Transition metal catalyzed synthesis of 5-azaindoles

In an effort to develop synthetic procedures for the preparation of 2-substituted 5-azaindoles, the synthesis and cyclization reactions of acetylenic aminopyridines was explored. A novel method for the synthesis of 2-substituted 5-azaindoles via a transition metal catalyzed reaction is described.     

Synthesis of polysubstituted 5-azaindoles via palladium-catalyzed heteroannulation of diarylalkynes

A general and efficient procedure for the synthesis of functionalized 5-azaindoles through the catalyzed heteroannulation of 4-acetamido-3-iodopyridines and diarylalkynes is described. The reaction allows the preparation of a variety of substituted 2,3-diaryl-5-azaindoles in good to excellent yields.     

Synthesis of tetrahydro-5-azaindoles and 5-azaindoles using Pictet-Spengler reaction—appreciable difference in products using different acid catalysts

Pictet-Spengler condensation of 2-(aryl)-2-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)ethanamines using conventional acid catalysts like TMSCl or TFA resulted in the formation of substituted 5-azaindoles involving a tandem one pot four steps reaction sequence. By contrast use of glacial acetic acid furnished the targeted tetrahydro-5-azaindoles in diastereoselective manner. These were readily dehydrogenated to 5-azaindoles.     

The synthesis of 5-azaindoles by substitution-rearrangement of 7-azaindoles upon treatment with certain primary amines

Certain 4-substituted 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines (7-azaindoles) undergo a nucleophilic substitution-rearrangement upon treatment with various primary amines at elevated temperatures to yield N-1-substituted 4-amino-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridines (5-azaindoles). Treatment of the same 7-azaindoles with secondary amines under the same reaction conditions led to simple nucleophilic substitution products.     

Combination of Sonogashira coupling and 5-endo-dig cyclization for the synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted-5-azaindoles

The synthesis of a library of 2,6-disubstituted-azaindoles relying on Sonogashira cross-coupling and intramolecular cyclization is described. Eleven examples of 6-alkynyl derivatives and three examples of 3-bromo-5-azaindoles are reported. One of the 3-bromo-5-azaindoles was also further functionalized with two different aryl trifluoroborate salts via Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction.     

Azaindole derivatives. 67. Synthesis of N-substituted 1-benzyl-4-methyl-5-cyano-6-amino-7-azaindoles

N-substituted 1-benzyl-4-methyl-5-cyano-6-amino-7-azaindoles have been synthesized from the respective 1-benzyl-4-methyl-5-cyano-6-chloro(and 6-hydroxy)-7-azaindoles. The effect of the 5-cyano group on the oxidation-reduction processes accompanying nucleophilic replacement of chlorine in 6-chloro-7-azaindoles by primary and secondary amines has been considered. 7-Azaindoline compounds were dehydrogenated by chloranil to N-substituted 1-benzyl-4-methyl-5-cyano-6-amino-7-azaindoles.For communication 66, see [1].Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 91–96, January, 1986.     

Azaindoles. 69. Some reactions of 5-cyano-6-chloro-7-azaindoles and lactam-lactim tautomerism in 5-cyano-6-hydroxy-7-azaindolines

Electrophilic substitution in the 3-position of 1-benzyl-4-methyl-5-cyano-6-chloro-7-azaindole requires more severe conditions than in 7-azaindoles without the 5-cyano-substituent. Increased ease of nucleophilic replacement of the chlorine atom by the methoxy group has been observed in 1-benzyl- (and 1-butyl)-4-methyl-5-cyano-6-chloro-7-azaindoles, and the cyano-group in these compounds has been found to be resistant to hydrolysis and alcoholysis. The introduction into 1-benzyl- (and 1-butyl)-4-methyl-6-hydroxy-7-azaindoles of a 5-cyano-substituent results in a shift of the lactam-lactim tautomeric equilibrium towards the lactim forms.For communication 68, see [1].Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 100–106, January, 1987.     

Synthesis and Chemical Reactivity of 5-Methoxy-2-vinyl-4-azaindoles

2-Vinyl-4-azaindoles are less reactive with dienophiles than 2-vinylindoles. 5-Methoxy-2-vinyl-4-azaindole 2a and its 1-methyl derivative 2a reacts with N-phenylmaleimide to yield cycloadducts only under vigorous conditions. 2b produces a cycloadduct with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, while 2a yields a Michael-type adduct. Reactions with more reactive dienophiles gave only polymeric products.     

Synthesis of 4-(cyclic dialkylamino)-7-azaindoles by microwave heating of 4-halo-7-azaindoles and cyclic secondary amines

Nucleophilic aromatic substitution of 4-chloro- and 4-fluoro-7-azaindoles with cyclic secondary amines under microwave heating gave a straightforward and rapid synthesis of 4-(cyclic dialkylamino)-7-azaindoles. 4-Fluoro-7-azaindoles showed a greater reactivity towards S_NAr reactions under these conditions than 4-chloro-7-azaindole.     

Transition-metal-free access to 7-azaindoles

A novel method for transition-metal-free synthesis of 7-azaindoles is developed through a one-pot synthesis involving amination of pyridine N-oxides and intramolecular enamine formation. Remarkable features of the method include simple operation, mild reaction conditions, wide substrate scope, and easily accessible starting materials.     

Solvent-dependent oxidations of 5- and 6-azaindoles to trioxopyrrolopyridines and functionalised azaindoles

A regioselective synthesis of 4,7-dimethoxy 5- and 6-azaindoles 2 has been achieved, based on the appropriate choice of ortho-directing or ortho-repulsing groups in the formylation of a pyridine ring. Studies on the regioselectivity of the formylation step and on the preparation of azidoacrylate intermediates 4 are described in this paper. The reactivity of the 5- and 6-azaindole structures towards BBr3-mediated selective monodemethylation and oxidative demethylation reactions were also investigated. The regioselectivity of the deprotection was confirmed using a chemical approach. Oxidation reactions were then carried out on either dimethoxy- or hydroxymethoxyazaindoles, in different solvents, using [bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene. In acetonitrile-water, trioxopyrrolopyridines 12 were obtained, whereas the formation of functionalised azaindoles 17 was observed in acetonitrile-methanol. The tautomeric structure of the trioxopyrrolopyridines was proved by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Site-selective C–H nitration of N-aryl-7-azaindoles under palladium(II) catalysis

The site-selective C–H nitration reaction of 7-azaindoles with t-butyl nitrite under palladium catalysis is described. This protocol provides an efficient method for the construction of ortho-nitrated N-aryl-7-azaindoles with excellent site-selectivity and functional group compatibility. The formed 7-azaindole derivatives can be readily transformed into 7-azaindoles containing an aniline functional group under palladium-catalyzed hydrogenation conditions.     

Microwave-assisted flexible synthesis of 7-azaindoles

7-Azaindoles are versatile building blocks, especially in medicinal chemistry, where they serve as bioisosteres of indoles or purines. Herein, we are presenting a robust and flexible synthesis of 1,3- and 1,3,6-substituted 7-azaindoles starting from nicotinic acid derivatives or 2,6-dichloropyridine, respectively. Microwave heating dramatically accelerates the penultimate reaction step, an epoxide-opening-cyclization-dehydration sequence. The functional group compatibility of the reaction is examined as well as the application of the products in further functionalizations.     

Facile access to 3-cyano-4-azaindoles via a modified Madelung indole synthesis

An unprecedented methodology for the facile synthesis of 2-substituted 3-cyano-4-azaindoles using modified Madelung synthesis is described. The methodology relies on acid and amine coupling under very mild conditions.     

A general method for the preparation of 4- and 6-azaindoles

Nitropyridines reacted with an excess of vinyl Grignard reagent to produce 4- or 6-azaindoles. Improved yields were obtained when a halogen atom was present at the position alpha to the nitrogen atom in the pyridine ring.     

A convenient one-pot synthesis of 4-, 6-, and 7-azaindoles from aminopyridines

A one-pot synthesis of a variety of substituted 4-, 6-, and 7-azaindoles from commercially available aminopyridines in moderate to good yields is described.     

Synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted 6-azaindoles from substituted aziridines via intramolecular cyclization

A new and efficient preparation of pharmacologically and biologically important 2,5-disubstituted 6-azaindoles was achieved from cyclizations of aziridin-2-yl dipropargylic alcohols as adducts of two propargyl groups to ethyl 1-benzylaziridine-2-carboxylate. The sequential cyclizations include pyrrole formation and a novel base-catalyzed intramolecular acetylenic Schmidt reaction.     

Lewis acid-mediated cross-coupling reaction of 7-azaindoles and aldehydes: Cytotoxic evaluation of C3-linked bis-7-azaindoles

The synthesis of 3,3′-bis-7-indolylmethane derivatives is important for their further development as pharmaceutical compounds and other synthetic purposes. Herein, we describe the zinc- or acid-mediated cross-coupling reaction of 7-azaindoles with aldehydes, such as paraformaldehyde, alkyl aldehydes, aryl aldehydes, enal, and α-ketoaldehyde, providing the corresponding C3-linked bis-7-azaindole derivatives, which are a crucial class towards the development of novel bioactive compounds. High levels of site selectivity and functional group tolerance were observed. Synthesized 3,3′-bis-7-azaindole derivatives were evaluated against human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) and human ovarian carcinoma cells (SKOV-3), respectively. Notably, compounds 3s and 4e displayed promising anticancer properties competitive with anticancer doxorubicin as a positive control.     

One-pot selective syntheses of 5-azaindoles through zirconocene-mediated multicomponent reactions with three different nitrile components and one alkyne component

5-Azaindoles either with three different substituents at their 2-, 4-, and 6-positions or with two identical substituents at their 2- and 6-positions and a different one at the 4-position, were obtained in good to excellent isolated yields by a zirconocene-mediated multicomponent process. Each reaction involved four organic partners, comprising a Si-tethered diyne, one tBuCN component, and two (either different or identical) nitriles. All these four components were combined through the action of a Cp(2)Zr(II) species into a three-ring fused Zr/Si-containing organometallic complex in a perfectly chemo- and regioselective manner. This multicomponent reaction process consisted of three reaction steps, all of which were made clear through the isolation and characterization of their corresponding organometallic intermediates: the zirconacyclopropene-azasilacyclopentadienes 2, the allenyl-aza-zirconacycles 3, and the three-ring fused complexes 6. X-ray single-crystal structural analyses of two three-ring fused Zr/Si-containing intermediates and two 5-azaindoles unambiguously showed the positions of the different substituents and the regioselectivity. Iminopyrrole derivatives could be also highly selectively prepared from a Si-tethered diyne and two different nitriles.     

A novel one-step synthesis of 2-substituted 6-azaindoles from 3-amino-4-picoline and carboxylic esters

Dilithiation of 3-amino-4-picoline (1) was achieved with sec-BuLi at room temperature. Condensation of the resulting dianion (2) with carboxylic esters afforded a wide range of 2-substituted 6-azaindoles in good yields.