Synthesis of trans-2-(indol-3-yl)-3-nitrothiochroman-4-ones from 3-nitrothiochromone and indoles

1,4-Nucleophilic addition reactions of 3-nitrothiochromone with indoles gave a number of novel trans-2-(indol-3-yl)-3-nitrothiochroman-4-ones in 36–89% yields. During the reactions, the thiopyrone ring underwent no opening.     

Chemoselective functionalization of α-carbolines at the C-2, C-3, C-4, and C-6 positions using Suzuki-Miyaura reactions

The synthesis of 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-substituted pyrido[2,3-b]indoles (α-carbolines) by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions from the corresponding halopyrido[2,3-b]indoles is described. A sequential and a one-pot chemoselective double Suzuki-Miyaura coupling route is presented for the synthesis of symmetrically and unsymmetrically disubstituted pyrido[2,3-b]indoles.     

Rearrangements and cyclizations—XVI: Ring-opening reactions of 1,1-diacetylcyclopropane with hydrazine and hydroxylamine derivatives as the novel synthesis of β-X-ethyl substituted pyrazoles and isoxazoles

The reactions of 1,1-diacetylcyclopropane (1) with a number of hydrazine and hydroxylamine derivatives proceed via cyclopropane ring opening with incorporation of external nucleophile (solvent) to give the 4-β-X-ethyl derivatives of 3,5-dimethylpyrazoles and -isoxazoles, a novel route to these heterocycles. This ring cleavage occurs especially smoothly in water as a solvent. A rationale for this unusually mild nucleophilic cyclopropane ring opening is discussed.     

Base-promoted three-component cascade approach to unsymmetrical bis(indolyl)methanes

Here we report a base-catalyzed reaction of two different indoles with aldehydes under heating to produce unsymmetrical bis(indolyl)methanes (BIMs), in which one of the indole ring must be N-substituted. Mixture of EtOH-H₂O is used as solvent. The reaction did not give symmetrical BIMs of N-substituted indoles or N–H indoles. However, traces of latter were formed in few cases, especially when electron-rich aldehydes were used. Diversely substituted indoles and aldehydes were used for the reaction. The reaction proceeds via 3-indolylalcohol, which we confirmed through isolation. The method also gives good yield on multigram scale reaction.     

Intramolecular Larock indole synthesis for the preparation of tricyclic indoles and its application in the synthesis of tetrahydropyrroloquinoline and fargesine

A general and efficient strategy for fused tricyclic indoles from substituted 2-halogenanilines via the palladium-catalyzed intramolecular Larock indolization process has been developed. Using this strategy, a number of 3,4- and 3,5-fused indoles with a variety of ring sizes can been prepared. The utility of this method is demonstrated through the synthesis of the known tetrahydropyrrolo[4,3,2-de]quinoline 10 and the first total synthesis of fargesine.     

Tandem Wittig – Reductive annulation decarboxylation approach for the synthesis of indole and 2-substituted indoles

A simple tandem Wittig reaction-reductive decarboxylation route is established for the synthesis of indoles from commercially available o-nitrobenzaldehydes and a stable phosphorane. The method allows access to indoles in a very fast manner without involving any metal or expensive reagents or inert atmosphere. Also 2-substituted indoles are obtained which forms an important core of many biological active compounds.     

An iodoacetamide-based free radical cyclisation approach to the 7,12-dihydro-indolo[3,2-d][1]benzazepin-6(5H)-one (paullone) system

A potentially versatile route to 2-(2-aminoaryl)indoles is described based on a palladium-mediated cyclisation of N-substituted indoles, together with free radical cyclisation of their N-benzyliodoacetamide derivatives to the 7,12-dihydro-indolo[3,2-d][1]benzazepin-6(5H)-one system.     

Electrophilic substitution in the benzene ring of indole compounds (Review)

Data on the orientation of electrophilic substitution reactions (nitration, halogenation, acylation, and sulfonation) in the benzene ring of indoles are systematized. The effect of protonation on the direction of substitution is examined. The effects of a pyrrole ring and a substituent in the benzene ring on the orientation reactions are compared.Deceased.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 9, pp. 1181–1199, September, 1980.     

Efficient synthesis of indoles using [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of N-trifluoroacetyl enehydrazines

[3,3]-Sigmatropic rearrangement of N-trifluoroacetyl enehydrazines provides a novel method for the construction of indoles. N-Trifluoroacetyl enehydrazine having a cyclopentene ring smoothly underwent [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement followed by cyclization to give indolines in excellent yield. On the other hand, both cyclohexenyl N-trifluoroacetyl enehydrazine and acyclic N-trifluoroacetyl enehydrazine gave indoles in good yield. Additionally, the substituent effect on the benzene ring was also studied. The rearrangement of N-trifluoroacetyl enehydrazines proceeded smoothly even under either aqueous or solvent-free conditions.     

De novo synthesis of a galacto-papulacandin moiety via an iterative dihydroxylation strategy

A short and highly efficient route to both the pyranose and furanose forms of a galacto-papulacandin ring system has been developed. The key to the overall transformation is the sequential two osmium-catalyzed dihydroxylation reactions of substituted 2,4-dienone. The resulting tetrol can be efficiently transformed into the two spiroketal moieties of galacto-papulacandin, which can also be inter-converted via acid catalyzed equilibration.     

Electrooxidation Enables Selective Dehydrogenative [4+2] Annulation between Indole Derivatives

Dearomative annulation of indoles has emerged as a powerful tool for the preparation of polycyclic indoline‐based alkaloids. Compared with well‐established methods towards five‐membered‐ring‐fused indolines, the six‐membered‐ring‐fused indolines are rarely accessed under thermal conditions. Herein, a dearomative [4+2] annulation between different indoles is developed through an electrochemical pathway. This transformation offers a remarkably regio‐ and stereoselective route to highly functionalized pyrimido[5,4‐b]indoles under oxidant‐ and metal‐free conditions. Notably, this electrochemical approach maintains excellent functional‐group tolerance and can be extended as a modification tactic for pharmaceutical research. Preliminary mechanism studies indicate that the electrooxidation annulation proceeds through radical–radical cross‐coupling between an indole radical cation and an N‐centered radical generated in situ.     

A useful ring transformation route to novel thiazepino[7,6-b]indoles from monochloro-β-lactam-fused 1,3-thiazino[6,5-b]indoles,analogues of cyclobrassinin

The Staudinger ketene-imine cycloaddition reactions of cyclobrassinin phytoalexin analogues 2-aryl-4,9-dihydro-1,3-thiazino[6,5-b]indoles with chloroacetyl chloride as a ketene source were investigated under different conditions. Both β-lactam ring formation and the N-chloroacetylation of the indole moiety took place. The indole N-chloroacetyl group can be easily removed by treatment in the presence of silica gel in methanol at reflux temperature. The selective β-lactam formation can be also achieved in certain cases under milder Staudinger conditions. The treatment of azeto[2,1-b]thiazino[6,5-b]indole-1-one derivatives with sodium ethoxide in ethanol provided the novel thiazepino[7,6-b]indole ring systems in a one-step ring transformation. The structures of the new ring systems were determined by means of IR and NMR spectroscopy.     

A biomimetic synthesis of the indolo[3,2-j]phenanthridine alkaloid, calothrixin B

A biomimetic approach to calothrixin B via a hypothetical metabolite, 6-formylindolo[2,3-a]carbazole, is described. The construction of a suitable indolo[2,3-a]carbazole ring system was carried out using an allene-mediated electrocyclic reaction involving two [b]-bonds of indoles as the key step.     

Regioselective synthesis of mono- and bis-decahydrobenzocarbazoles via tandem reactions of α-diazo ketones

Regioselective intermolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of rhodium generated carbonyl ylides with indoles are reported in this paper. Intermolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of five-membered-ring cyclic carbonyl ylides with indole and substituted indoles afforded hexahydro-2H-carbazol-2-ones in a regioselective manner. Similarly, reactions of cyclic carbonyl ylides were carried out to afford decahydrobenzo[c]carbazoles or decahydrocyclopenta[c]carbazoles with high regioselectivity. Interestingly, the other possible regioisomer decahydrobenzo[a]carbazoles were also obtained by the reaction of cyclic carbonyl ylides and indoles having electron withdrawing substituents. The structure and stereochemistry of regioisomers 6,11c-epoxy-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,11b,11c-decahydro-4a-methyl-5-oxo-7H-benzo[c]carbazole and 11-benzenesulfonyl-6,11b-epoxy-2,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,11,11a,11b-decahydro-4a-methyl-5-oxo-1H-benzo[a]carbazole were unequivocally corroborated by single-crystal X-ray analyses. To advance this study, regioselective double 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of five-membered-ring cyclic carbonyl ylides has been demonstrated for the first time with biindoles having various aryl and alkyl spacers. This process constructed up to eight stereocenters, four carbon-carbon and two carbon-oxygen bonds in a single step with an excellent molecular complexity and stereoselectivity.     

A convenient preparation of furo[2,3-b]indoles by conjugated addition of organomagnesium reagents to 2-hydroxyindolylidenemalonates

The chelate-controlled conjugated addition of Grignard reagents to 2-hydroxyindolylidenemalonates was studied as a means of preparing 3a-alkyl-3-methoxycarbonyl-2-oxofuro[2,3-b]indoles in one or two steps. In addition to the alkylorganometallic group variation, the effects of substitution at the aromatic ring on the reaction outcome were established. The indolylidenemalonates were found to be less reactive than the analogous indolylidenecyanoacetates.     

A one-pot access to cycloalkano[1,2-a]indoles through an intramolecular alkyl migration reaction in indolylborates

A novel one-pot protocol for the preparation of cycloalkano[1,2-a]indoles by way of an intramolecular alkyl migration reaction in cyclic indolylborates is described. NaOMe was found to act as a successful trialkylboryl-protecting group against to the lithiation at the C2 of the indole ring. Treatment of cyclic indolylborates with electrophiles produced cycloalkano-[1,2-a]indoles.     

PtCl2-catalyzed reactions of o-alkynylanilines with ethyl propiolate and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

The PtCl₂-catalyzed reactions between indoles and ethyl propiolate gave rise to mono and double addition products. The composition of the products was largely influenced by the substituents on the indoles as well as the amount of ethyl propiolate used. o-Alkynylanilines reacted with ethyl propiolate and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate under the catalysis of PtCl₂ to generate the corresponding 2,3-disubstituted indoles. The reaction proceeded by following a sequential cyclization/intermolecular addition pathway.     

Electrosynthesis of Dihydropyrano[4,3‐b]indoles Based on a Double Oxidative [3+3] Cycloaddition

Oxidative [3+3] cycloadditions offer an efficient route for six‐membered‐ring formation. This approach has been realized based on an electrochemical oxidative coupling of indoles/enamines with active methylene compounds followed by tandem 6π‐electrocyclization leading to the synthesis of dihydropyrano[4,3‐b]indoles and 2,3‐dihydrofurans. The radical–radical cross‐coupling of the radical species generated by anodic oxidation combined with the cathodic generation of the base from O₂ allows for mild reaction conditions for the synthesis of structurally complex heterocycles.     

Stereoselective synthesis of both enantiomers of N-aryl indoles with axially chiral N-C bonds

N-Aryl indoles with axially chiral N-C bonds were synthesized by stereoselective nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions of planar chiral tricarbonyl(2,6-disubstituted-1-fluorobenzene)chromium complexes. The stereochemistry of the products is highly dependent on the position of the substituent in the indole. When indoles devoid of a substituent at the 2-position were used, N-aryl indole chromium complexes having anti orientation with respect to the tricarbonylchromium fragment were obtained diastereoselectively. In contrast, 2-substituted indoles gave the N-aryl indoles with syn orientation between the tricarbonylchromium fragment and the benzene ring of the indole. These results demonstrate that we have succeeded in synthesizing both enantiomers of N-aryl indoles utilizing an identical planar chiral arene chromium complex.     

One-pot synthesis of N-methylindoles from N-methylanilines and of benzofurans from phenols using transition-metal carbene X-H insertion reactions

Transition-metal carbene X-H insertion reactions (X=N or O) have been employed in the simple conversion of anilines and phenols into indoles and benzofurans, respectively. Thus copper(II) catalyzed N-H insertion reactions of α-diazo-β-ketoesters with N-methylanilines followed by treatment with acidic ion-exchange resin gives indoles. In a similar manner, dirhodium(II) catalyzed O-H insertion reactions of α-diazo-β-ketoesters with phenols followed by treatment with PPA gives benzofurans.