A new approach to the synthesis of benzofuro[3,2‐b]quinolines,benzothieno[3,2‐b]quinolines and indolo[3,2‐b]quinolines

Treatment of 2‐hydroxy‐, 2‐mercapto‐, and 2‐ethoxycarbonylamino‐benzonitriles 12 with 2‐fluoro‐ or 2‐nitrophenacylbromides 13 under alkaline conditions provided the corresponding benzofuran, benzothiophene, and indole intermediates 10 , respectivelly. Nucleophilic cyclization of these compounds led to the corresponding tetracyclic quinolinones 7a, 7b , and 3. Denitrocyclization reaction of compounds 10 (R = NO₂) was found especially useful. Compounds 7a, 7b , and 3 were converted to their chloro derivatives 14a‐c , which were reduced with hydrogen and a catalyst to the corresponding compounds 8a, 8b , and 2. The presented pathway represents a new method of preparation of quindoline 2 and its O and S analogs 8. Chloro derivatives 14 are reactive enough to provide the corresponding methoxy derivatives 15 and dimethylamino derivatives 16. Methylation of compounds 7a and 7b with iodomethane providing mixtures of major N‐methyl derivatives 17 and minor O‐methyl derivatives 15 were also studied.     

A synthesis of new pyrrolo[3,2‐c]quinolines

A synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2‐c]quinolines substituted in the 7‐ and 8‐ positions by methoxy groups and in the 3‐ position by an amido group is described. The structures were designed to have a crescent shape, a planar fused cyclic moiety with two ortho methoxy groups and ionisable amino or amidinic group at pH 7.     

Synthesis and reactions of 11H‐benzo[b]pyrano[3,2‐f]indolizines an pyrrolo[3,2,1‐ij]pyrano[3,2‐c]quinolines

2‐Methyl‐3H‐indoles 1 cyclize with two equivalents of ethyl malonate 2 to form 4‐hydroxy‐11H‐benzo[b]pyrano[3,2‐f]indolizin‐2,5‐diones 3, whereas 2‐mefhyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐indoles 9 give under similar conditions regioisomer 8‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐pyrrolo[3,2,1‐ij]pyrano[3,2‐c]quinolin‐7,10‐diones 10 . The pyrone rings of 3 and 9 can be cleaved either by alkaline hydrolysis to give 7‐acetyl‐8‐hydroxy‐10H‐pyrido[1,2‐a]indol‐6‐ones 4 or 5‐acetyl‐6‐hydroxy‐2‐methyl‐1,2‐dihydro‐4H‐pyrrolo‐[3,2,1‐ij]quinolin‐4‐ones 11 , respectively. Chlorination of 3 and 9 with sulfurylchloride gives under subsequent ring opening 7‐dichloroacetyl‐8‐hydroxy‐10H‐pyrido[1,2‐a]indol‐6‐ones 5 or 5‐dichloracetyl‐6‐hydroxy‐2‐methyl‐1,2‐dihydro‐4H‐pyrrolo[3,2,1‐ij]quinolin‐4‐ones 12 . The dichloroacetyl group of 5 can be reduced with zinc to 7‐acetyl‐8‐hydroxy‐10H‐pyrido[1,2‐a]indol‐6‐ones 7. Treatment of the acetyl compounds 4, 7 and 11 with 90% sulfuric acid cleaves the acetyl group and yields 8‐hydroxy‐10H‐pyrido[1,2‐a]‐indol‐6‐ones 6 and 8 , and 6‐hydroxy‐2‐methyl‐1,2‐dihydro‐4H‐pyrrolo[3,2,1‐ij]quinolin‐4‐ones 13 . Reaction of dichloroacetyl compounds 12 with sodium azide yields 6‐hydroxy‐2‐methyl‐5‐(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐ylcarbonyl)‐1,2‐dihydro‐4H‐pyrrolo[3,2,1‐ij]quinolin‐4‐ones 14 via intermediate geminal diazides.     

Z‐Shaped Pyrrolo[3,2‐b]pyrroles and Their Transformation into π‐Expanded Indolo[3,2‐b]indoles

Sterically hindered 1,4‐dihydropyrrolo[3,2‐b]pyrroles possessing ortho‐(arylethynyl)phenyl substituents at positions‐2 and ‐5 were efficiently synthesized through a sila‐Sonogashira reaction. These unique Z‐shaped dyes showed relatively strong fluorescence in solution. Detailed optimization revealed that, in the presence of InCl₃, these alkynes readily undergo an intramolecular double cyclization to give hexacyclic products bearing an indolo[3,2‐b]indole skeleton in remarkable yields. Steady‐state UV–visible spectroscopy revealed that upon photoexcitation, the prepared Z‐shaped alkynes undergo mostly radiative relaxation leading to high fluorescence quantum yields. In the case of 7,14‐dihydrobenzo[g]benzo[6,7]indolo[3,2‐b]indoles, we believe that the substantial planarization of geometry in the excited state, is the underlying reason for the observed large Stokes shifts. The presence of additional electron‐withdrawing groups makes it possible to further alter the photophysical properties. The two‐photon absorption cross‐section values of both families of dyes were found to be modest and the nature of the excited state responsible for two‐photon absorption appeared to be strongly affected by the presence of peripheral groups. Serendipitous synthesis of unusual double‐Z‐shaped alkyne by Sonogashira and Glaser coupling is also reported.     

Towards the Development of Structure‐Selective G‐Quadruplex‐Binding Indolo[3,2‐b]quinolines

The interaction of phenyl‐substituted indolo[3,2‐b]quinolines with DNA G‐quadruplexes of different topology were studied by using a combination of spectroscopic and calorimetric methodologies. N5‐Methylated indoloquinoline derivatives (^MePIQ) with an aminoalkyl side chain exhibit high affinities for the parallel‐stranded MYC quadruplex and a (3+1)‐hybrid structure combined with an excellent discrimination against the antiparallel thrombin‐binding aptamer (TBA) and the human telomeric (HT) quadruplexes. Dissociation constants for the binding of the ligand to the MYC quadruplex are in the submicromolar range, being below the corresponding dissociation constants for the antiparallel‐stranded quadruplexes by about one order of magnitude. Competition experiments with double‐helical DNA reveal the impact of indoloquinoline structural features on the selectivity for the parallel quadruplex relative to duplex DNA. Based on a calorimetric analysis binding to MYC is shown to be equally driven by favorable enthalpic and entropic contributions with no significant impact on the type of cation present.     

Synthesis of 6‐Aminopropyl‐6H‐indolo[2,3‐b]quinoxaline Derivatives

A series of 6‐(3‐aminopropyl)‐6H‐indolo[2,3‐b]quinoxalines were synthesized with high yields by the reaction of 6‐(3‐chloropropyl)‐6H‐indolo[2,3‐b]quinoxaline and corresponding amines in presence of tetrabutylammonium iodide in boiling toluene or dimethylformamide at room temperature. It was found that boiling of 6‐(3‐chloropropyl)‐6H‐indolo[2,3‐b]quinoxaline in acetone with sodium iodide or in acetic acid lead to intramolecular cyclization product.     

Furopyridines. XXVI. Reactions of cyanopyridine derivatives of furo[2,3‐b]‐, ‐[3,2‐b]‐, ‐[2,3‐c]‐ and ‐[3,2‐c]pyridine

Bromination of α‐cyanopyridine derivatives of furopyridines 1a‐d gave the 2,3‐dibromo‐2,3‐dihydro compounds 2a‐d in excellent yields. Treatment of 2a‐d with sodium hydroxide in methanol yielded compounds formed through the dehydrobromination and solvolysis of the nitrile. N‐Oxidation of 1a and 1b gave N‐oxide in much poor yield, while 1c and 1d gave the N‐oxide 13c and 13d in good yields. The nucleophilic reactions (cyanation, chlorination and acetoxylatoin) of 13c through a Reissert‐Henze type reaction gave poor results, which would be caused by the strong electron withdrawing effect of the cyano group.     

One‐Pot Three‐Component Synthesis of 6H‐chromeno[4,3‐b] or Cyclopenta[b]furo[3,2‐f]quinoline Derivatives

Two series of furo[3,2‐f ]quinoline‐2‐carboxylate were obtained via a three‐component reaction of aldehydes, 5‐aminobenzofuran‐2‐carboxylate, and 4‐hydroxy‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one or cyclopentane‐1,3‐dione in DMF under catalyst‐free condition in high yields. This one‐pot three‐component reaction provided an efficient method for the synthesis of fused polycyclic heterocycles for bioactive screening.     

Stereoselective synthesis of pyrano[3,2‐c]‐ and furano[3,2‐c]quinolines: Gadolinium chloride catalyzed one‐pot aza–Diels–Alder reactions

A simple and efficient method for the cis‐selective synthesis of pyrano‐ and furano[3,2‐c]quinolines via gadolinium chloride catalyzed one‐pot aza–Diels–Alder reaction is described. Solvent conditions played a major role in affecting the diastereoselectivity of the products. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:351–354, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20612     

An Alternate Synthesis of 6H‐Indolo[2,3‐b]quinoline via One‐Pot Alkylation–Dehydration–Cyclization–Aromatization Approach

A simple, straightforward and efficient synthesis of 6H‐indolo[2,3‐b]quinoline, a natural product isolated from leaves of Justicia betonica, is achieved through a pivalic acid‐assisted one‐pot alkylation–dehydration–cyclization–aromatization approach. This synthesis constitutes a formal approach toward a biologically important alkaloid neocryptolepine.     

A new synthesis of 2,3-dihydrofuro[2,3-b], [2,3-c] and [3,2-c]quinolines

A new synthesis of three isomeric dihydrofuroquinolines is described. This route via ortholithiation of O-quinolyl carbamates is considerably more effective than that which proceeds via lithiation of alkoxyquinolines.     

Ligand‐Controlled Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Regiodivergent Carbonylation of Alkynes: Syntheses of Indolo[3,2‐c]coumarins and Benzofuro[3,2‐c]quinolinones

Regiodivergent syntheses of indolo[3,2‐c]coumarins and benzofuro[3,2‐c]quinolinones through a controllable palladium(II)‐catalyzed carbonylative cyclization are established. The chemo‐ and regioselectivity are exclusively tuned by the ligand on the palladium catalyst. The rigid framework of the electron‐deficient ligand promotes the O‐attack/N‐carbonylation cyclization leading to benzofuro[3,2‐c]quinolinones, while a sterically bulky and electron‐rich ligand facilitates N‐attack/O‐carbonylation cyclization to generate indolo[3,2‐c]coumarins. Furthermore, various other nucleophiles are applicable for delivering a variety of indoloquinolinones, pyranoquinolones, and chromeno[3,4‐c]quinolinones in one step, and serves as a method for creating compound libraries for drug discovery.     

Regioselective copper-mediated synthesis of thieno[2,3-c]pyrane-7-one, indolo[2,3-c]pyrane-1-one, and indolo[3,2-c]pyrane-1-one

In the presence of copper(I) iodide, heteroaromatic β-iodo-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid systems opposed to terminal alkyne afford selectively 6-endo-dig cyclization products via a tandem coupling oxacyclization reaction.     

The synthesis of novel polycyclic heterocyclic ring systems via photocyclization. 22 Dibenzo[f,h]benzothieno[2,3‐c]quinoline,dibenzo[f,h]benzothieno[2,3‐c][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]quinoline and dibenzo[f,h]naphtho[2′,1′:4,5]thieno[2,3‐c]quinoline

Photocyclization of 3‐chloro‐N‐(9‐phenanthryl)benzo[b]‐thiophene‐2‐carboxamide ( 3 ) and 3‐chloro‐N‐(9‐phenanthryl)‐naphtho[1,2‐b]thiophene‐2‐carboxamide ( 10 ) yielded dibenzo[f,h]benzothieno[2,3‐c]‐quinolin‐10(9H)‐one ( 4 ) and dibenzo[f,h]naphtho[2′,1′:4,5]thieno[2,3‐c]quinolin‐10(9H)‐one ( 11 ), respectively. Further elaboration of the lactams provided three novel unsubstituted new ring systems.     

Pyranopyrazoles III synthesis of 1H‐pyrano[2,3‐c]pyrazol‐4‐ones

Various derivatives of title ring system were synthesized by Claisen condensation of 4 acetyl‐5 ‐hydroxy‐pyrazoles with appropriate esters, followed by acid‐catalyzed ring closure.     

1,4-Cycloaddition reactions. III. Synthesis of furo[3,2-c]pyrido[2,3-g]quinolines,Furo[2,3-a] [4,7]phenanthrolines,Furo[3,2-c]pyrrolo[2,3-g]quinolines,Furo[3,2-c]pyrrolo[3,2-g]quinolines,and Furo[3,2-c]furo[2′,3′:4,5]pyrido[2,3-g]quinolines from 2,3-dihydro-5-methylfuran and schiff bases

The 1,4-cycloaddition of 2,3-dihydro-5-methylfuran (II) to 1-acetyl-1,2,3,4-te trahydro-6-[(p-hydroxybenzylidene)amino]quinoline (VIII) in the presence of boron trifluoride gave two pairs of epimers, namely dl-10-acetyl-2,3,3a,4,5,7,8,9,10,11b-decahydro-4-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-11b-methylfuro[3,2-c]pyrido[2,3-g]quinoline (IXa and b) and dl-8-acetyl-2,3,3a,4,5,8,9,10,11,-11c-decahydro-4-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-11c-methylfuro[2,3-a][4,7]phenanthroline (Xa and b). dl-9-Acetyl-3,3a,4,5,7,8,9,10b-octahydro-4-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-10b-methyl-2H-furo[3,2-c] pyrrolo-[2,3-g]quinoline (XIIIa) was the predominant product isolated from the reaction of II with 1-acetyl-5-[p-(hydroxybenzylidene)amino]indoline (XII). When 1-acetyl-6-[(p-hydroxybenzylidene)amino]indoline (XVI) was treated with 2,3-dihydro-5-methylfuran (II), two epimers of dl-7-acetyl-3,3a,4,5,7,8,9,10b-octahydro-4-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-10b-methyl-2H-furo[3,2-c]pyrrolo[3,2-g]quinoline (XVIIa and b) were obtained. dl-2,3,3a,4,5,6b,8,9,9a,10,11,12b-Dodecahydro-4,10-bis(p-methoxyphenyl)-6b,12b-dimethylfuro[3,2-c]furo[2′,3′:4,5]pyrido[2,3-g]quinoline (XX) was formed when 2,3-dihydro-5-methylfuran was allowed to react with N,N'-bis(p-methoxybenzylidene)-p-phenylcnediamine (XIX). Structure assignments were made from NMR spectra. None of the compounds exhibited appreciable biological activity.     

A convenient synthesis of 2‐Arylidene‐5H‐thiazolo[2,3‐b]quinazo‐line‐3,5[2H]‐diones and their benzoquinazoline derivatives

Various 5H‐thiazolo[2,3‐b]quinazoline‐3,5[2H]‐diones (7a,b), 2‐arylidene‐5H‐thiazolo[2,3–b]quin‐azoline‐3,5[2H]‐diones ( 9a‐o ) and 2‐arylidene‐5H‐thiazolo[2,3‐b]benzoquinazoline‐3,5[2H]‐diones ( 12a,b ) have been synthesized via simple and efficient methods.     

Enantioselective Construction of 2,3‐Dihydrofuro[2,3‐b]quinolines through Supramolecular Hydrogen Bonding Interactions

The first asymmetric synthesis of 2,3‐dihydrofuro[2,3‐b]quinolines has been achieved by a cascade asymmetric aziridination/intramolecular ring‐opening process of differently substituted 3‐alkenylquinolones. Good yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 78 % yield and 95 % ee) were recorded when employing 2,2,2‐trichloroethoxysulfonamide as the nitrene source, PhI(OCOtBu)₂ as the oxidant, and a chiral C₂‐symmetric Rh^II complex as the catalyst (1 mol %). The catalyst bears two lactam motifs, which serve as binding sites for substrate coordination through supramolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions.