Iodine-mediated cascade cyclization of enediynes to iodinated benzo[a]carbazoles

Treatment of N,N-dimethyl 2-[2-(2-ethynylphenyl)ethynyl]anilines (1) with 1.2 equiv of iodine in CH(2)Cl(2) gave benzo[a]carbazoles (2) in good yields. Mechanistic studies showed this reaction must go through the haloindole (3) followed by iodonium ion catalyzed atom-transfer cyclization reaction to give the benzo[a]carbazoles.     

Polyene cyclization promoted by the cross-conjugated alpha-carbalkoxy enone system. Observation on a putative 1,5-hydride/1,3-alkyl shift under Lewis acid catalysis

Polyene cyclization of compounds 3 and 4 under catalysis with AlCl3 and/or SnCl4 gave rise to complex bicyclic products 8 and 9, structures of which were highly unexpected, and X-ray analyses were invoked for unambiguously structural identification. Mechanistically, a tandem sigma-bond rearrangement process, including an unusual through-space 1,5-hydride or 1,3-alkyl shift as a key operation, is proposed.     

Synthesis of 3,9b-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoindoles and 3,5,6,10b-tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines with 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions

The title classes of compounds have been prepared using a sequence of two ring-forming reactions. Initial 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with an azomethine ylide gave N-acylated 3-pyrrolines which were further elaborated to the target compounds by a tandem deprotection/cyclization reaction.     

Intramolecular cyclization of delta-iminoacetylenes: a new entry to pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles

[reaction: see text] The synthesis of the pyrazino[1,2-a]indole nucleus was achieved by intramolecular cyclization of several 2-carbonyl-1-propargylindoles in the presence of ammonia. The reaction conditions were optimized using microwave heating and a pool of catalysts. Cyclization of 1-alkynylindole-2-carbaldehydes was easily accomplished under standard heating conditions, whereas microwave heating contributed to reduced reaction times and improved overall yields. Moreover, a fine-tuning of the microwave irradiation time made possible the selective synthesis of both pyrazino[1,2-a]indole isomers. TiCl4 proved the catalytic system of choice to achieve pyrazinoindoles in satisfactory yields starting from 1-alkynyl-2-acetylindoles and 1-alkynyl-2-benzoylindole derivatives. Also in these cases, microwave heating contributed to faster reactions and improved yields. The uncatalyzed versus catalyzed reaction mechanism is discussed.     

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.     

Metal-free and efficient approach to 4-thiocyanated 2H-chromenes via TFA-mediated cascade cyclization of 2-propynolphenols

A metal-free, Brønsted acid-mediated cascade cyclization of 2-propynolphenols for efficient synthesis of various 4-thiocyanated 2H-chromenes is developed by using KSCN as the thiocyanated source. This reaction was characterized by readily prepared starting materials, bearing good functional group tolerance and excellent yields. Moreover, the obtained 4-thiocyanated 2H-chromenes could be further derivated to potential bioactive and pharmaceutical molecules.     

Metal-free synthesis of novel indolizines from chromones and pyridinium salts via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition,ring-opening and aromatization

A simple, efficient, and economical synthetic approach to construct a variety of stucturally novel indolizines bearing a phenolic hydroxy group has been developed through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of chromones and pyridinium salts. The methodology is tolerant of a wide range of functional groups and applicable to library synthesis.     

Metal-free synthesis of benzimidazo[2,1-a]ellipticines via tandem inter and intramolecular cyclization

Synthesis of the new benzimidazo[2,1-a]ellipticine derivatives via tandem inter and intramolecular, 5-endo,6-endo cyclization of various 9-ethyl-2-(alkynyl)carbazole-3-carbaldehydes with different 1,2-aryldiamines is reported under metal free condition in good yields.     

Regioselective synthesis of pyrano[3,2-c]pyrimidine derivatives via a palladium-catalyzed unusual [1,3] aryloxy shift and cycloisomerization: first report of a [1,3] shift of an aryloxy group

Uracil-annulated pyrano heterocycles are regioselectively synthesized in excellent yields (92-100%) via a palladium-catalyzed unusual [1,3] aryloxy shift followed by 6-endo dig cyclization and [1,3] prototropic shift.     

3,3]-Sigmatropic rearrangement/5-exo-dig cyclization reactions of benzyl alkynyl ethers: synthesis of substituted 2-indanones and indenes

Substituted benzyl alkynyl ethers, prepared from the corresponding α-alkoxy ketones in a two-step sequence involving enol triflate formation and KOtBu-induced E2 elimination, undergo [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement/intramolecular 5-exo-dig cyclization at 60 °C to form substituted 2-indanones in good overall yields. 1,3-cis-Disubstituted-2-indanones are formed preferentially when the benzylic substituent R(1) is bulky. Substituted indenes may be prepared from 2-indanones in high yields by Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction.     

Synthesis of arylsulfonyl-substituted indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-6(5H)-one derivatives via a TBAI-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization

We have developed a metal-free radical cascade reaction of N-substituted 2-aryl indoles with readily available sulfonyl hydrazides for the rapid construction of arylsulfonyl-substituted indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-6(5H)-one derivatives. With the TBAI–TBHP catalytic system, a broad series of structurally diverse indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-6(5H)-one derivatives were obtained in moderate to excellent yields. The reaction features mild reaction conditions, operationally easiness, scaled-up feasibility, and high functional-group-tolerance.     

Regioselective synthesis of C-prenylated flavonoids via intramolecular [1,3] or [1,5] shift reaction catalyzed by acidic clays

Prenyl side chain and dihydropyrano skeleton exists in many natural and synthetic biologically active flavonoids. A highly efficient and regioselective method for the synthesis of C-prenylated flavonoids via intramolecular [1,3] or [1,5] shift reaction of 5-O-prenylflavonoids catalyzed by Florisil or Montmorillonite clays is described. Florisil catalyzes intramolecular [1,5] shift reaction of 5-O-prenylflavonoids to obtain 8-C-prenylated flavonoids exclusively, Montmorillonite K10 exhibits the superior selectivity to promote intramolecular [1,3] shift reaction to obtain 6-C-prenylated flavonoids compared with Florisil and Montmorillonite KSF. This method provides a practical process to regioselective synthesize biologically important C-prenylated flavonoids in good yields using commercially available and inexpensive catalyst under mild conditions.     

Metal-free sequential [3 + 2]-dipolar cycloadditions using cyclooctynes and 1,3-dipoles of different reactivity

Although metal-free cycloadditions of cyclooctynes and azides to give stable 1,2,3-triazoles have found wide utility in chemical biology and material sciences, there is an urgent need for faster and more versatile bioorthogonal reactions. We have found that nitrile oxides and diazocarbonyl derivatives undergo facile 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with cyclooctynes. Cycloadditions with diazocarbonyl derivatives exhibited similar kinetics as compared to azides, whereas the reaction rates of cycloadditions with nitrile oxides were much faster. Nitrile oxides could conveniently be prepared by direct oxidation of the corresponding oximes with BAIB, and these conditions made it possible to perform oxime formation, oxidation, and cycloaddition as a one-pot procedure. The methodology was employed to functionalize the anomeric center of carbohydrates with various tags. Furthermore, oximes and azides provide an orthogonal pair of functional groups for sequential metal-free click reactions, and this feature makes it possible to multifunctionalize biomolecules and materials by a simple synthetic procedure that does not require toxic metal catalysts.     

Regioselective synthesis of naphthalenes from modified Baylis-Hillman adducts via a Pd-catalyzed cyclization: 5-exo-carbopalladation, C(sp)-H activation to cyclopropane, ring-opening, and aromatization cascade

Modified Baylis-Hillman adducts having 2-bromophenyl acetonitrile moiety at the primary position underwent a Pd-catalyzed cascade reaction to provide poly-substituted naphthalene derivatives in reasonable yields. The reaction involved a sequential 5-exo-carbopalladation, C(sp³)-H activation to cyclopropane, ring-opening and concomitant aromatization processes.     

1H-1,3-diazepines, 5H-1,3-diazepines, 1,3-diazepinones, and 2,4-diazabicyclo[3.2.0]heptenes

Tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines/2-azidopyridines 1 undergo photochemical nitrogen elimination and ring expansion to 1,3-diazacyclohepta-1,2,4,6-tetraenes 3, which react with alcohols to afford 2-alkoxy-1H-1,3-diazepines 4 (5), with secondary amines to 2-dialkylamino-5H-1,3-diazepines 16, sometimes via isolable 2-dialkylamino-1H-1,3-diazepines 15, and with water to 1,3-diazepin-2-ones 19. The latter are also obtained by elimination of isobutene or propene from 2-tert-butoxy- or 2-isopropoxy-1H-1,3-diazepines 4 or 5. 1,3-Diazepin-2-one 22B and 1,3-diazepin-4-one 24 were obtained from hydrolysis of the corresponding 4-chlorodiazepines. Diazepinones 19 undergo photochemical ring closure to diazabicycloheptenones 25 in high yields. The 2-alkoxy-1H-1,3-diazepines 4 and 5 interconvert by rapid proton exchange between positions N1 and N3. The free energies of activation for the proton exchange were measured by the Forsén-Hoffman method as DeltaG([double dagger])298= 16.2 +/- 0.6 kcal mol(-1) as an average for 4a-c in CD2Cl2, acetone-d6, and methanol-d4, and 14.1 +/- 0.6 kcal mol(-1) for in 4c acetone/D2O. The structures of 2-methoxy-5,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1H-1,3-diazepine 4k, 1,2-dihydro-4-diethylamino-5H-1,3-diazepin-2-one 22bB, and diazabicycloheptanone were 26 determined by X-ray crystallography. The former represents the first reported X-ray crystal structure of any monocyclic N-unsubstituted 1H-azepine.