboxylic esters are diastereose lective for the product having the C2 alkyl and the C5 ester groups cis. In these reactions, the transannular ester group exerts a strong stereodirecting effect on the reduction of the cyclic imine intermediate, though not as strong as that observed in previous closures of 2‐alkyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐4‐carboxylic esters. This decrease in diastereoselectivity is attributed to (1) the greater distance between the ester and the imine double bond and (2) the increased conformational mobility of the larger ring, both of which diminish the stereodirecting effect of the ester. Finally, formation of the seven‐membered ring is sufficiently slow that reaction with the side chain ester group competes with heterocycle formation in several of the reactions.     

Regio‐ and Stereoselectivity in the Lewis Acid‐ and NaH‐Induced Reactions of Thiocamphor with (R)‐2‐Vinyloxirane

The reaction of the enolizable thioketone (1R,4R)‐thiocamphor (= (1R,4R)‐1,7,7‐trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane‐2‐thione; 1 ) with (R)‐2‐vinyloxirane ( 2 ) in the presence of a Lewis acid such as SnCl₄ or SiO₂ in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ gave the spirocyclic 1,3‐oxathiolane 3 with the vinyl group at C(4′), as well as the isomeric enesulfanyl alcohol 4 . In the case of SnCl₄, an allylic alcohol 5 was obtained in low yield in addition to 3 and 4 (Scheme 2). Repetition of the reaction in the presence of ZnCl₂ yielded two diastereoisomeric 4‐vinyl‐1,3‐oxathiolanes 3 and 7 together with an alcohol 4 , and a ‘1 : 2 adduct’ 8 (Scheme 3). The reaction of 1 and 2 in the presence of NaH afforded regioselectively two enesulfanyl alcohols 4 and 9 , which, in CDCl₃, cyclized smoothly to give the corresponding spirocyclic 1,3‐oxathiolanes 3, 10 , and 11 , respectively (Scheme 4). In the presence of HCl, epimerization of 3 and 10 occurred to yield the corresponding epimers 7 and 11 , respectively (Scheme 5). The thio‐Claisen rearrangement of 4 in boiling mesitylene led to the allylic alcohol 12 , and the analogous [3,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement of the intermediate xanthate 13 , which was formed by treatment of the allylic alcohol 9 with CS₂ and MeI under basic conditions, occurred already at room temperature to give the dithiocarbonate 14 (Schemes 6 and 7). The presented results show that the Lewis acid‐catalyzed as well as the NaH‐induced addition of (R)‐vinyloxirane ( 2 ) to the enolizable thiocamphor ( 1 ) proceeds stereoselectively via an S_N2‐type mechanism, but with different regioselectivity.     

An Efficient Synthesis of N‐Substituted‐3‐aryl‐3‐(2‐hydroxy‐4,4‐dimethyl‐6‐oxocyclohex‐1‐enyl)propanamides by Four‐component Reaction in Aqueous Medium

A mild and efficient synthesis of N‐substituted‐3‐aryl‐3‐(2‐hydroxy‐4,4‐dimethyl‐6‐oxocyclohex‐1‐enyl)propanamides via four‐component reaction of an aldehyde, amine, Meldrum's acid and 5,5‐dimethylcyclo‐hexane‐1,3‐dione in the presence of benzyltriethylammonium chloride (TEBAC) in aqueous medium is described. This method has the advantages of accessible starting materials, good yields, mild reaction conditions and eco‐friendliness.     

Diarylprolinol‐Mediated Asymmetric Direct Cross‐Aldol Reaction of α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehyde as an Electrophilic Aldehyde

The diarylprolinol‐mediated asymmetric direct cross‐aldol reaction of α,β‐unsaturated aldehyde as an electrophilic aldehyde was developed. The reaction becomes accelerated by an acid when a carbonyl group is introduced at the γ‐position of the α,β‐unsaturated aldehyde. Synthetically useful γ,δ‐unsaturated β‐hydroxy aldehydes were obtained with high anti‐selectivity and excellent enantioselectivity.