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 bromo‐β‐carbolines obtained by bromination of β‐carboline alkaloids

β‐Carbolines ( 1–5 ) undergo electrophilic aromatic substitution with N‐bromosuccinimide under different experimental conditions. Although 6‐bromo‐nor‐harmane ( la ) obtained by bromination of nor‐harmane ( 1 ) was isolated and fully characterized sometime ago, the other bromoderivatives of nor‐harmane ( 1b‐1e ) and harmane ( 2a‐2e ) were partially described as part of the reaction mixtures. The preparation and subsequent isolation, purification and full characterization of 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e are reported (mp, R _f, ¹H‐nmr, ¹³C‐nmr and ms) together with the preparation, isolation and charaterization, for the first time, of the bromoderivatives obtained from harmine ( 3a‐3e ), harmol ( 4a, 4b ) and 7‐acetylharmol ( 5a‐5c ). As brominating reagent N‐bromosuccinimide and N‐bromosuccinimide‐silica gel in dichloromethane and in chloroform as well as the β‐carboline ‐ N‐bomosuccinimide solid mixture have been used and their uses have been compared. Semiempirical AMI and PM3 calculations have been performed in order to predict reactivity in terms of the energies of HOMO, HOMO‐LUMO difference and in terms of the charge density of β‐carbolines ( 1–5 ) and bromo‐β‐carbolines ( 1a‐1e, 2a‐2e, 3a‐3e, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b and 5c ) (Scheme 1). Theoretical and experimental results are discussed briefly.     

β‐Carboline alkaloids 9 [1]. Total synthesis of the β‐carboline alkaloids arenarine A and (±)arenarine B

The first total synthesis of the β‐carboline alkaloids arenarine A (1) and arenarine B (2) is described. Methanolysis of the α‐bromoketone 9 gives 1 in good yield. Alternatively 1 can be obtained from the diazoketone 11 with boron trifluoride/methanol in poor yield. Reduction of 1 with sodium borohydride gives racemic arenarine B (2). Regioselective homolytic methylation of norharmane (4) with tert‐butyl hydroperoxide/ferrous sulfate gives the alkaloid harmane (6).     

β‐Carboline alkaloids from the stems of Picrasma quassioides

Five new β‐carboline alkaloids, 6,12‐dimethoxy‐3‐(2‐hydroxylethyl)‐β‐carboline (1), 3,10‐dihydroxy‐β‐carboline (2), 6,12‐dimethoxy‐3‐(1‐hydroxylethyl)‐β‐carboline (3), 6,12‐dimethoxy‐3‐(1,2‐dihydroxylethyl)‐β‐carboline (4), and 6‐methoxy‐3‐(2‐hydroxyl‐1‐ethoxylethyl)‐β‐carboline (5), and two new natural products, 6‐methoxy‐12‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxycarbonyl‐β‐carboline (6) and 3‐hydroxy‐β‐carboline (7) were isolated from the stems of Picrasma quassioides along with 16 known β‐carboline alkaloids (8–23). The structures of new compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, and the 1D and 2D NMR data of compounds 6, 7 and 10 were reported for the first time. The bioassays showed that only compounds 14 and 16 could enhance the differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadiocytes accompanied by secretion of adiponectin proteins among these 23 compounds. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of some fused β‐carbolines including the first example of the pyrrolo[3,2‐c]‐β‐carboline system

Condensation of 1‐methyl‐β‐carboline‐3‐carbaldehyde with ethyl azidoacetate and subsequent thermolysis of the resulting azidopropenoate was used to [c] annulate a pyrrole ring onto the β‐carboline moiety, thus producing the first example of the pyrrolo[3,2‐c]‐β‐carboline ring system. The latter ring system results from cyclization at the C‐4 carbon, whereas cyclization at the N‐2 nitrogen atom also occurs to form a pyrazolo[3,2‐c]‐β‐carboline ring system. Condensation of β‐carboline‐1‐carbaldehyde with ethyl azidoacetate produced a non‐isolable intermediate, which immediately underwent cyclization, however in this case cyclization occurred via attack at the ester and the azide remained intact. The resulting 5‐azidocanthin‐6‐one was transformed to the first examples of 5‐aminocanthin‐6‐ones. β‐Carboline‐1,3‐dicarbaldehyde failed to give an acceptable reaction with ethyl azidoacetate, but did undergo selective condensation with dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate at the C‐1 carbaldehyde with concomitant cyclization to form a highly functionalized 2‐formyl‐canthine derivative.     

Ruthenium–Arene–β‐Carboline Complexes as Potent Inhibitors of Cyclin‐Dependent Kinase 1: Synthesis,Characterization and Anticancer Mechanism Studies

A series of Ru^II–arene complexes ( 1 – 6 ) of the general formula [(η⁶‐arene)Ru(L)Cl]PF₆ (arene=benzene or p‐cymene; L=bidentate β‐carboline derivative, an indole alkaloid with potential cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDKs) inhibitory activities) is reported. All the complexes were fully characterized by classical analytical methods, and three were characterized by X‐ray crystallography. Hydrolytic studies show that β‐carboline ligands play a vital role in their aqueous behaviour. These complexes are highly active in vitro, with the most active complex 6 displaying a 3‐ to 12‐fold higher anticancer activity than cisplatin against several cancer cell lines. Interestingly, the complexes are able to overcome cross‐resistance to cisplatin, and show much lower cytotoxicity against normal cells. Complexes 1 – 6 may directly target CDK1, because they can block cells in the G2M phase, down‐regulate the expression of CDK1 and cyclin B1, and inhibit CDK1/cyclin B in vitro. Further mechanism studies show that the complexes can effectively induce apoptosis through mitochondrial‐related pathways and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) elevation.     

Highly Stereoselective β‐Mannopyranosylation via the 1‐α‐Glycosyloxy‐isochromenylium‐4‐gold(I) Intermediates

While the gold(I)‐catalyzed glycosylation reaction with 4,6‐O‐benzylidene tethered mannosyl ortho‐alkynylbenzoates as donors falls squarely into the category of the Crich‐type β‐selective mannosylation when Ph₃PAuOTf is used as the catalyst, in that the mannosyl α‐triflates are invoked, replacement of the ^?OTf in the gold(I) complex with less nucleophilic counter anions (i.e., ^?NTf₂, ^?SbF₆, ^?BF₄, and ^?BAr₄^F) leads to complete loss of β‐selectivity with the mannosyl ortho‐alkynylbenzoate β‐donors. Nevertheless, with the α‐donors, the mannosylation reactions under the catalysis of Ph₃PAuBAr₄^F (BAr₄^F=tetrakis[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate) are especially highly β‐selective and accommodate a broad scope of substrates; these include glycosylation with mannosyl donors installed with a bulky TBS group at O3, donors bearing 4,6‐di‐O‐benzoyl groups, and acceptors known as sterically unmatched or hindered. For the ortho‐alkynylbenzoate β‐donors, an anomerization and glycosylation sequence can also ensure the highly β‐selective mannosylation. The 1‐α‐mannosyloxy‐isochromenylium‐4‐gold(I) complex ( Cα ), readily generated upon activation of the α‐mannosyl ortho‐alkynylbenzoate ( 1 α ) with Ph₃PAuBAr₄^F at ?35 °C, was well characterized by NMR spectroscopy; the occurrence of this species accounts for the high β‐selectivity in the present mannosylation.     

Photophysical and Photochemical Properties of Naturally Occurring normelinonine F and Melinonine F Alkaloids and Structurally Related N(2)‐ and/or N(9)‐methyl‐β‐carboline Derivatives

In the present work, we have synthesized and fully characterized the photophysical and photochemical properties of a selected group of N‐methyl‐β ‐carboline derivatives (9‐methyl‐β ‐carbolines and iodine salts of 2‐methyl‐ and 2,9‐dimethyl‐β ‐carbolinium) in aqueous solutions, in the pH range 4.0–14.5. Moreover, despite the quite extensive studies reported in the literature regarding the overall photophysical behavior of N‐unsubstituted β Cs, this work constitutes the first full and unambiguous characterization of anionic species of N‐unsubstituted β Cs (nor harmane, harmane and harmine), present in aqueous solution under highly alkaline conditions (pH > 13.0). Acid dissociation constants (K _a), thermal stabilities, room temperature UV –visible absorption and fluorescence emission and excitation spectra, fluorescence quantum yields (Ф _F) and fluorescence lifetimes (τ _F), as well as quantum yields of singlet oxygen production (Ф _Δ) have been measured for all the studied compounds. Furthermore, for the first time to our knowledge, chemometric techniques (MCR ‐ALS and PARAFAC ) were applied on these systems, providing relevant information about the equilibria and species involved. The impact of all the foregoing observations on the biological role, as well as the potential biotechnological applications of these compounds, is discussed.     

1,6‐ and 1,7‐naphthyridines. IV. Synthesis of hydroxycarboxamide derivatives

A series of 8‐hydroxy‐1,6‐naphthyridin‐5(6H)‐one‐7‐carboxamides 1 and the isomeric 5‐hydroxy‐1,7‐naphthyridin‐8(7H)‐one‐6‐carboxamides 2 were synthesized. N‐Lactam unsubstituted compounds 1a‐c and 2a,b were obtained by alkoxide‐induced rearrangement of the corresponding quinolinimidoacetamides 3 . Compounds 1e,f and 2e,f were synthesized by heterocyclization of the corresponding quinolinamic esters 6 and 7 . Spectroscopic properties (uv, ir, ¹H and ¹³C nmr and ms) were analyzed and the proposed structures confirmed.     

Form II of monoclinic methyl β‐carboline‐3‐carboxyl­ate

The crystal structure of the second monoclinic P2₁/c form of the β‐carboline‐3‐carboxyl­ate, C₁₃H₁₀N₂O₂, has been determined. Very small changes in the packing scheme lead to a different unit cell; the role of weak C—H?O hydrogen bonds seems to be crucial.     

Synthesis and characterization of a poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) with β‐cyclodextrin as pendant groups

A novel linear poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) with β‐cylodextrin (β‐CD) moiety (PNIPA‐β‐CD) was synthesized by the conjugation of β‐CD carrying amino groups (EDA‐β‐CD) onto PNIPA with epoxy groups (P(NIPA‐co‐GMA), M_n = 3.86 × 10⁴), and the related reaction conditions are investigated. PNIPA‐β‐CD was characterized by means of IR, NMR and UV spectroscopes, element analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The number‐average molecular weight (M_n) and the β‐CD content of the obtained PNIPA‐β‐CD are 4.87 × 10⁴ and 18.8 wt %, respectively. PNIPA‐β‐CD can not only respond to temperature stimuli but also include guest molecules. Lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of aqueous PNIPA‐β‐CD solution is similar to that of PNIPA. The association constant (K_a) for PNIPA‐β‐CD with methyl orange (MO) is 2.4 × 10³ L mol^?1 at pH 1.4, which is comparable to that of EDA‐β‐CD (K_a = 2.9 × 10³ L mol^?1). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3516–3524, 2005     

Ring‐opening polymerization of β‐butyrolactone catalyzed by efficient magnesium and zinc complexes derived from tridentate anilido‐aldimine ligand

Magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) complexes incorporating tridentate anilido‐aldimine ligand, (E)‐2, 6‐diisopropyl‐N‐(2‐((2‐(piperidin‐1‐yl)ethylimino)methyl)phenyl)aniline ( AA ^Pip ‐H, 1 ), were synthesized and structurally characterized. The reaction of AA ^Pip ‐H ( 1 ) with MgⁿBu₂ or ZnEt₂ in equivalent proportions afforded the monomeric complex [( AA ^Pip )MgⁿBu] ( 2 ) or [( AA ^Pip )ZnEt] ( 3 ), respectively. The coordination modes of these complexes differ in the solid state: Mg complex 2 shows a four‐coordinated and distorted tetrahedral geometry, whereas Zn complex 3 adopts a trigonal planar geometry with a three‐coordinated Zn center. Complexes 2 and 3 are efficient catalysts for the ring‐opening polymerization of β‐butyrolactone (β‐BL) in the presence of 9‐anthracenemethanol (9‐AnOH). The polymerization of β‐BL with the Zn catalyst system is demonstrated in a living fashion with a narrow polydispersity index, PDI = 1.01–1.10. The number‐averaged molecular weight (M_n) of the produced poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is quite close to the expected M_n over diverse molar ratios of monomer to 9‐AnOH. A greater ratio of monomer to alcohol catalyzed by Zn complex 3 served to form PHB with a large molecular weight (M_n > 60000). An effective method to prepare PHB‐b‐PCL and PEG‐b‐PHB by the ring‐opening copolymerization of β‐BL catalyzed by zinc complex 3 is reported. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Copper(II) bis(4,4,4‐trifluoro‐1‐phenylbutane‐1,3‐dionate) complexes with pyridin‐2‐one, 3‐hydroxypyridine and 3‐hydroxypyridin‐2‐one ligands: molecular structures and hydrogen‐bonded networks

Copper(II) bis(4,4,4‐trifluoro‐1‐phenylbutane‐1,3‐dionate) complexes with pyridin‐2‐one (pyon), 3‐hydroxypyridine (hpy) and 3‐hydroxypyridin‐2‐one (hpyon) were prepared and the solid‐state structures of (pyridin‐2‐one‐κO )bis(4,4,4‐trifluoro‐3‐oxo‐1‐phenylbutan‐1‐olato‐κ²O ,O ′)copper(II), [Cu(C₁₀H₆F₃O₂)₂(C₅H₅NO)] or [Cu(tfpb‐κ²O ,O ′)₂(pyon‐κO )], (I), bis(pyridin‐3‐ol‐κO )bis(4,4,4‐trifluoro‐3‐oxo‐1‐phenylbutan‐1‐olato‐κ²O ,O ′)copper(II), [Cu(C₁₀H₆F₃O₂)₂(C₅H₅NO)₂] or [Cu(tfpb‐κ²O ,O ′)₂(hpy‐κO )₂], (II), and bis(3‐hydroxypyridin‐2‐one‐κO )bis(4,4,4‐trifluoro‐3‐oxo‐1‐phenylbutan‐1‐olato‐κ²O ,O ′)copper(II), [Cu(C₁₀H₆F₃O₂)₂(C₅H₅NO₂)₂] or [Cu(tfpb‐κ²O ,O ′)₂(hpyon‐κO )₂], (III), were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. The coordination of the metal centre is square pyramidal and displays a rare example of a mutual cis arrangement of the β‐diketonate ligands in (I) and a trans‐octahedral arrangement in (II) and (III). Complex (II) presents the first crystallographic evidence of κO‐monodentate hpy ligation to the transition metal enabling the pyridine N atom to participate in a two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded network through O—H…N interactions, forming a graph‐set motif R ₂²(7) through a C—H…O interaction. Complex (III) presents the first crystallographic evidence of monodentate coordination of the neutral hpyon ligand to a metal centre and a two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded network is formed through N—H…O interactions facilitated by C—H…O interactions, forming the graph‐set motifs R ₂²(8) and R ₂²(7).     

One—Pot Synthese of 3,4—Dihydropyrimidine—2（1H）—thiones Catalyzed by La（OTf）3

A general and practical procedure for the syntheses of 3,4-di-hydropyrimidine-2(1H)-thiones by a one-pot condensation of aldehyde,β-ketoester or β-diketone and thiourea using La(OTf)3 as the catalyst is described.Mild reaction conditions,excellent yields as well as the environmentally friendly character of La(OTf)3 make it an important alternative to the classic acid-catalyzed Biginelli‘s reaction.     

3‐Deoxy‐β‐d‐ribo‐hexopyranose (3‐deoxy‐β‐d‐glucopyranose)

The β‐pyranose form, (III), of 3‐deoxy‐d ‐ribo‐hexose (3‐deoxy‐d ‐glucose), C₆H₁₂O₅, crystallizes from water at 298 K in a slightly distorted ⁴C₁ chair conformation. Structural analyses of (III), β‐d ‐glucopyranose, (IV), and 2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐arabino‐hexopyranose (2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐glucopyranose), (V), show significantly different C—O bond torsions involving the anomeric carbon, with the H—C—O—H torsion angle approaching an eclipsed conformation in (III) (−10.9°) compared with 32.8 and 32.5° in (IV) and (V), respectively. Ring carbon deoxygenation significantly affects the endo‐ and exocyclic C—C and C—O bond lengths throughout the pyranose ring, with longer bonds generally observed in the monodeoxygenated species (III) and (V) compared with (IV). These structural changes are attributed to differences in exocyclic C—O bond conformations and/or hydrogen‐bonding patterns superimposed on the direct (intrinsic) effect of monodeoxygenation. The exocyclic hydroxymethyl conformation in (III) (gt) differs from that observed in (IV) and (V) (gg).     

Synthesis and Characterization of β—Cyclodextrin Bonded Metal Porphyrins

Reactions of 5-(p-aminophenyl)-10,15,20-triphenyl porphyrin (1) with Ru3(CO)12 or M(OCOCH3)2 (M=Ni,Mn) afforded metalloporphyrins(4-6),respectively.6-Deoxy-6-io-do-β-cyclodextrin(2) and mono(6-O-trifluoromethanesulfonyl) permethylated β-cyclodextrin(3) reacted with complexes 4-6 to give β-cyclodextrin bonded metal porphyrins (7-9) and permethylated β-cyclodextrin bonded me-tal porphyrins (10-12) respectively.These new complexes were identified by MS,IR,UV-visible and ^1H NMR spectra,and elemental analysis.     

Synthesis of 4‐(trihalomethyl)dipyrimidin‐2‐ylamines from β‐alkoxy‐α,β‐unsaturated trihalomethyl ketones

The synthesis of a novel series of twelve 4‐(trihalomethyl)dipyrimidin‐2‐ylamines, from the cyclo‐condensation reaction of 4‐(trichloromethyl)‐2‐guanidinopyrimidine, with β‐alkoxyvinyl trihalomethyl ketones, of general formula: X₃C‐C(O)‐C(R²)=C(R¹)‐OR, where: X = F, Cl; R = Me, Et, ‐(CH₂)₂‐, ‐(CH₂)₃‐; R¹ = H, Me; R² = H, Me, ‐(CH₂)₂‐, ‐(CH₂)₃‐, is reported. The reactions were carried out in acetonitrile under reflux for 16 hours, leading to the dipyrimidin‐2‐ylamines in 65‐90% yield. Depending on the substituents of the vinyl ketone, tetrahydropyrimidines or aromatic pyrimidine rings were obtained from the cyclization reaction. When X = Cl, elimination of the trichloromethyl group was observed during the cyclization step. The structure of 4‐(trihalomethyl)dipyrimidin‐2‐ylamines was studied in detail by ¹H‐, ¹³C‐ and 2D‐nmr spectroscopy.     

Methyl 4‐O‐β‐D‐mannopyranosyl β‐D‐xylopyranoside

Methyl β‐D‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D‐xylopyranoside, C₁₂H₂₂O₁₀, (I), crystallizes as colorless needles from water, with two crystallographically independent molecules, (IA) and (IB), comprising the asymmetric unit. The internal glycosidic linkage conformation in molecule (IA) is characterized by a ϕ′ torsion angle (O5′_Man—C1′_Man—O1′_Man—C4_Xyl; Man is mannose and Xyl is xylose) of −88.38 (17)° and a ψ′ torsion angle (C1′_Man—O1′_Man—C4_Xyl—C5_Xyl) of −149.22 (15)°, whereas the corresponding torsion angles in molecule (IB) are −89.82 (17) and −159.98 (14)°, respectively. Ring atom numbering conforms to the convention in which C1 denotes the anomeric C atom, and C5 and C6 denote the hydroxymethyl (–CH₂OH) C atom in the β‐Xylp and β‐Manp residues, respectively. By comparison, the internal glycosidic linkage in the major disorder component of the structurally related disaccharide, methyl β‐D‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D‐xylopyranoside), (II) [Zhang, Oliver & Serriani (2012). Acta Cryst. C 68 , o7–o11], is characterized by ϕ′ = −85.7 (6)° and ψ′ = −141.6 (8)°. Inter‐residue hydrogen bonding is observed between atoms O3_Xyl and O5′_Man in both (IA) and (IB) [O3_Xyl...O5′_Man internuclear distances = 2.7268 (16) and 2.6920 (17) Å, respectively], analogous to the inter‐residue hydrogen bond detected between atoms O3_Xyl and O5′_Gal in (II). Exocyclic hydroxymethyl group conformation in the β‐Manp residue of (IA) is gauche–gauche, whereas that in the β‐Manp residue of (IB) is gauche–trans.     

Synthesis of ferrocene‐containing N‐aryloxo β‐ketoiminate lanthanide complexes and polymerization of ε‐caprolactone

The synthesis, characterization and ε‐caprolactone polymerization behavior of lanthanide amido complexes stabilized by ferrocene‐containing N‐aryloxo functionalized β‐ketoiminate ligand FcCOCH₂C(Me)N(2‐HO‐5‐Bu^t‐C₆H₃) (LH₂, Fc = ferrocenyl) are described. The lanthanide amido complexes [LLnN(SiMe₃)₂(THF)]₂ [Ln = Nd ( 1 ), Sm ( 2 ), Yb ( 3 ), Y ( 4 )] were synthesized in good yields by the amine elimination reactions of LH₂ with Ln[N(SiMe₃)₂]₃(µ‐Cl)Li(THF)₃ in a 1:1 molar ratio in THF. These complexes were characterized by IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy was added for the analysis of complex 4 . The definitive molecular structures of complexes 1 and 3 were determined by X‐ray diffraction studies. Complexes 1 – 4 can initiate the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone with moderate activity. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

β‐Carboline (norharman)

The structure of β‐carboline, also called norharman (systematic name: 9H‐pyrido[3,4‐b]indole), C₁₁H₈N₂, has been determined at 110 K. Norharman is prevalent in the environment and the human body and is of wide biological interest. The structure exhibits intermolecular N—H...N hydrogen bonding, which results in a one‐dimensional herringbone motif. The three rings of the norharman molecule collectively result in a C‐shaped curvature of 3.19 (13)° parallel to the long axis. The diffraction data show shorter pyridyl C—C bonds than those reported at the STO‐3G level of theory.