Competitive thermal ene reaction and Diels-Alder reactions of 2-[N-(alk-2-enyl)benzylamino]-3-vinylpyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4(4H)-ones

Thermal reaction of 2-[N-(alk-2-enyl)benzylamino]-3-(2-substituted and 2,2-disubstituted)vinylpyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4(4H)-ones gave azepine, the desired ene products, and/or pyran derivatives. The formation of the latter was responsible for the [4+2] cycloaddition reaction between the α,β-unsaturated ester carbonyl moiety as a diene part and the alkenylamino moiety as an ene one. The reaction features depended upon the kinds of substituents both on the vinyl and alkenyl counterparts; strongly electron-withdrawing substituents on the vinyl moiety or an electron-donating substituent on the alkenyl one changed the reaction feature from the ene reaction to the hetero Diels-Alder reaction.     

A method for the synthesis of cyclopropanes by regiospecific and regioselective magnesium carbenoid 1,3-CH insertion as the key reactions

Addition reaction of two geometrical isomers of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, derived from unsymmetrical ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with lithium enolate of tert-butyl acetate gave single diastereomers of the adduct, respectively. Treatment of each diastereomer with i-PrMgCl resulted in the formation of magnesium carbenoid. Highly regiospecific 1,3-CH insertion reaction was found to take place from each magnesium carbenoid to afford cyclopropanes. On the other hand, when the unsymmetrical ketones bearing an oxygen- or a nitrogen-functional group on the α-carbon were used in this procedure, the regioselective 1,3-CH insertion reaction proceeded mainly. Stereochemistry of the adducts, reaction mechanism, and essence of the specificity and the selectivity are discussed.     

Domino synthesis of fused hexacyclic imidazoquinolinoacridinones catalyzed by CuI/l-proline

A three-component reaction of 2-halogenated aromatic aldehydes, 1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-amine and cyclohexane-1,3-diones is described, and gives imidazoquinolinoacridinone derivatives in good yields catalyzed by CuI/l-proline. This Domino reaction constructs a fused hexacyclic skeleton in one-pot containing two new rings, six new bonds and an Ullmann-type C–N bond coupling reaction.     

Microwave-induced domino-Knoevenagel-hetero Diels–Alder reaction—an easy route to di[1]benzopyrano[2,3-b:4′,3′-d]pyridine

MW-irradiation of a well-ground equimolar mixture of 2-(N-alkynyl-N-aryl)aminochromone-3-carbaldehyde and dimedone underwent domino-Knoevenagel-hetero Diels–Alder (DKHDA) reaction for nonterminal alkynes, whereas conventional heating of the above reaction mixture in ethanol in the presence of pyridine accomplished alkyne-carbonyl metathesis (ACM) reaction or both ACM and DKHDA reaction. Here is the first example of an organo-catalyzed ACM reaction.     

Synthesis and utility of new amine/nucleobase addition products of allenylphosphonates

In the reaction of allenylphosphonates with amines/nucleobases, depending on the amine and the allenylphosphonate, either Z- or E-vinylphosphonate or allylphosphonate as a single isomer with a β-amino functionality was isolated. A simple route to phosphonates with a β-NH₂ group is developed by direct reaction with ammonia. In reactions with adenine, three different modes of reaction, with one of them involving an unusual cyclisation, are observed. The utility of (enamino)allyl phosphonate products thus obtained in the synthesis of (enamino)-1,3-butadienes via Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reaction is also demonstrated.     

Synthesis of the spiro fused β-lactone-γ-lactam segment of oxazolomycin

An effective synthetic strategy for construction of the novel spiro-bicyclic β-lactone-γ-lactam system present in oxazolomycin has been demonstrated. The 3,4-disubstituted pyrrolidine ring system was constructed via an Evans aldol reaction. The spiro-β-lactone ring was elaborated from a gem-hydroxymethyl moiety that was successfully installed by an aldol followed by a crossed Cannizzaro reaction.     

Towards synthesis of kavalactone derivatives

Kavalactone derivatives were synthesized using a Heck reaction of the 4-methoxy-6-vinyl-5,6-dihydropyran-2-one with aryl iodides. The Suzuki-Miyaura reaction of an aryl boronic acid and (Z)-4-methoxy-6-(2-iodovinyl)-5,6-dihydropyran-2-one has also been successfully used to produce both Z and E isomers of lactones.     

A facile one-pot regioselective synthesis of functionalized novel benzo[f]chromeno[4,3-b][1,7]naphthyridines and benzo[f][1,7]naphthyridines via an imino Diels-Alder reaction

A novel series of functionalized 13H-benzo[f]chromeno[4,3-b][1,7]naphthyridines and 1,3-diphenylbenzo[f][1,7]naphthyridines have been synthesized by an efficient regioselective one-pot multicomponent synthesis through intra and intermolecular imino Diels-Alder reaction. In this method, we have achieved complete regioselectivity and atom economy with polysubstituted core motifs in moderate to good yields. The proposed mechanism of this reaction has also discussed.     

Pd–S-methylisothiourea supported on magnetic nanoparticles as an efficient and reusable nanocatalyst for Heck and Suzuki reactions

Supported Pd–S-methylisothiourea on magnetic nanoparticles (Pd–SMU-MNPs) as an efficient and magnetically reusable nanocatalyst was prepared and applied for the Heck and Suzuki cross-coupling reactions. All coupling reactions proceeded in short reaction times with good to excellent yields. After completion of reactions, the catalyst was easily separated from the reaction mixture using an external magnetic field and reused for several consecutive runs without significant loss of its catalytic efficiency and activity. This nanomagnetic catalyst was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, XRD, VSM, ICP-OES, TEM and SEM techniques. The leaching of the catalyst has been examined by a hot filtration test and ICP-OES analysis.     

A convenient stereoselective synthesis of β-lactams from β-hydroxy-α-thioalkylesters prepared from Michael/aldol tandem reaction or stereoselective addition of thiols to the Baylis-Hillman adducts

A convenient stereoselective synthesis of β-lactams from thio-Michael/aldol tandem adduct is described. syn-Selective tandem reaction followed by amidation and intramolecular S_N2 reaction provided β-lactams in diastereomerically pure form. The tandem reaction with aliphatic aldehydes, on the other hand, afforded a mixture of diastereomers of corresponding tandem adducts in about 3:1 ratio so that the conversion to β-lactams afforded a diastereomeric mixture. As an alternative approach to prepare the tandem adducts, the stereoselective Michael addition of aliphatic thiols to Baylis-Hillman adduct was developed. The stereoselectivity was sensitive to the protective group at the hydroxyl group and TBS protection brought the most successful syn-selective formation of the tandem adducts. The procedure could be applied to the ketone derivatives of the Baylis-Hillman adduct but no selectivity was observed for the nitrile-Baylis-Hillman adducts. A similar conversion of the adduct provided desired β-lactams stereoselectively.     

An efficient Darzens reaction promoted by 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU)

An efficient DBU promoted Darzens reaction utilising α-haloketones containing an enolizable α′-hydrogen is reported. This method diastereoselectively afforded the corresponding α,β-epoxy ketones good to excellent yields in an one-pot reaction without using any transition metals or additives. Furthermore, haloketones without an α′-hydrogen are also applicable in this reaction.     

Investigations of the stereoselectivity of the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of a spiculoic acid model system

Model linear precursors to the spiculoic acids were prepared and underwent thermally induced IMDA reactions. The configuration of C5 in the stereotriad was found to dominate any inherent endo/exo selectivity of the IMDA reaction. The isomer (2E,5S)-20 underwent the IMDA to give the spiculoic acid stereochemistry in 84% yield and 94% ds. The required stereotriads were synthesised using stereoselective substrate-controlled aldol reactions; an anti-boron aldol reaction, controlled by the π-facial preference of (S)-2-benzoyloxypentan-3-one ((S)-27) led to (5R)-(22) and a syn-titanium aldol reaction, under the stereocontrol of a chiral N-acylthiazolidinethione (42) led to (5S)-(22). Chain extension using standard Wittig, HWE and ‘modified’ Julia olefinations installed the diene and dienophile components giving the linear precursors to the IMDA reactions.     

Synthetic studies toward melotenine A

Attempts to the construction of B/C ring and E ring in melotenine A are described. Based on para-dienone chemistry, a tactical application of tandem aminolysis/aza-Michael addition reaction was made to access highly functionalized building blocks with the pyrrolo[2,3-d]carbazole tetracyclic unit (A/B/C/D ring). Albeit negative results for assembling the dihydroazepine unit (E ring) by using the proposed fragmentation reaction of gem-dihalocyclopropanes, an alternative strategy based on ring closing metathesis was evolved to forge the E ring possessing a twisted 1,3-diene unit embedded in the rigid skeleton of melotenine A.     

Substituent-controlled domino-Knoevenagel-hetero Diels-Alder reaction—a one-pot synthesis of polycyclic heterocycles

The reaction of 2-(N-alkenyl-N-aryl)amino-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-3-carbaldehyde with dimedone/Meldrum’s acid/4-hydroxycoumarin by heating in ethanol in the presence of pyridine produces polycyclic heterocycles bearing pyridine and pyran rings in a one-pot reaction. The effect of substituents on N-atom of the amino function controls the mode of reaction. Terminal alkenes prefer intramolecular Michael type reaction, but non-terminal alkenes favour Diels-Alder reaction, whereas, under similar condition, 2-(N-alkyl-N-allyl)amino-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-3-carbaldehyde undergoes domino-Knoevenagel-hetero Diels-Alder reaction.     

A mild method for the synthesis of bis-pyrazolo[3,4-b:4′,3′-e]pyridine derivatives

A mild and efficient method for the synthesis of bispyrazolo[3,4-b:4′,3′-e]pyridines from 5-aminopyrazoles and aromatic aldehydes using an inexpensive FeCl₃ catalyst is reported. The reaction temperature was reduced from 220–250?°C to 130?°C compared to conventional methods. A large proportion of the products precipitated directly from the mixture at room temperature. Aliphatic and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes selectively resulted in formation of the corresponding 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine derivatives. A possible domino reaction mechanism was also proposed. Several aryl alkynyl groups were introduced to these tricyclic molecules via the Sonogashira coupling reaction.     

A novel enzymatic tandem process: utilization of biocatalytic promiscuity for high stereoselective synthesis of 5-hydroxyimino-4,5-dihydrofurans

A lipase-catalyzed protocol for the synthesis of 5-hydroxyimino-4,5-dihydrofurans via tandem coupling between β-nitrostyrenes and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds was developed in a ‘one-pot’ strategy. A series of β-nitrostyrenes were employed to expand the scope of this new biocatalytic promiscuity with high stereoselectivity (Z/E up to 99:1) and moderate to good yields. The reaction activity of 1,3-cyclohexanedione was found to be better than linear 2,4-pentanedione, while ethyl acetoacetate and diethylmalonate were not suitable for this reaction under the same conditions. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the reaction was stereoselective and Z-stereomer was found to be the major product. A reaction mechanism was supposed to elucidate the biocatalytic process.     

Samarium dienolate mediated stereoselective synthesis of anti-1,3-diol monoesters via aldol-Tishchenko reaction

The reaction of an (E)-samarium dienolate, generated by the regioselective reductive cleavage of a phenylsulfonyl activated cyclopropyl ketone with samarium(II) iodide, with aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes gives the 2-substituted anti-1,3-diol monoester derivatives, stereoselectively, in good to excellent yields. The results represent the first report of a dienolate in the aldol-Tishchenko reaction and also provide an optically active polyol with (R)-glyceraldehyde.     

Asymmetric flow catalysis: Mix-and-go solid-phase Nd/Na catalyst for expeditious enantioselective access to a key intermediate of AZD7594

An anti-selective catalytic asymmetric nitroaldol reaction was implemented in a continuous-flow reaction platform for the synthesis of a key intermediate of a drug candidate. The requisite solid-phase catalyst was readily prepared by mixing an amide-based chiral ligand and inexpensive inorganic salts, NdCl₃?6H₂O and NaO^tBu, without covalent bond linkages. The flow system was operated with 2-Me-THF as the eluent for ca. 400 h to provide a crude nitroaldol adduct in a highly stereoselective manner with no work-up procedure, reaching turnover number over 1600. Facile reduction of the nitro group of the product afforded a key intermediate of AZD7594, a therapeutic candidate for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 3a,7a-dihydro-3H,4H-furo[3,4-c]pyran-1-ones via intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reaction

The synthesis of 3a,7a-dihydro-3H,4H-furo[3,4-c]pyran-1-ones via an intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of easily accessible α,β-unsaturated γ-ketoesters was investigated. The reaction was found to proceed in a highly stereoselective way leading to single, cis-configured product isomers. The same diastereomer is formed, independently of the configuration of the enone double bond of the precursor. The respective E- and Z-isomers react either through an endo-E-syn or an exo-Z-syn transition state.     

Regioselective synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted 1-alkyl pyrrolo[2,3-b] quinoxalines through palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction of chalcones and evaluation of their anti-bacterial activities

The regioselective synthesis of 1-alkyl-2-aryl-3-acyl pyrrolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines through palladium-catalyzed Heck coupling reaction/heteroannulation was reported. The reaction of N-alkyl/benzyl-3-chloroquinoxaline-2-amines with chalcones catalyzed by Pd(OAc)₂ in the presence of KO^tBu, as the base, in DMSO afforded the desired products in good-to-high yields. The MIC and MBC determinations revealed that these compounds could be used in the future research works for the development of antibiotics.