A new fused tetrazole ring system: Tetrazolo [1,5-b] isoquinoline

Tetrazolo[1,5-α]isoquinoline ( 5b ), the linear benzologue of tetrazolopyridine, has been prepared. In contrast to the angular isomers ( 1b and 2 ) the linear system exists in solution predominantly in the tautomeric azido-form ( 5a ) and even in the crystalline state contains a certain amount of 3-azidoisoquinoline ( 5a ). The tautomeric equilibrium in solution was studied by nmr spectroscopy.     

Reaction of reissert anion with aldimines: A new approach to the imidazo[5,1-α]isoquinoline ring system

The carbanion derived from N-alkoxycarbonyl Reissert compound readily undergoes addition-cyclization reaction with aldimines to give imidazo[5,1-a]isoquinolines. A detailed study of this new ring annelation chemistry is described.     

A general approach to access 5,6-dihydroindolo-naphthyridine ring system

We report a general approach for the synthesis of 5,6-dihydroindolo-naphthyridine ring system via an intramolecular cyclization of the indole NH to an alkene moiety as the key step.     

A novel 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline annulation: expedient access to isoquinoline heterocycles

3,4-Dihydroisoquinoline carboxylate 1 undergoes a smooth annulation with ω-bromopropionate, butyrate or ortho-bromomethyl benzoate 2 to afford the isoquinoline heterocycle 3 upon treatment with potassium tert-butoxide in DMF at −60 °C. This novel annulation constitutes a formal direct synthesis of cyclic Reissert equivalent compounds, thus offers an expedient access towards certain medicinally important isoquinoline heterocycles and relevant natural alkaloids, that is, of berberine and erythrina types.     

Studies on the benzo[1,2]cyclohepta[3,4,5-d,e]isoquinoline ring system

The syntheses of various oxidation states of the novel benzo[1, 2]cyclohepta[3, 4, 5-d, e]-isoquinoline ring system is described. The ring system was obtained by the Schmidt rearrangement, with exclusive alkyl migration, of 1, 6, 7, 11b-tetrahydro - 2H - dibenz-[cd,h]azulen-2-one and by a Bischler-Napieralski reaction of suitable derivatives of 10, 11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a, d]cycloheptene - 5 - methylamine. 4, 5, 10, 11 - Tetramethoxy derivatives of the new ring system were best prepared by a Pictet-Spengler reaction of the appropriate amine.     

A new entry to the phenanthridine ring system

A new synthesis of phenanthridine derivatives having three-point diversity has been developed based on the sequential application of three-atom economic processes viz. aza-Claisen rearrangement, ring-closing enyne metathesis and Diels–Alder reaction as key steps. An unexpected isomerisation was observed during aza-Claisen rearrangement of N-allylanilines which may open up new opportunities in heterocyclic synthesis.     

Studies on SRN1 reactions. Part 8 : New and direct arylation and hetarylation of β-dicarbonyl compounds by SRN1

Arylation of β-dicarbonyl compounds is carried out by photostimulated S_RN1 reaction between bromo-benzonitriles or bromocyanopyridine and β-dicarbonyl derived monoanions.     

A new access to dihydrotropones through ring expansion of spirocyclohexadienones: synthesis and mechanism

In this paper we report the rearrangement of spirocyclohexadienones into dihydrotropones in basic conditions as a new method for the preparation of seven-membered ring ketones, which are key building blocks for the synthesis of tropoloalkaloids. DFT calculations and deuterium labeling studies support the mechanism we propose for this rearrangement, involving the ring opening of a spirocyclopropane intermediate followed by successive base-catalyzed 1,3-hydrogen shifts. The X-ray structure of the resulting dihydrotropone shows near-perfect planarity and the conjugation gain is likely to be the driving force of the reaction.     

Tandem Staudinger-azaWittig mediated ring expansion: rapid access to new isofagomine-tetrahydroxyazepane hybrids

New seven-membered iminosugars with potent and selective inhibition towards glycosidases have been prepared as 1-N-iminosugar homologues via a tandem Staudinger-azaWittig mediated ring expansion.     

Studies on the biosynthesis of asperparaline A: origin of the spirosuccinimde ring system

The primary amino acid building blocks that constitute asperparaline A have been determined through feeding and incorporation of 13C-labeled intermediates. The beta-methyl proline residue is constituted from (S)-isoleucine, the novel spiro-succinime moiety is derived from the oxidative degradation of (S)-tryptophan, and (S)-adenosylmethionine contributes the two N-methyl residues. In addition, it was found that the incorporation of 13C-labeled acetate into the single isoprene unit clearly demonstrates that the isoprene moiety is derived from the mevalonate pathway.     

A new class of isoquinoline alkaloids: The indenobenzazepines

The dark yellow indenobenzazepine alkaloids lahorine ($\text{1}$) and lahoramine ($\text{2}$) have been found in $\text{Fumaria}$$\text{parviflora}$ Lam. (Fumariaceae). In a transformation with biogenetic implications, treatment of the spirobenzylisoquinolines dihydrofumariline ($\text{4}$) and dihydroparfumidine ($\text{7}$) with methanesulfonyl chloride and triethylamine in dry THF, followed by iodine oxidation, provided $\text{1}$ and $\text{2}$, respectively.     

A new group of isoquinoline alkaloids : The secoberbines

The new isoquinoline alkaloid (?)-peshawarine (1) has been isolated from Hypecoum parviflorum Kar. & Kir. (Papaveraceae). Its synthesis in the racemic form from coptisine (6b) involves a novel approach to cyclic hemiacetals in which the key step is the transformation of the aldehyde (±)-aobamine (10b) into the hemiacetal 12b using ethyl chloroformate. (±)-Corydalisol (11b) and (±)-canadaline (10a) have also been synthesized for the first time. The absolute configuration of (?)-1 was determined by chemical correlation with (+)-rhoeagenine methiodide (20). The chirality of the alkaloid (+)-canadaline (10a) has also been established by analogy to (+)-corydalisol (11b). (?)-Peshawarine (1), (+)-canadaline (10a), (+)-corydalisol (11b), and aobamine (10b), as well as hypecorine (22) and hypecorinine (23), are members of a new group of isoquinoline alkaloids, the secoberbines.     

A new type of angular phenothiazine ring system

The first synthesis of monoaza- and diaza-analogues of benzo[a]phenothiazine ring system is achieved under anhydrous conditions by base-catalysed reaction of o-aminoheterocyclic thiones with 2,3-dichloronaphtho-1,4-quinone. If the reactions were carried out in methanol, 2-chloro-3-methoxynaphtho-1,4-quinone was also isolated. The ease of air oxidation of the Na₂S₂O₄ reduced compounds makes them suitable for consideration as vat dyes.     

A new access to 2-phosphonothiophenes

2-Phosphonothiophenes are prepared via the reaction of β-chloroacroleins with diethyl mercaptomethylphosphonate.     

A new access to cyclopenta[c]pyridine ring system: syntheses of (−)-plectrodorine and (+)-oxerine

Total syntheses of (−)-plectrodorine [(−)-1] and (+)-oxerine [(+)-3] possessing the cyclopenta[c]pyridine ring system have been accomplished through a route starting from the chiral γ-butyrolactone 7 and exploiting the intramolecular oxazole–olefin Diels–Alder reaction. The sign of specific rotation for the synthetic (+)-3 was in disagreement with that reported for natural oxerine, leaving the absolute configuration of this monoterpene alkaloid incomplete.     

A new tandem route to angular tetraquinanes. Synthesis of the Waihoensene ring system

[formula: see text] This paper describes a new tandem reaction sequence leading to angularly fused polyquinanes from squaric acid-derived bicyclo[6.3.0]-undecadienediones. Such compounds undergo a dual Michael addition. The enolate form in the first intermolecular addition undergoes the second intramolecular transannular addition to give the angular polyquinanes. A particularly interesting example is a catalytic transformation of cis-13-methylyricyclo[10.3.0.0]pentadeca-4(5),12(13)-diene-3 ,14-dione to (3R*,3aS*,5aR*,9aR*,11aR*)-3-methyl-1,2,3,5,5a,6 ,7,10,11,11a-decahydro-4H- pentaleno[6a,1-c]indene-2,10-dione, a compound having the tetracyclic ring system found in the natural product waihoensene. The mechanism and synthetic scope of these reactions are discussed.     

Studies on the total synthesis of lactonamycin: synthesis of the CDEF ring system

A concise and efficient synthesis of the tetracyclic CDEF ring system of lactonamycin (1) is described. The key step involved the Lewis acid mediated, intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation of carboxylic acid 6 to produce the tetracyclic CDEF core structure of target 1. The synthesis of 6 was carried out using a high-yielding Negishi coupling of benzyl bromide 7 with triflate 8, which was accessible in 11 steps and 31% overall yield on a multigram scale starting from trihydroxy acid 9.