Synthesis of polyfunctionalized furans from 3-acetyl-1-aryl-2-pentene-1,4-diones

The BF₃-catalyzed cyclization of 3-acetyl-1-aryl-2-pentene-1,4-diones 1a-e in the presence of water in boiling tetrahydrofuran gave bis(3-acetyl-5-aryl-2-furyl)methanes 2a-e in 26-79% yields along with a small amount of 3-acetyl-5-aryl-2-methylfurans 3a-e. The exact structure of 2a was determined by X-ray crystallography. The use of a half volume of the solvent for the reaction of 1a resulted in the formation of 2,4-bis(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-3-acetyl-5-phenylfuran (4) together with 2a and 3a. A similar reaction of 1a was carried out in the presence of 3-acetyl-5-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylfuran (3d) to afford 4-(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-3-acetyl-5-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylfuran (5) in 49% yield. The BF₃-catalyzed reaction of 1a with 2,4-pentanedione in dry tetrahydrofuran at 23°C gave 3-(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one (6a) and 3-(3-acetyl-2-methyl-4-phenyl-5-furyl)-4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one (7a) in 66 and 24% yields, respectively. The product distribution depended on the reaction temperature. A similar reaction of 1b-e also yielded the corresponding trisubstituted furans 6b-e and tetrasubstituted furans 7b-e in good yields. These results suggested the presence of the furfuryl carbocation intermediate A during the reaction. The one-pot synthesis of 6a and 7a was also achieved by a similar reaction using phenylglyoxal. The deoxygenation of 1a with triphenylphosphine gave 3a in 88% yield, while 1a was treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid to yield 3-acetyl-2-chloromethyl-5-phenylfuran (8) which was quantitatively transformed in ethanol into 3-acetyl-2-ethoxymethyl-5-phenylfuran (9) and in water into 3-acetyl-5-phenylfurfuryl alcohol (10), respectively. In addition, the Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopantadiene with 1a gave the corresponding [4+2] cycloaddition products 11 and 12.     

Aerobic oxidation of 8,11,13-abietatrienes catalyzed by N-hydroxyphthalimide combined with 2,2′-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) and its application to synthesis of naturally occurring diterpenes

Methyl 8,11,13-abietatriene-18-oate (1b) and 7-oxo-8,11,13-abietatrienes 10 and 15 were converted into 15-hydroperoxy-7-oxo-8,11,13-abietatrienes 13 and 16 by aerobic oxidation catalyzed by N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) combined with 2,2′-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (V-70) at room temperature, and several abietane and podocarpane terpenes were synthesized from 13 and 16.     

The synthesis of R-3-alkoxy-1-(1′-hydroxyethyl)-4-methoxy-2-(1″-propenyl)benzenes utilizing Corey-Bakshi-Shibata asymmetric reductions

Pyrolysis of the 3-O-allyl derivative 7 of isovanillin followed by alkylation of the derived allylphenol 8 afforded a series of benzaldehyde derivatives 9-11 each of which was transformed by initial treatment with methylmagnesium bromide followed by oxidation of the corresponding alcohols with activated manganese dioxide into a series of ketones 15-17. Palladium(0) catalysed isomerization of the double bond in the prop-2′-enyl side-chain afforded ketones 36-38 which were subjected to the Corey-Bakshi-Shibata asymmetric reduction protocol to afford the R-3-alkoxy-1-(1′-hydroxyethyl)-4-methoxy-2-(1″-propenyl) benzenes 42-44 in yields of approximately 60% and with ee's of 75%.     

Enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral 1-(1-naphthyl)isoquinolines and 2-(1-naphthyl)pyridines through sulfoxide ligand coupling reactions

Racemic 1-(1′-isoquinolinyl)-2-naphthalenemethanol rac-12 was prepared through a ligand coupling reaction of racemic 1-(tert-butylsulfinyl)isoquinoline rac-7 with the 1-naphthyl Grignard reagent 10. Resolution of rac-12 was achieved through chromatographic separation of the Noe-lactol derivatives 14 and 15, providing (R)-(−)-12 of >99% ee and (S)-(+)-12 of 90% ee. The ligand coupling reaction of optically enriched sulfoxide (S)-(−)-7 (62% ee) with Grignard reagent 10 furnished rac-12, with the absence of stereoinduction resulting from competing rapid racemisation of the sulfoxide 7. Reaction of optically enriched (S)-(−)-7 with 2-methoxy-1-naphthylmagnesium bromide was also accompanied by racemisation of the sulfoxide 7, and furnished optically active (+)-1-(2′-methoxy-1′-naphthyl)isoquinoline (+)-3b in low enantiomeric purity (14% ee). The absolute configuration of (+)-3b was assigned as R using circular dichroism spectroscopy, correcting an earlier assignment based on the Bijvoet method, but in the absence of heavy atoms. Optically active 2-pyridyl sulfoxides were found not to undergo racemisation analogous to the 1-isoquinolinyl sulfoxide 7, with the ligand coupling reactions of (R)-(+)- and (S)-(−)-2-[(4′-methylphenyl)sulfinyl]-3-methylpyridines, (R)-(+)-17 and (S)-(−)-17, with 2-methoxy-1-naphthylmagnesium bromide providing (−)- and (+)-2-(2′-methoxy-1′-naphthyl)-3-methylpyridines, (−)-18 and (+)-18, in 53 and 60% ee, respectively. The free energy barriers to internal rotation in 3b and 18 have been determined, and the isoquinoline (R)-(−)-12 examined as a ligand in the enantioselectively catalysed addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde; (R)-(−)-12 was also converted to (R)-(−)-N,N-dimethyl-1-(1′-isoquinolinyl)-2-naphthalenemethanamine (R)-(−)-19, and this examined as a ligand in the enantioselective Pd-catalysed allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate.     

Synthesis of 1-pyrroline 1-oxides analogous to pseudouridine

Pseudouridine (ψ-uridine, Ψ) aza′-analogues with a 5,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1-pyrrolin-2-yl 1-oxide as the glycone mimic were obtained by the addition of (2,4-dimethoxypyrimidin-5-yl)magnesium bromide to 1-aza-7,14-dioxadispiro[4.2.5.2]pentadec-1-ene 1-oxide (3), followed by oxidation and removal of the protecting groups. The analogous synthesis from (2,4-dimethoxypyrimidin-5-yl)lithium and 3 was less efficient; in the first step of the reaction sequence, competing dimerisation of 3 predominated over addition of the organolithium agent to 3.     

New S,O-acetals from (1R)-(−)-myrtenal as chiral auxiliaries in nucleophilic additions

Treatment of hydroxythiol 4 with α,α-diethoxyacetophenone at room temperature yielded a mixture of epimeric S,O-acetals 6 and 7 (1:4, 92% yield), which were efficiently separated by flash chromatography. The OTBS derivatives 8 and 9 were treated with several Grignard reagents to afford carbinols 10 and 13 respectively (85-99% yield, >95% dr). After successive hydrolysis and reduction of 10 and 13 it is possible to obtain either enantiomer of diols 16 in high optical purity (>95% er).     

Chemoenzymatic total syntheses of the linear triquinane-type natural products (+)-hirsutic acid and (−)-complicatic acid from toluene

Total syntheses of title natural products, 1 and 2, have been achieved using the cis-1,2-dihydrocatechol 7 as starting material. Compound 7 is readily obtained in large quantity and enantiomerically pure form through the whole-cell biotransformation of toluene using the genetically engineered micro-organism Escherichia coli JM109 (pDTG601) that over-expresses the enzyme toluene dioxygenase (TDO). Three key chemical steps were employed in these syntheses, the first of which was a high-pressure-promoted Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction between diene 8 and cyclopentenone to give adduct 9. The second key step was the photochemically promoted oxa-di-π-methane rearrangement of the bicyclo[2.2.2]octenone derivative, 18, of 9 to give 20 while the third key step was the reductive cleavage of the last compound so as to afford the linear triquinane 22. Elaboration of compound 22 to targets 1 and 2 followed conventional and/or established procedures. Single-crystal X-ray analyses were carried out on compounds 10-13, 15, 18, 24, and 34.     

Synthesis of heterocyclic propellanes using Mn(III)-based oxidative cyclization

The manganese(III)-based oxidative cyclization of 1,1-diarylethenes 1 with 3-(2-oxoethyl)piperidine-2,4-diones 2 was carried out in acetic acid at reflux temperature to selectively produce azadioxa[4.3.3]propellanes 3 in high yields. A similar cyclization with the 2-(2-oxoethyl)cycloalkane-1,3-diones 7 and 2-(3-oxopropyl)cycloalkane-1,3-diones 10 also gave the corresponding dioxapropellanes 8 and 11 in moderate to good yields.     

A flow chemistry route to 2-phenyl-3-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propan-1-amines

The Knoevenagel condensation of pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde (1) with a range of substituted benzyl nitriles (2a-e) afforded rapid access to a family of α,β-unsaturated nitriles (3a-e) in good yields (67-78%). Flow hydrogenation (ThalesNano H-cube™) at 60 °C, 50 bar H₂ pressure, 1.0 mL/min through a 10% Pd-C catalyst selectively, and quantitatively, hydrogenated the olefin double bond (4a-e). Use of a Raney Nickel catalyst at 70 °C, 70 bar H₂ pressure and flow rates of 0.5-1.0 mL/min afforded quantitative conversion into the corresponding saturated amines with the reduction of both the olefin and nitrile bonds (5a-e). The versatility of this approach was further exemplified by reaction of 5a and 5c with norcantharidin to afford acid amide norcantharidin analogues 7 and 8 as novel protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitors.     

2-(1-Isopropyl-2-benzimidazolyl)-6-(1-aryliminoethyl)pyridyl transition metal (Fe, Co, and Ni) dichlorides: Syntheses, characterizations and their catalytic behaviors toward ethylene reactivity

A series of 2-(1-isopropyl-2-benzimidazolyl)-6-(1-aryliminoethyl)pyridyl metal complexes [iron (II) (1a-6a), cobalt (II) (1b-6b) and nickel (II) (1c-6c)] were synthesized and fully characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analyses. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of five coordinated complexes 5a, 3b, 5b, 1c and 2c reveal 5a and 5b as distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry, and 3b, 1c and 2c as distorted square pyramidal geometry. All complexes performed ethylene reactivity with the assistance of various organoaluminums. The iron complexes displayed good activities in the presence of MAO and MMAO. Upon activated by Et₂AlCl, the cobalt analogues showed moderate ethylene reactivity, while the nickel analogues exhibited relatively higher activities.     

Addition of silyloxydienes to 2,6-dibromo-1,4-benzoquinone: an approach to highly oxygenated bromonaphthoquinones for the synthesis of thysanone

The synthesis of tetraoxygenated bromonaphthoquinones 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, key intermediates for a synthesis of the 3C protease inhibitor, thysanone, were investigated. Addition of 1-methoxy-1,3-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)-1,3-butadiene 8 to 2,6-dibromo-1,4-benzoquinone 10 in benzene afforded a mixture of naphthoquinone 6a, arising from Diels-Alder addition followed by aromatisation, and Michael adduct 12. The Michael adduct 12 predominated when THF was used as solvent whereas 6a predominated when benzene was used. Naphthoquinone 6a underwent benzylation to naphthoquinone 6c. Addition of 1,1-dimethoxy-3-trimethylsilyloxy-1,3-butadiene 9 to 2,6-dibromo-1,4-benzoquinone 10 followed by benzylation failed to afford the desired bromonaphthoquinone 6d yet methylation did afford naphthoquinone 6b. Bromonaphthoquinone 6d was finally prepared from naphthol 18, obtained from addition of diene 9 to 1,4-benzoquinone 17, followed by ortho-bromination and oxidation. Attempted Sakurai allylation of bromonaphthoquinone 6d afforded naphthodihydrofuran 21. A similar observation was observed for 2-carbomethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone 22 that also underwent Sakurai allylation to afford naphthodihydrofuran 23. The structure of Michael adduct 12 was confirmed by X-ray crystallography.     

Preparation, structural characterisation and electrochemical properties of iron(0) and tungsten(0) carbonyl complexes with 1-(diphenylphosphanyl)-1′-vinylferrocene and 1-(diphenylphosphanyl)-1′-(dimethylvinylsilyl)ferrocene as P-monodentate ligands

A new organometallic phosphanylalkene, 1-(diphenylphosphanyl)-1′-(dimethylvinylsilyl)ferrocene (2) was prepared and—together with 1-(diphenylphosphanyl)-1′-vinylferrocene (1)—studied as a ligand in iron- and tungsten-carbonyl complexes. The following complexes featuring the mentioned phosphanylalkenes as P-monodentate donors were isolated and characterised by spectral methods: [Fe(CO)₄(L-κP)] (4, L = 1; 5, L = 2) and trans-[W(CO)₄(L-κP)₂] (6, L = 1; 7, L = 2). In addition, the solid-state structures of 4 and 6 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and the electrochemical properties of compounds 1, 2, 4 and 6 were studied by cyclic voltammetry at platinum electrode.     

The first entry to pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinoline-2,4(3aH,5H)-diones

Wittig olefination of 3-aminoquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones 1 with ethyl (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetate (Ph₃PCHCO₂Et) afforded (E)-3-amino-4-ethoxycarbonylmethylene-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-quinolones (E)-2 and pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinoline-2,4(3aH,5H)-diones 3. An alternative approach for the synthesis of 3 via 3-bromoacetamidoquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones 7, their corresponding triphenylphosphonium salts 8, and ylides A that undergo intramolecular Wittig reaction, was investigated. Under the applied reaction conditions, the phosphonium salts 8 and ylides A are so unstable that they partly decompose to 3-acetamidoquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones 9 during the synthesis of 3.     

Stereospecific route to enantiopure all cis-2,3,6-trisubstituted piperidines. Facile synthesis of (−)-deoxocassine and (+)-azimic acid

Reduction of the enantiopure β-amino esters 10 provides the γ-amnio alcohol 11, which is condensed with 2,4-pentadione to afford 12. Stepwise cyclization of 12 produced the cyclic enamine 13, which is hydrogenated to deliver all cis-2,3,6-trisubstituted piperidine 14. Using this reaction sequence and subsequent Baeyer-Villiger oxidation as the key step (−)-deoxocassine and (+)-azimic acid are synthesized.     

Synthesis and properties of 3-arylcyclohepta[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]-1,3,5-triazine-2,4(3H)-diones and related compounds: photo-induced autorecycling oxidation of some amines

Novel 3-phenyl- and 3-(4-nitrophenyl)cyclohepta[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]-1,3,5-triazine-2,4(3H)-diones and the corresponding imino derivatives 5a,b and 6a,b were synthesized in modest to moderate yields by the abnormal and normal aza-Wittig reaction of 2-(1,3-diazaazulen-2-ylimino)triphenylphosphorane with aryl isocyanates and subsequent heterocyclization reaction with a second isocyanate. The related cationic compound, 1-methyl-3-phenylcyclohepta[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]-1,3,5-triazine-2,4(3H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborate 7a, was also prepared. The electrochemical reduction of these compounds exhibited more positive reduction potentials as compared with those of the related compounds of 3,10-disubstituted cyclohepta[4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione systems. In a search of the oxidizing ability, compounds 5a, 6a, and 7a were demonstrated to oxidize some amines to give the corresponding imines in more than 100% yield under aerobic and photo-irradiation conditions, while even benzylamine was not oxidized under aerobic and thermal conditions at 100 °C. The oxidation reactions by cation 7a are more efficient than that by 5a and 6a. Quenching of the fluorescence of 5a was observed, and thus, the oxidation reaction by 5a probably proceeds via electron-transfer from amine to the excited singlet state of 5a. In the case of cation 7a, the oxidation reaction is proposed to proceed via formation of an amine-adduct of 7a and subsequent photo-induced radical cleavage reaction.     

Synthesis of allenes via CuBr-catalyzed homologation of alk-1-ynes accelerated by microwave

CuBr-catalyzed homologation of alk-1-ynes 1 with paraformaldehyde and N,N-diisopropylamine (or N,N-dicyclohexylamine) was accelerated by microwave irradiation at 150 °C to afford the corresponding allenes 2 in good to high yields in 1-10 min. Bisalkynes 5 and 7 were also converted to the corresponding bisallenes 6 and 8 in 63% and 61% yields, respectively, under the current condition.     

Unique chlorine effect in regioselective one-pot synthesis of 1-alkyl-/allyl-3-(o-chlorobenzyl) uracils: anti-HIV activity of selected uracil derivatives

2,4-Bis(trimethylsilyloxy)pyrimidines 1/2 on reaction with o-chlorobenzyl chlorides in 1,2-dichloroethane in the presence of I₂ undergo single step 1,3-dibenzylation to provide 1,3-bis(o-chlorobenzyl)pyrimidine-2,4-diones. The reactions of 1 with allyl/alkyl bromide followed by subsequent addition of o-chlorobenzyl chloride provide a simple one-pot synthesis of 1,3-unsymmetrical pyrimidine-2,4-diones. Amongst these, 1,3-bis(o-chlorobenzyl)uracil (6a) shows anti-HIV-1 activity.     

A short-cut from 1-acetyl adamantane to 2-(1-adamantyl)pyrroles

The oxime of 1-acetyl adamantane 2 is added to acetylene (KOH/DMSO, 70 °C, initial acetylene pressure 13 atm, 30 min) to afford the corresponding O-vinyl oxime 5 in 80% yield. The latter upon heating (DMSO, 120 °C, 1 h) gives 2-(1-adamantyl)pyrrole 3, 1-acetyl adamantane 1, and adamantane (6:3:1 mass ratio), the yield of the pyrrole 3 being 83% (based on 1-acetyl adamantane 1 consumed). Under harsher conditions (NaOH/DMSO, 130 °C, atmospheric pressure of acetylene, 4 h) oxime 2 reacts with acetylene to furnish pyrrole 3, 1-acetyl adamantane 1, 1-vinyl adamantane 9, and adamantane (6:7:3:1 mass ratio), with the isolated yield of pyrrole 3 reaching 34%. Under pressure (NaOH/DMSO, 120 °C, initial acetylene pressure 14 atm, 1 h) the same reaction leads to 2-(1-adamantyl)-1-vinylpyrrole 4 and ketone 1 in 48% (based on consumed ketone 1) and 24% yields, respectively. The pyrrole 4 is easily deprotected to the corresponding 1H-pyrrole 3 in 77% yield by treatment (aqueous MeCN) with Hg(OAc)₂ and NaBH₄.     

Vinyl-addition polymerization of norbornene catalyzed by (pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine divalent iron, cobalt and nickel complexes

Complexes of 2-((3,5-dimethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L1), 2-((3,5-ditert-butyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)pyridine (L2), 2-((3,5-diphenyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)pyridine (L3), 2-((3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L4) and 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)pyridine (L5) with cobalt(II), iron(II) and nickel(II), Ni(L1)Cl₂ (1), Co(L1)Cl₂ (2), Fe(L1)Cl₂ (3), Ni(L2)Cl₂ (4), Ni(L3)Cl₂ (5), Co(L3)Cl₂ (6), Fe(L3)Cl₂ (7), Ni(L4)Cl₂ (8) and Ni(L5)Cl₂ (9), were used as catalyst precursors to produce vinyl-addition type norbornene polymers. Both the identity of the metal center and nature of ligand affected the polymerization behaviour of the resultant catalysts. Nickel catalysts were generally more active than the corresponding iron and cobalt analogues. The polynorbornene produced have high molecular weights (0.5-2.1 × 10⁶ g/mol) and narrow molecular weight distributions. Analyses of polymer microstructure using NMR and IR spectroscopy confirmed the polymers produced to be vinyl-addition polynorbornene.     

Synthesis of 2,4-dimethyl-6-oxo-2,4-heptadienoic acid derivatives from 2,4,6-trimethylpyrylium salts

Reaction 2,4,6-trimethylpyrylium salts with sodium cyanide in boiling water yielded the bicyclic lactone 1,3,5-trimethyl-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-en-7-one (6) along with a series of stereoisomers of 2,4-dimethyl-6-oxo-2,4-heptadienonitrile (5), which were the sole products when the reaction was carried out at room temperature. Compound 6, along with 3,5-dimethylphenol (7), was also obtained by refluxing 5 briefly in aqueous sodium hydroxide. However, when 5 was refluxed for a prolonged period in aqueous sodium acetate, 3,5-dimethyl-5-(2-oxopropyl)-furan-2-one (8), along with some 7, was generated instead. Compound 8 could also be produced from 6 on prolonged refluxing with aqueous sodium acetate, indicating that 6 was the kinetically-controlled and 8 the thermodynamically-controlled product.