Synthesis of new fluorescent building blocks via the microwave-assisted annulation reaction of 1,1,2-trimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indole with acrylic acid and its derivatives

The reaction of 1,1,2-trimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indole with acrylic acid and its derivatives was employed for the preparation of novel fluorescent building blocks. Treatment of 1,1,2-trimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indole with acrylic acid, acrylamide or tert-butyl acrylate in an autoclave or a microwave reactor at 180–200 °C afforded benzo[e]pyrido[1,2-a]indole derivatives. Various chemical transformations of the latter compounds have been performed to yield functionalized benzo[e]indole scaffolds. The structure assignments were based on data from ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray analyses. The optical properties of the obtained benzo[e]indoline derivatives were studied by UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Regioselective synthesis of fused benzopyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolines under solvent-free conditions

New 6,8-dihydro-5H-benzo[f]pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolines 6 have been obtained in a novel solvent-free three-component reaction involving β-tetralone along with 5-aminopyrazoles 1 and benzaldehydes 2. The isomeric 6,10-dihydro-5H-benzo[h]pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolines 9 could not be prepared in a similar fashion directly from α-tetralone, but were obtained by the reaction of amines 1 with benzylidene-derivative 10 of α-tetralone in similar conditions. The yields of quinolines obtained via this novel protocol were good and the reaction times varied from few minutes to just few seconds.     

Application of directed metalation in synthesis. Part 8: Interesting example of chemoselectivity in the synthesis of thioaurones and hydroxy ketones and a novel anionic ortho-Fries rearrangement used as a tool in the synthesis of thienopyranones and thiafluorenones

Chemoselective synthesis of thioaurones or 3-hydroxy benzo[b]thiophen-2-aryl ketones, 1-hydroxy naphtho[2,1-b]thiophen-2-aryl ketones and chalcones from N,N-diethyl-ortho-methyl sulfanyl aryl amides were described. (Benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl) alkylates and (naphtho[2,1-b]thiophen-2-yl) alkylates undergo a novel anionic ortho-Fries rearrangement leading to (3-hydroxy benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl) and (1-hydroxy naphtho[2,1-b]thiophen-2-yl) alkyl ketones. The hydroxy ketones were used as intermediates in the synthesis of wide range of benzothienopyranones and thiafluorenones.     

Novel heterocyclic β-nitroenamines-based on a one-pot three-component reaction: a facile synthesis of fully substituted 1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]-fused-1,3-diazaheterocycles

A one-pot multicomponent synthesis of a novel class of 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazoles, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidines, and 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a][1,3]diazepines, starting from simple and readily available inputs including diveres diamines, l,l-bis(methylthio)-2-nitroethen and diaroylacetylene, in excellent yields is described.     

New long alkyl side-chain benzo[a]phenoxazines as micellisation probes

Several novel fluorescent benzo[a]phenoxazinium chlorides possessing a long aliphatic chain substituent at the 5-amino function of the heterocycle were efficiently synthesised. All compounds obtained absorbed and emitted at longer wavelengths with moderate to good fluorescent quantum yields. The photophysics of N-[10-methyl-5-(octylamino)-9H-benzo[a]phenoxazin-9-ylidene]ethanaminium chloride and N-[10-methyl-5-(dodecylamino)-9H-benzo[a]phenoxazin-9-ylidene]ethanaminium chloride was studied in Triton^® X-100 and in cetyltrimethylammonium bromide micellar media, demonstrating the capability of these fluorophores in detecting the micellisation process.     

(±)-Rubioncolin D,a pair of enantiomeric naphthohydroquinone dimers from Rubia oncotricha

A pair of novel enantiomeric naphthohydroquinone dimers with an unprecedented spiro[4.5] carbon core, (±)-rubioncolin D (1), were isolated from Rubia oncotricha. The racemic mixture of 1 was separated by chiral column chromatography. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and electronic circular dichroism calculation. Both compounds (+)-1 and (?)-1 exhibit weak cytotoxicities against A549, SGC-7901 or HeLa cancer cell lines.     

Synthesis of annelated [a]aza-anthracenones and thieno[3,2-g]aza-naphthalenones through ring transformation of 2H-pyran-2-one followed by photocyclization

A concise synthesis of some new classes of heterocycles (4-aryl-11-oxo-1,2,3,11-tetrahydro-1,3a-diaza-cyclopenta[a]anthracen-6-carbonitriles and 5-aryl-12-oxo-1,3,4,12-tetrahydro-2H-1,4a-diazabenzo[a]anthracene-7-carbonitriles) has been developed by the ring transformation of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-one with α-oxoketene cyclic aminals to intermediates (8-aroyl-5-aryl-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-7-ylidene)-acetonitriles and (9-aroyl-6-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-8-ylidene)-acetonitriles) followed by their photocyclization either in CHCl₃ or acetonitrile. This reaction was further explored for the synthesis of methyl 4-aryl-11-oxo-1,2,3,11-tetrahydro-1,3a,9-triaza-cyclopenta[a]anthracene-6-carboxylate, 4-aryl-11-oxo-1,2,3,11-tetrahydro-1,3a,9-triaza-cyclopenta[a]anthracene-6-carbonitriles, 5-aryl-12-oxo-1,3,4,12-tetrahydro-2H-1,4a,10-triazabenzo[a]anthracene-7-carbonitriles, 4-aryl-10-oxo-1,2,3,10-tetrahydro-9-thia-1,3a-diazadicyclopenta[a,g]naphthalene-6-carbonitriles and 5-aryl-11-oxo-1,3,4,11-tetrahydro-2H-10-thia-1,4a-diazacyclopenta[b]phenanthrene-7-carbonitriles from the similar reactions.     

Synthesis of tricyclic isoindoles and thiazolo[3,2-c][1,3]benzoxazines

The thermolysis of (3R,9bS)-5-oxo-2,3,5,9b-tetrahydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindole-3-carboxylic acids in Ac₂O led to novel 3-methylene-2,5-dioxo-3H,9bH-oxazolo[2,3-a]isoindoles and chiral (9bS)-5-oxo-2,3,5,9b-tetrahydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindoles were obtained on FVP. Starting from l-cysteine methyl ester (3R,10bR)-5-oxo-2,3-dihydro-10bH-[1.3]thiazolo[3,2-c][1,3]benzoxazines were obtained as single stereoisomers. The thermolysis of (3R,10bR)-5-oxo-2,3-dihydro-10bH-[1.3]thiazolo[3,2-c][1,3]benzoxazine-3-carboxylic acid in Ac₂O gave 5-acetyl-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydrothiazole. The structures of methyl (3R,9bS)-5-oxo-2,3,5,9b-tetrahydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindole-3-carboxylate 1a and methyl (2R,4R)-N-chlorocarbonyl-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)thiazolidine-4-carboxylate 9 were determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of 1-benzyl-8,9-dihydroimidazo[4,5-c]pyrrolo[3,2-g]quinolin-4(5H)-one via palladium-catalyzed intramolecular arylation

The synthesis of a novel tetracyclic structure, 8,9-dihydroimidazo[4,5-c]pyrrolo[3,2-g]quinolin-4(5H)-one, has been achieved by a convergent pathway. Coupling of the weakly nucleophilic hindered aromatic amine with 1-benzylimidazole-4-carboxylic acid, 7, afforded the corresponding amide 9 using a DCP/DMF complex; subsequent Heck-type arylation leading to desired tetracyclic molecule imidazo[4,5-c]-pyrrolo[3,2-g]quinolin-4(5H)-one.     

Preparation of novel pyridine-fused tris-heterocycles; pyrido[4,3-e]pyrrolo-/pyrido[4,3-e]furano[2,3-c]pyridazines and pyrido[3,4-b]pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrrole

Three novel pyrido-fused tris-heterocycles have been prepared based on a Suzuki coupling and subsequent cyclisation approach. Pyrido[4,3-e]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridazine (3b, 77%) and pyrido[4,3-e]furano[2,3-c]pyridazine (5b, 76%) were obtained by intramolecular diazocoupling. Successful diazocoupling of furan (5b) is thus reported for the first time by NOBF₄ generation of the diazonium intermediate. N-TIPS-pyrido[3,4-b]pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrrole (TIPS-4b) was synthesised by thermal cyclisation of pyridyl nitrene in considerably higher yield (71%) than previously experienced from similar cyclisations, due to TIPS-activation.     

Synthesis of new benzo[b]thieno fused ring systems via transition metal-mediated cyclisations

The compact synthesis of a new ring fused benzo[b]thieno derivative with an embedded nine-membered ring system via ring closing metathesis methodology is described. The preparation of the novel 11H-benzo[b]thieno[2,3-c]pyrrolo[2,3-a]indol-11-one via palladium-mediated oxidative cyclisation of benzo[b]thien-2-oyl indole derivatives is also reported.     

Conformational analysis of bridgehead-substituted bicyclo[m.m.m]alkanes and bicyclo[8.8.n]alkanes

Conformational analyses of bicyclo[m.m.m]alkanes where m=1-10 and of bicyclo[8.8.n]alkanes where n=1-7 bearing methyl groups on the bridgeheads were carried out using a Monte Carlo search strategy. In the bicyclo[m.m.m]alkane series, greater variability was observed for the inter-bridgehead distance for larger values of m. This suggests that properly substituted bicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosanes or larger ring systems might serve as molecular springs.     

Synthesis and properties of a novel nucleoside derivative possessing a 2,3,5,6-tetraazabenzo[cd]azulene skeleton

We describe herein the synthesis and properties of the novel nucleoside derivative, 4,7-diamino-2-(2-deoxy-β-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-2,6-dihydro-7H-2,3,5,6-tetraazabenzo[cd]azulene (1). The palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 2,4-diamino-5-iodo-7-(2-deoxy-β-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (9) with acrylonitrile afforded 2,4-diamino-5-[(E)-1-cyano-2-ethenyl]-7-(2-deoxy-β-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (10) in 77% yield, which was treated with NaOMe in MeOH in the presence of NaSPh to give the desired 1 in 64% yield. Whereas 1 was stable in concentrated ammonia at room temperature, it was gradually hydrolyzed in water to give 4-amino-2-(2-deoxy-β-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-2,6-dihydro-7H-2,3,5,6-tetraazabenzo[cd]azulen-7-one (12). Density functional calculations indicated that 12 was 20 kcal/mol more thermodynamically stable than 1 in a model study.     

Furanaphin: a novel naphtho[2,3-c]furan-4(1H)-one derivative from the aphid Aphis spiraecola Patch

A novel naphtho[2,3-c]furan-4(1H)-one derivative 1, named furanaphin, was isolated from the aphid A. spiraecola P. The structure of the compound was established by a single crystal X-ray analysis of its (S)-MTPA ester. Furanaphin was found to have cytotoxicity against HL-60 human tumor cells.     

A novel transformation of 1-exo-substituted 2a-aroyl-1,2,2a,8b-tetrahydro-3H-benzo[b]cyclobuta[d]pyran-3-ones with sulfoxonium ylide to highly strained 2a-(1-arylethenyl)-1,2,2a,7b-tetrahydrocyclobuta[b]benzofurans

When 1-substituted 2a-aroyl-1,2,2a,8b-tetrahydro-3H-benzo[b]cyclobuta[d]pyran-3-ones (1) were treated with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide, 1-endo isomers (endo-1) gave 1-substituted 3-aroyl-1,2,4a,9b-tetrahydrodibenzofuran-4-ols (2) exclusively as expected. On the other hand, 1-exo isomers (exo-1) underwent a novel transformation to 1-substituted 2a-(1-arylethenyl)-1,2,2a,7b-tetrahydrocyclobuta[b]benzofurans (3), together with 2.     

Facile synthesis of spiro[benzo[e]indole-2,2′-piperidine] derivatives and their transformation to novel fluorescent scaffolds

The reaction of azaheterocyclic enamines with acrylamide was employed for the preparation of novel fluorescent scaffolds possessing a benzo[e]indoline moiety. Reaction of 3-substituted 2-methylidene-1H-benzo[e]indole with acrylamide gave rise to spiro[benzo[e]indole-2,2′-piperidin]-6′-ones. Ring opening reactions of the latter spiro compounds were investigated. Benzo[e]indoline derivatives possessing 2-(3-carbamoylpropyl), 2-[3-(ethoxycarbonyl)propyl] and 2-(4-aminobutyl) side chains were synthesised. The optical properties of the benzo[e]indoline derivatives were studied by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Palladium-catalyzed amination and cyclization to heteroannellated indoles and carbazoles

New ortho-bromodiarylamines in the benzo[b]thiophene series were prepared by palladium-catalyzed amination, either in the benzene or in the thiophene ring. These were submitted to palladium-catalyzed cyclization, under different required conditions, to give several differently substituted thieno[3,2-c] or [2,3-b]carbazoles and indolo[3,2-b]benzo[b]thiophenes. This constitutes a novel synthetic route to both tetracyclic systems.     

Synthesis and ring transformations of 1-amino-1,2,3,9a-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]indol-2(9H)-ones

Heating 1-carbamoylmethyl-2,3,3-trimethyl-3H-indolinium chloride in the presence of hydrazine bishydrate produces regioselectively the five-membered heterocycle 1-amino-1,2,3,9a-tetrahydro-9,9,9a-trimethylimidazo[1,2-a]indol-2(9H)-one. The assignment of the structure is based on extensive ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopic studies. No ring-chain tautomerism of the 1-amino-1,2,3,9a-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]indol-2(9H)-one was observed to open-chain hydrazides or the corresponding six-membered 1,2,10,10a-tetrahydro[1,2,4]triazino[4,3-a]indol-3(4H)-one. Further transformations of 1-amino-1,2,3,9a-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]indol-2(9H)-one were performed by treatment with aromatic aldehydes, acid chlorides and isocyanates giving access to 40 novel hydrazones, N,N′-diacylhydrazines, N-acyl-N′-carbamoylhydrazines and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles.     

Calyciphylline G, a novel alkaloid with an unprecedented fused-hexacyclic skeleton from Daphniphyllum calycinum

Calyciphylline G (1), a novel Daphniphyllum alkaloid with an unprecedented fused-hexacyclic skeleton containing a 5-azatricyclo[6.2.1.0^1,5]undecane ring, has been isolated from the stem of Daphniphyllum calycinum (Daphniphyllaceae), and the structure and relative stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

Synthesis of 4-aza analog of ramelteon: a novel tricyclic 1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-cyclopenta[d]furo[2,3-b]pyridine derivative as melatonin receptor ligand

The 4-aza analog of ramelteon (−)-1, a novel tricyclic 1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-cyclopenta[d]furo[2,3-b]pyridine derivative, was synthesized via the intramolecular inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction followed by fluoride-induced desilylation-cyclization.