Synthesis and Photochromic Behaviour of Novel 2H‐1‐Benzopyrans (=2H‐Chromenes) Derived from Carbazololes

The synthesis and photochromic properties of new 2,2‐diphenyl‐2H‐1‐benzopyrans, fused to an indole moiety, are described. All compounds exhibit photochromic behaviour in solution at room temperature. The heteroanellation effects are variable and depend on the position and geometry of the fused indole moiety. A general bathochromic shift in the spectra of the open forms is observed. The presence of a N‐methyl group prevents the broadening of the absorption spectra and promotes the instability of some photoinduced forms of compounds with the indole moiety fused at the 5,6 positions of the 2H‐1‐benzopyran skeleton. The enhanced photocolouration efficiency in the near‐UV and the kinetics of thermal bleaching indicate that the novel compounds with an indole moiety fused at the 6,7 positions, particularly those with a linked thiophene moiety, are very interesting molecules for applications in the field of variable optical absorption systems.     

Photochromic Properties of New Benzoindene‐Fused 2H‐Chromenes

The synthesis and the photochromic properties of new photochromic 6,7‐ and 7,8‐benzoindene annellated benzopyrans are described. When compared to parent indeno‐fused 2H‐chromenes (2H‐[1]benzopyrans), compounds 10 and 12 exhibit a significant bathochromic shift of maximum‐absorption wavelength, an increase in the colorability, and similar fading rates.     

Synthesis and Photochromic Behavior of Novel Annelated 2H‐Chromenes Derived from Hydroxy‐9H‐xanthen‐9‐ones

The synthesis of four novel pyrano‐xanthenones derived from hydroxy‐9H‐xanthen‐9‐ones is described, and their photochromic properties in solution are reported. All compounds synthesized exhibit a good colorability, making them good potential dyes. The presence of the chromone system fused in the 7,8‐position seems to lead to more stabilized colored forms.     

Synthesis and Spectrokinetic Studies of a New Family of Photochromic 2H‐Chromenes (=2H‐1‐Benzopyrans): Dimethyl 6‐Aryl‐2,2‐dimethyl‐2H‐chromene‐7,8‐dicarboxylates

A series of dimethyl 6‐aryl‐2,2‐dimethyl‐2H‐chromene‐7,8‐dicarboxylates were synthesized, and the photochromic properties of this new family of dimethyl‐2H‐chromenes were studied under continuous irradiation. The presence of the methoxycarbonyl groups was shown to stabilize the colored forms. This stabilization depended on the solvent, and in two cases the formation of long‐lived opened forms was observed. Under irradiation with a mercury lamp, this family of 2H‐chromenes showed a strong resistance to photodegradation.     

Photochromic properties of η6‐2H‐chromene chromium tricarbonyl complexes

In the 2H‐chromene series, complexation of the aromatic ring with chromium tricarbonyl, under thermal conditions, is totally regioselective even when aromatic substituents are introduced on the pyran ring. The complexation stabilizes the open form of these photochromic compounds and reduces the thermal bleaching kinetic constant. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Chemical Reactivity of 4‐Oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐carboxaldehyde

4‐Oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐carboxaldehyde (chromone‐3‐carboxaldehyde or 3‐formylchromone) 1 is an important biologically active compound. It can serve as a precursor in the synthesis of a wide range of heterocyclic systems having chromone moiety, many of which exhibit broad spectrum of biological activities such as anti‐mutagenisity, cytotoxicity, thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor, and anti‐HIV activity. During the last decade, the title compound was studied extensively. The review presents an overall survey of the synthesis, chemical reactivity, and biological activities of 4‐oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐carboxaldehydes and some of its derivatives.     

Enantioselective Cascade Michael Addition/Cyclization Reactions of 3‐Nitro‐2H‐Chromenes with 3‐Isothiocyanato Oxindoles: Efficient Synthesis of Functionalized Polycyclic Spirooxindoles

An unprecedented Zn(OTf)₂‐catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition/cyclization cascade of 3‐nitro‐2H‐chromenes with 3‐isothiocyanato oxindoles has been disclosed. This transformation provides an efficient access to various synthetically important polycyclic spirooxindoles in a highly stereoselective manner under mild conditions (72–99 % yields, up to >95:5 d.r. and >99 % ee). The reaction leads to the formation of three consecutive stereocenters, including 1,3‐nonadjacent tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenters, in a single operation. A bifunctional activation model of the chiral Zn(OTf)₂/bis(oxazoline) complex was proposed based on control experiments, wherein the Zn^II moiety serves as a Lewis acid and the N atom of the free NH group acts as a Lewis base by a hydrogen‐bonding interaction.     

Catalyst‐Free Synthesis of α‐Functionalized 2H‐Chromenes in Water: A Tandem Self‐Promoted pseudo‐Substitution and Decarboxylation Process

A catalyst‐free decarboxylative reaction between β‐keto acids and 2H‐chromene acetals in water was developed. This reaction featured a broad substrate scope and easily obtainable starting materials to afford α‐functionalized 2H‐chromenes in high yields. The synthetic value of this protocol was also demonstrated by the scale‐up synthesis and versatile conversions of the title product into other useful compounds. In addition, control experiments indicated that water was essential for the reactivity. Mechanistic studies further revealed that the reaction proceeded through a self‐promoted tandem pseudo‐substitution and decarboxylation process.     

A Novel and Efficient Catalyst to One‐Pot Synthesis of 2‐Amino‐4H‐Chromenes by Methanesulfonic Acid

Methanesulfonic acid efficiently catalyzes the one‐pot, three component reaction of an aromatic aldehyde, malonitrile and α or β‐naphthol to yield 2‐amino‐4H‐chromenes in very good yields.     

A Novel and Efficient Synthesis of 3‐[(4,5‐Dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐chromen‐2‐ones (=3‐[(4,5‐Dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐ones)

An efficient one‐pot synthesis of 3‐[(4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one (=3‐[(4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) derivatives 4 by a four‐component reaction of a salicylaldehyde 1 , 4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one, a benzylamine 2 , and a diaroylacetylene (=1,4‐diarylbut‐2‐yne‐1,4‐dione) 3 in EtOH is reported. This new protocol has the advantages of high yields (Table), and convenient operation. The structures of these coumarin (=2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) derivatives, which are important compounds in organic chemistry, were confirmed spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS) and by elemental analyses. A plausible mechanism for this reaction is proposed (Scheme 2).     

Reactivity of Hydroxy and Amino Derivatives of 2‐Phenyl‐1H‐imidazoline and 2‐Phenyl‐1H‐imidazole toward Isocyanates: Synthesis of Appropriate Carbamates and Ureas

Reactivity of 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazoline and 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazole toward substituted phenyl isocyanates was studied. When mentioned imidazoline was treated with 2.5 equiv of substituted phenyl isocyanate, three N,O‐dicarboxamides were prepared (substituents are H, 4‐NO₂, and 4‐CH₃). Subsequently, N,O‐diacetylated 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazoline was prepared and selective deprotection method was developed for preparation of 1‐acetyl‐2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazoline using diethylamine in acetone. Six carbamates derived from this imidazoline were then prepared using 1.1 equiv of substituted phenyl isocyanates (substituents are H, 4‐CH₃, 4‐OCH₃, 4‐NO₂, 4‐CN, and 3‐CF₃). Finally, two carbamates were prepared from 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazole (substituents are 4‐NO₂ and 4‐CN). No reactivity to imidazole ring was observed in this case. Eight derivatives were subjected to antimycobacterial screening. Concurrently, reactivity of 2‐(2‐aminophenyl)‐ and 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazole toward aliphatic and aromatic isocyanates was studied. Eight ureas were prepared using equivalent mixture of 2‐(2‐aminophenyl)‐1H‐imidazole and isocyanate (Et, Pr, isoPr, terc‐Bu, Cy, Ph, 4‐CH₃C₆H₄, 4‐CNC₆H₄). Similar attempts to obtain related carbamates from 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazole lead only to three substituted phenyl carbamates (substituents are 4‐CH₃, 4‐NO₂, and 4‐CN). In both cases, no reactivity to imidazole ring was observed again.     

Synthesis of 3‐(5‐Methylthiophen‐2‐yl)coumarins and Their Photochromic Dihetarylethene Derivatives

Novel unsymmetrical di(thienyl)maleic acid anhydride, including coumarin moiety, has been designed and synthesized. Its photochromism study and fatigue resistance estimation are reported. Microwave‐assisted procedure has been successfully used for synthesis of 3‐(5‐methylthiophen‐2‐yl)coumarins.     

1H‐Indazole and 2H‐indazole derivatives of androsta‐5,16‐dien‐3β‐ol

The title compounds, 17‐(1H‐indazol‐1‐yl)androsta‐5,16‐dien‐3β‐ol, (I), and 17‐(2H‐indazol‐2‐yl)androsta‐5,16‐dien‐3β‐ol, (II), both C₂₆H₃₂N₂O, have an indazole substituent at the C17 position. The six‐membered B ring of each compound assumes a half‐chair conformation. A twist of the steroid skeleton is observed and reproduced in quantum‐mechanical ab initio calculations of the isolated molecule using a molecular orbital Hartree–Fock method. In the 1H‐indazole derivative, (I), the molecules are joined in a head‐to‐head fashion via O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along the a axis. In the 2H‐indazole derivative, (II), the molecules are joined in a head‐to‐tail fashion with one of the N atoms of the indazole ring system acting as the acceptor. The hydrogen‐bond pattern consists of zigzag chains running along the b axis. Substituted steroids have proven to be effective in inhibiting androgen biosynthesis through coordination of the Fe atoms of some enzymes, and this study shows that indazole‐substituted steroids adopt twisted conformations that restrict their intermolecular interactions.     

Synthesis of Imidazole Derivatives Using 2‐Unsubstituted 1H‐Imidazole 3‐Oxides

The reaction of 1,4,5‐trisubstituted 1H‐imidazole 3‐oxides 1 with Ac₂O in CH₂Cl₂ at 0 – 5° leads to the corresponding 1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐imidazol‐2‐ones 4 in good yields. In refluxing Ac₂O, the N‐oxides 1 are transformed to N‐acetylated 1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐imidazol‐2‐ones 5 . The proposed mechanisms for these reactions are analogous to those for N‐oxides of 6‐membered heterocycles (Scheme 2). A smooth synthesis of 1H‐imidazole‐2‐carbonitriles 2 starting with 1 is achieved by treatment with trimethylsilanecarbonitrile (Me₃SiCN) in CH₂Cl₂ at 0 – 5° (Scheme 3).     

Synthesis and Use of 2H‐Azirin‐3‐amines as Dipeptide Synthons

The synthesis of the new 2H‐azirin‐3‐amines (‘3‐amino‐2H‐azirines') 11, 20, 28 , and 33 as dipeptide synthons is described. The reactions of the starting amides with Lawesson reagent gave the corresponding thioamides, and consecutive treatment with COCl₂, 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), and NaN₃ led to the desired products. It is shown that these 2H‐azirin‐3‐amines can conveniently be used as building blocks of the dipeptides Aib‐(Me)Axx (Axx=alanine, valine), Aib‐Homoproline, and Iva‐Pro in the synthesis of several model peptides. However, some limitations apply for the synthesis of such 2H‐azirin‐3‐amines. The starting material for the azirine synthesis, the corresponding thioamides, cannot generally be synthesized, and the 2H‐azirin‐3‐amines could not be obtained in all cases from the thioamides prepared.     

Photocycloaddition of 2H‐1‐Benzopyran‐3‐carbonitriles and 2H‐1‐Benzothiopyran‐3‐carbonitriles to Alkenes and Alkenynes

Both (intermolecular) photocycloadditions of 2H‐1‐benzopyran‐ and 2H‐1‐benzothiopyran‐3‐carbonitriles to 2,3‐dimethylbut‐2‐ene and 2‐methylbut‐1‐en‐3‐yne, and (intramolecular) photoisomerization of 4‐(alkenyl)benzopyran‐3‐carbonitriles were investigated. In contrast to 2H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐carbonitrile ( 1 ), its thia analog 4 reacts with 2,3‐dimethylbut‐2‐ene selectively, to afford only cyclobuta derivative 7 . In the presence of 2‐methylbut‐1‐en‐3‐yne, both 1 and 4 behave alike to afford the all‐cis‐cyclobuta diastereoisomers, 15 and 8 , respectively, as main products, as well as minor amounts of cyclobutenes 17 and 10 , respectively, which result from the addition of the terminal C‐atom of the acetylenic bond to C(3) of the heterocycle. 4‐Methyl‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐carbonitrile ( 5 ) does not undergo photoaddition to the alkene or the alkenyne mentioned above, whereas the corresponding intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition of 4‐(pent‐4‐enyl)benzopyran‐3‐carbonitrile ( 6b ) to tetracycle 20 proceeds quantitatively.     

Reactivity study on morpholine‐1‐carbothioic acid (2‐phenyl‐3H‐quinazolin‐4‐ylidene) amide

Regioselective reactions of morpholine‐1‐carbothioic acid (2‐phenyl‐3H‐quinazolin‐4‐ylidene) amide ( 1 ) with electrophiles and nucleophiles were studied. The compound ( 1 ) reacts with alkyl halides in basic medium to afford S‐substituted isothiourea derivatives, with amines to give 1,1‐disubstituted‐3‐(2‐phenyl‐3H‐quinazolin‐4‐ylidene) thioureas and l‐substituted‐3‐(2‐phenyl‐quinazolin‐4‐yl) thioureas via transami‐nation reaction. The reaction of ( 1 ) with amines in the presence of H₂O₂ provided N⁴‐disubstituted‐N'⁴‐(2‐phenylquinazolin‐4‐yl)morpholin‐4‐carboximidamide via oxidative desulfurization. Estimation of reactivity sites on ( 1 ) was supported using the ab initio (HF/6‐31G**) quantum chemistry calculations. The ir, ¹H nmr, ¹³C nmr, mass spectroscopy and x‐ray identified the isolated products.     

Brønsted Acid Catalyzed,Conjugate Addition of β‐Dicarbonyls to In Situ Generated ortho‐Quinone Methides—Enantioselective Synthesis of 4‐Aryl‐4H‐Chromenes

We describe herein a catalytic, enantioselective process for the synthesis of 4H‐chromenes which are important structural elements of many natural products and biologically active compounds. A sequence comprising a conjugate addition of β‐diketones to in situ generated ortho‐quinone methides followed by a cyclodehydration reaction furnished 4‐aryl‐4H‐chromenes in generally excellent yields and high optical purity. A BINOL‐based chiral phosphoric acid was employed as a Brønsted acid catalyst which converted ortho‐hydroxy benzhydryl alcohols into hydrogen‐bonded ortho‐quinone methides and effected the carbon–carbon bond‐forming event with high enantioselectivity.