Synthesis and Characterization of Enantiomerically Pure cis‐ and trans‐3‐Fluoro‐2,4‐dioxa‐9‐aza‐3‐phosphadecalin 3‐Oxides as Acetylcholine Mimetics and Inhibitors of Acetylcholinesterase

The title compounds, the P(3)‐axially and P(3)‐equatorially substituted cis‐ and trans‐configured 9‐benzyl‐3‐fluoro‐2,4‐dioxa‐9‐aza‐3‐phosphadecalin 3‐oxides (=9‐benzyl‐3‐fluoro‐2,4‐dioxa‐9‐aza‐3‐phosphabicyclo[4.4.0]decane 3‐oxides=7‐benzyl‐2‐fluorohexahydro‐4H‐1,3,2‐dioxaphosphorino[4,5‐c]pyridine 2‐oxides) were prepared (ee >99%) and fully characterized (Schemes 2 and 4). The absolute configurations were deduced from that of their precursors, the enantiomerically pure ethyl 1‐benzyl‐3‐hydroxypiperidine‐4‐carboxylates and 1‐benzyl‐3‐hydroxypiperidine‐4‐methanols which were unambiguously assigned. Being configuratively fixed and conformationally constrained phosphorus analogues of acetylcholine, the title compounds represent acetylcholine mimetics and are suitable probes for the investigation of molecular interactions with acetylcholinesterase. As determined by kinetic methods, all of the compounds are moderate irreversible inhibitors of the enzyme.     

Synthesis of Benzimidazoles by Phosphine‐Mediated Reductive Cyclisation of ortho‐Nitro‐anilides

Heating ortho‐nitro‐anilides 1 – 3 and 2‐methyl‐N‐(3‐nitropyridin‐2‐yl)propanamide ( 5 ) with 4 equiv. of a phosphine led to the 2‐substituted benzimidazoles 6 – 8 and to the imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridine 10 , respectively, in yields between 45 and 85%. Heating 1 with (EtO)₃P effected cyclisation and N‐ethylation, leading to the 1‐ethylbenzimidazole 6b . The slow cyclisation of the N‐pivaloylnitroaniline 2b allowed isolation of the intermediate phosphine imide 11 that slowly transformed into the 1H‐benzimidazole 7b . The structure of 11 was established by crystal‐structure analysis. While the N‐methylated ortho‐nitroacetanilide 3 cyclised to the 1,2‐dimethyl‐1H‐benzimidazole ( 8 ), the 2‐methylpropananilide 4 was transformed into 1‐methyl‐3‐(1‐methylethyl)‐2H‐benzimidazol‐2‐one ( 9 ).     

Major‐Groove‐Halogenated DNA: The Effects of Bromo and Iodo Substituents Replacing H−C(7) of 8‐Aza‐7‐deazapurine‐2,6‐diamine or H−C(5) of Uracil Residues

Oligonucleotides containing halogenated `purine' and pyrimidine bases were synthesized. Bromo and iodo substituents were introduced at the 7‐position of 8‐aza‐7‐deazapurine‐2,6‐diamine (see 2b , c ) or at the 5‐position of uracil residues (see 3b , c ). Phosphoramidites were synthesized after protection of 2b with the isobutyryl residue and of 2c with the benzoyl group. Duplexes containing the residues 2b or 2c gave always higher T<sub>m</sub> values than those of the nonmodified counterparts containing 2′‐deoxyadenosine, the purine‐2,6‐diamine 2′‐deoxyribonucleoside ( 1 ), or 2a at the same positions. Six 2b residues replacing dA in the duplex 5′‐d(TAGGTCAATACT)‐3′ ( 11 )⋅5′‐d(AGTATTGACCTA)‐3′ ( 12 ) raised the T<sub>m</sub> value from 48 to 75° (4.5° per modification (Table 3)). Contrary to this, incorporation of the 5‐halogenated 2′‐deoxyuridines 3b or 3c into oligonucleotide duplexes showed very little influence on the thermal stability, regardless of which `purine' nucleoside was located opposite to them (Tables 4 and 5). The positive effects on the thermal stability of duplexes observed in DNA were also found in DNA⋅RNA hybrids or in DNA with parallel chain orientation (Tables 8 and 9, resp.).     

Cyclocondensation reactions of heterocyclic carbonyl compounds XI . Synthesis and study of cyclocondensation reactions of some 3‐substituted‐5‐(2‐aminobenzyl)‐1H‐[1,2,4]triazine‐6‐ones

A series of 2‐substituted‐4‐(2‐nitrobenzylidene)‐4,5‐dihydrooxazol‐5‐ones ( 2a‐2i ) was prepared by the Erlenmeyer's synthesis of 2‐nitrobenzaldehyde with acylglycines ( 1a‐1i ) and the series of corresponding aminoderivatives ( 3b‐3d and 3g‐3i ) was synthetised by catalytic hydrogenation of ( 2b‐2d and 3g‐3i ). Hydrazinolysis of azlactones ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) gave hydrazides ( 4 ) and ( 5 ). The hydrazides ( 5 ) were also obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of corresponding nitroderivatives ( 4 ). The cyclization reaction of hydrazides ( 4 ) or ( 5 ) proceeded to 3,5‐disubstituted‐1,6‐dihydro‐[1,2,4]triazine‐6‐ones ( 6 ) or ( 7 ). Aminoderivatives ( 7 ) were also obtained by reduction of nitro group of compounds ( 6 ). The aminoderivatives ( 7 ) were then cyclized to 3‐substituted‐1,5‐dihydro‐[1,2,4]triazino[6,5‐b]quinolines ( 9 ), resp. its tautomers ( 10 ).     

Polar aspects of intramolecular interactions in 2‐amino‐5‐nitro‐4‐methylpyridines and 2‐amino‐3‐nitro‐4‐methylpyridines

The dipole moments of twelve 2‐N‐substituted amino‐5‐nitro‐4‐methylpyridines ( I‐XII ) and three 2‐N‐substituted amino‐3‐nitro‐4‐methylpyridines ( XIII‐XV ) were determined in benzene. The polar aspects of intramolecular charge‐transfer and intramolecular hydrogen bonding were discussed. The interaction dipole moments, μ_int, were calculated for 2‐N‐alkyl(or aryl)amino‐5‐nitro‐4‐methylpyridines. Increased alkylation of amino nitrogen brought about an intensified push‐pull interaction between the amino and nitro groups. The solvent effects on the dipole moments of 2‐N‐methylamino‐5‐nitro‐4‐methyl‐( I ), 2‐N,N‐dimethylamino‐5‐nitro‐4‐methyl‐ ( II ) and 2‐N‐methylamino‐3‐nitro‐4‐methylpyridines ( XIII ) were different. Specific hydrogen bond solute‐solvent interactions increased the charge‐transfer effect in I , but it did not disrupt the intramolecular hydrogen bond in XIII.     

Synthesis of 1‐(substituted phenylcarbonyl/sulfonylamino)‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine‐5‐carboxylic acid diethylamides as potential anti‐inflammatory agents

Fifteen novel 1‐(substituted phenylcarbonyl/sulfonylamino)‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydro‐ pyridine‐5‐carboxylic acid diethylamide ( 7, 15 ) were synthesized in fair to good yields via sodium borohydride reduction of the corresponding 1‐(substituted phenylcarbonyl/ sulfonylimino)‐3‐diethylcarbamoyl pyridinium ylides ( 6, 14 ) in absolute ethanol.     

Methylamination of some 3‐nitro‐1,5‐naphthyridines with liquid methylamine/potassium permanganate

3‐Nitro‐1,5‐naphthyridine and its 2‐substituted derivatives ( 1a‐f ) are dehydro‐methylaminated with a solution of potassium permanganate in liquid methylamine (LMA‐PP) to the corresponding 4‐methylamino‐3‐nitro‐1,5‐naphthyridines ( 3a‐e ). The intermediary 4‐methylamino σ adducts of 2‐R‐3‐nitro‐1,5‐naphthyridines (R ? H, NH₂, Cl, NHCH₃, OC₂H₅, OH) ( 2a‐f ) are detected by ¹H nmr spectroscopy. The observed highly regioselective course of study reactions was confirmed by PM3 quantum chemical calculations of the reaction pathway. The calculations show satisfactory agreement between calculated and observed results. A convenient synthesis of 2‐hydroxy‐ and 4‐methylamino‐3‐nitro‐1,5‐naphthyridine are reported.     

Rhodium(II)‐Catalyzed Inter‐ and Intramolecular Enantioselective Cyclopropanations with Alkyl‐Diazo(triorganylsilyl)acetates

The intermolecular cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazo(triethylsilyl)acetate ( 1a ) proceeds at room temperature in the presence of chiral Rh^II carboxylate catalysts derived from imide‐protected amino acids and affords mixtures of trans‐ and cis‐cyclopropane derivatives 2a in up to 72% yield but with modest enantioselectivities (<54%) (Scheme 1 and Table 1). Protiodesilylation of a diastereoisomer mixture 2a with Bu₄NF is accompanied by epimerization at C(1) (→ 3 ). The intramolecular cyclopropanation of allyl diazo(triethylsilyl)acetate ( 8a ), in turn, affords optically active 3‐oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan‐2‐one ( 9a ) with yields of up to 85% and 56% ee (Scheme 3 and Table 2). Similarly, the (2Z)‐pent‐2‐enyl derivative 8d reacts to 9d in up to 77% yield and 38% ee (Scheme 3 and Table 3). In contrast, the diazo decomposition of (2E)‐3‐phenylprop‐2‐enyl and 2‐methylprop‐2‐en‐1‐yl diazo(triethyl‐silyl)acetates ( 8b and 8c , resp.) is unsatisfactory and gives very poor yields of substituted 3‐oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan‐2‐ones 9b and 9c , respectively (Table 3).     

Synthesis and Characterization of Enantiomerically Pure cis‐ and trans‐3‐Fluoro‐2,4‐dioxa‐7‐aza‐3‐phosphadecalin 3‐Oxides as Acetylcholine Mimetics and Inhibitors of Acetylcholinesterase

The title compounds, the P(3)‐axially and P(3)‐equatorially substituted cis‐ and trans‐configured 7‐benzyl‐3‐fluoro‐2,4‐dioxa‐7‐aza‐3‐phosphadecalin 3‐oxides (=7‐benzyl‐3‐fluoro‐2,4‐dioxa‐7‐aza‐3‐phosphabicyclo[4.4.0]decane 3‐oxides=5‐benzyl‐2‐fluorohexahydro‐4H‐1,3,2‐dioxaphosphorino[5,4‐b]pyridine 2‐oxides) were prepared (ee>99%) and fully characterized (Schemes 2 and 4). The absolute configurations were established from that of their precursors, the enantiomerically pure cis‐ and trans‐1‐benzyl‐3‐hydroxypiperidine‐2‐methanols which were unambiguously assigned. Being configuratively fixed and conformationally constrained phosphorus analogues of acetylcholine, they mimic rotamers of acetylcholine and are suitable probes for the investigation of molecular interactions with acetylcholinesterase. As determined by kinetic methods, the compounds are irreversible inhibitors of the enzyme displaying significant stereoselectivity.     

Pericyclic Transformations at the Periphery of Chromen‐4‐one (=4H‐1‐Benzopyran‐4‐one): An Unusual Preference for a 1,5‐Shift of Allylic Moieties over the Ene Reaction

Quite unlike the reported facile ene reactions on the periphery of many related heterocyclic systems, similarly disposed moieties on the periphery of the chromen‐4‐one (=4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one) system fail to undergo an ene reaction and display a rather unusual preference for an overall [1,5] shift of the allylic C‐atom. Thus, heating xylene solutions of 2‐(N‐allylanilino)‐, 2‐(N‐crotylanilino)‐, and 2‐(N‐cinnamylamino)‐substituted (E)‐(oxochromenyl)propenoates 9a – c and 2‐[allyl(benzyl)amino]‐, 2‐[benzyl(crotyl)amino]‐, and 2‐[benzyl(cinnamyl)amino]‐substituted (E)‐(oxochromenyl)propenoates 16a – c in a sealed tube at 220–230° leads to a [1,5] shift of the allylic moieties (allyl, crotyl, cinnamyl), which is followed by intramolecular cyclization involving the N‐atom and the ester function, to give the 3‐allyl‐3‐crotyl‐, and 3‐cinnamyl‐substituted‐1‐phenyl‐ or 1‐benzyl‐2H‐[1]benzopyrano[2,3‐b]pyridine‐2,5(1H)‐diones 10a – c and 17a – c . The anticipated carbonyl–ene reaction in the 2‐(N‐allylanilino)‐, 2‐(N‐crotylanilino)‐, 2‐(N‐cinnamylanilino)‐, 2‐[allyl(benzyl)amino]‐, 2‐[benzyl(crotyl)amino]‐, and 2‐[benzyl(cinnamyl)amino]‐substituted 4‐oxochromene‐3‐carboxaldehydes 8a – c and 15a – c is also not observed, and these molecules remain untransformed under identical conditions. No [1,5] shifts of benzyl, phenyl, or methyl groups are observed, even in the absence of allylic moieties, though facile [1,5]‐H shift occurs in 2‐(benzylamino)‐ and 2‐(phenylamino)‐substituted (E)‐(oxochromenyl)propenoates 23a , b , which is followed by a similar intramolecular cyclization leading to the 2H‐[1]benzopyrano[2,3‐b]pyridine‐2,5(1H)‐diones 24a , b .     

Reactions of 1‐(3‐aryl‐3‐oxopropenyl)azulenes and 1‐cinnamoylazulenes with malononitrile: Synthesis of 1‐(2‐aryl‐4‐pyridyl)azulenes and 1‐(4‐aryl‐2‐pyridyl)azulenes

The reactions of 1‐formyl‐3‐methoxycarbonylazulene ( 1 ) with acetophenones 3a‐e gave 1‐(3‐aryl‐3‐oxopropenyl)‐3‐methoxycarbonylazulenes 4a‐e which reacted with malononitrile in the presence of sodium methoxide to afford 1‐(2‐aryl‐4‐pyridyl)‐3‐methoxycarbonylazulenes 9a‐d , except for 4′‐nitro‐substituted compounds. Heating of the compounds 9a‐d in 100% phosphoric acid yielded 1‐(2‐aryl‐4‐pyridyl)azulenes 10a‐d . In a similar manner, 1‐(4‐aryl‐2‐pyridyl)azulenes 12a‐1 and 1‐[4‐(2‐furyl)‐ and 4‐(2‐thienyl)‐2‐pyridyl)]azulenes 14a,b were obtained.     

A New Approach to Sesquiterpene Arenes of the 9,11‐Drimenyl Type (= [(1E,2RS,4aRS,8aRS)‐Octahydro‐2,5,5,8a‐tetramethylnaphthalen‐1(2H)‐ylidene] methyl Type)

A new reaction sequence for the synthesis of the sesquiterpene arenes (±)‐wiedendiol B ((±)‐ 1 ) and the siphonodictyal B derivative (±)‐ 21 consists in the coupling of (±)‐drimanoyl chloride ((±)‐ 3 ) with lithiated and appropriately substituted aromatic synthons to furnish the ketones (±)‐ 7 and (±)‐ 17 which were reduced to the benzyl alcohols (±)‐ 8a,b and (±)‐ 18a,b , respectively (Schemes 5, 4, and 12). The 9,11‐double bond of the drimenes (±)‐ 9 and (±)‐ 19 was formed by elimination of H₂O from the benzyl alcohols (±)‐ 8a,b and (±)‐ 18a,b (Schemes 6 and 12). New alternatives were applied to this elimination reaction involving either the pyridine ? SO₃ complex or chloral as reagents.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Amination of 3,5‐Dihalopyridines – a Convenient Route to New Polyazamacrocycles

Pd‐Catalyzed amination of 3,5‐dibromo‐ and 3,5‐dichloropyridine ( 1a and 1b , resp.) with linear polyamines 2 leads to the formation of a new family of pyridine‐containing macrocycles 3 with an ‘exo’‐oriented pyridine N‐atom (Schemes 1 and 2). The dependence of the macrocycle yield on the nature of the halogen atom, the length of the polyamine chain and C/N atom ratio, and the composition of the catalytic system is studied. The synthesis of mono‐ and bis(5‐halopyridin‐3‐yl)‐substituted polyamines 4, 5, 8, 9 , and of 3,5‐bis(polyamino)‐substituted pyridines 6 is described (Schemes 3 and 4), and the use of these compounds as intermediates on the way to the macrocycles 7, 16 , and 18 with larger cavity (‘cyclodimers’ and ‘cyclotrimers’) is demonstrated (Schemes 5–10).     

Hydroboration of Alkenes and Alkynes with Aza‐nido‐decaboranes

The 6‐aza‐nido‐decaboranes RNB₉H₁₁ ( 1a—d ; R = H, Ph, 4‐C₆H₄Me, 4‐C₆H₄Cl) act as 1, 2‐hydroboration agents via their 9‐BH vertex, giving products RNB₉H₁₀R′. The boranes 1a, b and 3‐hexyne yield the 9‐(1‐ethyl‐1‐butenyl)‐6‐aza‐nido‐decaboranes 2a, b (R′ = CEt = CHEt). 2, 3‐Dimethyl‐2‐butene is hydroborated by 1a—d under formation of the 9‐(1, 1, 2‐trimethylpropyl)‐6‐aza‐nido‐decaboranes 3a—d (R′ = —CMe₂ —CHMe₂). With the boranes 1a—c and (trimethylsilyl)ethene, a 85:15 mixture of the products (RNB₉H₁₀)CH₂CH₂(SiMe₃)( 4a—c ) and their chiral isomers (RNB₉H₁₀)CH(SiMe₃)CH₃ ( 5a—c ) is obtained. The action of BH₃(SMe₂) on the mixtures 4b/5b or 4c/5c results in a closure of the nido‐NB₉ skeleton of 4b or 4c , respectively, with a closo‐NB₁₁ skeleton of the products RNB₁₁H₁₀R′ ( 6b or 6c;R′ = CH₂CH₂(SiMe₃)); R′ is found in position 7 of 6b, c . All products of the type 2—6 are characterised by NMR.     

Synthesis of 4‐hydroxyquinolin‐2(1H)‐one analogues and 2‐substituted quinolone derivatives

A versatile synthetic method for preparing 4‐hydroxyquinolone and 2‐substituted quinolone compounds from simple benzoic acid derivatives was demonstrated. The synthetic strategies involve the use of well known ethyl acetoacetate synthesis, malonic ester synthesis and reductive cyclization. The key intermediates were keto esters 4a‐e , which could be transformed to 4‐hydroxyquinolones 5a,b or 2‐substituted quinolone ethyl esters 6a‐c depending on the reaction conditions. 4‐Hydroxyquinolone analogues were prepared and investigated for N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) activity in vitro. Among these derivatives, 6,7‐difluoro‐3‐nitro‐4‐hydroxyquinolin‐2(1H)‐one ( 9 ) exhibited moderate activity.     

Preparation of 6‐azaoxindole (6‐azaindol‐2(3H)‐one) and substituted derivatives

A general synthesis of 6‐azaoxindoles, substituted in the 3‐ and 5‐position, has been developed starting from 4‐methoxycarbomethyl‐3‐nitropyridine, via hydrogenation of the nitro group and cyclisation of the resulting 3‐amino‐4‐methoxycarbomethyl‐pyridine.     

Synthesis of Thienyl‐Substituted Dihydrofuran Compounds Promoted by Manganese(III) Acetate

Radical cyclization reactions of both aliphatic 1,3‐diones 1a and 1b and of cyclic 1,3‐diones 1c – 1e with 2‐thienyl‐ and 3‐thienyl‐substituted alkenes 2a – 2d in the presence of manganese(III) acetate were investigated. Thienyl‐substituted dihydrofurans 3 were obtained with moderate to high yields (Table 1–3). Also, the favorable effect of the thienyl substituent on the intermediate carbocation stability was evaluated by comparison with a phenyl substituent.     

Dimethylformamide Catalyzed Synthesis of Novel Heterocycles—Their Characterization and Antimicrobial Evaluation

Indandione 1 was brominated to yield 2‐bromoIndandione 2 , which further reacted with substituted thiocarbamides, carbamides, 2‐aminothiophenols, 2‐aminophenol, and triazole to furnished 3‐substituted aniline‐2‐thia‐4‐aza‐6,7‐benzo‐8‐oxo‐bicyclo[3.3.0]‐1(5),3‐octadiene 3 , 3‐substituted aniline‐2‐oxa‐4‐aza‐6,7‐benzo‐8‐oxo‐bicyclo[3.3.0]‐1(5),3‐octadiene 4 , 2‐Thia‐5‐aza‐9‐oxo‐3,4‐(3′‐substituted) benzo‐7,8‐benzo‐bicyclo[4.3.0]‐1(6) nonene 5 , 2‐oxa‐5‐aza‐9‐oxo‐(3, 4)‐(7,8)‐dibenzo‐bicyclo[4.3.0]‐1(6) nonene 6 , 3′‐substituted‐(1′,2′,4′)triazolo[5,6‐b][indeno(2,3‐e)]‐1,3,4‐thiadiazine 7 , respectively. The structures of compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral techniques, further the representative compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activity.     

Preparation of 2‐amino‐5‐methyl‐7H‐1,3,4‐thiadiazolo[3,2‐α]pyrimidin‐7‐ones

2‐Amino substituted 7H‐1,3,4‐thiadiazolo[3,2‐α]pyrimidin‐7‐ones 11a‐e were prepared by the reaction of 2‐bromo‐5‐amino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole ( 1b ) and diketene ( 8 ), subsequent cyclocondensation ( 9b → 3b ) and displacement of the bromo substituents by the reaction with primary or secondary amines ( 3b → 11a‐e ). The hydrogen atom 6‐H in the heterobicycle 3b is replaced by a Cl or Br atom in the transformation of 3b → 14a,b. The 2‐bromo‐6‐chloro compound 14a reacts chemoselectively in the 2‐position with dimethylamine ( 14a → 15 ). The structure elucidations are based on one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR techniques including a heteronuclear NOE measurement.