1H and 13C NMR studies of 7-azaindole and related compounds

The ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts, proton-proton coupling constants, and one-bond carbon-hydrogen coupling constants have been obtained for 7-azaindole, 1-methyl-7-azaindole, their corresponding methyl iodide salts, and the related compound 7-methyl-7H-pyrrolo [2,3-b]pyridine. are different from those of either 7-azaindole or 1-methyl-7-azaindole.     

Azaindole derivatives

It is shown that it is possible to synthesize 1-acyl-4-methyl-7-azatryptamines from ethyl (4-methyl-7-aza-3-indolyl)acetate through 3-(-chloroethyl)-4-methyl-7-azaindole with subsequent acylation by replacement of halogen by a nitro group and reduction. The N-acetyl group is cleaved in the reaction of 1-acetyl-3-(-chloroethyl)-4-methyl-7-azaindole with ammonia, bis (dimethylmethoxysilyl)amide potassium salt, and potassium phthalimide (with subsequent removal of the phthalimide protective group).See [1] for communication XLII.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1370–1373, October, 1973.     

Excited state proton transfer in 3-methyl-7-azaindole dimer. Symmetry control

The concerted double proton transfer undergone by the C(2)(h) dimer of 7-azaindole upon electronic excitation has also been reported to occur in 3-methyl-7-azaindole monocrystals and in dimers of this compound under free-jet conditions. However, the results obtained in this work for the 3-methyl-7-azaindole dimer formed in a 10(-4) M solution of the compound in 2-methylbutane suggest that the dimer produces no fluorescent signal consistent with a double proton transfer in the liquid phase or in a matrix. In this paper, the spectroscopic behavior of the doubly hydrogen bonded dimer of 3-methyl-7-azaindole is shown to provide a prominent example of molecular symmetry control over the spectroscopy of a substance. This interpretation opens up a new, interesting research avenue for exploring the ability of molecular symmetry to switch between proton-transfer mechanisms. It should be noted that symmetry changes in the 3-methyl-7-azaindole dimer are caused by an out-of-phase internal rotation of the two methyl groups.     

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Cross Dehydrogenative Coupling of N-Phenyl Substituent with Thiophenes

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative coupling involves a highly efficient C−C bond formation from N-phenyl-7-azaindole frameworks, thiophenes. Various novel 7-azaindole derivatives have been successfully developed with good substrate applicability.     

Synthesis and reactivity of N-heterocycle-B(C6F5)3 complexes. 4. Competition between pyridine- and pyrrole-type substrates toward B(C6F5)3: structure and dynamics of 7-B(C6F5)3-7-azaindole and [7-Azaindolium]+[HOB(C6F5)3]-

Reaction between 7-azaindole and B(C6F5)3 quantitatively yields 7-(C6F5)3B-7-azaindole (4), in which B(C6F5)3 coordinates to the pyridine nitrogen of 7-azaindole, leaving the pyrrole ring unreacted even in the presence of a second equivalent of B(C6F5)3. Reaction of 7-azaindole with H2O-B(C6F5)3 initially produces [7-azaindolium]+[HOB(C6F5)3]- (5) which slowly converts to 4 releasing a H2O molecule. Pyridine removes the borane from the known complexes (C6F5)3B-pyrrole (1) and (C6F5)3B-indole (2), with formation of free pyrrole or indole, giving the more stable adduct (C6F5)3B-pyridine (3). The competition between pyridine and 7-azaindole for the coordination with B(C6F5)3 again yields 3. The molecular structures of compounds 4 and 5 have been determined both in the solid state and in solution and compared to the structures of other (C6F5)3B-N-heterocycle complexes. Two dynamic processes have been found in compound 4. Their activation parameters (DeltaH = 66 (3) kJ/mol, DeltaS = -18 (10) J/mol K and DeltaH = 76 (5) kJ/mol, DeltaS = -5 (18) J/mol K) are comparable with those of other (C6F5)3B-based adducts. The nature of the intramolecular interactions that result in such energetic barriers is discussed.     

7-Azaindole derivatives

A study is made of new synthetic routes, based on accessible 3-formyl-7-azaindoles, to 3-substituted 7-azaindole. 2-Phenyl-4-(1-phenyl-4-methyl-7-azaindolyl-3-rnethylene)-1, 3-oxazol-5-one is synthesized, and it is converted to 1-phenyl-4-methyl-7-azatryptophane, 1-phenyl-4-methyl-7-azaindolyl-3-acetic acid,1-phenyl-3-(,-dihydroxypropyl)-4-methyl-7-azaindole, and 1-phenyl-4-methyl-7-azaindolyl-3-pyrotartaric acid.For Part XVIII see [1].     

Synthesis of some 1-hydroxy derivatives of 4- and 6-azaindole analogues

1-Hydroxy-4-azaindole and 1-hydroxy-4-(and 6)-azaindol-2(3H)-one derivatives are novel compounds and a facile synthesis by the reductive cyclisation of substituted 3-nitropyridines is described. Problems associated with the catalytic hydrogenation of the parent nitro compounds are also discussed.     

Intermolecular vibrational modes and orientational dynamics of cooperative hydrogen-bonding dimer of 7-azaindole in solution

We observed the low-frequency Raman-active intermolecular vibrational modes of 7-azaindole in CCl(4) by femtosecond Raman-induced Kerr effect spectroscopy. To understand the dynamical aspects and vibrational modes of 7-azaindole in the solution, the ultrafast dynamics of 1-benzofuran in CCl(4) was also examined as a reference and ab initio quantum chemistry calculations were performed for 7-azaindole and 1-benzofuran. The cooperative hydrogen-bonding vibrational bands of 7-azaindole dimer in CCl(4) appeared at 89 cm(-1) and 105 cm(-1) represent the overlap of stagger and wheeling modes and the intermolecular stretching mode, respectively. They are almost independent of the concentration in the solution. We further found from the low-frequency differential Kerr spectra of the solutions with neat CCl(4) that the intermolecular motion in the low frequency region below 20 cm(-1) was less active in the case of 7-azaindole/CCl(4) than in the case of 1-benzofuran/CCl(4). The slow orientational relaxation time in 7-azaindole/CCl(4) is ~3.5 times that in 1-benzofuran/CCl(4) because of the nature of the dimerization of 7-azaindole.     

Synthesis of pyrrolopyridines (azaindoles)

Improved, convenient, and reliable routes for the synthesis of 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-azaindole, 7-methyl-4-azaindole, 7-methyl-6-azaindole, and the hitherto unreported 7-amino-4-azaindole are described. The syntheses have been accomplished either by significant modifications to established procedures or by new methods which afford the compounds in improved yields.     

Lewis acid-mediated cross-coupling reaction of 7-azaindoles and aldehydes: Cytotoxic evaluation of C3-linked bis-7-azaindoles

The synthesis of 3,3′-bis-7-indolylmethane derivatives is important for their further development as pharmaceutical compounds and other synthetic purposes. Herein, we describe the zinc- or acid-mediated cross-coupling reaction of 7-azaindoles with aldehydes, such as paraformaldehyde, alkyl aldehydes, aryl aldehydes, enal, and α-ketoaldehyde, providing the corresponding C3-linked bis-7-azaindole derivatives, which are a crucial class towards the development of novel bioactive compounds. High levels of site selectivity and functional group tolerance were observed. Synthesized 3,3′-bis-7-azaindole derivatives were evaluated against human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) and human ovarian carcinoma cells (SKOV-3), respectively. Notably, compounds 3s and 4e displayed promising anticancer properties competitive with anticancer doxorubicin as a positive control.     

Heterogeneous-catalytic fischer reaction

The catalytic synthesis of 7-azaindole and its 2-methyl derivative has been accomplished for the first time by cyclization of acetaldehyde and acetone 2-pyridylhydrazones in the presence of -Al₂O₃ and fluorinated aluminum oxide. The temperature dependence of the yields of reaction products — azaindoles and 2-aminopyridine — was studied. The cyclization of acetaldehyde 2-pyridylhydrazone proceeds under more severe conditions. The maximum yield of 7-azaindole is 15% at 450° on fluorinated aluminum oxide. The yield of 2-methyl-7-azaindole reaches 50% at 315°. Fluorinated aluminum oxide displays higher catalytic activity.See [1] for communication III.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 656–658, May, 1972.     

7-azaindole derivatives

A new method for synthesizing 5- and 7-azaindoles is given, -Chlorobutyronitrile and malonyl chloride give 2, 4, 6-trichloro-3-(ß-chloroethyl) pyridine, which is cyclized with ammonia to 4, 6-dichloro-7-azaindoline and 4, 6-dichloro-5-azaindoline. 6-Chloro derivatives of 7-azaindolines are not dehydrogenated by chlorainil, but 2, 3-dichloro-S, 6-dicyanobenzoquinone converts them to 6-chloro-7-azaindoles. It is shown that sodium in liquid ammonia is an effective means of dehydrogenating the 5-azaindoline to 5-azaindole. In this case, dehydrogenation of 4, 6-dichloro-7-azaindoline is followed by dehalogenation.For Part IX see [1].     

Synthesis of 4-(cyclic dialkylamino)-7-azaindoles by microwave heating of 4-halo-7-azaindoles and cyclic secondary amines

Nucleophilic aromatic substitution of 4-chloro- and 4-fluoro-7-azaindoles with cyclic secondary amines under microwave heating gave a straightforward and rapid synthesis of 4-(cyclic dialkylamino)-7-azaindoles. 4-Fluoro-7-azaindoles showed a greater reactivity towards S_NAr reactions under these conditions than 4-chloro-7-azaindole.     

Isomerism and Blue Electroluminescence of a Novel Organoboron Compound: BIII2(O)(7-azain)2Ph2

Bright blue light with a maximum at 450 nm is emitted by both structural isomers of the novel, stable B^III₂(O)(7-azain)₂Ph₂ (7-azain=7-azaindole anion) on irradiation with UV light. The isomer shown in the picture has approximate C₂ symmetry (the other isomer approximate C_s symmetry) and electroluminesces when used as the emitting layer in an electroluminescent device.     

A highly effective synthesis of 2-alkynyl-7-azaindoles: Pd/C-mediated alkynylation of heteroaryl halides in water

The reaction of 4-chloro-2-iodo-7-azaindole with terminal alkynes was investigated using 10% Pd/C-PPh₃-CuI as a catalyst system in water. This study afforded a new, mild and selective process for the preparation of 2-alkynyl-4-chloro-7-azaindole in good yields via C-C bond forming reaction. The resulting chloro derivative can be functionalized further via another Pd-mediated C-C bond forming reaction with arylboronic acid.     

Excited-state double-proton transfer in the 7-azaindole dimer in the gas phase. 3. Reaction mechanism studied by picosecond time-resolved REMPI spectroscopy

The excited-state double-proton-transfer (ESDPT) reaction in the jet-cooled 7-azaindole dimer (7AI2) has been investigated with picosecond time-resolved resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy. The observed decay profiles of 7AI2 by exciting the origin and the intermolecular stretch fundamental in the S1 state are well reproduced by single-exponential functions with time constants of 1.9 +/- 0.9 ps and 860 +/- 300 fs, respectively. This result provides clear evidence of the concerted mechanism of ESDPT in 7AI2.     

Nonexponential Fluorescence Decay of 7-Azatryptophan Induced in a Peptide Environment

7-Azatryptophan is an alternative to tryptophan as an optical probe of protein structure and dynamics. 7-Azatryptophan is synthetically incorporated into an octapeptide (NAc-Lys-Ala-Cys-Pro-7-azatryptophan-Asn-Cys-Asp-NH₂) that mimics the active site of potato chymotrypsin inhibitor II, which is known to be a strong inhibitor of α-chymotrypsin. The synthetic octapeptide retains some of this inhibitory activity. This is the first compound containing the 7-azaindole chromophore to display a nonexponential fluorescence decay (well fit to two exponentials) in water when fluorescence is collected over the entire emission band. The effect of external quenchers on the fluorescence decay is monitored and seen to differ markedly for the two components. These results are discussed in terms of the solvation of the 7-azaindole chromophore itself, which promotes or impedes excited-state tautomerization. The fluorescence quenching of free indole and 7-azaindole are compared. The fluorescence quenching of octapeptides containing both chromophores is also compared. It is the thesis of this article that the nonexponential fluorescence decay of the 7-azatryptophan-containing octapeptide is a consequence of excited-state tautomerization of the 7-azaindole chromophore. This tautomerization is suggested to be promoted by solvent reorganization induced by the peptide backbone or by direct interactions of the 7-azaindole with neighboring amino acid side chains.     

Se-(Fluoromethyl) Benzenesulfonoselenoates: Shelf-Stable,Easily Available Reagents for Monofluoromethylselenolation

A new class of electrophilic monofluoromethylselenolation reagents, Se-(fluoromethyl) benzenesulfonoselenoates, has been developed. They can be readily prepared from sodium benzenesulfinates, Se powder and ClCFH₂ in one step under mild reaction conditions. Se-(fluoromethyl) benzenesulfonoselenoates are efficient electrophilic monofluoromethylselenolation reagents for a wide range of nucleophiles including indole, 6-azaindole, pyrrole, thiophene, electron-rich arene, aryl boronic acid and alkyne. The monofluoromethylselenolation approach features mild and environmentally friendly reaction conditions, good tolerance of various functional groups, and broad substrate scope.     

Azaindoles. 69. Some reactions of 5-cyano-6-chloro-7-azaindoles and lactam-lactim tautomerism in 5-cyano-6-hydroxy-7-azaindolines

Electrophilic substitution in the 3-position of 1-benzyl-4-methyl-5-cyano-6-chloro-7-azaindole requires more severe conditions than in 7-azaindoles without the 5-cyano-substituent. Increased ease of nucleophilic replacement of the chlorine atom by the methoxy group has been observed in 1-benzyl- (and 1-butyl)-4-methyl-5-cyano-6-chloro-7-azaindoles, and the cyano-group in these compounds has been found to be resistant to hydrolysis and alcoholysis. The introduction into 1-benzyl- (and 1-butyl)-4-methyl-6-hydroxy-7-azaindoles of a 5-cyano-substituent results in a shift of the lactam-lactim tautomeric equilibrium towards the lactim forms.For communication 68, see [1].Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 100–106, January, 1987.     

Blue-luminescent/electroluminescent Zn(II) compounds of 7-azaindole and N-(2-pyridyl)-7-azaindole: Zn(7-azaindole)2(CH3COO)2, Zn(NPA)(CH3COO)2, and Zn(NPA)((S)-(+)-CH3CH2CH(CH3)COO)2 (NPA = N-(2-pyridyl)-7-azaindole)

A new 7-azaindole zinc(II) compound, Zn(7-azaindole)2(CH3COO)2 (1), a new ligand N-(2-pyridyl)-7-azaindole (NPA), and two NPA zinc(II) complexes, Zn(NPA)(CH3COO)2 (2) and Zn(NPA)((S)-(+)-CH3CH2CH(CH3)COO)2 (3), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1 has a tetrahedral geometry, whereas compounds 2 and 3 have irregular six-coordinate geometry. The NPA ligand in compounds 2 and 3 functions as a bidentate chelate to the zinc center. Compound 1 has a blue luminescence in the solution and the solid state. Compounds 2 and 3 emit a blue color in the solid state. In solution, compounds 2 and 3 are fluxional, as established by 1H NMR experiments. Compound 1 is thermally stable, whereas compounds 2 and 3 undergo decomposition when heated in the solid state. A blue electroluminescent device using compound 1 as the emitting layer has been fabricated. Crystal data: NPA, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 13.993(5) A, b = 8.456(3) A, c = 16.886(5) A, beta = 104.666(12) degrees, V = 1932.9(11) A3; 1, triclinic, P1, a = 9.5114(18) A, b = 10.460(7) A, c = 11.002(3) A, alpha = 117.18(3) degrees, beta = 103.287(18) degrees, gamma = 90.94(2) degrees, V = 938.3(7) A3; 2, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 13.234(6) A, b = 9.373(3) A, c = 13.956(7) A, beta = 113.24(3) degrees, V = 1590.7(12) A3; 3, monoclinic, P2(1), a = 11.047(7) A, b = 15.343(9) A, c = 13.785(8) A, beta = 100.123(9) degrees, V = 2300(2) A3.