Pictet Spengler-type reactions in 3-arylmethylpiperazine-2,5-diones. Synthesis of pyrazinotetrahydroisoquinolines

The behavior of aldehydes and acetals as N-alkylating agents of 1-acetyl-3-arylmethylpiperazine-2,5-diones and the subsequent cyclization of the N-alkylated products was studied. Use of paraformaldehyde in different reaction conditions gave 6-unsubstituted 3,6,11,11a-tetrahydro-2H-pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinoline-1,4-diones and, in some cases, benzo[f]pyrazino[1,2-c]1,3-oxazepine-1,4-diones. Succesful reactions with benzaldehyde required a first activation of the lactam function and a catalyzed N-alkylation with the aldehyde dimethyl acetal. The isolated O,N-amidoacetals thus obtained were submitted to a diastereoselective Pictet Spengler-type reaction that worked with arenes at several degrees of ring activation and with thiophene to give 6-phenylpyrazinoisoquinolinediones and the corresponding thieno analog.     

Short stereocontrolled synthesis of trans and cis-tetrahydro-pyrazinoisoquinolinediones

Addition of aldehyde dimethyl acetals (here acetaldehyde) to unisolated O-trimethylsilyl derivatives of 1-acetyl-3-arylmethylpiperazine-2,5-diones (here 2,5-dimethoxyphenyl), in the presence of TMSOTf as the catalyst, gave nearly quantitatively the corresponding N-methoxyalkyl derivatives which, under acidic treatment, gave in very good yield through a Pictet-Spengler-type reaction involving N-acyliminium cations (6S*,11aR*)-2-acetyl-6-alkyl-3,6,11,11a-tetrahydro-2H-pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinoline-1,4-diones. Epimerization of the 11a-stereocentre was accomplished by radical bromination, spontaneous hydrobromide elimination and catalytic hydrogenation, to give the (6S*,11aS*)-isomers. We propose these compounds as precursors of tetrahydroisoquinoline antitumour antibiotics.     

First straightforward synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted benz[g]isoquinoline-3,5,10(2H)-triones, 1,2,3,5-substituted naphtho[3,2,1-de]isoquinoline-4,7-diones, and 6-substituted benzo[h]pyrido[3,4,5-kl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine-5,8-diones

Structural modifications to the benz[g]isoquinoline skeleton of N-substituted benz[g]isoquinoline-3,5,10(2H)-triones were envisaged in order to make future SAR studies possible for this type of bioactive compounds. Several N-substituted benz[g]isoquinoline-3,5,10(2H)-triones were converted to novel 2,4-substituted benz[g]isoquinoline-3,5,10(2H)-triones, new tetracyclic 1,2,3,5-substituted naphtho[3,2,1-de]isoquinoline-4,7-diones, and 6-substituted benzo[h]pyrido[3,4,5-kl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine-5,8-diones. All the synthesized target compounds represent new heterocyclic systems, which were previously undescribed in the literature.     

Investigation towards an efficient synthesis of benzo[g]isoquinoline-1,5,10(2H)-triones

As part of our research on 2-aza analogues of pentalongin, the active principle of Pentas longiflora Oliv., the first synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted benzo[g]isoquinoline-1,5,10(2H)-triones via 3,4-disubstituted 6-hydroxybenzo[g]furo[4,3,2-de]isoquinoline-2,5(4H)-diones as the key intermediates is reported. The latter compounds have been prepared by treating 2-methoxycarbonyl-1,4-naphthoquinone with N-substituted enaminoesters under acidic conditions. These reagents are easily accessible from readily available 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, β-ketoesters and primary amines. Finally, a short synthesis of substituted benzo[g]isoquinoline-1,5,10(2H)-triones is achieved by an oxidative addition of N-substituted enaminoesters onto methyl 1,4-dihydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylate.     

Reactions promoted by [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene in pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinolines

The hypervalent iodine reagent PhI(OH)OTs (HTIB) promoted oxidative demethylation of 1,4-hydroquinone methyl ethers to give quinones in a quantitative conversion. The efficacy of this reaction, that has been applied to simple arene compounds and to heterocyclic systems, such as 2-isopropoxycarbonyl-7,10-dimethoxy-pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinoline-4-ones and 1,4-diones to get the corresponding 7,10-quinones (compounds 6-8), is similar to those promoted by CAN and does not require the presence of water. Instead of oxidative demethylation, HTIB promoted in 1-methoxy-pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinoline-4-ones complex multi-step processes to give compounds 9 or 10.     

Synthesis of N-substituted 1,2-dihydrobenz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones

The synthesis of N-substituted 1,2-dihydrobenz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones was envisaged as part of our research on structural modifications of pentalongin, the active principle of Pentas longiflora Oliv. Therefore, a synthesis of the 2-aza analogues of this natural pyranonaphthoquinone with an acid-mediated intramolecular cyclization of different N-protected 2-(((2,2-dimethoxyethyl)amino)methyl)-1,4-naphthoquinones in the key step was conducted. The synthesized 1,2-dihydrobenz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones represent a new class of compounds, which has been undescribed in organic chemistry.     

Stereoselective cycloadditions of (1Z,4R,5R)-1-arylmethylidene-4-benzoylamino-5-phenylpyrazolidin-3-on-1-azomethine imines to maleimides

A library of 15 1,6,7,9-tetrasubstituted 6,7,9,9a-tetrahydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrazole-1,3,5(2H,3aH)-triones was prepared by combinatorial stereoselective cycloadditions of (1Z,4R^∗,5R^∗)-1-arylmethylidene-4-benzoylamino-5-phenylpyrazolidin-3-on-1-azomethine imines to N-substituted maleimides. Stereochemistry was controlled by the stereodirecting phenyl group at position-3 and by the ortho-substituents at the aromatic ring at position-1′ in azomethine imines. Consequently, two sets of diastereomeric cycloadducts were obtained, one set from the ortho-unsubstituted dipoles and the other set from the ortho-disubstituted dipoles.     

Novel synthesis of pyridazino[4,5-b][1,4]oxazin-3,8-diones

A novel and effective synthesis of pyridazino[4,5-b][1,4]oxazin-3,8-diones via Smiles rearrangement is presented. Treatment of N-substituted 2-chloro(or hydroxy)acetamide, 2-tetrahydropyranyl-4-chloro-5-hydroxy(or chloro)pyridazin-3-one and cesium carbonate in refluxing acetonitrile was afforded the corresponding pyridazino[4,5-b][1,4]oxazin-3,8-diones in excellent yield.     

Efficient synthesis and structural analysis of new dioxopiperazine isoquinolines

We report herein the synthesis of new dioxopiperazine isoquinolines using the Pictet-Spengler cyclisation. Our synthetic strategy for the preparation of two new compounds (5, 6), with a tetrahydro-6H-pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinoline-1,4-dione moiety was developed in only four steps. To understand better the crucial step of the synthesis reported here, theoretical calculations using semiempirical (PM3), ab initio and DFT computations were carried out on a reduced system model. The structure of chlorohydrate water solvate of tetrahydro (2-piperidinylethyl)-6H-pyrazino [1,2-b]isoquinoline-1,4-dione (6·HCl·2H₂O) was determined by X-ray diffraction. Theoretical calculations (RHF/3-21G and RB3LYP/6-31G(d)) were also performed for compound 6 neutralised with a chloride ion.     

Synthesis of tetramic acids with a benzo[f]indolizine skeleton. Transannular rearrangements in pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinolin-4-ones

Pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinoline-1,4-diones (3) having a bulky activating group at the N(2)-position were rearranged to tetramic acids with a benzo[f]indolizine skeleton (8) in the presence of K^tBuO or LHMDS as bases. This rearrangement was diasteroselective for the 6,11a-trans-isomers of the starting compounds. 1-Hydroxy-pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinolin-4-one (7) afforded a 1-trichloroacetamido derivative (14) after treatment with trichloroacetonitrile and a catalytic amount of sodium hydride as a base, through two subsequent base-promoted transannular rearrangements. In summary, the combination of functions in the piperazine ring of the starting tricyclic compounds conferred to them new reactivities that imply different base-promoted transannular rearrangements and led to unexpected transformations.     

C(3)-alkylation and cyclization of pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinolin-4-ones

To avoid the epimerization of the C(11a)-stereocenter previously observed in 6,11a-cis-pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinolin-1,4-diones, we present in this paper the C(3)-alkylation of 1-methoxy-pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinolin-4-ones to obtain all-cis derivatives through a very reliable protocol. The success of the acid-promoted cyclization to get pentacyclic (R₃=arylmethyl) or tetracyclic (R₃=2-bromo-2-propenyl) compounds is dependent on the nature of the C(3)-unsaturated chain and of the N-substituent, but these limitations have been overcome by using trifluoromethanesulfonic as a superacid catalyst. The C-(3)-alkylation of pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinolin-4-one is also studied.     

Electrocatalytic cascade multicomponent assembling: stereoselective one-pot synthesis of the substituted 3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-1-carboxylate system from aldehyde, malononitrile, malonate and methanol

Electrolysis of aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile and malonate in methanol in an undivided cell in the presence of sodium bromide-sodium methoxide as double mediatory system results in the stereoselective formation of methyl (1R^∗,5R^∗,6R^∗) 6-substituted 5-cyano-4,4-dialkoxy-2-oxo-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-1-carboxylates in 50-70% yields.     

Studies on the Michael addition of naphthoquinones to sugar nitro olefins: first synthesis of polyhydroxylated hexahydro-11H-benzo[a]carbazole-5,6-diones and hexahydro-11bH-benzo[b]carbazole-6,11-diones

A strategy for the synthesis of the novel (6bR,7R,8S,9S,10S,10aR)-8-(benzyloxy)-7,9,10-trihydroxy-6b,7,8,9,10,10a-hexahydro-11H-benzo[a]carbazole-5,6-dione is reported. The key steps were the Michael addition of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone to 1-nitrocyclohexene or 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-nitro-α-d-xylo-hex-5-enefuranose and the diastereoselective intramolecular Henry reaction of 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-5-C-(3′-hydroxy-1′,4′-naphthoquinon-2′-yl)-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-nitro-α-d-glucofuranose to give the key (1S,2S,3S,4R,5R,6R)-3-(benzyloxy)-1,2,4-trihydroxy-5-(3′-hydroxy-1′,4′-naphthoquinon-2′-yl)-6-nitrocyclohexane. When 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone was replaced by (1,4-dimethoxynaphthalen-2-yl)lithium, the novel (1R,2S,3S,4R,4aS,11bS)-2-(benzyloxy)-1,3,4-trihydroxy-1,2,3,4,4a,5-hexahydro-11bH-benzo[b]carbazole-6,11-dione was obtained.     

An efficient method for the synthesis of hydrocyclopenta[1,2-b]furan with various side chains at 3a-position

(3aS∗,1aR∗)-1a-Methoxy-3a-methoxycarbonyl-2,3,4,5,6,3a-hexahydrocyclopenta[1,2-b]furan was prepared in 96% overall yield from 2-methoxycarbonylated cyclopenta-1-one in two steps. This furan derivative is used as a divergent intermediate in the synthesis of our originally designed chiral resolving agents having various substitutions. During the preliminary evaluation of divergent synthetic products, it was discovered that 3a-(fluoren-9-ylidenemethyl)-2,3,4,5,3a-pentahydrocyclopenta[1,2-b]furan, was a remarkably improved chiral resolving agent for secondary alcohols.     

Five-membered 2,3-dioxoheterocycles: LXXXVII. [4+2]-cycloaddition of alkyl vinyl ethers and 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran to 4,5-diaroyl-1 H-pyrrole-2,3-diones

1-Aryl-4,5-diaroyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones react with alkyl vinyl ethers and 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran affording 1,4-diaryl-7a-aroyl-6-ethoxy-7,7a-dihydropyrano[4,3-b]pyrrole-2,3(1H,6H)-diones and 1,4-diaryl-9baroyl-1,7,8,9,9a-hexahydro-5aH-pyrano[3??,2??:5,6]pyrano[4,3-b]-pyrrole-2,3-diones respectively.     

New and highly efficient synthesis of 3-substituted 1-hydroxybenz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones

A new and efficient strategy for the synthesis of 3-substituted 1-hydroxybenz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones by reaction of 2-methoxycarbonyl-1,4-naphthoquinone with different pyridinium salts under Kröhnke conditions is disclosed. This one-step reaction was found to be dependent on the substitution pattern of the aromatic nucleus in the pyridinium salts.     

Synthesis of N-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones

The synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-dione hydrochlorides is reported starting from 1,4-dihydrobenz[g]isoquinoline-3(2H)-ones or ethyl (3-aminomethyl-1,4-dimethoxynaphth-2-yl)acetates. A third strategy relies on the synthesis of the title compounds via an N-protected 2-(3-bromomethyl-1,4-dimethoxynaphth-2-yl)ethylamine. The synthesized 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-benz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones are a new class of quinones, which have not been reported yet.     

Synthesis of spiro[benzopyrazolonaphthyridine-indoline]-diones and spiro[chromenopyrazolopyridine-indoline]-diones by one-pot, three-component methods in water

The synthesis of spiro[benzo[h]pyrazolo[3,4-b][1,6]naphthyridine-7,3′-indoline]-2′,6(5H)-diones and spiro[chromeno[4,3-b]pyrazolo[4,3-e]pyridine-7,3′-indoline]-2′,6(6aH,10H)-diones via a one-pot, three-component reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin or 4-hydroxy-1-methylquinolin-2(1H)-one, isatins and 1H-pyrazol-5-amines in water is reported.     

Regio- and stereoselective cycloadditions of (1Z,4R,5R)-1-arylmethylidene-4-benzoylamino-3-oxo-5-phenylpyrazolidin-1-ium-2-ides to methyl methacrylate

[3+2] Cycloadditions of (1Z,4R^∗,5R^∗)-1-arylmethylidene-4-benzoylamino-3-oxo-5-phenylpyrazolidin-1-ium-2-ides 1a-e to methyl methacrylate gave the 1-CO₂Me regioisomers 3/3′, exclusively, in 1-67% yields. Stereocontrol was dependent on the ortho-substituents at the 1′-aryl group in dipole 1: ortho-unsubstituted dipoles 1a-c gave the major (1R^∗,3R^∗,5R^∗,6R^∗)-isomers 3a-c, whilst ortho-disubstituted dipoles gave the major (1R^∗,3S^∗,5R^∗,6R^∗)-isomers 3′d,e. The structures of cycloadducts were determined by NMR and X-ray diffraction.     

Synthesis of polycyclic pyridazinediones as chemiluminescent compounds

Reactions of 1,3-disubstituted 5-aminopyrazole-4-carbonitrile derivatives 3a-o with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in the presence of potassium carbonate in dimethyl sulfoxide gave the corresponding dimethyl 1,3-disubstituted pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5,6-dicarboxylates 4a-o which were allowed to react with excess hydrazine hydrate under ethanol refluxing conditions followed by heating at 250-300° to give 1,3-disubstituted 4-amino-1H-pyrazolo[4′,3′:5,6]pyrido[2,3-d]pyridazine-5,8(6H,7H)-diones 7a-s in good yields. Similarly, 1,3-disubstituted 4-hydroxy-1H-pyrazolo[4′3′:5,6]pyrido[2,3-d]pyridazine-5,8(6H,7H)-diones 10a-c were obtained from alkyl 1,3-disubstituted 5-aminopyrazole-4-carboxylates 8a-c . These tricyclic pyridazine derivatives were alternatively synthesized from 4-hydroxypyrrolo[3,4-e]pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5,7-diones 13a-c prepared by reactions of 5-aminopyrazoles (8e-g) with methyl 1-methyl-4-methylthio-2,5-dioxo-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylate (11a) followed by the Gould/Jacobs reaction. 1-Methyl-4-methylthio-2,5-dioxo-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile smoothly reacted with 2-aminobenzimidazoles to give the corresponding 5-amino-3-methyl-1H-pyrrolo[3′4′:4,5]pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazole-1,3(2H)-diones 16a-e , which were readily converted to the desired 12-aminopyridazino[4′,5′:4,5]pyrimido-[1,2-a]benzimidazole-1,4(2H,3H)-diones 17a-e in good yields. Other pyridazinopyrimidine derivatives were also obtained by the reaction of the corresponding 2-aminoheterocycles with the maleimide in good yields. Substituted anilines reacted 11b in refluxing methanol to give the corresponding methyl 4-phenylamino-1-methyl-2,5-dioxo-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylates 25a-e which were converted in good yields to 2-methylpyrrolo[3,4-b]quinoline derivatives 26a-e by heating in diphenyl ether. Reaction of 26a-c with hydrazine hydrate gave 10-hydroxypyridazino[4,5-b]quinoline-1,4(2H,3H)-diones 27a-e in good yields. The desired 10-aminopyridazino[4,5-b]pyridazine-1,4(2H,3H)-diones 30a-e were obtained in good yields by the chlorination of 4a-e with phosphorus oxychloride followed by aminolysis with 28% ammonium hydroxide. Some pyridazino[4,5-a][2.2.3]cyclazine-1,4(2H,3H)-diones 37a,b as luminescent compounds were synthesized via several steps from indolizine derivatives. The key intermediates, dimethyl 6-dimethylamino[2.2.3]cyclazine-1,2-dicarboxylates 34, 36 , were synthesized by the [8 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of the corresponding 7-dimethylaminoindolizines 33, 35 with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in the presence of Pd-C in refluxing toluene. Some were found to be more efficient than luminol in light production. 4-Amino-3-methylsufonyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[4′,3′:5,6]pyrido[2,3-d]pyridazine-5,8(6H,7H)-dione (7r) , 10-hydroxypyridazino[4,5-b]-quinoline-1,4(2H,3H)-diones 27a-e , and 10-aminopyridazino[4,5-b]quinoline-1,4(2H,3H)-diones 30a-e showed the greatest chemiluminescence intensity in the presence of hydrogen peroxide peroxidase in a solution of phosphate buffer at pH 8.0.