Synthesis of dihydrobenzoimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines

A one-pot protocol toward several substituted 5,6-dihydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines 1 starting with 2-allylbenzaldehydes 2 was described. The process was carried out the one-pot condensation/hydroamination reaction of substituted 2-allylbenzaldehydes 2 with 1,2-diaminobenzenes 3 in refluxing toluene in good yields. Skeleton 2 was prepared via one-pot ortho-metalative PhBCl₂-mediated double alkylation of hydroxybenzaldehyde 4 with LDA in moderate yields.     

Synthesis of the dibenzopyrrocoline alkaloid skeleton: indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and related analogues

The indolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline and pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline nuclei have been synthesized from N-benzylindole or ethyl 1H-indol-1-ylacetate and N-benzylpyrrole precursors, respectively. Firstly, at C-2 of either the indole or pyrrole nucleus, aromatic rings containing a carbonyl substituent ortho to the newly formed biaryl axis were introduced using the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction. Thereafter, under basic conditions the nucleophile that formed at the acidic methylene protons of the N-benzylindole, ethyl 1H-indol-1-ylacetate or N-benzylpyrrole intermediate reacted with the internal aromatic carbonyl to yield (after the expulsion of water) the title compounds. For example, exposure of ethyl 2-(2-(2-formylphenyl)-1H-indol-1-yl)acetate to potassium tert-butoxide resulted in the formation of ethyl indolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-6-carboxylate.     

7,8,9,10-Tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines in the search for new indolizine derivatives

7,8,9,10-Tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines were obtained by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of their corresponding N-ylides with olefinic (acrylonitrile) and symmetrical or non-symmetrical acetylenic dipolarophiles (methyl/ethyl propiolate, dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate). Also, stable 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinolinium dicyanomethylide was isolated and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

One pot synthesis of imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles and benzo[d]thiazolo[3,2-a]imidazoles

A series of imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole and benzo[d]thiazolo[3,2-a]imidazole analogues were synthesized by stirring an equimolar mixture of dibenzoylacetylene with imidazole/thiazole derivatives in toluene or acetonitrile at room temperature. The products were generated in good yields and characterized by standard analytical techniques such as IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectrometry. The structure of products 19, 20, 22, 24 and 25 were also unambiguously confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis.     

One-pot two-step tandem reactions for selective synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and dihydro-, tetrahydro-derivatives

A sequential one-pot two-step tandem reaction for selective and efficient synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline and its dihydro- and tetrahydro-derivatives has been developed. The tandem reactions of isoquinoline, α-halogenated methylene compounds, aromatic aldehydes, and cyanoacetamide firstly give tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines as main products. The corresponding pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and dihydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines can be obtained directly by controlling oxidation with DDQ. The mechanism of this tandem reaction involved the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of isoquinolinium ylide as the key step. A unique elimination of the amido group preferring to the cyano group has been observed.     

Synthesis of substituted benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and its condensed analogues using Pd(0)-catalyzed cyclization/C-H activation

An efficient route for the synthesis of benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and its condensed analogues has been developed via the palladium-catalyzed cyclization/C-H activation of N-allyl and N-methallyl derivatives of benzimidazoles.     

Thiadiazole fused indolo[2,3-a]carbazoles as new building blocks for optoelectronic applications

New indolo[2,3-a][1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-c]carbazoles including functional groups (halide or hydroxyl groups) on the meta positions relative to the nitrogen atoms which are known to be the most conjugated, have been synthesized following two synthetic routes. The characterizations of their optical and electrochemical properties evidence their potential as new building blocks for optoelectronic materials.     

Synthesis of bridgedhead azolo[3,2-a]pyrimidines and imidazo[2,1-b]thiazines through ring transformation of 2H-pyran-2-ones

Suitably functionalized 3-carbomethoxy/cyano-2H-pyran-2-ones are excellent synthons for the synthesis of arenes and heteroarenes of therapeutic importance. The compounds 6-aryl-3-cyano-4-methylsulfanyl-2H-pyran-2-ones have been transformed into bridgedhead azolopyrimidines and imidazothiazines through thermal and base-induced ring transformation reactions with aminoazoles and imidazolidin-2-thiones, respectively.     

Ophiuroidine, the first indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline alkaloid from the Caribbean brittle star Ophiocoma riisei

A new indoloquinazoline alkaloid, ophiuroidine 1, having an indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,12-dione skeleton, was isolated from the Caribbean ophiuroid, Ophiocoma riisei. The structure of 1 was determined as 4,8,9-trihydroxyindolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,12-dione from spectroscopic data. Ophiuroidine 1 is the first example of an indoloquinazoline alkaloid found in a marine invertebrate.     

Pd-mediated synthesis of novel pentacyclic benzoazepino[2,1-a]isoindoles from enamides of Baylis-Hillman adducts

Novel pentacyclic benzoazepino[2,1-a]isoindole derivatives were synthesized by palladium-mediated consecutive cyclization from enamides of Baylis-Hillman adducts.     

Novel route for the synthesis of structurally diverse pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline in aqueous micellar medium

A high yielding environmentally benign protocol has been developed for the synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline using chromone-3-carboxaldehyde, isoquinoline and phenacyl bromide/bromoacetic acid ester as reagents in aqueous micellar medium. The method is operationally simple and more effective compared to the previous methods in terms of the yield of the products as well as the reaction time.     

A new, one-pot, multi-component synthesis of imines of 3-amino-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, 3-amino-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazines, and 3-amino-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines

An efficient, one-pot, multi-component synthesis of 3-amino-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, 3-amino-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazines, and 3-amino-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines is described. Heating a mixture of a 2-aminopyridine, 2-aminopyrazine or 2-aminopyrimidine, a benzaldehyde, and imidazoline-2,4,5-trione under solvent-free conditions afforded imine derivatives of the title compounds in excellent yields. Single-crystal X-ray analysis conclusively confirms the structure of these bridgehead bicyclic 5-6 heterocycles.     

Unusual synthesis of dihydropyrido[2,1-a]isoindolone derivatives by radical cyclization of enamides of Baylis-Hillman adducts

During the radical cyclization of enamide derivatives 4 we found unusual formation of dihydropyrido[2,1-a]isoindolone derivatives 5. The enamides were synthesized in four steps from the Baylis-Hillman adducts of ortho-bromobenzaldehydes.     

A one-pot four-component synthesis of N-arylidene-2-aryl-imidazo[1,2-a]azin-3-amines

N-Arylidene-2-aryl-imidazo[1,2-a]azin-3-amines were synthesized via a one-pot, four-component condensation reaction using a 2-aminoazine, toluene-4-sulfonylmethyl isocyanide (TsCH₂NC), and two equivalents of readily available aromatic aldehydes. The reaction was performed in diethyl ether as the solvent, with p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA) as the catalyst at reflux temperature.     

A new, one-pot, three-component synthesis of 4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, 4H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, and 4H-pyrazino[1,2-a]pyrimidines

A new, one-pot and three-component synthesis of 4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, 4H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, and 4H-pyrazino[1,2-a]pyrimidines is described. The reactive 1:1 zwitterionic intermediate, formed by the addition of isocyanides to dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, was trapped by N-(2-heteroaryl)amides to yield a ketenimine intermediate, which was cyclized and then rearranged under the reaction conditions to afford the title compounds under mild reaction conditions in good yields. Single-crystal X-ray analysis conclusively confirms the structure of the obtained bridgehead bicyclic 6-6 heterocyclic compounds.     

Synthesis of 2,3-diaryl-5H-imidazo[2,1-a]isoindol-5-ones via the one-pot reaction of 1,2-diketones, 2-formylbenzoic acids, and ammonium acetate

We describe a new one-pot synthesis of 2,3-diaryl-5H-imidazo[2,1-a]isoindol-5-ones via the reaction of 1,2-diketones, 2-formylbenzoic acids, and ammonium acetate in acetic acid under reflux conditions and in the absence of a catalyst.     

Expeditious synthesis of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-ones and 3,4,6,7,8,9-hexahydro-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-ones

A convenient synthesis of new 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-ones and 3,4,6,7,8,9-hexahydro-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-ones from the Baylis-Hillman adducts of acrylonitrile and their derivatives is described. A common strategy employed to achieve the syntheses of title compounds involved generation of diamines from different Baylis-Hillman derivatives followed by treatment with cyanogen bromide at reflux temperature to trigger a double intramolecular cyclization.     

Cu(OTf)2-promoted efficient synthetic route towards glycospiro-pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines

A simple, convenient and efficient protocol for the construction of an array of glycospiro-pyrroloisoquinolines using isoquinolinium ylide and a carbohydrate-derived exocyclic olefin in the presence of Cu(OTf)₂–Et₃N catalytic system is described. Isoquinoline and alkylbromoacetates/2-bromoacetophenones were employed to generate the azomethine ylides in the presence of Et₃N in refluxing toluene and subsequent exposure to the olefin led to the desired isoquinoline derivatives.     

Syntheses of indolo[3,2,1-d,e]phenanthridines and isochromeno[3,4-a] carbazoles: palladium catalyzed intramolecular arylation via C-H functionalization

A new synthetic route has been developed for the preparation of indolo[3,2,1-d,e]phenanthridines and isochromeno[3,4-a]carbazoles via palladium catalyzed intramolecular biaryl coupling reactions. The coupling reactions proceeded smoothly and in high yields under ligand-free conditions with the catalytic system Pd(OAc)₂/Cs₂CO₃/TBAB. Under optimized reaction conditions no halogen-reduced products were observed.