Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of carbazoles from N-(2-halophenyl)-2,6-diisopropylanilines via C-C cleavage

The synthesis of 1-isopropyl-substituted carbazoles by the palladium-catalyzed dealkylative cyclization of N-(2-halophenyl)-2,6-diisopropylanilines is described. The reaction involves intramolecular C-C bond formation, coupled with the cleavage of a C-X bond and a C-C bond, and is proposed to proceed through the formation of a dearomatized intermediate.     

One-step construction of carbazoles by way of the palladium-catalyzed double N-arylation reaction and its application to the total synthesis of murrastifoline-A

The one-step construction of N-substituted carbazoles by way of the Pd-catalyzed double N-arylation reaction of primary amines with 2,2′-dibromobiphenyl is described. Aryl and aliphatic amines including tert-butylamine and a protected glucopyranosylamine were effectively transformed into the corresponding N-substituted carbazoles. The first total synthesis of murrastifoline-A, a biscarbazole alkaloid, based on this methodology is also presented.     

Recent advances in the synthesis of N-alkenyl carbazoles

N-Alkenyl carbazoles are important building blocks of poly(vinylcarbazole), which is used in photosensitive materials, semiconductors, electroluminescent devices, and non-linear optical materials. Recently, a CN bond formation reaction using transition-metal-catalyzed amination and transition-metal-catalyzed vinylation was successfully extended to the synthesis of N-alkenyl carbazoles. In this paper, I discuss recent examples of the synthesis of N-alkenyl carbazoles, including palladium and copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of carbazoles with alkenes/alkenyl halides, and iridium-catalyzed vinylation of carbazole using vinyl acetate.     

Visible-light-driven Cadogan reaction

Visible-light-driven photochemical Cadogan-type cyclization has been discovered. The organic D-A type photosensitizer 4CzIPN found to be an efficient mediator to transfer energy from photons to the transient intermediate that breaks the barriers of deoxygenation in Cadogan reaction and enables a mild metal-free access to carbazoles and related heterocycles. DFT calculation results indicate mildly endergonic formation of the intermediate complex of nitrobiarenes and PPh₃, which corresponds with experimental findings regarding reaction temperature. The robust synthetic capacity of the photoredox Cadogan reaction systems has been demonstrated by the viable productivity of a broad range of carbazoles and related N-heterocycles with good tolerance of various functionalities.     

Novel synthesis of benzo[b]carbazoles

A new method was adopted for the synthesis of benzo[b]carbazoles by Claisen condensation followed by Fischer indole cyclization. Newly synthesized benzo[b]carbazoles were treated with ethanol amine in the presence of polyphosphoric acid which leads to the formation of pyrazino carbazoles. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by all spectral means.     

Synthesis of cyclic peptides via O-N-acyl migration

We describe here a novel and convenient synthesis of head-to-tail cyclic peptide avoiding racemization. Linear depsipeptides including a serine residue as the key element for ester bond formation and acyl transfer were synthesized on 2-chlorotrityl chloride resin. After cleavage from the resin, intramolecular head-to-tail cyclization was performed in solution by C-terminal activation of urethane protected O-acyl serine residue. After removal of the N^α-serine protecting group, the final step consisted in O-N-acyl migration reaction on the ‘switch’ or ‘click’ element to restore native cyclic peptides.     

A solid-phase approach to the synthesis of N-1-alkyl analogues of cyclic inosine-diphosphate-ribose (cIDPR)

We report here an efficient solid-phase synthesis of N-1-alkyl-substituted analogues of cyclic inosine-diphosphate-ribose (cIDPR), a mimic of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR). Our synthetic strategy makes use of a polystyrene support to which inosine was bonded through a 2′,3′-acetal linkage. Insertion of a ω-hydroxy-polymethylene chain of variable length on N-1, followed by conversion into N-1-alkylinosine-bis-phosphate derivatives and cyclization, allowed to obtain analogues of cIDPR of various ring size. The cyclization step was carried out both in solid-phase and in solution by pyrophosphate bond formation. The effect of the N-1-polymethylene chain length on the cyclization yields as well as the reaction conditions, which led to the solid-phase pyrophosphate bond formation, were thoroughly investigated.     

C-N bond formation followed by N-Cl bond breaking. One more and unexpected case of the formation of a hydroxamic group via heterolytic bond cleavage

An unexpected and previously unknown reaction sequence in the interactions of the acyl halides with nitrosobenzenes, which involves carbon-nitrogen bond formation followed by heterolytic nitrogen-chlorine bond cleavage giving the corresponding unsubstituted N-phenylalkylhydroxamic acids (or N-phenylarylhydroxamic acids) and chlorine as the products has been observed. The kinetic and other evidence obtained suggest that the carbon-nitrogen bond formation is the consequence of a nucleophilic interaction of an N-phenylchlorohydroxylamine intermediate, formed in the first reaction step, with the acyl halide in the second step of the complex sequence, which leads to an N-acyl-N-chlorophenylhydroxylamine cation intermediate. The key reaction step involves the interaction of an N-acyl-N-chlorophenylhydroxylamine cation intermediate with chloride ion, which leads to the N-Cl heterolytic bond cleavage and the final formation of the hydroxamic group and a molecule of chlorine.     

A concise synthesis of novel naphtho[a]carbazoles and benzo[c]carbazoles

Starting from simple indole precursors the synthesis of naphtho[a]carbazoles and benzo[c]carbazoles is described. Key steps include the use of the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction to afford 2- or 3-aryl substituted indoles, as well as a potassium t-butoxide and light assisted aromatic ring-forming reaction.     

Synthesis of N-Alkyl and N-H-Carbazoles through SNAr-Based Aminations of Dibenzothiophene Dioxides

Alkyl amines have become available for the synthesis of diverse N-alkyl carbazoles through twofold S_NAr aminations of dibenzothiophene dioxides by using alkali metal bases. Of particular importance is the choice of counter cations on alkali metal bases, that is, i) the use of Li base for the efficient intermolecular reaction and ii) the sequential addition of heavier alkali metal bases (Na, K, or Cs) to promote intramolecular cyclization in a one-pot manner. This protocol also enables the cascade synthesis of N-H-carbazoles by using 2-phenylethylamine by removal of the 2-phenethyl group from N-(2-phenethyl) carbazoles in a single operation.     

Triflic acid controlled successive annelation of aromatic sulfonamides: an efficient one-pot synthesis of N-sulfonyl pyrroles, indoles and carbazoles

A novel one-pot synthesis of N-substituted heterocycles via successive cyclization/annelation starting from primary sulfonamides is described. This process directly leads to N-sulfonyl pyrroles, indoles and carbazoles. The selection of an appropriate reactant/triflic acid ratio successfully controls the formation of the desired product.     

Synthesis of Carbazoles and Dibenzofurans via Cross-Coupling of o-Iodoanilines and o-Iodophenols with Silylaryl Triflates and Subsequent Pd-Catalyzed Cyclization

An efficient route to a variety of carbazoles and dibenzofurans has been developed. It involves the reaction of o-iodoanilines or o-iodophenols with silylaryl triflates in the presence of CsF to afford the N- or O-arylated products, which are subsequently cyclized using a Pd catalyst to carbazoles and dibenzofurans in good to excellent yields. By using this methodology, the carbazole alkaloid, mukonine has been synthesized in 76% overall yield in three steps.     

Palladium-catalyzed amination and cyclization to heteroannellated indoles and carbazoles

New ortho-bromodiarylamines in the benzo[b]thiophene series were prepared by palladium-catalyzed amination, either in the benzene or in the thiophene ring. These were submitted to palladium-catalyzed cyclization, under different required conditions, to give several differently substituted thieno[3,2-c] or [2,3-b]carbazoles and indolo[3,2-b]benzo[b]thiophenes. This constitutes a novel synthetic route to both tetracyclic systems.     

A convenient transformation of α-alkylserines into α-halogenomethyl-α-alkylglycines

An efficient and facile synthesis of N-Boc-α-chloromethyl- and α-bromomethyl-α-alkylglycines is reported that involves cyclization of N-Boc-α-alkylserines to the corresponding β-lactones under Mitsunobu reaction conditions, followed by ring opening with anhydrous MgCl₂ or MgBr₂.     

Selective O-acylation of unprotected N-benzylserine methyl ester and O,N-acyl transfer in the formation of cyclo[Asp-Ser] diketopiperazines

The synthesis of two diastereomeric cyclo[Asp-N-Bn-Ser] diketopiperazines (2a and 2b) was investigated. Initial formation of the Boc-aspartyl-N-benzyl serine isopeptide methyl esters (4a and 4b) was observed, which derive from the selective O-acylation of unprotected (S)- or (R)-N-benzylserine. This unexpected O-acylation is preferred over the formation of the tertiary amide and the resulting ester bond is stable in solution to O,N-acyl transfer. The O,N-acyl migration is then triggered by cleavage of the Boc protecting group and treatment with base, which also promotes immediate cyclization to the diketopiperazines.     

RuCl3/SnCl2 mediated synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3-c]carbazoles and consequent preparation of indolo[2,3-c]carbazoles

A simple method for the synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3-c]carbazoles from N-alkylated-3-aminocarbazole derivatives and ethylene glycol has been developed via heteroannulation reaction using RuCl₃/SnCl₂ system. Moreover indolo[2,3-c]carbazoles were prepared from various pyrrolo[2,3-c]carbazoles in good yields.     

10b-Substituted hexahydropyrrolo-isoquinolines: studies on diastereoselective formation of a quaternary carbon stereocenter via N-acyliminium ion cyclization

The stereoselective synthesis of hexahydro-pyrroloisoquinolines with a quaternary carbon stereocenter is described. The presented methodology employs the addition of a Grignard reagent to the carbonyl group of imide 1, derived from l-tartaric acid, followed by acetylation and BF₃·Et₂O induced cyclization. The acetylation-cyclization sequence can be run either as a one-pot process, or stepwise in a selected solvents. The crucial step, an acid-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction via an N-acyliminium ion offers high stereoselectivity, which has been shown to be strongly dependent on the size of the R¹ substituents and the reaction conditions, that is, choice of solvent, amount of a Lewis acid, temperature, and concentration of the substrate. Based on the results observed, participation of solvent in the cyclization, via an N-acyliminium cation is proposed.     

Acid-catalyzed condensation of 2,2′-diamino-1,1′-biaryls for the synthesis of benzo[c]carbazoles

2,2′-Diamino-1,1′-biaryls were found to undergo ring-closure condensation reaction to afford benzo[c]carbazoles in good to excellent yield. Coupled with the synthesis of 2,2′-biaryldiamines from diaryl hydrazides via [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, it constitutes a new efficient synthetic method for benzo[c]carbazoles and related compounds.     

Three-component sequential synthesis of N,N′-disubstituted 5-arylidenedihydropyrimidine-2,4-dione

A three-component sequential process consisting in (1) in situ formation of carbodiimides by Staudinger reaction, (2) reaction with 2-(bromomethyl)-3-aryl-2-propenoic acids, and (3) final cyclization of the resulting N-acylurea intermediates in order to obtain the synthesis of an array of N,N′-disubstituted 5-arylidenedihydropyrimidine-2,4-dione under mild conditions is presented.     

New electrophilic reactions of 2,2′-bisindolyls with acid chlorides and carbodienophiles

Some new acylation and cyclization reactions of 2,2′-bisindolyls 1, 2 are described. The product patterns constitute acyl derivatives 3, 4, 5 and an aldehyde 7 , indolo[2,3-a]carbazoles 6, 14, 17, 19, 20 and cyclopentadiindoles 22 and 24 . In the reaction with aryne or diazotated anthranilic acid, a 3-benzoylindole derivative 9 and phenylindolyl azo dye 10 are formed. N-methylmaleimide reacts with 2,2′-bisindolyl 2 via Michael type addition, dehydrogenation and cyclization to several functionalized or anellated indole derivatives 11, 12, 13 and 14 , respectively.