Synthesis of pyridine and 2,2′-bipyridine derivatives from the aza Diels-Alder reaction of substituted 1,2,4-triazines

Amidrazone 1a and the tricarbonyl derivatives 2b-d reacted in boiling ethanol in the presence of 2,5-norbornadiene 5 giving the pyridine derivatives 6b-d respectively (59-72%) and in the presence of 2,3-dihydrofuran 7 yielding the lactones 10b-d (39-44%). The 2,2′-bipyridine derivatives 6e-g were similarly obtained in good yield (81-87%) from the reaction of amidrazone 1b and tricarbonyl derivatives 2b-d in the presence of 2,5-norbornadiene 5.     

Regioselective synthesis of novel 4-aryl-2-ethylthio-7-methyl pyrazolo[1,5-a]-[1,3,5]-triazines

Pyrazolo[1,5-a]-[1,3,5]-triazines 6a-d were obtained by an efficient one-step reaction from S,S-diethyl aroyliminodithiocarbonates 4a-d and 5-amino-3-methylpyrazole 5 or by an alternative two-step reaction from 5 and aroyl isothiocyanates 8a-d to give initially the thiourea derivatives 9a-d, which after S-ethylation and cyclization afforded compounds 6a-d. The intermediate 7a isolated from reaction between 4a and 5 permitted us to establish the orientation.     

Synthesis of N,N-di(arylmethylidene)arylmethanediamines by flash vacuum pyrolysis of arylmethylazides

Flash vacuum pyrolysis of arylmethylazides 7a-d gave 2,4-diazapentadienes 5a-d in high yield (76-92%). The thermal cyclization of 5a-d gave cis-imidazolines 1a-d, further heating or Swern oxidation of 1a-d gave dehydrogenated products, imidazoles 2a-d.     

Synthesis of a new class of azathia crown macrocycles containing two 1,2,4-triazole or two 1,3,4-thiadiazole rings as subunits

A series of new 1,2/1,3-bis[o-(N-methylidenamino-5-aryl-3-thiol-4H-1,2,4-triazole-4-yl)phenoxy]alkane derivatives 3a-d and bis[o-(N-methylidenamino-2-thiol-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-yl)phenoxy]alkanes 6a-c were prepared by condensation of 4-amino-5-(aroyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols 2a-b or 2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole with bis-aldehydes 1a-c. Further reaction of compounds 3a-d and 6a-c with dibromoalkanes afforded the new macrocycles 5a-f and 8a-d. The cyclization does not require high dilution techniques and provides the expected azathia macrocycles in good yields, ranging from 55% to 68%.     

Alternative synthesis and novel oxidizing ability of 6,9-disubstituted cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]pyrrole-8(6H),10(9H)-dione derivatives

Synthesis of 6,9-disubstituted cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]pyrrole-8(6H),10(9H)-diones 7a-g was accomplished by ring opening and ring closure sequences of 9-substituted cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8,10(9H)-dione derivatives induced by several amines. Furthermore, alternative synthetic methodology for compounds 7a-e was also accomplished by single-step reaction of 2-chlorotropone with 6-aminouracil derivatives under mild conditions. X-ray crystal analysis of 7a was carried out to clarify the structural characteristics. The properties of 7a-e were studied by the UV-vis spectra and reduction potentials (−1.24 to −1.39 V vs Ag/AgNO₃). Novel photo-induced oxidation reaction of 7a-d toward some amines under aerobic conditions was carried out to give the corresponding imines in more than 100% yield [based on compounds 7a-d], suggesting the oxidation reaction occurs in an autorecycling process.     

A two-step four-component queuing cascade involving a Heck coupling, π-allylpalladium trapping and Diels-Alder reaction

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of bicyclopropylidene (1) with iodoethene (11) in the presence of a secondary amine 12 provides allylidenecyclopropanes 13 which undergo immediate Diels-Alder reactions upon addition of dienophiles 14-18 to provide 8-(1′-aminoethyl)-substituted spiro[2.5]oct-7-ene derivatives 23a-26a in 29-66% yield. The same one-pot, two-step queuing cascade can be carried out with other iodoalkenes including cyclic ones and with cyclic dienophiles such as N-arylmaleinamides 19-22 and N-phenyl-triazolinedione 37 to furnish highly substituted spiro[2.5]oct-4-enes and spirocyclopropanated heterobicycles 47a-49a, 41a-46a (17-50%). Spirocyclopropanated heterobicycles such as 55, 56 (25 and 38% yield, respectively) can also be obtained by an inter-intra-intra-intermolecular version of this queuing cascade involving 1-hydroxyethyl- and 1-aminoethyl-substituted iodoethenes 53, 54.     

Intramolecularly donor-stabilized silenes: Part 5. Generation and conversion of 1-[2,6-bis(alkoxymethyl)phenyl]- and 1-(8-alkoxynaphthyl)-1,2,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)silenes

1-(8-Methoxy-1-naphthyl)-1,2,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)silene (10) and the 1-[2,6-bis(alkoxymethyl)phenyl]-1,2,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)silenes (12a-d) were generated by the reaction of (dichloromethyl)tris(trimethylsilyl)silane (1) with two molar equivalents of 8-methoxy-1-naphthyllithium or 2,6-bis(alkoxymethyl)phenyllithium (8a-d), respectively, but proved to be unstable. 10 was trapped with excess of the applied naphthyllithium reagent to give 1,1-bis(8-methoxy-1-naphthyl)-1-[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-2,2,2-trimethyldisilane (11); and 12a-d underwent spontaneous conversions and formed two types of substituted 2-oxa-1-silaindane derivatives (13a,b and 14b-d). Whereas silenes with an intramolecular amine coordination are thermally stable compounds which can be isolated, the intramolecular coordination of an ether group to the electrophilic silene silicon atom does not provide a comparable stabilization to the SiC system and the respective derivatives generated were converted into resultant products.     

New 2-functionalized 2H-3,4-dihydro-1,4-benzothiazin-3-ones and their application in the synthesis of spiro heterocycles

The reaction of 2-chloro-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzothiazin-3-ones 1 with enamines is an efficient synthetic method to produce 2-substituted derivatives. The resulting bifunctional compounds such as 6a,b, 7c,d and 8b react with hydrazines to furnish the spiro derivatives of N-aminopyrrole or 3-pyridazinone depending on the direction of the primary nucleophilic attack and the nature of the nucleophile. Under the reaction conditions, spiro pyridazinones 13 are converted into the 3-pyridazinone-4-carboxylic acid derivatives 9 via the 1,4-thiazine ring opening.     

Synthesis of sulfur containing analogues of the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor 8-bromo-4H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[3,4-c][1,4]benzoxazin-1-one NS2028

Sulfur analogues of the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibitor NS2028 1a are synthesized. Treating 8-bromo-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-3(4H)-one oxime (6) with 1,1′-thiocarbonyldiimidazole (1.1 equiv) gave the carbamothioate 8-bromo-4H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[3,4-c][1,4]benzoxazine-1-thione (3a) in 83% yield. Alternatively reacting NS2028 1a with P₂S₅ (0.5 equiv) affords the carbamothioate 3a in 80% yield. Similar treatment of 8-aryl substituted NS2028 analogues 1b-d with P₂S₅ gave the carbamothioates 3b-d in 64-91% yields. Although quite stable, the carbamothioates 3a-d could be thermally isomerized in the presence of Cu (10 mol %) to afford the thiocarbamates 4a-d in high yields. Interestingly, in the case of carbamothioate 3a Pd and In metals also facilitated the isomerization. Furthermore, treatment of the thiocarbamates 4a-d with P₂S₅ (0.5 equiv) affords the carbamodithioates 5a-d in 72-89% yields. All new compounds are fully characterized including single crystal X-ray data for carbamothioate 3a and thiocarbamate 4a. Finally, a mechanism is proposed for the carbamothioate to thiocarbamate isomerization.     

Synthesis of novel lariat azathia crown macrocycles containing two triazole rings and bis crown macrocycles containing four triazole rings

The 13-hydroxy macrocycles 7a-d were prepared in 40-50% yields by the condensation of 1,ω-bis(4-amino-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylsulfany)alkanes 2a-d with 1,3-bis(2-formyphenoxy)-2-propanol (9). Acylation of 7a-d with 2-chloroacetylchloride gave the corresponding esters 11a,b. Amination of 11a,b with different amines in acetone furnished exclusively the target lariat macrocycles 12a,b and 13 in 60-70% yields. Reaction of 2 equiv. of the macrocycles 11a,b with 1 equiv. of piperazine afforded the novel bis macrocyles 14a,b in 50-60% yields. Reduction of 7a-d with NaBH₄ afforded the corresponding 13-hydroxyazathia crown ethers 15a-d in 65-70% yields.     

Synthesis of new tetracyclic 7-oxo-pyrido[3,2,1-de]acridine derivatives

A series of (±)3-hydroxyl- and 2,3-dihydroxy-2,3-dihydro-7-oxopyrido[3,2,1-de]acridines were synthesized for antitumor evaluation. These agents can be considered as analogues of glyfoline or (±)1,2-dihydroxyacronycine derivatives. The key intermediates, 3,7-dioxopyrido[3,2,1-de]acridines (15a,b or 24a,b), for constructing the target compounds were synthesized either from 3-(N,N-diphenylamino)propionic acid (14a,b) by treating with Eaton’s reagent (P₂O₅/MsOH) (Method 1) or from (9-oxo-9H-acridin-10-yl)propionic acid (23a-c) via ring cyclization under the same reaction conditions (Method 2). Compounds 15a,b and 24a,b were converted into (±)3-hydroxy derivatives (25a-d), which were then further transformed into pyrido[3,2,1-de]acridin-7-one (28a-d) by treating with methanesulfonic anhydride in pyridine via dehydration. 1,2-Dihydroxylation of 28a-d afforded (±)cis-2,3-dihydroxy-7-oxopyrido[3,2,1-de]acridine (29a-d). Derivatives of (±)3-hydroxy (25a,b) and (±)cis-2,3-dihydroxy (29a-d) were further converted into their O-acetyl congeners 26a,b and 30a-d, respectively. We also synthesized 2,3-cyclic carbonate (31, 32, and 33) from 29a-c. The anti-proliferative study revealed that these agents exhibited low cytotoxicity in inhibiting human lymphoblastic leukemia CCRF-CEM cell growth in culture.     

SEAr-SNAr couplings of indolizines and related pyrrole derivatives with superelectrophilic nitrobenzoxadiazoles

The nucleophilic aromatic substitutions of 7-chloro-4,6-dinitrobenzofurazan (DNBZ-Cl) and 7-chloro-4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan (DNBF-Cl) with a series of differently substituted indolizines (5a-f) and a series of dihyropyrroloisoquinolines (11a-f) have been investigated. In accord with previous reports emphasizing the superelectrophilic character of these compounds in σ-complexation processes, DNBZ-Cl and DNBF-Cl react very readily and quantitatively with the weak carbon nucleophiles 5a-f and 11a-f at room temperature in acetonitrile. In the case of DNBZ-Cl, the resulting products (7Z,a-f and 12Z,a-f) are those expected from the displacement of the chlorine atom through a S_EAr-S_NAr mechanism. A significant result is that these compounds, despite the lack of coplanarity of the two rings, are characterized by an intense intramolecular charge transfer between the donor pyrrole-type moiety and the electron-deficient acceptor DNBZ moiety. Contrasting with this behaviour, the DNBF-Cl reactions show a totally different pattern, proceeding with loss of the N-oxide functionality and expansion of the pyrrole moiety to afford stable zwitterionic spiro adducts (8F,a-f and 13F,a-f) of a so far unknown type. Rapid NMR recordings have revealed that the formation of these adducts occurs after initial formation of the expected substitution products 7F,a-f and 12F,a-f. A mechanism accounting for the overall rearrangement leading to the spirobenzofurazan adducts is suggested. It is based on an initial nucleophilic attack of the oxygen atom of the N-oxide functionality at the electron-deficient and strongly olefinic C-C coupling bond generated by the aforementioned intramolecular charge transfer. This results in the formation of an unstable five-membered isoxazole ring whose decomposition goes along with loss of the N-oxide functionality and enlargement of the pyrrole moiety into a pyridine one. Also discussed are the factors accounting for the high thermodynamic stability of the spiro adducts, and their relevance to the stability of previously reported spiro adducts.     

Efficient syntheses of thiadiazoline and thiadiazole derivatives by the cyclization of 3-aryl-4-formylsydnone thiosemicarbazones with acetic anhydride and ferric chloride

3-Aryl-4-formylsydnone 4′-phenylthiosemicarbazones 3a-d and 3-aryl-4-formylsydnone thiosemicarbazones 3e-h are effective precursors of sydnonyl-substituted heterocycles. The thiosemicarbazones 3a-d reacted with acetic anhydride (4a) to give 4-acetyl-2-phenylamino-5-(3-arylsydnon-4-yl)-4,5-dihydro-[1,3,4]thiadiazoles 5a-d and 4-acetyl-2-(N-phenylacetamido)-5-(3-arylsydnon-4-yl)-4,5-dihydro-[1,3,4]thiadiazoles 6a-d. However, under similar method, thiosemicarbazones 3e-h produced only 4-acetyl-2-acetamido-5-(3-arylsydnon-4-yl)-4,5-dihydro-[1,3,4]thiadiazoles 6e-h in high yield. The sydnonyl-substituted thiadiazole derivatives 7a-h were also obtained successfully by the cyclization of 3-aryl-4-formylsydnone thiosemicarbazones 3a-h with ferric chloride (4b). In the cyclization, the thiosemicarbazones 3a-d are more reactive than the thiosemicarbazones 3e-h.     

Furanyl spiroketals: thermodynamic control of remote asymmetry

(E,E)-2-Alkyl-8-furanyl-1,7-dioxa-spiro[5.5]undecanes (1a-i) have been prepared in good yield and with very high diastereoselectivity from lactones (2a-e) and alkynes (3a,b) using lithium acetylide coupling, hydrogenation, desilylation and acid catalysed cyclisation/equilibration.     

Microwave-assisted manganese(III) acetate based oxidative cyclizations of alkenes with β-ketosulfones

The microwave-assisted synthesis of 5-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-phenyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-2,3-dihydrofuran (5a) was performed via manganese(III) acetate based oxidative cyclization of 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-(phenylsulfonyl)ethanone (3a) with vinylbenzene (4a). This new protocol was applied to four sulfone derivatives (3a-d), using vinylbenzene (4a) and diphenylethene (4b), affording a series of 2,3-dihydrofurans (5a-d, 6a-d) in moderate to good yields (26-55%). Similar methodology, applied on allylbenzene (4c), surprisingly, led to dehydronaphthalene derivatives (7a-d) in moderate yields. The unexpected mechanism and the role of allylbenzene (4c) are herein discussed.     

Efficient synthesis of new 1-alkyl(aryl)-5-(3,3,3-trihalo-2-oxopropylidene)-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-ones

The synthesis of 1-alkyl(aryl)-5-(3,3,3-trihalo-2-oxopropylidene)-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-ones 5, 6a-d from 1-alkyl(aryl)-4-bromo-5-(3,3,3-trihalo-2-oxopropylidene)-1H-pyrrolidin-2-ones 3, 4a-d is reported. The 1-alkyl(aryl)-4-bromo-5-(3,3,3-trihalo-2-oxopropylidene)-1H-pyrrolidin-2-ones 3, 4a-d were obtained from regiospecific bromination of 1-alkyl(aryl)-5-(3,3,3-trihalo-2-oxopropylidene)-1H-pyrrolidin-2-ones 1, 2a-d with molecular bromine. The NMR and X-ray diffraction data showed that 1-alkyl(aryl)-5-(3,3,3-trihalo-2-oxopropylidene)-1H-pyrrolidin-2-ones were brominated at 4-position in the pyrrolidin-2-one ring.     

A simple synthesis of cytotoxic endoperoxide lactones

A series of dihydrobenzofuran-2-one 3 have been submitted to various dienophiles: whereas maleic anhydride led only to the adducts 4a,b, singlet oxygen gave the expected new endoperoxide lactones 5a-d, 6 and 7a,b, three of them showing interesting cytotoxicity towards various cancer cell lines.     

Catalyst- and steric-controlled alkenylation via chemoselective C-H activation and C-Br activation in Heck reaction of methyl 1-(2-bromoaryl)-3-(2-furyl/thienyl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylates and diethyl 1-(2-bromoaryl)-3-(2-furyl/thienyl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2,2-dicarboxylate derivatives

Pd(II)-catalyzed alkenylation of methyl 1-(2-bromoaryl)-3-(2-furyl/thienyl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate derivatives 1(a-d) resulted in the formation of 3(a-d) exclusively via C-H activation in the heteroaryl moiety. Similar observations were observed for the corresponding diester analogues 4(a-d) to form 5(a-d). Normal Heck reaction, however, was observed in the case of 1(a-f) to furnish 2(a-f) when the reaction was carried out with Pd(0) catalyst generated in situ. Pd(0)-catalyzed vinylation of 4(a-f) via C-Br oxidation, however, failed due to steric reason.     

Unusual sulfanylation through ring transformation of arene-tethered 2H-pyran-2-ones by in situ built Michael adduct

A novel synthesis of highly functionalized alkylsulfanylmethyl arenes 8a-m through the ring transformation of 6-aryl-4-methyl/ethylsulfanyl-2H-pyran-2-one-3-carbonitriles 1a-j, by reaction with methyl vinyl ketone 2, is delineated and illustrated. To ascertain the course of reaction, 3-arylsulfanylmethyl-2-methyl-6-methylsulfanyl-4-phenylbenzonitriles 8k-m were also prepared from the reaction of 1 with 4-arylsulfanyl-butan-2-ones 7c,d.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of sydnonyl-substituted imidazoles

3-Aryl-4-formylsydnones 1a-d react with symmetrical 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds, such as benzil (2a), 4,4′-dimethoxybenzil (2b), 4,4′-difluorobenzil (2c), and di-2-thienylethanedione (2d), in glacial acetic acid, using ammonium acetate as the ammonia source, to yield 4,5-diaryl-2-sydnonyl-substituted imidazoles 3a-6d under conventional heating. In a similar treatment, 4,5-diaryl-2-sydnonyl-1-substituted imidazoles 8a-10a can be prepared by the one-pot condensation of 3-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-4-formylsydnone (1d), benzil derivatives, ammonium acetate, and primary amines. However, such reactions, which take 1-3 days at high temperature under classical conditions, are completed successfully within a few minutes under microwave irradiation.