Cyclization of vicinally substituted heterocyclic analogs of 3,4-bis(indol-1-yl)maleimide under the action of protic acids: a quantum chemical study

B3LYP/6-31G(d) density functional quantum chemical calculations of vicinally substituted bis(indol-1-yl)derivatives of 1,5-dihydropyrrol-2-one, furan-2,5-dione, cyclopent-4-ene-1,3-dione, cyclobut-3-ene-1,2-dione, and pyrrolidine-2,5-dione were carried out to study the effect of modification of the maleimide moiety in 3,4-bis(indol-1-yl)maleimides on the direction of intramolecular cyclization under the action of protic acids. Geometric parameters, charge distributions, energy characteristics, and frontier orbital energies of these compounds and the corresponding indoleninium cations were determined. Alternative protonation routes of 3,4-bis(indol-1-yl)-1,5-dihydropyrrol-2-one have been studied. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1348–1352, July, 2008.     

Quantum chemical study of the transformation of 2-(N-alkylamino)-3-(indol-1-yl)-and 2-(N-alkylamino)-3-(indol-3-yl)maleimides by protic acids: Tandem hydride transfer/cyclization mechanism

The geometric parameters, the charge distribution, and the energetics of N-methyl-2-(N-ethylanilino)-3-(indol-1-yl)-and N-methyl-2-(N-ethylanilino)-3-(indol-3-yl)maleimides and their conjugated acids were studied by density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. The mechanism of the tandem hydride transfer/cyclization sequence, which occurs after protonation of N-methyl-2-(N-ethylanilino)-3-(indol-1-yl)-and N-methyl-2-(N-ethylanilino)-3-(indol-3-yl)maleimides, was analyzed. The investigation of the potential energy surface for the tandem hydride transfer/cyclization of the iminium cation that formed upon protonation revealed that the hydride transfer followed by intramolecular cyclization at position 7 of the indole fragment in N-methyl-2-(N-ethylanilino)-3-(indol-1-yl)maleimide is the preferable process, unlike alternative intramolecular cyclization involving the cationic center at the C(2) atom of the indole fragment and the benzene ring of the N-ethylaniline fragment of the indoleninium cation in N-methyl-2-(N-ethylanilino)-3-(indol-3-yl)maleimide. A study of the key intermediates of the assumed reaction mechanism demonstrated that these intermediates are actually stationary points on the potential energy surface (minima and transition states). Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2069–2073, December, 2006.     

Macrolactones built from the bis-3,4(indol-1-yl)maleimide scaffold

15, 16, and 17-Membered lactones based on the bis-3,4(indol-1-yl)maleimide framework were obtained using intramolecular esterification reaction starting from 3-(1-ω-carboxyalkyl-2,3-dihydroindol-1-yl)-4-(1-ω-hydroxyalkyl-2,3-dihydroindol-1-yl)-maleimides. 3,4-Dibromo-maleimide, ω-(2,3-dihydroindol-3-yl)alkanoic acids, and ω-(2,3-dihydroindol-3-yl)alkanoles were used as starting compounds. Substitution of Br for the substituted indolines followed by the intramolecular cyclization of O-silylated hydroxyl acids derivatives led to macrolactones that incorporated 4-(dihydroindol-1-yl)-3-(indol-1-yl)maleimide moieties. Indoline nuclei in these compounds were dehydrogenated by DDQ in refluxing toluene to give 15, 16 or 17-membered lactones 3-[(ω-3-carboxyalkylindol-1-yl)-4-(ω-hydroxyalkylindol-1-yl)maleimides. Quantum chemical calculations showed that the formation of macrolactones of smaller size (13-membered) corresponds to the higher Gibbs energy ΔG^# and correlates with the absence of the target reaction product.     

Synthesis of 6H-pyrrolo[3',4':2,3][1,4]diazepino[6,7,1-hi]indole-8,10(7H,9H)-diones using 3-bromo-4-(indol-1-yl)maleimide scaffold

Series of 3-arylalkyl- or 3-alkylamino-4-(indol-1-yl)maleimides and bis(indol-1-yl)maleimides were synthesised. The cyclization of the 3-substituted 4-(indol-1-yl)maleimides under the action of acids resulted in the formation of diazepine[1,4] derivatives with indoline and maleimide nuclei annelated. These compounds readily produced the corresponding indolomaleimidodiazepines[1,4] after dehydrogenation.     

Convenient construction of spiro[indoline-3,5'-pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole] and spiro[indene-2,5'-pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole] via acid-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction

p-TsOH catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction of 3-(indol-3-yl)maleimides with 3-phenacylideneoxindoles in toluene at 80 °C for two hours afforded cis/trans isomers of 3a',4′,6′,10c'-tetrahydrospiro[indoline-3,5′-pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles] in nearly comparable yields, which could be easily converted to the corresponding 4′,6′-dihydrospiro[indoline-3,5′-pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole] in high yields and with high diastereoselectivity by further DDQ oxidation. Additionally, the similar reaction of 3-(indol-3-yl)maleimides with 2-arylidene-1,3-indanediones in toluene 80 °C and sequential DDQ oxidation afforded functionalized dihydrospiro[indene-2,5′-pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles] as major products.     

Nucleophilic substitution and cyclization reactions involving quaternized 3-dimethylaminomethyl derivatives of 3,4-bis(indol-l-yl)maleimide and 3-(indol-l-yl)-4-(indolin-l-yl)maleimide

A dialkylaminomethylation reaction (the Mannich reaction) of 3,4-bis(indol-l-yl)-maleimides and 3-(indol-l-yl)-4-(indolin-l-yl)maleimides leads to mono- and di(dimethyl-amino) derivatives at position 3 of one or two indole rings. A series of 3,4-bis(indol-l-yl)-maleimides and 3-(indol-l-yl)-4-(indolin-l-yl)maleimides containing ω-hydroxyalkyloxy-methyl substituents at position 3 of the indole ring was obtained by the reaction of iodomethyl-ates of these compounds with ethylene glycol and other 6h,ω-alkanediols. The reaction of quaternary salts of bis(3-dimethylaminomethylindol-l-yl)maleimides with 6h,ω-alkanediols resulted in the isolation of 3,4-bis(3-ω-hydroxyalkyloxymethylindol-l-yl)maleimides. Upon heating iodomethylate of 3-(3-dimethylaminoindol-l-yl)-4-(indolin-l-yl)maleimide in pyridine, 5,6-dihydro-10-methyl-H-indolo[l′,7a′,7′:4,5,6]pyrrolo[3′,4′:2,3]-[l,4]diazepino[l,7-a]-indole-l,3(2H)-dione was obtained due to the intramolecular alkylation and formation of the bond between position 2 of the indole and position 7 of the indoline rings.     

Diazepines[1,4] annelated with indoline and maleimide from 3-(di)alkylamino-4-(indol-1-yl)maleimides: mechanism of rearrangement and cyclization

The mechanism of cyclization of 3-(di)alkylamino-4-(indol-1-yl)maleimides to diazepine[1,4] derivatives was elucidated using deuterium labeled precursors.     

New 3,4-bis(indol-1-yl)maleimides as protein kinase inhibitors

Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds - Several previously unknown derivatives of 3,4-bis(indol-1-yl)maleimide, as well as 3-(2,3-dihydroindol-1-yl)-4-(indol-1-yl)maleimide were synthesized as...     

Practical Synthesis of Functionalized 2‐Thioxoimidazolidine Derivatives

High‐yielding syntheses of an unpublished series of 2‐thioxo‐imidazolidin‐4‐ones 6 bearing an N‐ethoxycarbonyl and amidyl moieties an N₁ and C₅, respectively, are reported. These derivatives were obtained by intramolecular cyclization of 3‐ethylhydrazinoacetate 3,4‐dihydro maleimides 4 in the presence of ethyl or phenylisothiocyanate 2 under neutral conditions.     

The Synthesis and Fungicidal Activities of 2,6-Bis[(3-aryl)-s-triazolo[3,4-b]-[1,3,4]thiadiazole-6-yl]pyridines

In search of better bioactive compounds, a series of novel 2,6-bis[(3-aryl)-s-triazolo[3,4-b]-[1,3,4]thiadiazole-6-yl]pyridines 2 were synthesized in high yields by the cyclization of 3-aryl-4-amino-5-mercapto-1, 2, 4-triazoles 1 with 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid. 2 exhibited good fungicidal activities against Cerospora beticola sacc.     

Synthesis of 4-substituted 3-(indol-3-yl)maleimides and azepines with annelated indole and maleimide nuclei

A series of 4-substituted 3-(indole-3-yl)maleimides has been synthesized. Upon the action of CH₃SO₃H in TFA, the 3-(indole-3-yl)-4-(arylalkylamino)-maleimides undergo cyclization to give 12b,13-dihydro-4bH-indolo[3,2-d]pyrrolo[3,4-b][1]benzazepine-5,7(6H,8H)-dione derivatives.     

Cyclic allylamine/enamine systems-6: Some reactions of 4-(indol-2-ylcarbonyl)-, 4-(indol-3-ylcarbonyl and 4-(indol- 3-ylmethyl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1 -methylpyridines

Indol-3-yl 1-methyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl ketone (1d) can be isomerised to indol-3-yl l-methyl-l,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl- ketone but the protonated form of this enamine could not be cyclised to the indole α-position. Both indol-2-yl l-methyl-l,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl ketone (1c) and its isomer (1d) were cyclised to 5-membered ketones by mineral acid catalysed Michael-type addition of indole β- and α-positions respectively onto the unsaturated ketone systems. Ketone (1d)was transformed to l-acetylindol-3-yl 3-acetyl-l,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl ketone by hot acetic anhydride. Strong base treatment of indol-3-yl(l,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl) methane caused isomerisation of the double bond into conjugation with the indole rather than into the endocyclic enamine position.     

Antifertility Agent: Stereoselective Synthesis of Spiro[cyclopropane-1,7′-yuehchukene]

A facile synthesis of 6′β-(indol-3″-yl)-9′- methyl-5′,6′,-6′αβ,7′,8′,10′ αβ-hexahydrospiro[cyclopropane-1,7′-indeno[2,1-b]indole] (2), an analogue of yuehchukene (1), is described.     

Synthesis of 4-substituted 3-[3-(dialkylaminomethyl)indol-1-yl]maleimides and study of their ability to inhibit protein kinase C-α, prevent development of multiple drug resistance of tumor cells and cytotoxicity

A series of 3-[3-(dialkylaminomethyl)indol-1-yl]maleimides containing the indole, dihydroindole, mercaptophenol, or tetrahydroquinoline residues at position 4 of the maleimide ring, as well as 3-(dialkylaminomethyl)indole derivatives have been synthesized. Their ability to inhibit in vitro protein kinase C-α (PKC-α) has been studied. Cytotoxicity of new compounds and their ability to constrain activation of multiple drug resistance (MDR) have been studied in the human tumor cell line. Both the toxic and the low-toxic PKC-α inhibitors prevent the activation of MDR in the tumor cells. Among compounds under study, a number of substances have been found that prevent the activation of MDR but do not inhibit PKC-α. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1977–1985, September, 2008.     

New insight into the oxidative chemistry of noradrenaline: competitive o-quinone cyclisation and chain fission routes leading to an unusual 4-[bis-(1H-5,6-dihydroxyindol-2-yl)methyl]-1,2-dihydroxybenzene derivative

Oxidation of 5×10⁻³ M noradrenaline in aqueous phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, with K₃Fe(CN)₆, NaIO₄ or Fe²⁺/EDTA/H₂O₂ followed by extraction with ethyl acetate and acetylation with Ac₂O/Pyr led to a main reaction product which was isolated and identified as 4-[bis-(1H-5,6-diacetoxyindol-2-yl)methyl]-1,2-diacetoxybenzene, an unprecedented [bis-(indol-2-yl)methyl]-benzene derivative unsubstituted on the 3-position of the indole rings. This product was also obtained in 40% yield by reaction of 5,6-dihydroxyindole with 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. Other components of the oxidation mixture were 1-acetyl-3,5,6-triacetoxyindole, derived from noradrenolutin, and 5,6-diacetoxyindole, originating from cyclisation/dehydration of the o-quinone of noradrenaline, along with some 3,4-diacetoxybenzaldehyde. Inspection of the aqueous phase revealed the presence of 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, derived from oxidative breakdown of the 2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl chain via a p-quinomethane intermediate. These results disclose new aspects of the oxidative chemistry of noradrenaline beyond the aminochrome stage and provide a route to novel [bis-(indol-2-yl)methyl]-benzene derivatives of potential pharmacological interest.     

A process for the preparation of 1,2,3,4,8,9,10,10a-octahydro-7bH-cyclopenta[b][1,4]diazepino[6,7,1-hi]indole

A synthesis of 1,2,3,4,8,9,10,10a-octahydro-7bH-cyclopenta[b][1,4]diazepino[6,7,1-hi]indole is described exemplifying a new synthetic route to medicinally interesting compounds. The key step involves a cyclization of 2-(2,3,3a,8b-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indol-4(1H)-yl)-ethanamine with aqueous formaldehyde in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid.     

Acid catalyzed rearrangements in the arylimino indoline series. Part IV . Reactions of 1,2-dihydro-2-phenyl-2-(indol-3-yl-derivatives)-3-phenylimino-3H-indole with trichloroacetic and hydrochloric acids. Crystal structure of 1,2-dihydro-2-phenyl-2-(indol-3-yl)-3-phenylimino-3H-indole

2-Phenyl-3-phenylimino-3H-indole reacts with indole, 2-methylindole and 1,2-dimethylindole in the presence of stoichiometric trichloroacetic acid to form 1,2-dihydro-2-phenyl-2-(indol-3-yl-derivatives)-3-phenylimino-3H-indole, which during a longer period of time (16 hours) undergoes indolyl transposition to carbon-3 and elimination of aniline affording the 3,3′-bis-indolyls. In the case of 1,2-dimethylindole the intermediate coming from the indolyl migration may undergo a nucleophilic addition to carbon-2 of another molecule of indole; the new intermediate leads to the formation of 2-phenyl-3,3′-di-(1,2-dimethylindol-3-yl)-3H-indole by elimination of aniline and migration to carbon-3 of the second molecule of indole. By treatment with hydrochloric acid in refluxing ethanol, 1,2-dihydro-2-phenyl-2-(indol-3-yl-derivatives)-3-phenylimino-3H-indole afford to 3,3′-bis-indolyls and 1,2-dihydro-2-phenyl-2-(indol-3-yl-derivatives)-3H-indol-3-one (indoxyls). The crystal structure of 1,2-dihydro-2-phenyl-2-(indol-3-yl)-3-phenylimino-3H-indole is also reported. The latter compound does not give rearrangement products by acid treatment, only untreatable tarry material.     

Studies on the Preparation of 2-Indolyl Triflates and Related Compounds

Upon treatment with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid anhydride (triflic anhydride), oxindole (4) is converted into 1-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)indol-2-y1 trifluoromethanesulfonate (10) in 70% yield. Some attempted reactions of 1-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)indole (13), conveniently prepared by treating indole (12) with n-butyllithium and triflic anhydride, are described.     

Syntheses and Optical Properties of Perfluorophenyl Containing Benzimidazole Derivatives: The Effect of Donor Units

Synthesis of two novel donor – acceptor – donor type monomers containing benzimidazole as the acceptor unit and thiophene and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) as the donor units were performed. 2-(Perfluorophenyl)-4,7-di(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole and 4,7-bis(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)-2-(perfluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole were synthesized successfully and polymerized electrochemically. The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies of the polymers were studied. The effect of electron donating moieties on the optical properties of electrochemically polymerized polymers was investigated. Both polymers were p type dopable and possessed multi-chromic property. Optical studies demonstrated that the polymer based on EDOT unit (P2) resulted in lower band gap since EDOT is higher electron donating group than thiophene.     

Photochemical and thermal cyclizations of 4-(2-azidophenyl)-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-ones for the synthesis of 4-methylenepyrimidino[5,4-b]indol-2-ones

Photochemical and thermal cyclization of 4-(2-azidophenyl)-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-ones could afford fused indoles, such as 1,2,3a,9b-tetrahydro-4-methylenepyrimidino[5,4-b]indol-2-ones and 1,3,5,6,7a,12b-hexahydroquinazolino[9,4-b]indol-2,7-dione in high yields via nitrene electrophilic addition and rearrangement reactions.