Thiourea-catalyzed asymmetric formal [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with nitroolefins

A chiral thiourea catalyst possessing an amine function catalyzes an asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to nitroolefins to provide highly functionalized pyrrolidines with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 98:1:1 dr, 92% ee). The reaction proceeds in a stepwise manner consisting of Michael addition and subsequent intramolecular aza-Henry reaction. Both reactions are promoted by the thiourea catalyst, and the reaction rate of the latter step is efficiently enhanced by the addition of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol.     

A stereodivergent cascade imine → azomethine ylide → 1,3-dipolar cycloadditive approach to α-chiral pyrrolidines

Stereodivergent [3+2] cycloadditions of chiral α-amino azomethine ylides leading to highly functionalized pyrrolidines are reported. The marriage of substrate conformational preferences and either an inter- or intramolecular cycloaddition manifold leads to either the l (syn) or u (anti) relationship between the pyrrolidine and α-stereocenters. The latter result may be applicable to a new approach to the bioxalomycin family of antibiotics.     

A simple two-step synthesis of 2-(alkylamino)-1-arylethanols,including racemic adrenaline,from aromatic aldehydes via 5-aryloxazolidines

Benzaldehydes react smoothly with nonstabilized azomethine ylides, generated in situ from sarcosine/formaldehyde or N-(methoxymethyl)-N-(trimethylsilylmethyl)benzylamine, to give 5-aryloxazolidines as intermediates. These were converted into 2-(alkylamino)-1-arylethanols in good yields by simple heating in methanol with hydrochloric acid, or by treatment with hydrazine hydrate in ethanol.     

Highly diastereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nonstabilized azomethine ylides to 3-nitro-2-trihalomethyl-2H-chromenes: synthesis of 1-benzopyrano[3,4-c]pyrrolidines

Reactions of 3-nitro-2-trifluoro(trichloro)methyl-2H-chromenes, including 2-unsubstituted derivatives, with N-alkyl-α-amino acids (sarcosine, proline) and paraformaldehyde proceed diastereoselectively to give 1-benzopyrano[3,4-c]pyrrolidines in good yields as a result of a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the intermediate nonstabilized azomethine ylide at the Δ³-bond of the chromene system.     

Reaction of N-methylazomethine ylide with aroyl azides: Synthesis of imidazolidin-4-ones

Aryl isocyanates generated in situ from aroyl azides react with N-methylazomethine ylide generated in situ from N-methylspiroanthraceneoxazolidine at 210?°C in a microwave reactor to form 3-arylimidazolidin-4-ones in 30–81% yield.     

Nucleophilic properties of a nonstabilized azomethine ylide derived from sarcosine and cyclohexanone. A novel domino reaction leading to substituted 4-aryl-2-pyrrolidones

A nonstabilized asymmetric azomethine ylide derived from sarcosine and cyclohexanone reacts with 3-substituted coumarins and ethyl benzylidene malonate to give 4-aryl-2-pyrrolidones in moderate yields, and the adducts of classical 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions as the minor products. The main reaction proceeds via a domino process, starting with 1,4-nucleophilic addition to the conjugated double bond, and represents the first example of the nucleophilic properties of a nonstabilized azomethine ylide.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of the Di-Spirooxindole Analogs Based Oxindole and Cyclohexanone Moieties as Potential Anticancer Agents

A new series of di-spirooxindole analogs, engrafted with oxindole and cyclohexanone moieties, were synthesized. Initially, azomethine ylides were generated via reaction of the substituted isatins 3a–f (isatin, 3a, 6-chloroisatin, 3b, 5-fluoroisatin, 3c, 5-nitroisatin, 3d, 5-methoxyisatin, 3e, and 5-methylisatin, 3f, and (2S)-octahydro-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid 2, in situ azomethine ylides reacted with the cyclohexanone based-chalcone 1a–f to afford the target di-spirooxindole compounds 4a–n. This one-pot method provided diverse structurally complex molecules, with biologically relevant spirocycles in a good yields. All synthesized di-spirooxindole analogs, engrafted with oxindole and cyclohexanone moieties, were evaluated for their anticancer activity against four cancer cell lines, including prostate PC3, cervical HeLa, and breast (MCF-7, and MDA-MB231) cancer cell lines. The cytotoxicity of these di-spirooxindole analogs was also examined against human fibroblast BJ cell lines, and they appeared to be non-cytotoxic. Compound 4b was identified as the most active member of this series against prostate cancer cell line PC3 (IC₅₀ = 3.7 ± 1.0 µM). The cyclohexanone engrafted di-spirooxindole analogs 4a and 4l (IC₅₀ = 7.1 ± 0.2, and 7.2 ± 0.5 µM, respectively) were active against HeLa cancer cells, whereas NO₂ substituted isatin ring and meta-fluoro-substituted (2E,6E)-2,6-dibenzylidenecyclohexanone containing 4i (IC₅₀ = 7.63 ± 0.08 µM) appeared to be a promising agent against the triple negative breast cancer MDA-MB231 cell line. To explore the plausible mechanism of anticancer activity of di-spirooxindole analogs, molecular docking studies were investigated which suggested that spirooxindole analogs potentially inhibit the activity of MDM2.     

New pyrrolidine and pyrroline derivatives of fullerenes: from the synthesis to the use in light-converting systems

The results of the authors’ studies on the [2+3] cycloaddition of azomethine and nitrile ylides generated from picolylamine and benzylamine derivatives to fullerenes are systematized and new experimental data are considered. Catalysts and microwave radiation promoting the formation of ylides and their addition to fullerenes were successfully used for the first time. A large series of new pyrrolidine and pyrroline derivatives of fullerenes C₆₀ and C₇₀ were synthesized and characterized. The proposed procedures afford the reaction products in yields twice as high (80–85%) as those attained by the classical Prato reaction. The reactions proceed with virtually complete regio- (in the case of C₇₀) and stereoselectivity to afford only cis-2′,5′-disubstituted and trans-1′,2′,5′-trisubstituted pyrrolidinofullerenes. Pyridyl-substituted pyrrolidinofullerenes react with metalloporphyrins and phthalocyanines to form self-ordered coordination complexes. The latter are analogs of natural photosynthetic antenna systems due to photoinduced charge separation that occurs in these complexes upon exposure to light. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 873–898, May, 2008.     

Novel synthesis of aminoacetonitriles via the selective demethylation of quaternary ammonium salts

N-Methyl cyclic amines readily formed quaternary ammonium salts upon treatment with iodoacetonitrile in high yields (70–96%). The latter were selectively demethylated by heating in dimethylformamide to give aminoacetonitriles in moderate to good overall yields (36–69%).     

Stereoselective synthesis of 5-(4-azetidinyl)-proline esters via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of N-metalated azomethine ylides

The conformationally locked s-trans enone functionality present in the (E)-3-arylidene-4-chromanones undergo regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction with N-metalated azomethine ylides derived from β-lactam imines of glycine methyl ester in the presence of silver acetate to give spiropyrrolidines in moderate to good yield. The regio and stereochemistry of the cycloadducts have been established by single crystal X-ray structure and spectroscopic techniques.     

Highly enantioselective catalytic [6+3] cycloadditions of azomethine ylides

Under control: Highly functionalized chiral annulated piperidines with eight stereocenters are efficiently obtained by means of a highly enantioselective one-pot [6+3]/[4+2] sequence. This sequence included the first enantioselective [6+3] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with fulvenes.     

The Lewis acid-catalyzed [3+1+1] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with isocyanides

A Lewis acid-catalyzed [3+1+1] cycloaddition reaction between aliphatic isocyanides and azomethine ylides generated in situ from aziridines, leading to pyrrolidine derivatives, has been developed. This reaction proceeds smoothly under mild conditions and can also be modified by employing aromatic isocyanides to generate four-membered heterocycles, azetidines, through a [3+1] cycloaddition reaction.     

Phosphonylated thiocarbonyl ylides from the reaction of aromatic thioketones with diethyl diazomethylphosphonates

The reaction of diazomethylphosphonates with aromatic thioketones at −65 °C to room temperature yields 2,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-phosphonates, which eliminates N₂ to give phosphonylated thiocarbonyl ylides as reactive intermediates. These sulfur-centered 1,3-dipoles undergo typical reactions of thiocarbonyl ylides, i.e., 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions, cyclodimerization, and electrocyclic ring closure, depending on the involved thioketone and, therefore, on the reaction conditions. In the case of the most reactive thiofluorenone, the phsophonylated thiocarbonyl methanide can be intercepted with thiobenzophenone, a phosphonodithioformate, and tetracyanoethylene. In the absence of such reactive dipolarophiles, cyclodimerization occurs to give the corresponding 1,4-dithiane.     

Hydrogen‐Bonding Network Promoted [3+2] Cycloaddition: Asymmetric Catalytic Construction of Spiro‐pseudoindoxyl Derivatives

The enantioselective construction of a spirocyclic quaternary stereogenic carbon center at the C2 position of indole has long been an elusive problem in organic synthesis. Herein, by employing a rationally designed hydrogen‐bonding network activation strategy, for the first time, 2,2′‐pyrrolidinyl‐spirooxindole, which is a valuable and prevalent indole alkaloid scaffold, was directly obtained through a catalytic asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition reaction with high yields and excellent stereoselectivities.