An efficient substituent dependent synthesis of congested pyridines and pyrimidines

An efficient and versatile synthesis of various congested pyridines 3a-h, 6a,b, 8a-n, 10a-g, and 16a,b, and (pyrimidin-4-yl)acetonitriles 13a-g has been delineated by base catalyzed ring transformation of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-ones 1a-h, 5, 7, and 15 by formamidine acetate 2a, acetamidine hydrochloride 2b, S-methylisothiourea 9a, pyrazol-1-yl-carboxamidine 9b, and arylamidine hydrochloride 12 separately in the presence of powdered KOH in dry DMF.     

Stabilization of (N-methyleneamino)imidoylketenes: synthesis of dipyrazolo[1,2-a;1′,2′-d][1,2,4,5]tetrazines

Thermolysis of substituted methyl 1-methyleneamino-4,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates 2a,b led to substituted dimethyl 3,9-dioxo-1,5,7,11-tetrahydro-1H,7H-dipyrazolo[1,2-a;1′,2′-d][1,2,4,5]tetrazine-1,7-dicarboxylates 4a,b and methyl 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylates 5a,b as minor products. The structure of compound 4a was determined by X-ray crystallography. The proposed mechanism of this conversion includes generation of (N-methyleneamino)imidoylketenes 6a,b and its intramolecular transformation to azomethine imines—5-oxo-2,5-dihydropyrazole-1-methylium-2-ides 7a,b, which undergo dimerization in head-to-tail manner yielding products 4a,b and partially hydrolyse to compounds 5a,b.     

Microwave assisted synthesis of novel imidazo [2,1-b]thiazole derivative attached to quinoxalinones

3-(6-Phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones (qunoxalinone) (6a-q) have been synthesized by the reaction of ethyl 2-oxo-2-(6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)acetates (4a-e) with suitably substituted o-phenylenediamines (5a-f) under microwave heating. The ethyl 2-oxo-2-(6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)acetates (4a-e) were prepared by the reaction of 6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles (3a-e) with ethyl chlorooxoacetate in refluxing 1,4-dioxane whereas the thiazoles (3a-e) were synthesized by the reaction of 2-bromo-1-phenylethanones (2a-e) with thiazol-2-amine in refluxing acetone.     

Facile synthesis of regio-isomeric naphthofurans and benzodifurans

Naphtho[1,2-b]furans 1a-f, naphtho[2,1-b]furans 2a-f, benzo[1,2-b:5,4-b′]difurans 3a-b, benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]difurans 4a-b, and benzo[1,2-b:4,3-b′]difurans 5a-b were synthesized by base-catalyzed cyclization reaction of the corresponding o-alkoxybenzoylarene derivatives. The o-alkoxybenzoylarenes were obtained from the etherification reaction of the o-hydroxybenzoylarenes, which were prepared either by the reaction of methoxyarenes with benzoyl chloride in the presence of aluminum chloride or by photo-Fries rearrangement of aryl benzoates.     

Preparation of new pyrido[3,4-b]thienopyrroles and pyrido[4,3-e]thienopyridazines

Two new types of pyrido-fused tris-heterocycles (1a,b and 2a,b) have been prepared from 3-aminopyridine in five/six steps. A synthetic strategy for the preparation of the novel pyrido[3,4-b]thieno[2,3- and 3,2-d]pyrroles (1a,b) and pyrido[4,3-e]thieno[2,3- and 3,2-c]pyridazines (2a,b) has been studied. The Suzuki cross coupling of the appropriate 2- and 3-thienoboronic acids (3,4) and 4-bromo-3-pyridylpivaloylamide (9) afforded the biaryl coupling products (10,11) in high yields (85%). Diazotization of the hydrolysed (2-thienyl)-coupling product (12) and azide substitution gave the 3-azido-4-(2-thienyl)pyridine intermediate (72%, 14). 3-Azido-4-(3-thienyl)pyridine (15) was prepared by exchanging the previous order of reactions. The desired β-carboline thiophene analogues (1a,b) were obtained via the nitrene by thermal decomposition of the azido precursors (14,15). By optimising conditions for intramolecular diazocoupling, the corresponding pyridazine products (72-83%, 2a,b) were afforded.     

Synthesis of arylated highly congested indans using a domino sequence

A novel and efficient regioselective synthesis of various arylated highly congested 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carbonitriles (3a-f), methyl 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylates (10a-e) and 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylic acids (11a-e) through base-catalyzed reaction of 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (1a-f) and methyl 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carboxylates (9a-e) by cyclopentanone (2) has been delineated. The synthetic potential of 2-pyranone was explored further to generate molecular diversity using 6-aryl-4-sec-amino-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (7a-h), 5,6-diaryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (5a,b) and methyl 5,6-diaryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carboxylates (12a,b) as precursors for the ring transformation by cyclopentanone to assess the effects of substituents on the course of the reaction to obtain highly congested indans, 6,7-diaryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carbonitriles (6a,b), 7-aryl-5-(piperidin-1-yl)indan-4-carbonitriles (8a-h) and methyl 6,7-diaryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylates (13a,b).     

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 6a,7-dihydro-6H,13H-pyrazino[1,2-a;4,5-a′]diindole analogs as melatonin receptor ligands

The synthesis of two melatonin-derived analogs of the novel 6a,7-dihydro-6H,13H-pyrazino[1,2-a;4,5-a′]diindole ring system is described. The non-methoxy and methoxy analogs, 4a and 4b were prepared in seven steps starting from indoline-2-carboxylic acid 5a and 5-methoxyindoline-2-carboxylic acid 5b, respectively. While 4a exhibited micromolar affinities for both melatonin receptors, the methoxy analog 4b displayed moderate affinity for MT₂ receptors (K_i=0.41 μM) being 4.4-fold higher than for the MT₁ subtype.     

Preference of di-n-butyltin compounds to build O?Sn bonds in fused rings with five-six members

The reaction of salicylaldehyde (1), o-aminophenols (2a-2f), and di-n-butyltin^IV oxide (3) to give six di-n-butyltin^IV compounds (4a-4f) was achieved in good yields. All compounds were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, mass spectrometry, IR, elemental analysis and in the case of compounds 4a, 4b, 4d and 4e by X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 4a crystallized with trigonal bipiramidal (TPB) geometry surrounding the tin atom while 4b and 4e crystallized as dimeric molecules joined by two O?Sn bonds with distorted octahedron (DOC) geometry. The X-ray structure of 4d presents one cocrystallized monomeric TBP with one dimeric DOC molecule. Correlations of σ_Hammett vs. spectroscopic values were found for 4a-4b and 4d-4f, indicating the substituents in the aromatic ring derived from o-aminophenol serve as modulators of the O?Sn supramolecular interaction. The O?Sn bond formation is selective for the five-membered ring oxygen atom.     

Synthesis of 3-substituted-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxides from the Baylis-Hillman adducts of o-nitrobenzaldehydes

The reaction of the Baylis-Hillman adducts 1b-f derived from o-nitrobenzaldehydes in trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of triflic acid (0.2 equiv.) afforded 3-substituted-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxides 2b-e and 2a in good to moderate yields. The reaction mechanism was evidenced by the experiment with 1f, the Baylis-Hillman adduct of 2-nitrobenzaldehyde N-tosylimine, as the one involving N-hydroxyisoxazoline as the key intermediate.     

Some novel observations on the reaction of 2-hydrazino-3-methylquinoxaline with trifluoromethyl-β-diketones

The reaction of 2-hydrazino-3-methylquinoxaline 1 with trifluoromethyl-β-diketones 2 not only yields the expected 5-trifluoromethyl-5-hydroxy-Δ²-pyrazolines 3a-3f and/or 3-trifluoromethylpyrazoles 4c-4f but also the unexpected products 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalines 5a-5f and/or 3(5)-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazoles 6c-6f. Furthermore, the acid-catalyzed dehydration of 5-hydroxypyrazolines 3a-3b resulted in the formation of unexpected 5a-5b along with the expected corresponding pyrazoles 7a-7b. These unprecedented observations provide evidence for the existence of equilibrium between the hydroxypyrazoline 3 and its open chain tautomer, ketoimine 9 in the mechanistic path leading to the formation of pyrazoles 7 and triazoles 5.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of novel bis(2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one) derivatives as potential GSK-3 inhibitors

(5Z,5′Z)-3,3′-(1,4-Phenylenebis(methylene)-bis-(5-arylidene-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one) derivatives (5a-r) have been synthesized by the condensation reaction of 3,3′-(1,4- or 1,3-phenylenebis(methylene))bis(2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones) (3a,b) with suitably substituted aldehydes (4a-f) or 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)2-oxoacetaldehydes (8a-c) under microwave conditions. The bis(2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones) were prepared from the corresponding primary alkyl amines (1a,b) and di-(carboxymethyl)-trithiocarbonyl (2). The 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxoacetaldehydes (8a-c) were synthesized from the corresponding acid chlorides (7a-c) using HSnBu₃.     

Synthesis, characterization, and derivatization of some novel types of fluorinated mono- and bis-imidazolidineiminothiones with antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal activities

A series of thirty eight novel imidazolidineiminothiones (6a-g, 10a-h, 13a,b, 15a-d, and 16a), 5-thioxoimidazolidine-2,4-diones (7a-d, 11a-e, 14a,b, and 16b), and bis-imidazolidineiminothiones (17-20) with various fluorinated aromatic substituents at N-(1) and N-(3) were prepared in 75-85% yields. The imidazolidineiminothiones were synthesized from fluorinated N-arylcyanothioformanilides and substituted aromatic isocyanates, and by the reactions of fluorinated aromatic isocyanates with fluorinated and non-fluorinated aromatic N-arylcyanothioformanilides. Subsequent hydrolysis of selected products produced the corresponding 5-thioxoimidazolidine-2,4-diones. Preliminary screening of several compounds against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells indicated that 6f and 16a were the most active (90% and 80% inhibition, respectively). Further evaluation for cytotoxicity against other tumor cell lines gave IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.67 to 3.83 μg/mL, where compounds 15a and 16a were markedly active against all cell lines. This highlights the synergistic effect of the suitably positioned fluorinated substituents on N-(1) and N-(3) of the imidazolidineiminothiones. Compounds 6a,e-g, 10a-c, 13b, 15a-d, and 17-20 were tested against microbial organisms (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, and Sarcina lutea), and fungal strains (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus flavus). Whereas compound 6a exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, 13b displayed the strongest antifungal activity against all fungal strains, reaching as high as 30 mm. Finally, 15a,b,d were subjected to in vitro testing of antiviral activity against hepatitis A virus (HAV), human herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1), and Coxsackie B4 (COxB4) viral strain, where 15b was the most effective, reducing virus plaque count of HSV1 and COxB4 by 50% and 60%, respectively.     

Columnar/smectic metallomesogens derived from heterocyclic benzoxazoles

The synthesis, mesomorphic behavior, and optical properties of two new series of metal complexes 1a,b-M (M=Pd, Cu, Zn) derived from benzoxazoles 2a,b are reported. The crystal and molecular structures of mesogenic 5-decyloxy-2-(6-decyloxybenzooxazol-2-yl)phenol and nonmesogenic bis[5-octyloxy-2-(6-octyloxybenzooxazol-2-yl) phenol]Pd(II) were determined by means of X-ray structural analysis. Two benzoxazoles 2a exhibited monotropic SmA phases, and all benzoxazoles 2b were nonmesogenic. On the other hand, metal complexes 1a-M exhibited distinctly different mesomorphism from complexes 1b-M. Complexes 1a-Pd formed SmC phases; complexes 1a-Cu and 1a-Zn formed crystal phases. In contrast, complexes 1b-Zn exhibited columnar phases, and complexes 1b-Cu and 1b-Pd were nonmesogenic. The difference of the mesomorphism in 1a-M and 1b-M was probably attributed to the geometry and/or the overall molecular shape created by 2a and 2b. The electronic configuration of metal ion might play an important role in forming the mesophases. The fluorescent properties of these compounds were also examined.     

Chemistry of cyclopropenones: synthesis of new pyrrolo[2,1-b]-1,3,4-oxadiazoles

2,3-Diphenylcyclopropenone (1) reacts with ylidene-N-phenylhydrazine-carbothioamides 2a-e to form the pyrrolo[2,1-b]-1,3,4-oxadiazoles 5a-e.     

2-Allyl-N-benzyl substituted α-naphthylamines as building blocks in heterocyclic synthesis. New and efficient syntheses of benz[e]naphtho[1,2-b]azepine and naphtho[1,2-b]azepine derivatives

A new series of 13-acetyl-7,12-dihydro-7-ethylbenz[e]naphtho[1,2-b]azepine (4a-d) and 2-aryl-4-hydroxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydronaphtho[1,2-b]azepine derivatives (6a-d) have been synthesized from N-allyl-N-benzyl substituted α-naphthylamines (1a-d) by utilizing aromatic amino-Claisen rearrangement, intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation and intramolecular dipolar 1,3-cycloaddition nitrone-olefin reactions.     

Facile synthesis of 4-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives from N-acyl-o-aminobenzophenones

An efficient synthesis of 4-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives has been achieved in a one-pot reaction from N-acyl-o-aminobenzophenones 1a-c (a: acyl=acetyl; b: acyl=propanoyl; c: acyl=heptanoyl) using NaH as a base. Treatment of 1 with NaH provided the quinolones 2a-c with 62-83% yields, whereas the reaction in the presence of alkyl iodide (alkyl=methyl, ethyl, n-octyl) gave the corresponding N-alkylated quinolones 3a-g in 75-95% yields. The alkylation reaction of 4-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one 2a with alkyl halide gave a mixture of N-alkylated and O-alkylated products. Comparison of IR and NMR data of the N-alkylated and O-alkylated compounds with those of 2a-c indicated that 2a-c exist as the lactam form.     

Total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-glucopyranoside, a component of blue flower pigment of Salvia patens, and seven chiral analogues

We have succeeded in the first total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1a), a component of blue pigment, protodelphin, from naringenin (2). Glycosylation of 2 according to Koenigs-Knorr reaction provided a monoglucoside 4a in 80% yield, and this was followed by DDQ oxidation to give apigenin 7-O-glucoside (12a). Further glycosylation of 4′-OH of 12a with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl fluoride (5a) was achieved using a Lewis acid-and-base promotion system (BF₃·Et₂O, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine, and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine) in 70% yield, and subsequent deprotection produced 1a. Synthesis of three other chiral isomers of 1a, with replacement of d-glucose at 7 and/or 4′-OH by l-glucose (1b-d), and four chiral isomers of apigenin 7-O-β-glucosides (6a,b) and 4′-O-β-glucosides (7a,b) also proved possible.     

Preparation of β-hydroxyesters from isoxazolines. A selective Nibpy-catalyzed electrochemical method

An electrocatalytic method for the reductive N-O cleavage of isoxazolines is described. Ni⁰bpy, generated in situ, was used to promote selective ring opening of 3-methoxy-5-phenylisoxazoline (1a) and 3-methoxy-[4,5]cyclohexylisoxazoline (1b). DMF and NaI were used as solvent and supporting electrolyte, and β-hydroxyesters 2a and 2b were obtained in high yields respectively, after acid hydrolysis. β-Hydroxynitriles 3a and 3b were also identified as side products.     

Synthesis and transformations of sulfur-substituted indolizidines and quinolizidines

3-Sulfolenes 1a-b underwent [4+2] cycloaddition reactions with p-toluenesulfonyl isocyanate to give tetrahydropyridinones 3a-b. Through N-detosylation of 3a-b and subsequent intramolecular cyclization, indolizidine 5a and quinolizidine 5b were synthesized. Useful functional group transformations of compounds 5a-b were also investigated.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 2-methylenepyrrolizidines by tandem cyclization of N-propargylaminyl radicals

Tandem cyclization of N-propargylaminyl radicals, generated by N-chlorination of (E)-alk-4-enylamines 2a-d and 2f followed by treatment with tributyltin radical, afforded 2-methylenepyrrolizidines 3a-d and 3f in a highly stereoselective manner. A similar radical cyclization of (Z)-N-propargyl-1-methyl-5-phenylpent-4-enylamine (2e) gave pyrrolizidine 3b having the same stereochemistry as that obtained from the E isomer 2b.