Benzo[a]azulenediones and 10,10′‐Bibenzo[a]azulene

The oxidation of benzo[a]azulene ( 4 ) with commercial MnO₂ in dioxane/H₂O leads to a number of products in low yield (Table 1). Treatment of 4 with ‘mild’ MnO₂ (MnO₂/C) in dioxane/5% H₂O results in the formation of 10,10′‐bibenzo[a]azulene ( 18 ) in yields of up to 59% of isolated and purified material. Compound 18 exhibits atropisomerism and can be separated by HPLC on a Chiralcel column at room temperature into its stable antipodes (Fig.).     

Synthesis of Novel Fluorescent 2‐{4‐[1‐(Pyridine‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐3‐yl] phenyl}‐2H‐naphtho [1,2‐d] [1,2,3] triazolyl Derivatives and Evaluation of Their Thermal and Photophysical Properties

Novel 2‐{4‐[1‐(pyridine‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐3‐yl] phenyl}‐2H‐naphtho [1,2‐d] [1,2,3] triazolyl fluorescent derivatives were synthesized from p‐nitrophenylacetic acid and 2‐hydrazino pyridine through Vilsmeier–Haack and diazotization reactions. Photophysical properties were evaluated, and results show that compounds have good fluorescence quantum yields. Thermal analysis showed that they are reasonably stable. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by FT‐IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectral and elemental analysis.     

Formation of 6,10‐Diphenyl‐Substituted Heptalene‐4,5‐dicarboxylates

It is shown that 4,8‐diphenylazulene ( 1 ) can be easily prepared from azulene by two consecutive phenylation reactions with PhLi, followed by dehydrogenation with chloranil. Similarly, a Me group can subsequently be introduced with MeLi at C(6) of 1 (Scheme 2). This methylation led not only to the expected main product, azulene 2 , but also to small amounts of product 3 , the structure of which has been determined by X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis (cf. Fig. 1). As expected, the latter product reacts with chloranil at 40° in Et₂O to give 2 in quantitative yields. Vilsmeier formylation of 1 and 2 led to the formation of the corresponding azulene‐1‐carbaldehydes 4 and 5 . Reduction of 4 and 5 with NaBH₄/BF₃ ? OEt₂ in diglyme/Et₂O 1 : 1 and BF₃ ? OEt₂, gave the 1‐methylazulenes 6 and 7 , respectively. In the same way was azulene 9 available from 6 via Vilsmeier formylation, followed by reduction of azulene‐1‐carbaldehyde 8 (Scheme 3). The thermal reactions of azulenes 1, 6 , and 7 with excess dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (ADM) in MeCN at 100° during 72 h afforded the corresponding heptalene‐4,5‐dicarboxylates 11, 12 , and 13 , respectively (Scheme 4). On the other hand, the highly substituted azulene 9 gave hardly any heptalene‐4,5‐dicarboxylate.     

Three‐Component Reaction for Construction of Spiro[indoline‐3,7′‐thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyridines] and Spiro[benzo[4,5]thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyridine‐3,3′‐indolines]

The three‐component reaction of thiazole (benzothiazole), dialkyl but‐2‐ynedioate, and isatinylidene malononitriles in toluene at 110–120°C in a sealed tube afforded a mixture of cis/trans‐isomers of functionalized diastereoisomeric spiro[indoline‐3,7′‐thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyridines] and spiro[benzo[4,5]thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyridine‐3,3′‐indolines] in good yields. Both cis‐isomers and trans‐isomers were successfully separated out and fully characterized with spectroscopy and single crystal determination. Under similar conditions, the three‐component reaction containing 2‐(1,3‐dioxo‐1H‐inden‐2(3H)‐ylidene)malononitrile resulted in spiro[indene‐2,7′‐thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyridine] derivatives.     

The reaction of acetic acid 2‐selenoxo‐2H‐pyridin‐1‐yl esters with benzynes: A convenient route to Benzo[b]seleno[2,3‐b]pyridines

Benzyne and its 3,4,5,6‐tetraphenyl, 3‐ and 4‐methyl, 3‐methoxy and 4,5‐difluoro derivatives react with acetic acid 2‐selenoxo‐2H‐pyridin‐1‐yl esters 4a‐e to give benzo[b]seleno[2,3‐b]pyridines 10–15 in modest yields. The benzynes were generated by one or more of the following methods: diazotization of anthranilic acids 5a‐g with isoamyl nitrate; mild thermal decomposition of 2‐diazoniobenzenecarboxylate hydrochlorides 6a‐d treatment of (phenyl)[o‐(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]iodonium triflate (7) with tetrabutylammonium fluoride; and treatment of 2‐trimethylsilylphenyl triflates 8a‐c with cesium fluoride. In all the reactions, the corresponding 2‐(methylselenenyl)pyridines 16a‐d were also obtained suggesting that these reactions may involve selenium addition to benzyne via a SET (single electron transfer).     

Report on an Unusual Cascade Reaction between Azulenes and 2,3‐Dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (=4,5‐Dichloro‐3,6‐dioxocyclohexa‐1,4‐diene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile; DDQ)

The oxidation of 1‐(3,8‐dimethylazulen‐1‐yl)alkan‐1‐ones 1 with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (=4,5‐dichloro‐3,6‐dioxocyclohexa‐1,4‐diene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile; DDQ) in acetone/H₂O mixtures at room temperature does not only lead to the corresponding azulene‐1‐carboxaldehydes 2 but also, in small amounts, to three further products (Tables 1 and 2). The structures of the additional products 3 – 5 were solved spectroscopically, and that of 3a also by an X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis (Fig. 1). It is demonstrated that the bis(azulenylmethyl)‐substituted DDQ derivatives 5 yield on methanolysis or hydrolysis precursors, which in a cascade of reactions rearrange under loss of HCl into the pentacyclic compounds 3 (Schemes 4 and 7). The found 1,1′‐[carbonylbis(8‐methylazulene‐3,1‐diyl)]bis[ethanones] 4 are the result of further oxidation of the azulene‐1‐carboxaldehydes 2 to the corresponding azulene‐1‐carboxylic acids (Schemes 9 and 10).     

Dibenzo[b,f]oxepin‐10(11H)‐one and dibenzo[b,f]thiepin‐10(11H)‐one as useful synthons in the synthesis of various dibenzo[e,h]azulenes

The present review focuses on dibenzo[b,f]oxepin‐10(11H)‐one ( I , X = O) and dibenzo[b,f]thiepin‐10(11H)‐one ( I , X = S) as common synthons in the efficient synthesis of various dibenzoxepino[4,5‐ and dibenzothiepino[4,5]‐fused five‐membered heterocycles: [2,3] fused thiophene ( II ), [3,4] fused thiophene ( III ), furan ( IV ), pyrrole ( V ), imidazole ( VI ), pyrazole ( VII ), oxazole ( VIII ), and thiazole ( IX ). The potential of I to be converted into reactive intermediates that readily undergo heteroaromatic annulation reactions by cyclocondensation with proper binucleophiles allows formation of a range of enumerated functionalized dibenzo[e,h]azulene [4] structures ( II , III , IV , V , VI , VII , VIII , IX ). Dibenzo[e,h]azulenes as heterotetracyclic scaffold can be exploited in further modifications to obtain compounds with altered physicochemical and biological profile. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2012).     

Synthesis of Tetrahydrothiopyrano[2,3‐b]indole [60]Fullerene Derivatives via Hetero‐Diels–Alder Reaction of C60 and α,β‐Unsaturated Indole‐2‐thiones

Hetero‐Diels–Alder reactions of [60]fullerene with α,β‐unsaturated thio‐oxindoles ( 3a , 3b , 3c ), prepared from thio‐oxindole 1 and heteroaromatic aldehydes ( 2a , 2b , 2c ), to generate tetrahydrothiopyrano[2,3‐b ]indole [60]fullerene cycloadducts ( 5a , 5b , 5c ) under thermal or microwave irradiation were described. The yields were improved, and the reaction time was decreased by conducting the reaction under microwave irradiation.     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Domino Michael/Aldol Reactions: An Efficient Procedure for the Stereocontrolled Construction of 2H‐Thiopyrano[2,3‐b]quinoline Scaffolds

An efficient procedure for the stereocontrolled construction of 2H‐thiopyrano[2,3‐b]quinoline scaffolds has been developed, starting from simple compounds. The domino Michael/aldol reactions between 2‐mercaptobenzaldehydes and enals, promoted by chiral diphenylprolinol TMS ether, proceed with excellent chemo‐ and enantioselectivity to give the corresponding synthetically useful and pharmaceutically valuable 2H‐thiopyrano[2,3‐b]quinolines in high yields with 90–99 % ee.     

Straightforward Synthesis and Properties of Highly Fluorescent [5]‐ and [7]‐Helical Dispiroindeno[2,1‐c]fluorenes

This work presents a general approach for synthesis of substituted [5]‐helical dispiroindeno[2,1‐c]fluorenes based on Rh‐catalyzed intramolecular cyclotrimerization of triynes. This approach was further extended for the first synthesis of configurationally stable [7]‐helical dispiroindeno[2,1‐c]fluorenes. A series of variously substituted derivatives was prepared and their photophysical and electrochemical properties were evaluated. Their fluorescence emission maxima were in the region of 351–428 nm and quantum yields up to 88 % are the highest measured among the full‐carbon helical compounds.     

Azulene‐1‐azo‐2′‐thiazoles. Synthesis and properties

Several derivatives belonging to a new compound class, namely azulene‐1‐azo‐2′‐thiazoles, were prepared by the diazotization of 2‐aminothiazoles in the presence of HNO₃/H₃PO₄ followed by the coupling of diazonium salts with azulenes in buffered medium. The reactions proved to be general for this class, the yields are, however, considerably influenced by the substituents at thiazole moiety. For the first time a N‐oxide provided from an amino substituted five‐member nitrogenous heterocycle was diazotized and coupled. The structure of the obtained compounds was assigned and their physico‐chemical properties were discussed. The new azulene azo derivatives exhibit a strong bathochromic shift in UV‐Vis due to the intense push‐pull effect of aromatic system and to the intrinsic properties of thiazole moiety.     

Microwave Promoted and Improved Thermal Synthesis of Spiro[Indole‐Pyranobenzopyrans] and Spiro[Indole‐Pyranoimidazoles]

Spiro[indole‐pyranoimidazoles] ( 5 ) and spiro[indole‐pyranobenzopyrans] ( 6 ) are readily synthesized in one step in 86–92 and 91–97% yields by the Michael condensation of 3‐dicyanomethylene‐2H‐indol‐2‐ones ( 2 ) with 1‐phenyl‐2‐thiohydantoin ( 3 ) and 4‐hydroxy‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one ( 4 ), respectively, without using any catalyst under different reaction conditions (conventional heating and microwave irradiation using (a) polar solvents (b) neutral alumina/silica gel as inorganic solid support in solvent free conditions). 2 was synthesized in situ by the Knoevenagel condensation of indole‐2,3‐dione ( 1 ) and malononitrile in the absence of any catalyst. 100% conversion was observed in most cases on TLC which also showed the formation of a single product. The comparison between the various methods is established.     

Diphosphapodanden, [12]‐, [15]‐ und [18]Diphosphacoronanden,Diphosphacryptand‐8 und Alkalimetall‐Komplexe

Diphosphapodands, [12]‐, [15]‐, and [18]Diphosphacoronands, Diphosphacryptand‐8, and Alkali‐Metal Complexes The cyclizing bis‐phosphonium‐salt formation of the open‐chain bis‐phosphine 17a (1,1,7,7‐tetrabenzyl〈P.O.P‐podand‐7〉) with diethylene glycol derived dibromide 13a yields the 12‐membered cyclic bis‐phosphonium salt 20 (4,4,10,10‐tetrabenzyl‐12〈O.P.O.P‐coronand‐4〉‐4,10‐diium dibromide) in yields as high as 50–60%. The 1,1,10,10‐tetrabenzyl〈P.O₂.P‐podand‐10〉 17b forms with 13a the 15‐membered cyclic bis‐phosphonium salt 21 (7,7,13,13‐tetrabenzyl‐15〈O₂.P.O.P‐coronand‐5〉‐7,13‐diium dibromide) with the same high yield. By quaternization of the bis‐phosphine 17b with triethylene glycol derived dibromide 13b , the 18‐membered 7,7,16,16‐tetrabenzyl‐18〈O₂.P.O₂.P‐coronand‐6〉‐7,16‐diium dibromide 24 is obtained in 50% yield, too. The Wittig reaction of the cyclic phosphonium salts with benzaldehyde yields the 12‐, 15‐, and 18‐membered cyclic bis‐benzylphosphine dioxides 9, 10 , and 11 as cis‐ and trans‐isomers beside trans‐stilbene. The 7,13‐dioxido‐7,13‐dibenzyl‐15〈O₂.P.O₂.P‐coronand‐5〉 10 forms a crystalline 1 : 1 Na‐complex 23 , which exists as a dimer. The structure of 23 was established by an X‐ray analysis and spectroscopic data. The 7,16‐dibenzyl‐18〈O₂.P.O₂.P‐coronand‐6〉 28 that is available by reduction of 11 with CeCl₃/LiAlH₄ reacts with triethylene glycol derived dibromide 13b under Ruggly Ziegler‐dilution conditions to give the bicyclic bis‐phosphonium salt 29 (1,10‐dibenzyl〈P[O₂]₃.P‐cryptand‐8〉‐1,10‐diium dibromide) in 18% yield. Again, by the Wittig procedure with benzaldehyde, the 7,16‐dioxido〈P[O₂]₃P‐cryptand‐8〉 12 is obtained as the first diphosphacryptand. The FD‐MS (CH₂Cl₂) of the cyclic bis‐phosphine dioxides 10 – 12 show that they exist as [2M+Na]⁺ complexes. The complex formation constants K_a of 9 – 11 with alkali‐metal cations are studied and compared with the complex formation of corresponding crown ethers.     

Synthesis of nitrogen‐containing heterocycles 9. Preparation and carbon‐carbon bond cleavage of spiro[cycloalkane[1′,2′,4′]‐triazolo[1′,5′‐a][1′,3′,5′]triazine] derivatives and related compounds

Diaminomethylenehydrazones of cyclic ketones 1–5 reacted with ethyl N‐cyanoimidate (I) at room temperature or with bis(methylthio)methylenecyanamide (II) under brief heating to give directly the corresponding spiro[cycloalkane[1′,2′,4′]triazolo[1′,5′,‐a][1′,3′‐5′]triazine] derivatives 7–12 in moderate to high yields. Ring‐opening reaction of the spiro[cycloalkanetriazolotriazine] derivatives occurred at the cycloalkane moiety upon heating in solution to give 2‐alkyl‐5‐amino[1,2,4]triazolotriazines 13–16. Diaminomethylenehydrazones 17–19, of hindered acyclic ketones, gave 2‐methyl‐7‐methylthio[1,2,4]‐triazolo[1,5‐a][1,3,5]triazines 21–23 by the reaction with II as the main products with apparent loss of 2‐methylpropane from the potential precursor, 2‐tert‐butyl‐2‐methyl‐7‐methylthio[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]‐[1,3,5]triazines 20, in good yields. In general, bis(methylthio)methylenecyanamide II was found to be a favorable reagent to the one‐step synthesis of the spiro[cycloalkanetriazolotriazine] derivatives from the diaminomethylenehydrazones. The spectral data and structural assignments of the fused triazine products are discussed.     

Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Arylated Pyrrolo[2,1‐a]Isoquinoline Derivatives via Sequential [3 + 2] Cycloadditions and Suzuki‐Miyaura Cross‐Couplings in Aqueous Medium

Treatment of 5‐bromo‐2‐(bromoacetyl)thiophene ( 1 ) with isoquinoline gave the isoquinolinium bromide 2 . Reaction of 2 with acrylic acid derivatives, in the presence of MnO₂, afforded the 3‐[(5‐bromothiophen‐2‐ylcarbonyl]pyrrolo[2,1‐a]‐isoquinolines 3a , 3b . Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions of the bromides 3a , 3b in aqueous solvent with several activated and deactivated aryl(hetaryl)boronic acids 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f using a Pd(II)‐complex under thermal heating as well as microwave‐irradiating conditions afforded the corresponding new arylated pyrrolo[2,1‐a]isoquinoline derivatives 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 in high to excellent isolated yields.     

Surprising Formation of Highly Substituted Azulenes on Thermolysis of 4,5,6,7,8‐Pentamethyl‐2H‐cyclohepta[b]furan‐2‐one and Heptalene Formation with the New Azulenes

Heating of 4,5,6,7,8‐pentamethyl‐2H‐cyclohepta[b]furan‐2‐one ( 1a ) in decalin at temperatures >170° leads to the development of a blue color, typical for azulenes. It belongs, indeed, to two formed azulenes, namely 4,5,6,7,8‐pentamethyl‐2‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentamethylphenyl)azulene ( 4a ) and 4,5,6,7,8‐pentamethylazulene ( 5a ) (cf. Scheme 2 and Table 1). As a third product, 4,5,6,7‐tetramethyl‐2‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentamethylphenyl)‐1H‐indene ( 6a ) is also found in the reaction mixture. Neither 4,6,8‐trimethyl‐2H‐cyclohepta[b]furan‐2‐one ( 1b ) nor 2H‐cyclohepta[b]furan‐2‐one ( 1c ) exhibit, on heating, such reactivity. However, heating of mixtures 1a / 1b or 1a / 1c results in the formation of crossed azulenes, namely 4,6,8‐trimethyl‐2‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentamethylphenyl)azulene ( 4ba ) and 2‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentamethylphenyl)azulene ( 4ca ), respectively (cf. Scheme 3). The formation of small amounts of 4,6,8‐trimethylazulene ( 5ba ) and azulene ( 5ca ), respectively, besides 1H‐indene 6a is also observed. The observed product types speak for an [8+2]‐cycloaddition reaction between two molecules of 1a or between 1b and 1c , respectively, with 1a , whereby 1a plays in the latter two cases the part of the two‐atom component (cf. Figs. 5 – 7 and Schemes 4 – 6). Strain release, due to the five adjacent Me groups in 1a , in the [8+2]‐cycloaddition step seems to be the driving force for these transformations (cf. Table 3), which are further promoted by the consecutive loss of two molecules of CO₂ and concomitant formation of the 10π‐electron system of the azulenes. The new azulenes react with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (ADM) to form the corresponding dimethyl heptalene‐4,5‐dicarboxylates 20 , 22 , and 24 (cf. Scheme 7), which give thermally or photochemically the corresponding double‐bond‐shifted (DBS) isomers 20′ , 22′ , and 24′ , respectively. The five adjacent Me groups in 20 / 20′ and 24 / 24′ exert a certain buttressing effect, whereby their thermal DBS process is distinctly retarded in comparison to 22 / 22′ , which carry `isolated' Me groups at C(6), C(8), and C(10). This view is supported by X‐ray crystal‐structure analyses of 22 and 24 (cf. Fig. 8 and Table 5).     

[Au]/[Pd] Multicatalytic Processes: Direct One‐Pot Access to Benzo[c]chromenes and Benzo[b]furans

A new synthetic protocol that combines the advantages offered by eco‐friendly solvent‐free reactions and sequential transformations is reported. This strategy offers straightforward access to benzo[c]chromenes and benzo[b]furans from commercially available starting materials. This two‐step, one‐pot strategy consists of an Au‐catalyzed hydrophenoxylation process followed by Pd‐catalyzed C?H activation or Mizoroki–Heck reactions. The selectivity of the process towards C?H activation or Mizoroki–Heck reaction can be easily tuned.     

Synthesis of New Pyrano[2′,3′: 5,6]chromeno[4,3‐b]quinolin‐4‐ones via Aza‐DielsAlder Reaction

New pyrano[2′,3′: 5,6]chromeno[4,3‐b]quinolin‐4‐ones have been synthesized by intramolecular aza‐Diels? Alder reaction of the azadienes generated in situ from aryl amines and 8‐formyl‐7‐(prop‐2‐ynyl)2,3‐disubstituted chromones using CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles as a catalyst in DMSO at 80–90° in good‐to‐excellent yields. Particularly valuable features of this methodology include simple implementation, inexpensive and reusable catalyst, and good yields. The structures were established by spectroscopic data and further confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis of one of the products.     

6,7‐Dihydrodibenzo[e,g]azulen‐8(5H)‐one and 12,13‐dihydrobenzo[e]­napth­[2,1‐g]­azulen‐14(11H)‐one

In the structures of the title compounds, 6,7‐di­hydro­dibenzo[e,g]­azulen‐8(5H)‐one, C₁₈H₁₄O, (I), and 12,13‐di­hydro­benzo[e]­napth­[2,1‐g]­azulen‐14(11H)‐one, C₂₂H₁₆O, (II), the azulene group is in a boat‐envelope conformation. The structures are stabilized by weak C—H?O interactions.