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.     

Isocyanide based multicomponent reactions of oxazolidines and related systems

N-Alkyloxazolidines react in a multicomponent reaction with carboxylic acids and isocyanides to give N-acyloxyethylamino acid amides. The previously reported reaction conditions were improved using a design of experiments approach (DoE). Under the optimised conditions, good yields of the N-acyloxyethylamino acid amide products are obtained both via a three- or four-component approach from N-alkylethanolamines, aldehydes/ketones, isocyanides and carboxylic acids. The reaction of oxazolidines without a nitrogen substituent was found to give either the expected Ugi products or the N-acyloxyethylamino acid amides depending on the choice of reaction conditions. Optimised reaction conditions were also developed for the ring-expansion of oxazolidines to morpholin-2-ones via reaction with an isocyanide followed by hydrolysis. The mechanistic pathway of the multicomponent reaction was briefly investigated using an ¹⁸O labelling experiment. The carboxylic acid component can be replaced by a range of other acidic nucleophiles including thiobenzoic acid, thiophenol or 5-phenyltetrazole, which are incorporated via an alternative pathway. These latter reactions can also be applied to 2-aminotetrahydrofurans, 2-aminotetrahydropyrans or 4-hydroxybut-2-one, further extending the structural diversity of the multicomponent reaction products.     

Synthesis of fully substituted pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxamide derivatives via a one-pot four-component reaction

A one-pot four-component reaction of an aliphatic or aromatic amine, diketene, an aromatic aldehyde and 1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst has been developed. In this reaction, a new class of fully substituted pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxamide derivatives is produced under mild reaction conditions and in good yields at ambient temperature.     

Synthesis of important β-functionalized 5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-ol derivatives in the presence of γ-alumina catalyst in aqueous medium

The γ-alumina catalyzed synthesis of a new series of β-functionalized 5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-ol derivatives by the multi-component reaction of an aldehyde, ethylcyano acetate, and in situ generated 3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one obtained from hydrazine monohyrade and ethyl acetoacetate in aqueous medium is described. The present reaction forms an important variant of the Yonemitsu-type multi-component reaction. The salient features of this present environmentally benign method are: recyclability of the catalysts, mild reaction condition, excellent yields of product, and the use of aqueous medium in the reaction.     

Eco-friendly and facile synthesis of 2-substituted-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine in aqueous medium by air oxidation

We report a new environmentally-benign, convenient, and facile methodology for the synthesis of 2-substituted-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine. The reaction of 2,3-diaminopyridine with substituted aryl aldehydes in water under thermal conditions without the use of any oxidative reagent has been studied. The reaction has yielded 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine derivatives by an air oxidative cyclocondensation reaction in one step in an excellent yield. Furthermore, a series of compounds were synthesized and characterized by melting point, EI-MS, NMR, and IR tools. For comparison, the reference samples were prepared by the reported method. Utilization of aqueous medium, easy reaction conditions, isolation, and purification make this manipulation very interesting from an economic and environmental perspective.     

Temperature vs. time sequences to palliate deactivation in parallel and in series-parallel with the main reaction: parametric study

The calculation of temperature vs. time sequences to palliate catalyst deactivation in an integral reactor has been studied either by maintaining constant the conversion at the reactor outlet in a simple reaction or by maintaining constant the concentration of a given component at the outlet in a complex reaction system. The experimental systems studied, which are a simple one (dehydration of 2-ethylhexanol) and a complex one (isomerization of cis-butene), have kinetic models of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson type for the main reaction and deactivation, with deactivation by coke dependent on the concentration of the reaction components. In the reaction of dehydration of 2-ethylhexanol deactivation occurs in parallel with the main reaction and in the isomerization of cis-butene deactivation occurs in series-parallel with the main reaction. A parametric study has been carried out for both reaction systems. The sequences calculated have been experimentally proven in an automated reaction apparatus.     

A novel and facile stereocontrolled synthetic method for polyhydro-quinolines and pyridopyridazines via a diene-transmissive Diels-Alder reaction involving inverse electron-demand hetero Diels-Alder cycloaddition of cross-conjugated azatrienes

Cross-conjugated azatrienes bearing an electron-withdrawing sulfonyl or benzoyl group on the nitrogen atom underwent, on heating or in the presence of a Lewis acid (TMSOTf), an initial inverse electron-demand hetero Diels-Alder reaction with electron-rich dienophiles (vinyl ether, vinyl thioether, and allenyl ether) to produce 1:1 cycloadducts with high endo selectivity. The initial cycloadducts thus obtained underwent a second Diels-Alder reaction stereoselectively on the newly formed diene unit with electron-deficient dienophiles to give the crossed bis-cycloadducts, octahydroquinolines, with high diastereo-π-facial selectivity. The N-sulfonylazatrienes tethering an ortho-cinnamyloxyphenyl dienophile at the triene terminal underwent an initial intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction of the inverse electron-demand type. The subsequent second Diels-Alder reaction of the formed mono-cycloadducts completed the diene-transmissive hetero Diels-Alder protocol to give benzopyrano[3,4-c]quinolines in a highly stereoselective manner.     

A theoretical investigation on the mechanism of the α,α-diphenylprolinol trimethylsilyl ether-catalyzed oxyamination reaction

A theoretical investigation on the reaction mechanism of a chiral prolinol silyl ether-catalyzed oxyamination reaction strongly suggests that the reaction proceeds via an enol intermediate and not via an enamine intermediate. The catalyst generates the enol and forms an enol-catalyst complex. Nitrosobenzene subsequently reacts with the enol-catalyst complex to afford the (S)-N-nitroso aldol product. The proposed mechanism is able to account for the experimentally observed enantioselectivity.     

Application of ortho-chloro-β-aroylthioamides in synthesis(II): an efficient one-pot, three-component synthesis of tricyclic thiochromeno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives

Tricyclic thiochromeno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives have been successfully synthesized in an unusual one-pot multicomponent cascade reaction from ortho-halo-β-aroylthioamides, Meldrum's acid, and aromatic aldehydes. The reaction presumably proceeds via Knoevenagel condensation-Michael addition-cyclocondensation-decarboxylation-rearrangement-intramolecular S_NAr reaction sequence. High bond forming efficiency of this reaction makes it attractive for the synthesis of thiochromeno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives in a single step operation.     

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.     

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.     

An unexpected route toward the synthesis of spiro-benzo[b]acridine-furan derivatives

A facile and straightforward procedure for the synthesis of spiro-benzo[b]acridine-6,2′-furan derivatives via the reaction between benzo[b]acridine-6,11-dione, electron-deficient acetylenic compounds, and an isocyanide is described. The benzo[b]acridine-6,11-dione is obtained from the reaction between 2-(aminomethyl)aniline and 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione via an unexpected reaction pathway. The products are synthesized in medium to high yields and no complicated purification is required.     

Organocatalyzed stereoselective construction of N-formylpiperidines via a Michael-aza-Henry-hemiaminalization reaction cascade

An efficient asymmetric synthesis of N-formylpiperidines via an organocatalytic Michael-aza-Henry-hemiaminalization reaction cascade of an aldehyde, a nitroalkene, and an N-arylideneformamide is reported. The reaction is triggered by diphenylprolinol trimethylsilyl ether and creates two C-C and one C-N bonds leading to the formation of highly enantio-enriched N-formylpiperidines with five contiguous chiral centers in a one-pot operation.     

Chiral base-catalyzed aldol reaction of trimethoxysilyl enol ethers: effect of water as an additive on stereoselectivities

An aldol reaction of trimethoxysilyl enol ether catalyzed by lithium binaphtholate is described. The aldol reaction of trimethoxysilyl enol ether derived from cyclohexanone under anhydrous conditions predominantly afforded the anti-aldol adduct with moderate enantioselectivity, whereas the reaction under aqueous conditions predominantly resulted in the syn-adduct and the enantioselectivity of the syn-adduct was considerably improved. The best enantioselectivity was obtained in the reaction of trimethoxysilyl enol ether derived from 1-indanone with cyclohexanecarboxaldehyde (97% ee (syn)). This is the first example of an aldol reaction of trimethoxysilyl enol ether catalyzed by a chiral base.     

Synthesis of unsymmetrical biaryl ureas from N-carbamoylimidazoles: kinetics and application

N-Carbamoylimidazoles dissociate in solution to yield imidazole and an isocyanate that may be reacted with another aryl amine to form an unsymmetrical biaryl urea. This paper investigates the reaction kinetics and the influence of electron withdrawing/donating substituents on the reaction of N-carbamoylimidazoles with aniline. The overall reaction mechanism involves two zwitterionic intermediates, formed during dissociation and upon reaction of the liberated isocyanate with aniline. The rate limiting step for the reaction is a base catalysed proton transfer from the second zwitterionic intermediate. Although electron withdrawing substituents on the aryl group hinder dissociation, they significantly increase reaction rates compared to compounds bearing electron donating substituents. The imidazole liberated upon dissociation catalyses the rate determining step so that reactions of dissociated N-carbamoylimidazoles proceed more rapidly than those involving only isocyanates. In addition, the imidazole eliminates the need for anhydrous reaction conditions. The N-carbamoylimidazole methodology was demonstrated by preparing sorafenib, a biaryl urea kinase inhibitor, in good yield and excellent purity.     

Asymmetric Mannich reactions catalyzed by proline and 4-hydroxyproline derived organocatalysts in the presence of water

The ability of amphiphilic catalysts based on proline and 4-hydroxyproline to catalyze the Mannich reaction in aqueous media is reported. With a 4-tert-butyldimethylsiloxy-substituted organocatalyst derived from N-prolylsulfonamide, the reaction of cyclohexanone with iminoglyoxylate proceeds with high enantioselectivity (>99% ee for the syn-diastereomer). This catalyst was also successfully applied in a reaction of an iminoglyoxylate with an aqueous tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2,6-diol to give the corresponding 2,3-disubstituted tetrahydropyridine with up to 95:5 dr and 98% ee.     

Regioselective synthesis of poly-substituted naphthalenes via a Pd-catalyzed cyclization of modified Baylis–Hillman adducts: selective 6-endo Heck reaction and an aerobic oxidation cascade

Poly-substituted naphthalenes were synthesized via a Pd-catalyzed cyclization of modified Baylis–Hillman adducts having an o-bromophenyl acetonitrile moiety at the secondary position, in reasonable yields. The reaction involved a sequential 6-endo Heck reaction and an aerobic oxidation process.     

An intramolecular oxa-Michael addition on prebuilt β-lactam tethered α, β-unsaturated ester: A remarkable synthesis of a unique scaffold of 2,3-fused β-lactam-1,4-dioxepane

An expeditious base assisted highly diastereoselective intramolecular oxy-Michael addition reaction in the synthesis of enantiomerically pure 1,4-dioxepane fused β-lactam has been described. This present study has been portrayed a rapid intramolecular 7-exo-trig oxy-Michael reaction involving chemoselective nucleophilic addition of 2⁰ alcohol of the vic-diols to an α β-unsaturated ester. Furthermore, the developed methodology elaborates an extremely atom-economical approach in constructing the C–O bond in stereoselective fashion under mild reaction conditions.     

Cascade synthesis of selective dihydro pyridazino fused acridinone derivatives via MCM-41 catalyzed ring-opening/ring-closure reaction

An enhanced one-pot synthesis of new functionalized 5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-2H-pyridazino[3,4,5-kl]acridin-1(4H)-one derivatives with different substituted patterns by using mesoporous MCM-41 catalyst via a ring opening/ring closure reaction process has been established. This MCM-41 silica catalyst has been synthesized and characterized using an array of sophisticated analytical techniques like BET, XRD, UHRTEM, etc. This reaction could be conducted from inexpensive substrates within short period under neat reflux conditions. Compared with the usual methods, the remarkable advantages of this method are milder reaction conditions, operational simplicity, higher yields, short reaction times and an environmentally friendly procedure.     

Asymmetric synthesis of α,β-substituted γ-amino acids via conjugate addition

The first conjugate addition reaction of organocuprates to N-enoyl oxazolidinone where a N-protected γ-nitrogen atom and an α-methyl group are present into α, β-unsaturated system is described. This reaction gave anti-products in moderate yields and high diastereomeric ratios. The anti-products have two contiguous stereogenic centers, one formed by the conjugate addition reaction and the other by a diastereoselective protonation reaction. The removal of chiral oxazolidinone moiety and N-deprotection of amino group furnished chiral α, β-disubstituted γ-amino acids.