Review of Synthesis of Spiro Heterocyclic Compounds from Isatin

Isatin is an essential building block in organic synthesis and shows various biological activities. The most attractive application of isatin in organic synthesis is undoubtedly in the highly reactive C-3 carbonyl group, which is a prochiral center as well. The construction of a spiroheterocyclic framework has always been a challenging endeavor for synthetic organic chemists as it frequently requires synthetic design based on specific strategies. This review gives a short summary of the advances in the use of isatin in the synthesis of various spiroheterocyclic compounds through multicomponent reactions and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions.     

Recent developments in synthesis of embelin heterocyclic derivatives and their biological applications

Embelin (2,5-dihydroxy-3-undecyl-1,4-benzoquinone) has attracted a great deal of synthetic attention as a biologically active heterocyclic compound in the last decades. The high reactivity of its carbonyl groups, active methylene group, and hydroxyl groups represents challenges to many organic reactions for the synthesis of various embelin derivatives. This review summarizes for the first time the most recent and relevant approaches towards the synthesis of embelin-linked heterocyclic derivatives.     

Temporary Intramolecular Generation of Pyridine Carbenes in Metal‐Free Three‐Component C?H Bond Functionalisation/Aryl‐Transfer Reactions

Nucleophilic addition of pyridines to benzyne generates zwitterionic adducts that evolve by a rapid intramolecular proton shift to produce the corresponding pyridine carbenes, N‐phenyl pyrid‐2‐ylidenes. In the presence of electrophilic ketones (isatin derivatives), the pyridylidenes can further react by an original bis‐arylation reaction of the carbonyl compounds involving a formal pyridine C? H bond functionalisation. The overall transformation is an unprecedented three‐component reaction featuring a carbene intermediate. The mechanism of this transformation was examined in detail by using both experimental and theoretical approaches. It was found that the generation of N‐phenyl pyrid‐2‐ylidene from pyridine and benzyne is energetically favoured, and that the corresponding carbene dimer can also form easily. Under the three‐component reaction conditions, the pyridylidene preferentially adds to the ketone group of the isatin derivative to produce a zwitterionic adduct amenable to an intramolecular aryl transfer reaction by a concerted nucleophilic aromatic substitution. This peculiar reactivity for a carbene was compared to possibly competitive known reactions of stable carbenes with carbonyl compounds, and the reaction was found to be under thermodynamic control. The reported method of generation of N‐phenyl pyrid‐2‐ylidenes and their reactivity with carbonyl compounds unlock new perspectives in organic synthesis.     

Intramolecular cross-dehydrogenative coupling of benzaldehyde derivatives: A novel and efficient route to benzocyclic ketones

Benzocyclic ketones are not only found throughout many natural products and synthetic pharmaceutically active compounds but also used as versatile building blocks in organic synthesis. In view of their importance, many researchers have been working to explore novel and efficient synthetic routes for this class of carbonyl compounds. Recently, cross-dehydrogenative coupling reactions have emerged as one of the most versatile and powerful synthetic strategies to construct various carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. In this regard, direct acylation of (hetero)arenes with aldehydes through C(sp²)-H activation opened up a new page on the synthesis of the titled compounds. In this focus-review, we discuss the most representative and important reports on the synthesis of cyclic diaryl ketones through intramolecular cross-dehydrogenative coupling reactions of corresponding benzaldehydes with emphasis on the mechanistic aspects of the reactions.     

Cycloaddition chemistry of carbonyl ylides for alkaloid synthesis

As highlighted in this mini-review, a growing area of interest in organic synthesis involves the use of substituted carbonyl ylides as 1,3-dipoles for the preparation of alkaloidal natural products. Cascade reactions proceeding by an intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides are of particular interest to the synthetic organic community because of the increase in molecular complexity involved and the high isolated yields.     

Copper‐Catalyzed 1,2‐Addition of α‐Carbonyl Iodides to Alkynes

β,γ‐Unsaturated ketones are an important class of organic molecules. Herein, copper catalysis has been developed for the synthesis of β‐γ‐unsaturated ketones through 1,2‐addition of α‐carbonyl iodides to alkynes. The reactions exhibit wide substrate scope and high functional group tolerance. The reaction products are versatile synthetic intermediates to complex small molecules. The method was applied for the formal synthesis of (±)‐trichostatin A, a histone deacetylase inhibitor.     

Transformations of Modified Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman Adducts from Isatins Catalyzed by Lewis Bases

The development of synthetic protocols to access architectures with broad structural and functional diversity from readily available starting materials is very attractive in both organic and medicinal chemistry fields. Toward this objective, the multifunctional isatin‐derived Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman (MBH) adducts provide opportunities to construct a variety of complex scaffolds containing a “privileged” oxindole motif through several catalytic pathways. By forming the ammonium or phosphonium salts with Lewis bases, isatin‐derived MBH adducts can undergo allylic substitutions with a range of nucleophiles, usually in a S_N2′‐S_N2′ pattern. Besides, assisted by Brønsted bases, the corresponding onium salts can be converted into the allylic ylide intermediates, which can undergo various annulation reactions or even 1,3‐difunctionalizations. Moreover, recent cooperative catalysis of Lewis bases and transition metal complexes further puts forward the application of isatin‐derived MBH adducts. This tutorial review covers the significant transformations of isatin‐derived MBH adducts, mostly in an asymmetric version, catalyzed by various Lewis bases over the past decade.     

The interaction of rhodium carbenoids with carbonyl compounds as a method for the synthesis of tetrahydrofurans

The transition metal catalyzed reaction of α-diazo carbonyl compounds has found numerous applications in organic synthesis, and its use in either heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring formation is well precedented. In contrast to other catalysts that are suitable for carbenoid reactions of diazo compounds, those constructed with the dirhodium(II) framework are most amenable to ligand modification that, in turn, can influence reaction selectivity. The reaction of rhodium carbenoids with carbonyl groups represents a very efficient method for generating carbonyl ylide dipoles. Rhodium-mediated carbenoid–carbonyl cyclization reactions have been extensively utilized as a powerful method for the construction of a variety of novel polycyclic ring systems. This article will emphasize some of the more recent synthetic applications of the tandem rhodium carbenoid cyclization/cycloaddition cascade for natural product synthesis. Discussion centers on the chemical behavior of the rhodium metal carbenoid complex that is often affected by the nature of the ligand groups attached to the metal center.     

The Paternò-Büchi reaction—Mechanisms and application to organic synthesis

The [2 + 2] photocycloaddition between an electronically excited carbonyl compound and an alkene leading to oxetanes (Paternò-Büchi reaction) is one of the most investigated organic photochemical reaction. Regio-, stereo- and site selectivities are discussed as a consequence of the reaction mechanism. Spin multiplicity and electron transfer have a significant impact on the outcome of the reaction. Typical carbonyl and alkene reaction partners are presented indicating scope and limitation of the reaction. The Paternò-Büchi reaction possesses particular interest for being applied to organic synthesis, considering the difficulty for non-photochemical reactions to obtain oxetanes, with or without stereoselectivity. Mechanistic details are particularly focused. It has been applied as key step in various multi-step syntheses.     

Synthesis, reactions, and applications of fluorine-containing multifunctional carbon compounds

The chemistry of compounds containing a carbon atom bearing three or four different labile functional groups has received little attention. These compounds should be of considerable significance in theoretical and synthetic organic chemistry. Among the compounds with multifunctional structures, those having both carbonyl and halogen groups in addition to other heteroatom groups seem especially valuable from a synthetic viewpoint. Their potential use as probes in pure and applied synthetic chemistry has not been exploited, presumably because of structural instability and a paucity of synthetic approaches. Keeping this background in mind, we focused on the synthesis of a new class of multifunctional carbon compounds in which ester carbonyl, halogen, and other heteroatom-derived functional groups are directly attached to the central carbon atom. Fluorine was chosen as the halogen because of the inherent stability of the CF bond and because of the fundamental chemical and biological interest in fluorine-containing compounds. The synthesis, reactions, and some applications of various fluorine-containing multifunctional carbon compounds are described.     

Recent topics in the syntheses of β-keto carboxylic acids and the derivatives

β-Keto carboxylic acids are key intermediates in organic syntheses, used for the development of fine chemicals, natural products, and various biologically relevant molecules. Their utilities stem from the structural features and facile bond formations, e.g., asymmetric reduction of carbonyl groups for the synthesis of β-hydroxy carboxylic acids and conjugated addition reactions through decarboxylative enolate nucleophiles, which utilize the amphiphilic reactivity of β-keto carboxylic acids. Despite their versatility and utilities, development of efficient and straightforward synthetic methods for β-keto carboxylic acids has not attracted considerable attention owing to their instability. As efficient synthetic strategies for β-keto carboxylic acids and their derivatives, reactions of α-diazoesters, acylation of malonate anions, cross-coupling reactions, and CO₂ insertion reactions are summarized in this review.     

Recent Advances in Chemistry of Condensed 4‐Thiazolidinones

The syntheses of condensed 4‐thiazolidinone and its various derivatives are reviewed for the first time. Condensed 4‐thiazolidinones are important scaffolds and versatile substrates in heterocyclic chemistry, as they can be used for the synthesis of a large variety of biologically active compounds such as thiazolotriazines and as raw material for the drug synthesis. The high reactivity of active methylene group next to the carbonyl of the thiazolidin ring represents useful targets for many organic reactions.     

CsF promoted rapid synthesis of spirooxindole-pyran annulated heterocycles at room temperature in ethanol

A newer, versatile, and straightforward synthetic strategy for the construction of functionalized spirooxindole-pyran annulated heterocycles is described. The procedure is based on CsF-promoted rapid tandem Knoevenagel-Michael-Cyclocondensation reaction of isatin, malononitrile, and 4-hydroxycoumarin/barbituric acids/pyrazolone at room temperature in ethanol. This methodology has various advantages like easy operational, excellent yields within short reaction time (3-25 min), and simple isolation of products. The CsF has a dual role as a base and carbonyl activator.     

Azides in the Synthesis of Various Heterocycles

In this review, we focus on some interesting and recent examples of various applications of organic azides such as their intermolecular or intramolecular, under thermal, catalyzed, or noncatalyzed reaction conditions. The aforementioned reactions in the aim to prepare basic five-, six-, organometallic heterocyclic-membered systems and/or their fused analogs. This review article also provides a report on the developed methods describing the synthesis of various heterocycles from organic azides, especially those reported in recent papers (till 2020). At the outset, this review groups the synthetic methods of organic azides into different categories. Secondly, the review deals with the functionality of the azido group in chemical reactions. This is followed by a major section on the following: (1) the synthetic tools of various heterocycles from the corresponding organic azides by one-pot domino reaction; (2) the utility of the chosen catalysts in the chemoselectivity favoring C−H and C-N bonds; (3) one-pot procedures (i.e., Ugi four-component reaction); (4) nucleophilic addition, such as Aza-Michael addition; (5) cycloaddition reactions, such as [3+2] cycloaddition; (6) mixed addition/cyclization/oxygen; and (7) insertion reaction of C-H amination. The review also includes the synthetic procedures of fused heterocycles, such as quinazoline derivatives and organometal heterocycles (i.e., phosphorus-, boron- and aluminum-containing heterocycles). Due to many references that have dealt with the reactions of azides in heterocyclic synthesis (currently more than 32,000), we selected according to generality and timeliness. This is considered a recent review that focuses on selected interesting examples of various heterocycles from the mechanistic aspects of organic azides.     

Synthesis of Novel Indolo‐Spirocyclic Compounds

In the present work, we succeeded to synthesize the novel indolo‐spirocyclic compounds ( 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 and 11 ) via electrophilic condensation reactions of indoles with carbonyl compounds including different types of ketones, for example, heteroacetyl ketones (3‐acetylindole and 3‐acetylpyridine), cyclohexanone, isatin, cyclohexane‐1,4‐dione, whereas an attempt to prepare the spirocyclic 9 failed. This new idea will open a high prospective for continuous investigations related to the synthesis of novel indolo‐spirocyclic compounds.     

Catalytic Decomposition of Diazo Compounds as a Method for Generating Carbonyl‐Ylide Dipoles

The transition metal catalyzed reaction of α‐diazo carbonyl compounds has found numerous applications in organic synthesis, and its use in either heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring formation is well‐precedented. In contrast to other catalysts that are suitable for carbenoid reactions of diazo compounds, those constructed with the dirhodium(II) framework are most amenable to ligand modification that, in turn, can influence reaction selectivity. The reaction of rhodium carbenoids with carbonyl groups represents a very efficient method for generating carbonyl ylide dipoles. Rhodium‐mediated carbenoid–carbonyl cyclization reactions have been extensively utilized as a powerful method for the construction of a variety of novel polycyclic ring systems. This article will emphasize some of the more recent synthetic applications of the tandem cyclization/cycloaddition cascade for natural product synthesis. Discussion centers on the chemical behavior of the rhodium metal–carbenoid complex that is often affected by the nature of the ligand groups attached to the metal center.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis and antimicrobial activity of novel spiro 1,3,4-thiadiazolines from isatin derivatives

This work describes the synthesis of spiro 1,3,4-thiadiazolines from isatin-β-thiosemicarbazone acetylation, using microwave irradiation as a source of heating the reaction medium. N-substituted isatin derivatives were used as substrates to obtain thiosemicarbazones by adding thiosemicarbazide to the isatin ketone carbonyl. The final synthetic step was the reaction of thiosemicarbazones with acetic anhydride under microwave irradiation to get the spiro compounds. Reaction times ranged from 6 to 18 minutes resulting in yields of up to 90%. Biological assays have shown promising antibacterial and antifungal activity, especially spiro thiadiazolines derived from allylated isatins. All the proposed molecules proved to be potential drug candidates based on the results of the in silico investigation, with satisfactory drug-likeness and drug-score, respecting Lipinski's rule. The use of the microwave reactor was efficient for the synthesis of thiosemicarbazones and spiro compounds, resulting in a significant reduction in reaction times with conventional heating. Taking into account the threat of antimicrobial resistance, this work presents a series of bioactive molecules that are easily obtained via microwave reaction.     

Selective α-bromination of aryl carbonyl compounds: prospects and challenges

The α-bromination of carbonyl compounds is one of the most important transformations and also important precursors in synthetic organic chemistry. Particularly, the side chain monobromination of carbonyl compounds has been a challenging task, because during the reaction a small amount of disubstituted or ring brominated products as an impurity is always accompanied with monosubstituted product in the reaction mixture. In recent years substantial advances have been made for the synthesis of brominated aromatic carbonyl compounds with high selectivity. In this review, we have summarized various methods for the synthesis of α-bromo aromatic carbonyl compounds.     

[bmim]OH: An efficient catalyst for the synthesis of mono and bis spirooxindole derivatives in ethanol at room temperature

A rapid and efficient, one pot synthesis of spirooxindole derivatives has been attempted by threecomponent reaction of isatin, malononitrile and carbonyl compound possessing a reactive α-methylene group by using task specific ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hydroxide [bmim]OH as a catalyst. The important features of this methodology are straight forward route in short reaction time at room temperature and avoid any hazardous organic solvent, toxic catalyst, tedious purification step. Interestingly, this protocol is not only limited to mono-systems but also to the synthesis of newer bisspirooxindole system. The separation of the product and reusability of the catalyst are easy with excellent yield. The [bmim]OH catalyst system could be reused up to five recycles without appreciable loss of activity.     

REACTIONS OF DERIVATIVES OF PHOSPHORUS ACIDS WITH CARBONYL COMPOUNDS ACTIVATED BY ELECTRONEGATIVE GROUPS

Abstract

The Arbuzov reaction results in the synthesis of various phosphonic esters and is of great importance for the further development of the chemistry of organophosphorus compounds. Investigations of recent decades have shown that, besides halogen-containing organic compounds, different types of organic compounds of the electrophilic type which do not contain halogen atoms are capable of entering this reaction. Reactions with carbonyl compounds are especially interesting. This report presents the results of reactions of derivatives of tricoordinated phosphorus (trialkyl phosphites, amidophosphites, ester anhydrides, isocyanate phosphites) with carbonyl compounds. Special emphasis was placed on studying the reactions with carbonyl compounds activated by some electronegative groups. The regularities and mechanisms of these reactions were investigated depending on the structure of the carbonyl compounds, the derivatives of tricoordinated phosphorus and the reaction conditions.