Synthesis and isolation of chloro‐β‐carbolines obtained by chlorination of β‐carboline alkaloids in solution and in solid state

β‐Carbolines (1‐5) undergo electrophilic aromatic substitution with N‐chlorosuccinimide and N‐chlorobenzotriazole under different experimental conditions. Although 6‐chloro and 8‐chloro‐nor‐har‐mane ( 1a and 1b ) and 6‐chloro and 8‐chloro‐harmane ( 2a and 2b ) obtained by chlorination with sodium hypochlorite of nor‐harmane (1) and harmane (2) were isolated and fully characterized recently, other chloroderivatives of nor‐harmane and harmane have never been described. The preparation and subsequent isolation, purification and full characterization of the dichloroderivatives 1c and 2c are reported (mp, R_f, ¹H nmr, ¹³C nmr and ms) together with the preparation, isolation and charaterization, for the first time, of the chloroderivatives obtained from harmine (3a‐3c) , harmol (4a‐4b) and 7‐acetylharmol (5a‐5c) . As chlorinating reagent N‐chlorosuccinimide and N‐chlorobenzotriazole in solution as well as the β‐carboline ‐N‐chlorosuccinimide solid mixture have been used and their uses have been compared. Gc (t_R) and gc‐ms (m/z) data for other monochloro derivative of nor‐harmane (1d) and monochloro‐ and dichloroderivatives of harmane ( 2d and 2e‐2f ), obtained in trace amounts, are also included (Scheme 1 and Table I). Semiempirical AM1 and PM3 calculations have been performed in order to predict reactivity in terms of the energies of HOMO‐LUMO difference and in terms of the charge density of β‐carbolines (1‐5) and chloro‐β‐carbolines ( 1a‐1c, 2a‐2c, 3a‐3c, 4a‐4b , and 5a‐5c ) (Scheme 1). Theoretical and experimental results are discussed briefly.     

Synthesis and isolation of nitro‐bT‐carbolines obtained by nitration of commercial β‐carboline alkaloids

Nitration of commercial full aromatic β‐carboline alkaloids nor‐harmane ( 1 ), harmane ( 2 ), harmine ( 3 ), harmol ( 4 ), and the 7‐acetylated derivative of harmol ( 5 ) is described. Advantages and disadvantages of different nitration reagents which involve acidic conditions (HNO₃/H⁺) and neutral conditions (Cu(NO₃)₂; ceric ammonium nitrate) are discussed. A complete ¹H and ¹³C‐nmr characterization including ms and also uv absorption spectra in neutral and acid media is presented. A detailed ei‐ms and ld‐tof‐ms study is enclosed because the nitro‐β‐carbolines constitute a new family of β‐carboline‐like chromophores with potential use as matrix in uv‐maldi‐tof‐ms.     

Pictet‐spengler synthesis of pyrazole‐fused β‐carbolines

The synthesis of new pyrazolo[4,3‐c]β‐carbolines ( 8a,b ) is achieved by condensation of the appropriate aldehyde with 3‐(4‐amino‐1,3‐dimethylpyrazol‐5‐yl)indole ( 4 ) under Pictet‐Spengler reaction conditions. Regioselective cyclization occurred at the usual indole C‐2 position as evidenced from the ¹H‐and ¹³C nmr spectra of 8a,b which lack the pyrrolic H‐2 signal, present in 4 (δ 7.26, 1H, d, J_ch‐NH = 2‐5 Hz).     

Bis(α‐bromo ketones): Versatile Precursors for Novel Bis(s‐triazolo[3,4‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazines) and Bis(as‐triazino[3,4‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazines)

A synthesis of bis(α‐bromo ketones) 5a‐c and 6b,c was accomplished by the reaction of bis(acetophenones) 3a‐c and 4b,c with N‐bromosuccinimide in the presence of p‐toluenesulfonic acid (p‐TsOH). Treatment of 5a‐c and 6b,c with each of 4‐amino‐3‐mercapto‐1,2,4‐triazoles 9a,b and 4‐amino‐6‐phenyl‐3‐mercapto‐1,2,4‐triazin‐5(4H)‐ones 13 in refluxing ethanol afforded the novel bis(s‐triazolo[3,4‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazines) 10a‐d and 11a‐c as well as bis(as‐triazino[3,4‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazines) 14a‐c and 15 , respectively, in good yields. Compounds 11b and 11c underwent NaBH₄ reduction in methanol to give the target 1,ω‐bis{4‐(6,7‐dihydro‐3‐substituted‐5H‐1,2,4‐triazolo[3,4‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazin‐6‐yl)phenoxy}butanes 12a and 12b in 42 and 46% yields, respectively.     

The formation of 3‐ferrocenylpyrazole‐4‐carboxylates and alkylhydrazine insertion products from α‐ferrocenylmethylidene‐β‐oxocarboxylates

The reactions of α‐ferrocenylmethylidene‐β‐oxocarboxylates ( 1 , 2 , 3a , and 3b ) with N‐methyl‐ and N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)hydrazines ( 5a , 5b ) afford ethyl 1‐alkyl‐5‐aryl(methyl)‐3‐ferrocenylpyrazole‐4‐carboxylates ( 6a , 6b , 6c , 6d , 6e ) (～50%) and N‐alkylhydrazine insertion products, viz., ethyl (N′‐acyl‐N′‐alkylhydrazino)‐3‐ferrocenylpropanoates ( 7a , 7b , 7c , 7d , 7e ) (～20%) and 1‐acyl‐2‐(N′‐alkyl‐N′‐ethoxycarbonylhydrazino)‐2‐ferrocenylethanes ( 8a , 8b , 8c , 8d , 8e ) (～10%). The structures of the compounds obtained were established based on the spectroscopic data and X‐ray diffraction analysis (for pyrazoles 6a and 6b ). J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Reaction of 3‐substituted and 4‐bromo‐3‐substituted isoquinolin‐1‐(2h)‐ones with propargyl bromide

Isoquinolinones were brominated using N‐bromosuccinimide in dimethylformamide at room temperature to give 4‐bromo‐3‐substituted isoquinolin‐1‐(2H)‐ones. The reaction of these isoquinolinones with propargyl bromide in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate yielded N and O‐alkylated products.     

A novel synthesis of some new benzoyl‐substituted heterocycles from 2‐benzoyl‐3‐phenylpent‐2‐ene‐1,5‐dinitrile

2‐Benzoyl‐3‐phenylpent‐2‐ene‐1,5‐dinitrile 1 undergoes bromination with N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) to afford the bromo derivative 2a . This bromo derivative undergoes reactions with sodium hydrogen sulfide, ethyl thioglycollate, hydroxylamine hydrochloride, hydrazines, cyanoacetamide, cyanacetohydrazide and urea derivatives to afford the thiophene 4 , 4H‐thiopyran 6 , 4H‐1,2‐oxazine 8 , 4H‐pyridazines 10a,b , the pyridine 15 , pyrrolo[1,2‐b]pyridazine 17 and the N‐substituted‐pyrrole derivatives 19a‐c respectively.     

Synthesis of 9‐Halogenated 9‐Deazaguanine N7‐(2′‐Deoxyribonucleosides)

The syntheses of N⁷‐glycosylated 9‐deazaguanine 1a as well as of its 9‐bromo and 9‐iodo derivatives 1b , c are described. The regioselective 9‐halogenation with N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) and N‐iodosuccinimide (NIS) was accomplished at the protected nucleobase 4a (2‐{[(dimethylamino)methylidene]amino}‐3,5‐dihydro‐3‐[(pivaloyloxy)methyl]‐4H‐pyrrolo[3,2‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐one). Nucleobase‐anion glycosylation of 4a – c with 2‐deoxy‐3,5‐di‐O‐(p‐toluoyl)‐α‐D ‐erythro‐pentofuranosyl chloride ( 5 ) furnished the fully protected intermediates 6a – c (Scheme 2). They were deprotected with 0.01M NaOMe yielding the sugar‐deprotected derivatives 8a – c (Scheme 3). At higher concentrations (0.1M NaOMe), also the pivaloyloxymethyl group was removed to give 7a – c , while conc. aq. NH₃ solution furnished the nucleosides 1a – c . In D₂O, the sugar conformation was always biased towards S (67–61%).     

Selective α-Bromination of β-Keto Esters in Reusable PEG-400 under Mild and Catalyst-free Conditions

An efficient bromination protocol for the synthesis of α-bromo-β-keto esters has been developed. In PEG-400 （poly（ethylene glycol-400））, a variety of β-keto esters were treated with NBS （N-bromosuccinimide） at room temperature to selectively afford the corresponding α-monobromination products in excellent yields. It is noteworthy that the reaction was conducted under mild, environmentally benign and catalyst-free conditions.     

Synthesis of N‐(Substituted aryl/cyclohexyl)‐N'‐[5‐bromo‐5‐nitro‐2‐oxido‐1,3,2‐dioxaphosphorinane‐2‐yl]ureas

N‐(Substituted aryl/cyclohexyl)‐N'‐[5‐bromo‐5‐nitro‐2‐oxido‐1,3,2‐dioxaphosphorinane‐2‐yl]ureas RR'P(O)NHC(O)NHR' (5) were synthesized by the reactions of 2‐bromo‐2‐nitro‐1,3‐propanediol (4) with chlorides of aryl/cyclohexyl carbamidophosphoric acids (3) in the presence of triethylamine at room temperature. Their ir, ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P nmr spectral data are discussed.     

Synthesis of Novel 3‐(3‐(5‐Methylisoxazol‐3‐yl)‐7H‐[1,2,4]Triazolo [3,4‐b][1,3,4]Thiadiazin‐6‐yl)‐2H‐Chromen‐2‐Ones

A novel series of coumarin substituted triazolo‐thiadiazine derivatives were designed and synthesized by using 5‐methyl isoxazole‐3‐carboxylic acid ( 1 ), thiocarbohydrazide ( 2 ), and various substituted 3‐(2‐bromo acetyl) coumarins ( 4a , 4b , 4c , 4e , 4d , 4f , 4g , 4h , 4i , 4j ). Fusion of 5‐methyl isoxazole‐3‐carboxylic acid with thiocarbohydrazide resulted in the formation of the intermediate 4‐amino‐5‐(5‐methylisoxazol‐3‐yl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiol ( 3 ). This intermediate on further reaction with substituted 3‐(2‐bromo acetyl) coumarins under simple reaction conditions formed the title products 3‐(3‐(5‐methylisoxazol‐3‐yl)‐7H‐[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazin‐6‐yl‐2H‐chromen‐2‐ones ( 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h , 5i , 5j ) in good to excellent yields. All the synthesized compounds were well characterized by physical, analytical, and spectroscopic techniques.     

Structure analysis of some α‐(n‐methyl‐n‐formylaminomethyl)‐quinolines

The ¹H and ¹³C nmr spectra of the rotational isomers 3a and 3b of 6‐N‐methyl‐N‐formylaminomefhyl)‐thioquinanthrene were completely assigned with a combination of 1D and 2D nmr techniques. The key‐parts of this methodology were long‐range proton‐carbon correlations and NOE experiments with N‐methyl‐N‐formylaminomethyl substituent. The X‐ray study of 4‐methyl‐2‐N‐methyl‐N‐formylaminomethyl)quinoline 4a as well as ¹H and ¹³C nmr spectra show that N‐methyl‐N‐formylaminomethyl substituent in 4a and 4b has a different steric arrangement than the same substituent in 3a and 3b .     

Reaction of β‐Bromo‐β,γ‐unsaturated Pyrroline Nitroxide Aldehydes and Nitriles with Aromatic N,S‐Binucleophiles

Reactions of β‐bromo‐β,γ‐unsaturated pyrroline nitroxide aldehyde ( 1 ) or nitrile ( 4 ) or their diamagnetic forms ( 5, 6 ) with 2‐aminothiophenol or 2‐mercaptobenzimidazole were evaluated. The reaction could be reproduced more easily with the application of O‐acetyl derivatives of nitroxides to generate 2‐substituted‐benzothiazole, pyrrolo[3,4‐b ]benzo[1,5]tiazepine scaffolds with 2‐aminothiophenol and benzimidazo[2,1‐b ]pyrrolo[3,4‐e ]‐[1,3]thiazine scaffold with 2‐mercaptobenzimidazole.     

Synthesis of benzo[c][1,8]phenanthrolin‐6‐one through cyclization of N‐(isoquinol‐5‐yl)‐2‐bromo‐benzamide derivatives

In the course of our search for compounds with potential antitumor properties we have undertaken the synthesis of benzo[c][1,8]phenanthroline derivatives. Our project required the preparation of 8,9‐dimethoxy benzo[c][1,8]phenanthrolin‐6‐ones. This was first attempted by the lithiumdiisopropylamide cyclization of N‐(isoquinol‐5‐yl)‐2‐bromo‐4,5‐dimethoxybenzamide. The reaction led to 40% of the unexpected internal Diels‐Alder adduct 3,4‐dimethoxy‐6H‐pyrido[2,3‐i]6,8a‐ethenoindolo[cd]isoquinoline‐2(1H)‐one, which arose from a benzyne intermediate. In a second and more successful approach, the internal biaryl palladium diacetate‐assisted coupling reaction of properly N‐protected N‐(isoquinol‐5‐yl)‐2‐bromo‐4,5‐dimethoxybenzamide was studied. The optimisation of the protecting group necessary for this procedure led to a 64% yield of the target compound starting from N,N‐(isoquinol‐5‐yl)‐bis‐(2‐bromo‐4,5‐dimethoxybenzamide).     

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.     

Reaction of 6‐Methyl‐2‐Thiouracil and 6‐Phenyl‐2‐Thiouracil with Chloro‐β‐Dicarbonyl and Bromo‐β‐Dicarbonyl Compounds and Their Nitrile Analogs

Derivatives of 2‐methylidene‐1,3‐dihydropyrimidin‐4‐ones 2a , 2b , 2c , 2d , 2e , 2f , 2g were synthesized by interaction of 6‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil and 6‐phenyl‐2‐thiouracil 1a , 1b with some activated halogenides: diethyl bromomalonate, ethyl 2‐chloro‐3‐oxobutanoate, ethyl 2‐bromocyanoacetate, 2‐bromo‐5,5‐dimethylcyclohexan‐1,3‐dione, and bromomalononitrile. The boiling of 1a with ethyl 2‐bromocyanoacetate in mixture of ethanol and EtONa results in intramolecular cyclization and formation of thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidin‐5‐one 3 . Interaction of 1a with 3‐chloropentane‐2,4‐dione and 2‐bromo‐1,3‐diphenylpropane‐1,3‐dione yielded corresponding S‐substituted thiopyrimidines 4a , 4b . In general, the products of 1b S‐alkylation are less prone to sulfur extrusion. Reaction of 1b with diethyl bromomalonate in the absence of EtONa stops at the S‐alkylation step, while in the presence of EtONa in ethanol or PPh₃ in dioxane 2‐(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)thio‐6‐phenyl‐1,3‐dihydropyrimidin‐4(1H)‐one 6 is formed exclusively. Molecular structure and crystal structure of 2‐(1,1‐diethoxycarbonylmethyliden)‐6‐methyl‐1,3‐dihydropyrimidin‐4(1H)‐one 2a are discussed.     

Unusual tosyl transfer solvolysis reaction to 3‐n‐butyl‐4‐methyl‐5,5‐di‐p‐toluenesulfonyl‐ 3 ‐pyrrolin‐2‐one

The title compound ( 1 ) was isolated in 20‐30% recovery following solvolysis of a mixture of 5‐bromo‐3‐n‐butyl‐4‐methyl‐2‐p‐toluenesulfonylpyrrole ( 4b ) and 5‐bromo‐4‐n‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐2‐p‐toluenesulfonyl‐pyrrole ( 4a ) in trifluoroacetic acid and water, a reaction designed to produce 5‐p‐toluenesulfonyl‐3‐pyrrolin‐2‐ones, e.g., 5a and 5b .     

Photochemical Reactions of N‐(2‐Halogenoalkanoyl) Derivatives of Anilines

The photochemical reactions of 2‐substituted N‐(2‐halogenoalkanoyl) derivatives 1 of anilines and 5 of cyclic amines are described. Under irradiation, 2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropananilides 1a – e undergo exclusively dehydrobromination to give N‐aryl‐2‐methylprop‐2‐enamides (=methacrylanilides) 3a – e (Scheme 1 and Table 1). On irradiation of N‐alkyl‐ and N‐phenyl‐substituted 2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropananilides 1f – m , cyclization products, i.e. 1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐indol‐2‐ones (=oxindoles) 2f – m and 3,4‐dihydroquinolin‐2(1H)‐ones (=dihydrocarbostyrils) 4f – m , are obtained, besides 3f – m . On the other hand, irradiation of N‐methyl‐substituted 2‐chloro‐2‐phenylacetanilides 1o – q and 2‐chloroacetanilide 1r gives oxindoles 2o – r as the sole product, but in low yields (Scheme 3 and Table 2). The photocyclization of the corresponding N‐phenyl derivatives 1s – v to oxindoles 2s – v proceeds smoothly. A plausible mechanism for the formation of the photoproducts is proposed (Scheme 4). Irradiation of N‐(2‐halogenoalkanoyl) derivatives of cyclic amines 5a – c yields the cyclization products, i.e. five‐membered lactams 6a , b , and/or dehydrohalogenation products 7a , c and their cyclization products 8a , c , depending on the ring size of the amines (Scheme 5 and Table 3).     

Synthesis of 7,8‐Dehydropurpurin Dimers and Their Conversion into Conformationally Constrained β‐to‐β Vinylene‐Bridged Porphyrin Dimers

7,8‐Dehydropurpurin has attracted much attention owing to the dual 18π‐ and 20π‐electron circuits in its macrocyclic conjugation. The two‐fold Pd‐catalyzed [3+2] annulation of meso‐bromoporphyrin with 1,4‐diphenylbutadiyne furnished 7,8‐dehydropurpurin dimers. The 8^a,8^a‐linked dimer displays a red‐shifted and enhanced absorption band in the NIR region and a small electrochemical HOMO–LUMO band gap as a consequence of efficient conjugation between the two coplanar 7,8‐dehydropurpurin units. Treatment of this dimer with N‐bromosuccinimide in chloroform and ethanol gave β‐to‐β vinylene‐bridged porphyrin dimers. Owing to the highly constrained conformations, these dimers exhibit perturbed absorption spectra, small Stokes shifts, and high fluorescence quantum yields.     

An efficient synthesis of 5‐aryl‐4,5‐dihydro‐3‐(5‐methyl‐1‐p‐tolyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)‐1‐(4‐phenylthiazol‐2‐yl)pyrazoles

Some new target products 5‐aryl‐4,5‐dihydro‐3‐(5‐methyl‐1‐p‐tolyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)‐1‐(4‐phenylthiazol‐2‐yl)pyrazoles 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h , 5i , 5j have been synthesized by reaction of 2‐bromo‐1‐phenylethanone and compounds 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f , 4g , 4h , 4i , 4j which were prepared from the combination of thiosemicarbazide and (E)‐3‐aryl‐1‐(5‐methyl‐1‐p‐tolyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)‐prop‐2‐en‐1‐ones 3a , 3b , 3c , 3d , 3e , 3f , 3g , 3h , 3i , 3j . All the structures were established by MS, IR, CHN, and ¹H NMR spectra data. Synthesis of structure diversity is applied. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).