Synthesis of fluorinated imines and carbodiimides from azides via aza-Wittig reaction

The Staudinger reaction of fluoroalkylazides were studied. A series of N-fluoroalkylimines were synthesized via aza-Wittig reaction of N-fluoroalkyliminophosphoranes. The N,N′-difluoroalkylated carbodiimide was also synthesized via the reaction of N-fluoroalkyliminophosphoranes with carbon dioxide or carbon disulfide.     

New stereoselective synthesis of thiamphenicol and florfenicol from enantiomerically pure cyanohydrin: a chemo-enzymatic approach

Thiamphenicol and florfenicol have been synthesized stereoselectively from enantiomerically pure 4-methylsulfanyl-mandelonitrile, which was obtained by hydrocyanation reaction of 4-methylsulfanyl-benzaldehyde catalyzed by (R)-hydroxynitrile lyase of Badamu (Prunus communis L. var. dulcis Borkh, almond from Xinjiang, China). It was found to be a highly effective bio-catalyst for this reaction after an extensive screening.     

Convenient method for the synthesis of C-phosphorylated N-arylformamidines

C-Phosphorylated (P^V) arylformamidines have been prepared by the reaction of N-arylamidotrichloromethyl derivatives of phosphorus, thiophosphorus, and selenophosphorus acids with secondary amines. Dependence of the reaction on the nature of chalcogene, electronic and steric factors has been studied. By reduction of N-arylformamidinophosphonoselenides the corresponding C-phosphorylated (P^III) arylformamidines have been synthesized.     

The fragmentation reaction of 16R-bromopregnane-3S,20S-diol

16R-Bromopregnane-3S,20S-diol reacted with potassium t-butoxide to afford androst-16-en-3S-ol in a moderate yield via fragmentation reaction. The latter is a key intermediate for the synthesis of 5α-androst-16-en-3-one, as boar sex pheromone, and other steroidal drugs. In addition, 16R,20S-epoxypregnane-3S-ol was also obtained as a major product by changing the reaction solvent.     

An efficient synthesis of 4,5-dihydronaphtho[2,1-b]furan through a novel ring transformation of 2H-pyran-2-one

An innovative route for the synthesis of substituted naphtho[2,1-b]furan has been delineated through a ring transformation reaction of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-ones by reaction with 6,7-dihydro-5H-benzofuran-4-one, in good yield.     

Synthesis of zwitterionic 4-hydroxy-2(1H)-quinolinone derivatives

Zwitterionic 4-hydroxy-2(1H)-quinolinone derivatives were synthesized through a unique reaction of 4-hydroxy-2(1H)-quinolinone with p-benzoquinone and N-heterocyclic aromatics. The zwitterions possessed astropisomeric nature. A possible mechanism of the reaction was presented.     

Regioselective synthesis of novel substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines under solvent-free conditions

A series of 6-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-5-methyl-7-phenylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines 5 have been synthesized directly by the solvent-free reaction between 5-amino-1H-pyrazoles 1 and 3-benzoyl-2-methyl-4H-chromen-4-one 4. This solvent-free reaction proceeds in a regiospecific fashion by intramolecular opening of the γ-pyrone ring in a Michael-type reaction, that followed by cyclization via nucleophilic attack of endocyclic pyrazole nitrogen toward benzoyl group gives the pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines 5. The use of this method affords high yields in short reaction times.     

Chemoselective synthesis of 3H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinolin-4(5H)-one derivatives from 3-phenacylideneoxindoles and substituted tosylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC)

A simple and convenient synthetic approach to access of 3H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinolin-4(5H)-one derivatives by the reaction of (Z)-3-(2-oxo-2-ethylidene)indolin-2-one derivatives 1 with functionalized TosMICs under basic conditions has been reported. The desired products were obtained in good to excellent yields (82–94%). The easy accessibility of the starting materials, simple and mild reaction conditions, short reaction time, and good to excellent chemical yields make this methodology highly efficient.     

Regioselective alkylation of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran by xanthate-mediated free radical nonchain process

An intermolecular xanthate-mediated free radical nonchain addition reaction is introduced for the regioselective alkylation of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran. Additionally, we observed that the free radical nonchain reaction depends on the nature of the radical precursor.     

Preparation of 2-aminosubstituted 3H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4(5H)-ones by palladium-assisted internal biaryl coupling reaction

Representatives of the 3H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4(5H)-ones have shown interesting biological activity. We have found 2-aminosubstituted 3H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4(5H)-one as a potent dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor. However effective synthesis of this nucleus with various substituents at the 6-9-positions has not been reported. We report herein the development of a novel and efficient synthesis of 2-aminosubstituted 3H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4(5H)-ones by palladium-assisted internal biaryl coupling reaction. Our optimization of the reaction conditions revealed that the most important factors for this reaction are use of silver carbonate as a base and high reaction temperature.     

Reaction of an Introverted Carboxylic Acid with Carbodiimide

The reaction of carboxylic acids with carbodiimides is reviewed, and an ‘introverted’ carboxylic acid is proposed as a means of trapping reactive intermediates along the reaction pathway. The introverted acid is a cavitand with the carboxylic function directed toward the floor of the cavity. Its reaction with diisopropyl carbodiimide gives a covalent adduct that is either the elusive O-acylisourea or the commonly encountered N-acylurea.     

N-tert-Butyl-N-chlorocyanamide: a new reagent for the efficient preparation of gem-chloronitroso compounds

A new reagent for the efficient preparation of gem-chloronitroso compounds has been developed. The reaction of ketoximes with N-tert-butyl-N-chlorocyanamide takes place instantaneously in carbon tetrachloride at room temperature with excellent yields under mild conditions.     

Suzuki-Miyaura monocouplings of p-dibromobiphenyl and substituted p-dibromo(penta-p-phenylenes)

The mono/bis ratio for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling of p-dibromobiphenyl and p-dibromo(penta-p-phenylenes) with arylboronic acids and esters has been studied. The coupling reaction is demonstrated to be highly selective for monoarylation when the substrate is a p-dibromooligoarene, while selective biarylation is obtained for p-diiodoterphenyl. The mono/bis coupling-ratio for these compounds was highly sensitive to the nature of the halogen involved, however steric hindrance or electronic characteristics of the boronic derivative did not affect the selectivity of the reaction. The reaction yields observed were higher at room temperature and when arylboronic pinacol esters were used. These reactions also offer a useful method for the preparation of asymmetrically substituted terphenyls and hexa-p-phenylenes, giving good yields.     

pTSA-catalyzed condensation of xylenols and aldehydes under solvent-free conditions: One-pot synthesis of 9H-xanthene or bisphenol derivatives

A simple and efficient procedure for the synthesis of 9H-xanthene or bisphenol derivatives has been developed by one-pot condensation of xylenols with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid (pTSA) as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions at 100 °C. It is noteworthy that the condensation reaction of 3,5-xylenol with aldehydes produces 9H-xanthene derivatives, while the reaction with other xylenols leads to the corresponding bisphenol derivatives. Different types of aromatic aldehydes are used in the reaction and in every case the products were obtained in good to excellent yields. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and CHN data.     

The use of N-sulfenylimines in the β-lactam synthon method: Staudinger reaction, oxidation of the cycloadducts and ring opening of β-lactams

Selected N-sulfenylimines act as good nucleophilic partners in the Staudinger reaction with methoxy- and benzyloxy-ketenes. The choice of diisopropylethylamine as a non-nucleophilic Lewis base for the generation of ketenes from acid chlorides is a determining factor for the success of the reaction. N-Sulfenyl-β-lactams are obtained in good to excellent yields and with moderate cis/trans diastereoselectivity. Then, they are quantitatively and selectively transformed to N-sulfinyl- or N-sulfonyl-β-lactams, by adjusting the oxidation state of the sulfur atom. The oxidation process induces an inversion of polarity of the nitrogen atom's substituent and allows a subsequent smooth ring opening by reaction of N-thiolated-β-lactams with various nucleophiles. The overall sequence provides straightforward and efficient route to highly functionalized-β-amino acid derivatives.     

A new approach to construction of isoindolo[1,2-a]isoquinoline alkaloids Nuevamine, Jamtine, and Hirsutine via IMDAF reaction

The interaction between 1-furyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines and unsaturated acids derivatives (acryloyl, methacryloyl, and crotonoyl chloride, maleic and citraconic anhydride) was studied. It was shown that the reaction proceeds via amide formation and subsequent intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of the furan (IMDAF). The [4+2] cycloaddition proceeded under mild reaction conditions (25-80 °C) and afforded only the exo-adduct in a high yield. With this method, a new approach to the isoindolo[1,2-a]isoquinoline system, the basic structural element of alkaloids Jamtine, Hirsutine, and Nuevamine, is proposed.     

A convergent and stereoselective synthesis of a seco-precursor of macrolactin A

A seco-precursor of macrolactin A was synthesized by coupling two advanced segments. Wittig reaction and Horner-Emmons reaction were utilized to construct the three characteristic E,Z and E,E dienes. The C₁-C₁₀ segment was synthesized through Horner-Emmons reaction with phosphonate reagent. The α-alkylation of sulfone stabilized anion with allyl bromide followed by desulfonation gave the C₁₁-C₂₄ segment.     

N,N′,N″-Tri-Boc-guanidine (TBG): a common starting material for both N-alkyl guanidines and amidinoureas

In this Letter, we describe the unexpected reaction pattern of N,N′N″-tri-Boc-guanidine (TBG) with amines at room temperature and under reflux conditions affording N-substituted guanidines and amidinoureas, potentially important compounds with extensive applications in medicinal chemistry. This investigation shows that TBG is an excellent, readily available common starting material for the synthesis of various N-alkyl guanidines as well as N-alkyl-N′-substituted amidinoureas by simply manipulating the reaction conditions.     

Application of N,3-diaryl-3-oxo-propanethioamide in synthesis: an efficient and mild domino approach to highly substituted fused chromenones

A convenient and rapid synthesis of hitherto unknown 3-aroyl-4-aryl-2-phenylamino-4H-benzo[g]chromene-5,10-diones in high yield from β-aroyl-thioacetanilide, aromatic aldehyde, and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone via InCl₃ catalyzed one-pot three-component tandem Knoevenagel condensation–Michael addition–intramolecular cyclization–elimination reaction sequence is disclosed for the first time. This domino protocol has been used to obtain highly substituted pyrano[3,2-c]chromen-5(4H)-ones and 7,7-dimethyl-7,8-dihydro-4H-chromen-5(6H)-ones from N,3-diaryl-3-oxo-propanethioamide, aromatic aldehyde, and 4-hydroxycoumarine or dimedone under mild reaction conditions. A plausible reaction mechanism is proposed. The 4H-pyrano[3,2-c]chromen-5-one and 7,7-dimethyl-7,8-dihydro-4H-chromen-5(6H)-one derivatives possessing 3-(2-chlorobenzoyl)-2-phenylamino-substituents further cyclized under basic conditions to yield penta-cyclic 7,13-diaryl-5,14-dioxa-13-aza-benzo[a]naphthacen-6,8(7H,13H)-dione and tetra-cyclic 6,12-diaryl-3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromeno[2,3-b]quinolin-1,11(6H,12H)-dione, respectively.     

A new, one-pot, three-component synthesis of 4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, 4H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, and 4H-pyrazino[1,2-a]pyrimidines

A new, one-pot and three-component synthesis of 4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, 4H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, and 4H-pyrazino[1,2-a]pyrimidines is described. The reactive 1:1 zwitterionic intermediate, formed by the addition of isocyanides to dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, was trapped by N-(2-heteroaryl)amides to yield a ketenimine intermediate, which was cyclized and then rearranged under the reaction conditions to afford the title compounds under mild reaction conditions in good yields. Single-crystal X-ray analysis conclusively confirms the structure of the obtained bridgehead bicyclic 6-6 heterocyclic compounds.