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.     

A novel total synthesis of the bioactive poly-substituted carbazole alkaloid carbazomadurin A

A new total synthesis of the neuronal cell-protecting carbazole alkaloid carbazomadurin A is described. The key step was an allene-mediated electrocyclic reaction involving an indole [b]-bond for the construction of a highly substituted carbazole ring. The E-alkenyl side chain at the C1 position of carbazole was introduced between O-triflate and alkenyl pinacol borate using the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction. SEM groups were cleaved with TBAF and the formyl group was reduced to provide carbazomadurin A.     

Studies towards the total synthesis of cruentaren A and B: Stereoselective synthesis of fragments C1-C11, C12-C22 and C23-C28

A convergent and stereoselective approach for the synthesis of C1-C11, C12-C22, and C23-C28 fragments of cytotoxic natural products cruentaren A and B are accomplished. Highlights of the strategy include a Sharpless epoxidation followed by a regioselective opening of epoxide to generate anti and syn-stereochemistry at C9-C10 and C15-C16, an Alder-Rickert reaction between a 1,5-dimethoxy-1,4-cyclohexadiene and dienophile to construct the aromatic ring, and a lithium-mediated aldol reaction to install the C17-C18 anti-stereochemistry. The synthesis of C1-C11 and C12-C22 fragments proceed with a longest linear sequence of 10 and 17 steps from commercially available 2-butyne-1,4-diol and cis-2-butene-1,4-diol respectively.     

Copper-catalyzed C–N coupling/C–H functionalization: A tandem approach to azole-fused quinazoline derivatives

A Cu-catalyzed tandem synthesis of azole-fused pyrimido[1,2-c]quinazolines and imidazo[1,2-c]quinazolines has been developed. The reaction is based on a C–N cross-coupling/C–H functionalization reaction of 2-(2-bromophenyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidines with azoles. A variety of the desired polycyclic products were obtained in moderate to excellent yields.     

A stereoselective approach to bioactive secolignans: synthesis of peperomin C and its analogues

A stereoselective approach to secolignans is described. The key synthetic strategy involves an asymmetric aldol reaction to control the creation of the stereogenic center at the β-carbon of the target secolignans. In the present work, peperomin C and its analogues, i.e., 2,6-didehydropeperomin C and 2-epi-peperomin C were successfully synthesized in good yields with high stereoselectivities.     

A mild and regioselective Ullmann reaction of indazoles with aryliodides in water

A mild and regioselective Ullmann reaction of indazoles with aryliodides has been developed as a general method for the synthesis of 1-aryl-1H-indazoles. Water was used as the solvent wherein Tween 20 (2% w/w) was added to form aqueous micelles to improve solubility of starting materials and accelerate reaction rate. This aqueous protocol allows the Ullmann reaction to proceed at a mild temperature (60 °C) within a short reaction time (2 h), which typically requires high temperatures (≥100 °C) and prolonged duration (≥24 h). The protocol demonstrated broad substrate scopes with good isolated yields and high regioselectivity (N-1 arylation over N-2 arylation) for 25 examples examined.     

A novel strategy for the synthesis of 6H-chromeno [4, 3-b] quinoline by intramolecular Heck cyclization

A novel procedure for the synthesis of various derivatives of 6H-chromeno [4, 3-b] quinolines from intramolecular Heck reaction of 2-chloro-3-(phenoxymethyl) quinolines is described in this study. Intramolecular cyclization of N-alkylated indoles was efficiently investigated as well. The reaction is catalyzed by bis (triphenylphosphine) palladium (II) dichloride in acetonitrile at 80 °C.     

Co-cross-linking of bio-based multi-functional epoxide and bisphenol A diglycidyl ether with 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole

A co-cross-linking reaction of bio-based multi-functional epoxides (1) derived from limonene oxide and bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BPADE) in the presence of 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole (EMI) as a cross-linker afforded the corresponding network copolymers (2) having the 10% thermal decomposition temperature (T_d10) of 294.4?°C at maximum. Adhesive strength induced by 1, especially tetra-functional epoxide, and BPADE exhibited remarkably higher than that by BPADE alone.     

Highly active Pd(II) catalysts with pyridylbenzoimidazole ligands for the Heck reaction

The air-, and thermo-stable palladium(II) complexes C1-C10 are prepared by the reaction of PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂ with pyridylbenzoimidazole. With various substituents on the pyridine ring, palladium atom was coordinated by two pyridylbenzoimidazole molecules via nitrogen atoms of benzoimidazole. The structure of complexes C3, C4, C6, and C7 has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Without substituents on the pyridine ring, palladium atom was directly coordinated with two nitrogen atoms of pyridine and benzoimidazole nitrogen via intramolecular chelation (C10). These complexes performed the Heck olefination of aryl bromides in a good to high yield under phosphine-free conditions.     

A carboranylpentaphenylbenzene

1-(o-Carboran-9-yl)-2,3,4,5,6-pentaphenylbenzene (1) was prepared by the Diels-Alder reaction of 9-phenylethynyl-o-carborane and tetraphenylcyclopentadienone at 300 °C. An X-ray crystal structure of 1 shows that the steric demands of the carborane induce a significant stretching of the aryl carbon-boron bond as well as a variety of distortions of the central benzene ring, the ortho phenyl groups, and the carborane cage.     

Effective synthetic routes to activated pyrrolo[3,2,1-hi]indoles

Pyrrolo[3,2,1-hi]indoles have been formed by the aldol cyclisation of 7-formyl-N-indolylacetates. The synthetic sequence incorporates three steps from suitably activated indoles: these are alkylation at nitrogen with a bromoacetic ester, formylation at C7 and an aldol condensation between these two substituents. An X-ray crystal structure of pyrrolo[3,2,1-hi]indole 24 is described.     

Pseudo four-component reaction of salicylaldehydes and cyclic ketones with two molecules of malononitrile: A facile and efficient way to synthesize 4-[2-(dicyanomethylene)cyclic or heterocyclic]-2-amino-4H-chromenes

A new type of catalytic cascade pseudo four-component reaction has been found. The simple and facile pseudo four-component reaction of salicylaldehydes and cyclic or heterocyclic ketones with two molecules of malononitrile catalyzed by sodium acetate at ambient temperature results in the formation of 4-substituted 2-amino-4H-chromenes in 70–90% yields. Thus, a new simple and efficient ‘one-pot’ method to synthesize substituted 2-amino-4H-chromenes was found directly from such reasonable starting compounds as salicylaldehydes, cyclic or heterocyclic ketones and malononitrile.     

Stereospecific stilbene formation from β-hydroxy-α,β-diphenylethylphosphoranes. Mechanistic proposals based upon stereochemistry

All four diastereomers of β-hydroxy-α,β-diphenylethylspirophosphoranes bearing two Martin ligands were prepared from a P-H (equatorial) spirophosphorane. Treatment of these phosphoranes with t-BuOK or t-BuONa at low temperature (ca. −40°C) led to the formation of stilbene with complete stereospecificity. In half of the cases the reaction proceeded quantitatively, whereas the other half gave rise to retro-aldol reaction with the formation of varying amounts of benzaldehyde and benzylphosphorane. A kinetic examination revealed that of the four the quantitatively proceeding reaction that gives cis-stilbene was the fastest. Based on the experimental observations, a mechanistic rationale for the previously reported Wittig-type reaction of exceptionally high Z-selectivity using an ethoxycarbonylmethylspirophosphorane is presented.     

A convergent and stereoselective synthesis of a seco-precursor of macrolactin A

A seco-precursor of macrolactin A was synthesized by coupling two advanced segments. Wittig reaction and Horner-Emmons reaction were utilized to construct the three characteristic E,Z and E,E dienes. The C₁-C₁₀ segment was synthesized through Horner-Emmons reaction with phosphonate reagent. The α-alkylation of sulfone stabilized anion with allyl bromide followed by desulfonation gave the C₁₁-C₂₄ segment.     

Total synthesis of pteridic acids A and B

A convergent synthesis of pteridic acids A and B, epimeric spiroacetal polyketides with potent plant growth promoter properties, is described. The use of boron aldol methodology efficiently achieved the stereocontrolled construction of advanced C1-C11 and C12-C16 subunits, which were coupled to generate a linear (Z)-enone precursor that underwent spiroacetalization with HF·pyridine, providing pteridic acids A and B after saponification.     

An efficient strategy for N-alkylation of benzimidazoles/imidazoles in SDS-aqueous basic medium and N-alkylation induced ring opening of benzimidazoles

A sustainable route for the N-1 alkylation of imidazole and benzimidazole derivatives has been developed under volatile organic solvent free condition in alkaline water-SDS system. Incorporation of SDS in the reaction medium enhances the reaction rate by suppressing the solubility issue that arises for different substrates. This method provides high yield of the alkylated product in a shorter reaction time. For reactive alkyl halides reaction proceeds at ambient temperature whereas in the cases of less reactive alkyl halides require 55–60?°C to complete alkylation process. N-alkylation induced ring opening of the heterocyclic ring in benzimidazole derivatives to multifunctional aromatic compounds were noticed at 60?°C when more than two equivalents of alkyl halide was used.     

Copper-doped silica cuprous sulfate: A highly efficient heterogeneous nano-catalyst for one-pot three-component synthesis of 1-H-2-substituted benzimidazoles from 2-bromoanilines,aldehydes, and [bmim]N3

A facile and highly efficient one-pot three-component synthesis of 1-H-2-substituted benzimidazole derivatives from readily available substrates catalyzed by copper-doped silica cuprous sulfate (CDSCS) is described. In this method, treatment of diverse 2-bromoanilines, aldehydes, and [bmim]N₃ in DMF at 110 °C in the presence of CDSCS as a highly efficient heterogeneous nano-catalyst affords the corresponding 1-H-2-substituted benzimidazoles in good to excellent yields. The CDSCS is an inexpensive and stable nano-catalyst that could be simply prepared, recovered and reused for many consecutive reaction runs without significant loss of its activity.     

Towards a simplified peloruside A: synthesis of C1-C11 of a dihydropyran analogue

A simplified analogue of the C1-C11 fragment of peloruside A has been synthesised starting from a monoprotected 2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diol. Oxidation, asymmetric allylation and acryloylation provided a substrate for ring-closing metathesis to a δ-lactone. Reduction, acylation and homologation with trimethyl(vinyloxy)silane provided a protected C3-C11 analogue in a stereoisomer manner. Introduction of the C1-C2 fragment and incorporation of the 2,3-syn stereochemistry was achieved by a boron-mediated Evans aldol reaction.     

Expedient total syntheses of preclathridine A and clathridine A

A short and operationally simple total synthesis of two Leucetta-derived marine alkaloids has been developed, which rely on position specific halogen-metal exchange to introduce the benzyl-substituted side chain. Introduction of the C2 amine group by lithiation and trapping with tosyl azide provides preclathridine A on catalytic hydrogenation, which can be converted to clathridine A by a procedure described in the literature.     

Application of p-TSA in the one pot synthesis of N-methyl-3-nitro-aryl-benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-amine

A simple, efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective method has been developed for the synthesis of N-methyl-3-nitro-aryl-benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-amine derivatives using 2-aminobenzimidazole, aldehydes and (E)-N-methyl-1-(methylthio)-2-nitroethenamine, in the presence of catalytic amount of p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA) in ethanol at 80?°C conditions. The advantages of this method are the use of an inexpensive and readily available catalyst, shorter reaction times, a wide range of functional group tolerance, and high yield of products via a simple experimental and work-up procedure.