Convenient synthesis of 5-methylene-4-substituted-2(5H)-furanones

A synthesis of novel 4-(substituted)benzyl-5-methylene-2(5H)-furanones involving Stobbe condensation of substituted aldehydes with ethyl levulinate followed by treatment with acetic anhydride in the presence of sodium acetate, has been developed.     

An efficient synthesis of brominated 4-alkyl-2(5H)-furanones

A versatile method for the synthesis of novel brominated 4-alkyl-2(5H)-furanones under mild reaction conditions is described. This synthetic strategy requires only one chromatographic separation over six steps and employs the cyclodehydration of brominated levulinic acid as the key transformation.     

A novel ionic liquid mediated synthesis of 4(1H)-quinolones, 5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one and 4H-pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazol-4-ones

A new, convenient, environmentally benign two-step synthesis of 4(1H)-quinolones, 5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one and 4H-pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazol-4-ones have been developed by first condensing substituted arylamine/2-aminothiazole/2-aminobenzenethiazole with Meldrum’s acid and trimethylorthoformate in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide at a moderate temperature to afford 5-{(substituted aryl/4-methylthiazolyl/substituted benzothiazolyl)methylene}-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione. The resulting compounds upon cyclization in 1-butyl-3-methyl tetrafluoroborate/triflate at a moderate temperature gave the title compounds in excellent yields.     

Synthesis of functionalized pyrroles and 6,7-dihydro-1H-indol-4(5H)-ones by reaction of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with 2-azido-1,1-diethoxyethane

The condensation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with 2-azido-1,1-diethoxyethane and subsequent cyclization allowed an efficient synthesis of a variety of pyrroles and 6,7-dihydro-1H-indol-4(5H)-ones.     

C-H activations on a 1H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2(3H)-one template

Air stable benzodiazepine containing palladacycles were synthesized by a C-H activation reaction and studied by mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography. Catalytic C-H functionalizations of 1-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2(3H)-one with diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate led to a mixture, which included the starting material and the expected product 1-methyl-5-(2′-biphenyl)-1H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2(3H)-one.     

Regioselective synthesis of cytotoxic 4-(1-alkynyl)-substituted 2-(5H)-furanones

4-(1-Alkynyl)-3-bromo- and 4-(1-alkynyl)-3-chloro-2(5H)-furanones have been regioselectively synthesized in moderate to good yields by a new version of the Pd/Cu-catalyzed Sonogashira reaction involving treatment of 1-alkynes with 3,4-dibromo- and 3,4-dichloro-2(5H)-furanone, respectively, in the presence of KF as a base. 4-(1-Alkynyl)-3-bromo-2(5H)-furanones have been found to be able to undergo Stille-type and Suzuki-type reactions with aryl(tributyl)tins and arylboronic acids, respectively, to give 4-(1-alkynyl)-3-aryl-2(5H)-furanones in modest to satisfactory yields. Some 4-(1-alkynyl)-substituted 2(5H)-furanones so prepared have been found to exhibit significant cytotoxic activities, especially against human leukemia cell lines.     

Synthesis of 1H-indol-2-yl-(4-aryl)-quinolin-2(1H)-ones via Pd-catalyzed regioselective cross-coupling reaction and cyclization

An efficient and novel route for the synthesis of 1H-indol-2-yl-(4-aryl)-quinolin-2(1H)-one 1 via palladium-catalyzed site-selective cross-coupling reaction and cyclization process was described. Reaction of 3-bromo-4-trifloxy-quinolin-2(1H)-one 3 with arylboronic acid catalyzed by PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ afforded 3-bromo-4-aryl-quinolin-2(1H)-one 4, which then reacted with 2-ethynylaniline 5 via Pd-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling and CuI-mediated cyclization leading to the desired 1H-indol-2-yl-(4-aryl)-quinolin-2(1H)-one 1 in good yields.     

New 5-(2-ethenylsubstituted)-3(2H)-furanones with in vitro antiproliferative activity

A convenient route to new 3(2H)-furanones is described through hydrogenolysis and subsequent acidic hydrolysis of isoxazoles. The antiproliferative activity of title compounds were evaluated against leukemia-, carcinoma-, neuroblastoma-, and sarcoma-derived human cell lines in comparison to the natural compound geiparvarin. The structure activity relationship indicated that the maximum in vitro antiproliferative activity correlates with the presence of a heterocyclic ring on the ethenyl moiety.     

Synthesis of substituted 3-(3-chloro-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)quinoxalin-2(1H)ones

Synthetic strategies to gain access to all four isomers of 3-(3-chloro-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)quinoxalin-2(1H)ones with monosubstituted benzo core (i.e., compounds 8a–d) are described. Preparation of these heterocyclic compounds succeeded starting from only two different substituted 2-nitroanilines (i.e., 3-methoxy- and 4-methoxy-2-nitroaniline) in three or five steps, respectively.     

Carbon dioxide-mediated synthesis of 3(2H)-furanones from diyne alcohols

A novel type of carbon dioxide-mediated reaction of diyne alcohols without any metal catalysts was reported. Carbon dioxide held the key to the success of this reaction, in which 3(2H)-furanones were selectively obtained in moderate to high yields.     

Synthesis of 3,3-dimethoxy-2-aryl-2,3-dihydro-1-oxa-cyclopenta[l]phenanthren-2-ols and their conversion to 2(3H)- and 3(2H)-furanones

A number of new 3,3-dimethoxy-2-aryl-2,3-dihydro-1-oxacyclopenta[l]phenanthren-2-ols were synthesized by the base-catalyzed reaction between phenanthrenequinone and 4-substituted acetophenones in methanol. These furanols are unstable and are easily converted to stable 3-methoxy-3-aryl-3H-1-oxacyclopenta[l]phenathren-2-ones in excellent yields. The furanols are converted to 2-aryl-1-oxacyclopenta[l]phenanthren-3-ones on treatment with acids. Plausible mechanisms for some of these new transformations are proposed.     

Efficiency of alkoxyl radical product formation from 5-substituted 3-alkoxy-4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thiones

In a comparative study, reactions between 5-(p-methoxyphenyl)-substituted 3-alkoxy-4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thiones and appropriate mediators (BrCCl₃, Bu₃SnH) provided higher yields of alkoxyl radical products (δ-bromohydrins, cyclic ethers, carbonyl compounds) than respective transformations of 5-phenyl- and 5-methyl-substituted derivatives. The unusual selectivity of applied thiohydroxamates to furnish products of O-alkylation, even upon treatment with soft carbon electrophiles, and the marked propensity of 3-alkoxy-5-(p-methoxyphenyl)-4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thiones to crystallize, facilitated preparation and purification of the new family of alkoxyl radical precursors in a noteworthy manner.     

1-Bromo-2-trifluoroacetylcyclobutenes as novel building blocks for the construction of trifluoromethyl substituted heterocycles. Part 1: Synthesis of 5-(trifluoromethyl)-2(5H)-furanones condensed with substituted cyclobutenes

The regioselective reduction of substituted 1-bromo-2-trifluoroacetylcyclobutenes by lithium aluminium hydride affords corresponding brominated alcohols, which, under the treatment of two equivalents of butyllithium, give new lithiated cyclobutenes. Their carboxylation followed by lactonization induced by trifluoroacetic anhydride appeared to be an effective approach towards 5-trifluoromethylated furanones condensed with substituted cyclobutene rings.     

Rapid access to 4-substituted-pyrones and 2(5H)-furanones via a palladium-catalyzed C-OH bond activation

An efficient palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 4-hydroxy-pyrone or 4-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone with arylboronic acid is described, which affords the 4-substituted-pyrones and 2(5H)-furanones in good yields. This transformation proceeds through a C-OH bond activation under mild conditions.     

Efficient synthesis of 2-oxazolidinones and quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones from CO2 catalyzed by tetrabutylammonium fluoride

By employing tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) as a catalyst, the various carboxylative cyclizations of the propargylic amines having internal alkynes with CO₂ proceeded to afford the corresponding 2-oxazolidinones. In this case, it was also found that the generated 2-oxazolidinones were tautomerized into the corresponding 2-oxazolones due to the basicity of TBAF. In addition, we performed the synthesis of quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione from 2-aminobenzonitrile and CO₂ by using TBAF as a catalyst.     

Synthesis of 4-(2-hydroxyaryl)-3-nitro-4H-chromenes

A combinatorial library of 4-(2-hydroxyaryl)-3-nitro-4H-chromenes was synthesized in high yield by C4-SMe substitution in N-alkyl/phenyl 4-(methylthio)-3-nitro-4H-chromen-2-amines with a variety of phenols. The reaction always provided C2 substitution in the phenol ring, dictated by hydrogen bond interactions between the phenolic hydroxyl group and the nitro group in 3-nitro-4H-chromenes. Reduction of the nitro group with concomitant hydrolysis of the enamine in 4-(2-hydroxyaryl)-3-nitro-4H-chromenes with Zn, Ac₂O in AcOH furnished hybrid amino-acid lactone incorporating ortho-tyrosine and phenyl alanine moieties.     

Efficient and regioselective chromium(0)-catalyzed reaction of 2-substituted furans with diazo compounds: stereoselective synthesis of (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters

Pentacarbonyl(η²-cis-cyclooctene)chromium(0) (1) catalyzes efficiently reactions of diazo compounds with electron-rich furans. The reaction of 2-methoxyfuran (2) with alkyl α-diazoarylacetate (3a-g) furnishes the (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters (4a-g) in excellent yields. These reactions are highly regioselective. The cyclopropanation intermediates formed from 1 and diazo compounds 3a-g always arise from a carbene addition to the less substituted CC bond of 2. The resulting cyclopropanation product undergoes a ring opening reaction to form the corresponding (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters (4a-g). The pentacarbonylchromium(0)-catalyzed reactions of 2-alkylfuran (5a-b) with ethyl α-diazophenylacetate (3a) and 9-diazo-9H-fluorene (3h) produce the 1(E),3(E)-butadienes (6a-d) in very good yields.     

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.     

Synthesis and properties of novel 5-(cyclohepta-2′,4′,6′-trienylidene)pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-triones: methodology for synthesizing cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates

Novel condensation reaction of tropone with N-substituted and N,N′-disubstitued barbituric acids in Ac₂O afforded 5-(cyclohepta-2′,4′,6′-trienylidene)pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-trione derivatives (8a-f) in moderate to good yields. The ¹³C NMR spectral study of 8a-f revealed that the contribution of zwitterionic resonance structures is less important as compared with that of 8,8-dicyanoheptafulvene. The rotational barriers (ΔG^‡) around the exocyclic double bond of mono-substituted derivatives 8a-c were obtained to be 14.51-15.03 kcal mol⁻¹ by the variable temperature ¹H NMR measurements. The electrochemical properties of 8a-f were also studied by CV measurement. Upon treatment with DDQ, 8a-c underwent oxidative cyclization to give two products, 7 and 9-substituted cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates (11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻) in various ratios, while that of disubstituted derivatives 8d-f afforded 7,9-disubstituted cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborate (11d-f·BF₄⁻) in good yields. Similarly, preparation of known 5-(1′-oxocycloheptatrien-2′-yl)-pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-trione derivatives (14a-d) and novel derivatives 14e,f was carried out. Treatment of 14a-c with aq. HBF₄/Ac₂O afforded two kinds of novel products 11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a,c·BF₄⁻ in various ratios, respectively, while that of 14d-f afforded 11d-f. The product ratios of 11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻ observed in two kinds of cyclization reactions were rationalized on the basis of MO calculations of model compounds 20a and 21a. The spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of 11a-f·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻ were studied, and structural characterization of 11c·BF₄⁻ based on the X-ray crystal analysis and MO calculation was also performed.     

Synthesis of 5-substituted 2-(4- or 3-methoxyphenyl)-4(1H)-quinolones

5-Substituted 7-methoxy-2-(4- or 3-methoxyphenyl)-4(1H)-quinolones 8-17 have been synthesised in good yields from the corresponding 7-methoxy-2-(4- or 3-methoxyphenyl)-5-trifluoromethanesulfonate-4(1H)-quinolones 7 via palladium-mediated cross-coupling reactions or aromatic nucleophilic substitution (SN_Ar) reactions.