Rh(I)-catalyzed direct ortho-alkenylation of aromatic ketimines with alkynes and its application to the synthesis of isoquinoline derivatives

[reaction: see text] Novel synthetic methods of both ortho-alkenylated aromatic ketones and isoquinoline derivatives have been developed through the Rh(I)-catalyzed direct ortho-alkenylation of common aromatic ketimines with alkynes. Furthermore, a highly efficient one-pot synthesis of isoquinoline derivatives was achieved by simply mixing aromatic ketone, benzylamine, and alkyne under a Rh(I) catalyst.     

Short and Efficient Syntheses of Protoberberine Alkaloids using Palladium‐Catalyzed Enolate Arylation

A concise synthesis of the biologically active alkaloid berberine is reported, and a versatile palladium‐catalyzed enolate arylation is used to form the isoquinoline core. The overall yield of 50 % is a large improvement over the single, previous synthesis. By design, this modular route allows the rapid synthesis of other members of the protoberberine family (e.g., pseudocoptisine and palmatine) by substitution of the readily available aryl bromide and ketone coupling partners. Moreover, by combining enolate arylation with in situ functionalization, substituents can be rapidly and regioselectively introduced at the alkaloid C13 position, as demonstrated by the total synthesis of dehydrocorydaline. The avoidance of electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions to make the isoquinoline allows direct access to analogues possessing more varied electronic properties, such as the fluorine‐containing derivative synthesized here.     

Synthesis of 2′,3′-dihydrospiro[benzofuran-2(3H),4′(1′-H)isoquinoline]s. A novel heterocyclic ring system

The synthesis of a novel 2′,3′-dihydrospiro(benzofuran-2(3H),4′(1′H)isoquinoline] ring system ( IV ) by a nucleophilic aromatic fluoride displacement-cyclization is described. Preparation of various derivatives of IV as well as the precursor 4-(2-fluorobenzyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-4-isoquinolinols is also described.     

New quinoline- and isoquinoline-based multicomponent methods for the synthesis of 1,1(3,3)-dicyanotetrahydrobenzoindolizines

Convenient multicomponent methods for the synthesis of benzannulated dihydroindolizines based on quinoline or isoquinoline, malononitrile, aromatic aldehydes and α-halomethylcarbonyl compounds were developed. Several alternative protocols of using the reactants were studied, starting with separate generation of two most probable intermediates and ending with the four-component condensation of all reactants. The scope of applicability of these methods was found, depending on the initial compounds used. The reaction is highly stereoselective with predominant formation of one of the possible isomers.     

Microwave Promoted One‐Pot Synthesis of Some Novel N‐Aryl Isoquinoline Derivatives

Homophthalic anhydride 1 reacts with different aromatic amines to produce N‐substituted homophthalimides 2 under microwave irradiation. A rapid microwave‐assisted chemical synthesis of condensed 4‐substituted furo[2,3‐c]isoquinoline‐1,5(2H,4H)‐diones 3 and 5‐substituted‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrano[2,3‐c]isoquinoline‐1,6(5H)‐diones 4 involving the condensation of a variety of alkanoyl chlorides with 2‐arylisoquinoline‐1,3‐diones 2 in the presence of base and aprotic solvent is described for the first time. By contrast, the facile ring opening reaction of furo[2,3‐c]isoquinoline‐1,5(2H,4H)‐dione 3 with Vilsmeier–Haack reagent under microwave irradiation yielded the α‐β unsaturated carboxyaldehyde 5 . This novel and clean one‐pot methodology, which is characterized by very short reaction time and easy workup procedure, can be exploited to generate some novel condensed isoquinoline derivatives.     

One-pot two-step tandem reactions for selective synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and dihydro-, tetrahydro-derivatives

A sequential one-pot two-step tandem reaction for selective and efficient synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline and its dihydro- and tetrahydro-derivatives has been developed. The tandem reactions of isoquinoline, α-halogenated methylene compounds, aromatic aldehydes, and cyanoacetamide firstly give tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines as main products. The corresponding pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and dihydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines can be obtained directly by controlling oxidation with DDQ. The mechanism of this tandem reaction involved the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of isoquinolinium ylide as the key step. A unique elimination of the amido group preferring to the cyano group has been observed.     

One-pot three-component synthesis of functionalized spirolactones by means of reaction between aromatic ketones, dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, and N-heterocycles

A simple and convenient one-pot multi-component reaction has been described for the synthesis of functionalized spirolactones. This strategy demonstrated three-component reaction between aromatic ketones (11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one) and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) in the presence of N-heterocycles, such as pyridine, quinoline, and isoquinoline in CH₂Cl₂ at ambient temperature without use of any catalyst or activator.     

Catalytic asymmetric allylation of 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines and its application to the synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids

A catalytic asymmetric allylation of 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline was carried out with allyltrimethoxylsilane-Cu as the nucleophile in the presence of DTBM-SEGPHOS as the chiral ligand to afford corresponding chiral 1-allyltetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives in good yield and stereoselectivity. The allyl adduct thus obtained was applied to the synthesis of several isoquinoline alkaloids such as crispine A and homolaudanosine. The reaction was further used for the synthesis of the isoquinoline moiety of schulzeine A.     

Tertiary Carbinamine Synthesis by Rhodium‐Catalyzed [3+2] Annulation of N‐Unsubstituted Aromatic Ketimines and Alkynes

A convenient and waste‐free synthesis of indene‐based tertiary carbinamines by rhodium‐catalyzed imine/alkyne [3+2] annulation is described. Under the optimized conditions of 0.5–2.5 mol % [{(cod)Rh(OH)}₂] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) catalyst, 1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane (DPPP) ligand, in toluene at 120 °C, N‐unsubstituted aromatic ketimines and internal alkynes were coupled in a 1:1 ratio to form tertiary 1H‐inden‐1‐amines in good yields and with high selectivities over isoquinoline products. A plausible catalytic cycle involves sequential imine‐directed aromatic C? H bond activation, alkyne insertion, and a rare example of intramolecular ketimine insertion into a Rh^I–alkenyl linkage.     

A novel three-component reaction for the diastereoselective synthesis of 2H-pyrimido[2,1-a]isoquinolines via 1,4-dipolar cycloaddition

[reaction: see text] The 1,4-dipole derived from isoquinoline and DMAD has been shown to react readily with N-tosylimines resulting in the diastereoselective synthesis of 2H-pyrimido[2,1-a]isoquinoline derivatives.     

Construction of Cationic Azahelicenes: Regioselective Three-Component Annulation Using In Situ Activation Strategy

Described herein is a strategy to construct cationic azahelicenes through the three-component annulation reaction of isoquinoline, indole, and 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE), in which DCE serves as an in situ activating agent for C1−H activation of isoquinoline, a vinyl equivalent, and a solvent. This in situ activation annulation reaction features a facile one-step synthesis and complete regioselectivity. The complete regioselectivity of C1 over C3 for the isoquinoline ring paves a path to the helical structure in a highly ordered sequence. One of the synthesized ionic [5]azahelicenium fluorophores exhibits the potential to serve as a mitochondria-targeted biomarker with good photostability and low cytotoxicity.     

First nucleophilic aromatic substitution of annelated pyrazole.

3-Chloropyrazolo[3,4-c]quinoline 5, 3-chloropyrazolo[3,4-c]isoquinoline 6, 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dimethylpyrazolo[3,4-c]quinolin-3-one 8, and 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dimethylpyrazolo[3,4-c]isoquinolin-3-one 10 were obtained by acid-induced nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S(N)H) of H-3 in N-hydroxypyrazolo[3,4-c]quinoline 1b and in N-hydroxy pyrazolo[3,4-c]isoquinoline 3b. In the acid-induced chlorination, 3b was far more reactive than 1b, whereas the related N-hydroxypyrazolo[4,3-c]quinoline 2b and N-hydroxypyrazolo[4,3-c]isoquinoline 4b were completely unreactive toward S(N)H under identical conditions.     

Dehydrogenation reactions of 1-substituted-3-aryltetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives

The 1-substituted-3-aryltetrahydroisoquinolines I have been converted into the corresponding 3,4-dihydroor isoquinoline derivatives by treatment with several oxidizing agents: iodine in ethanol, palladium on carbon, DDQ and Fremy's salt. The oxidation reactions with iodine always resulted in the formation of the 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines II, whereas the use of palladium on carbon and the DDQ led to the aromatic isoquinolines. Both the 3,4-dihydro- and the isoquinoline derivatives were obtained by means of Fremy's salt.     

Novel route for the synthesis of structurally diverse pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline in aqueous micellar medium

A high yielding environmentally benign protocol has been developed for the synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline using chromone-3-carboxaldehyde, isoquinoline and phenacyl bromide/bromoacetic acid ester as reagents in aqueous micellar medium. The method is operationally simple and more effective compared to the previous methods in terms of the yield of the products as well as the reaction time.     

Synthesis of the new furo[3,2-h]isoquinoline alkaloid, TMC-120B from Aspergillus ustus

A total synthesis of a new furo[3,2-h]isoquinoline alkaloid TMC120-B (2), isolated from Aspergillus ustus together with two related compounds, has been completed in sixteen steps. The key step is the synthesis of the appropriate 3,7,8-trisubstituted isoquinoline framework (23) based on a thermal electrocyclic reaction of the 1-aza 6pi-electron system involving the benzene double bond. In addition, the microwave assisted electrocyclic reaction of this system was newly performed.     

New growth regulators of corn based on N-mono- and N,N-bis-3-butenyldichloroacetamides

Russian Chemical Bulletin - Allylboration of imines, nitriles (including hydrocyanic acid), amides, lactams, aromatic azaheterocycles (pyridines, isoquinoline, and pyrrole) was used to synthesize a...     

Efficient, "tin-free" radical cyclization to aromatic systems. synthesis of 5,6,8,9,10,11-hexahydroindolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines

Efficient radical cyclization of alkyl iodides to various aromatic systems including pyrrole, indole, isoquinolone, pyridone, and benzene, mediated by dicumyl peroxide, is described. The methodology was used to provide access to 5,6,8,9,10,11-hexahydroindolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline derivatives.     

First total synthesis of a novel monoterpenoid isoquinoline alkaloid, (+/-)-alangine

The structure including the stereochemistry of a novel monoterpenoid isoquinoline alkaloid, alangine, was confirmed by total synthesis via N-acyliminium cyclization to construct the isoquinoline skeleton and reductive cleavage of vinyl epoxide with Pd(0) catalyst.     

Synthesis of chromeno[2′,3′:4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines via a novel domino reaction of isoquinoline-derived immonium salts. Scope and limitations

A one-pot protocol towards chromeno[2′,2′:4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline derivatives via a domino reaction of isoquinoline-derived immonium salts and α-hydroxy aromatic aldehydes is elaborated. The scope and limitations of this reaction is discussed.     

Syntheses of the antibiotic alkaloids renierone, mimocin, renierol, renierol acetate, renierol propionate, and 7-methoxy-1,6-dimethylisoquinoline-5,8-dione

The total synthesis of renierone, mimocin, renierol, renierol acetate, renierol propionate, and 7-methoxy-1,6-dimethylisoquinoline-5,8-dione was successfully achieved by the regioselective oxidation of 5-oxygenated isoquinoline. The synthetic method of the 5-oxygenated isoquinoline is based on the thermal electrocyclic reaction of 1-azahexatriene system involving the benzene 1,2-bond.