Diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized tetrahydro-γ-carbolines via a [3 + 3] cycloaddition of 2,2′-diester aziridines with β-(indol-2-yl)-α,β-unsaturated ketones

A Sc(OTf)₃-catalyzed [3 + 3] cycloaddition of 2,2′-diester aziridines with β-(indol-2-yl)-α,β-unsaturated ketones was developed, affording polysubstituted tetrahydro-γ-carbolines in single diastereoisomers in good to excellent yields.     

The use of anhydrous CeCl3 as a catalyst for the synthesis of 3-sulfenyl indoles

Anhydrous CeCl₃ was successfully used as a catalyst for the synthesis of several 3-sulfenyl indoles in good to excellent yields through the reaction of indole with N-(alkylthio) and N-(arylthio)phthalimides in DMF.     

Studies in N-amino-3-aza Cope rearrangements

The first examples of a N-amino-3-aza Cope rearrangement as well as the first N-amino-anion 3-aza Cope rearrangement are reported. These occur in good to excellent yields and in short reaction times.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric [3 + 3] annulation of isatin N,N'-cyclic azomethine imines with enals: Efficient approach to functionalized spiro N-heterocyclic oxindoles

An unprecedented chiral secondary amine-catalyzed [3 + 3] annulation of isatin N,N'-cyclic azomethine imines with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes was developed. This strategy allowed the construction of structurally novel spiro N-heterocyclic oxindole derivatives in good yields (up to 91%) and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee), albeit with modest diastereoselectivities (up to 3.1:1 dr).     

[4+3] Cycloaddition of C-3 substituted furans. Stereoselectivity induced by coordination effects

Several C-3 substituted furans with chelating groups have been reacted with 2,3-dibromo-3-pentanone in the presence of a reducing metal, resulting in the formation of [4+3]-cycloadducts with complete cis-trans and endo-exo diastereoselectivity and in excellent yield. A certain variability of the conversion and reaction yield could be observed, when changing the reaction conditions, but in all cases the stereoselectivity was complete, compared to that of C-3 substituted furans with non-chelating groups. Also, a general method of assignment of stereochemistry of cycloadducts has been established by NMR, considering diagnostic patterns of signals with different multiplicity and chemical shifts depending on the stereochemistry of diastereomeric cycloadducts.     

A highly diastereoselective synthesis of 3-carbethoxy-2,5-disubstituted-3-pyrrolines by phosphine catalysis

Tributylphosphine was used as catalyst to facilitate a [3+2] cycloaddition between γ-substituted allenoates and N-sulfonylimines. The resulting adducts, 3-carbethoxy-2,5-disubstituted-3-pyrrolines, were formed in excellent yields with high diastereoselectivity. The reaction went to completion in several hours at room temperature, and the starting materials were easily prepared with one step from commercially available compounds via known procedures.     

Phosphine-catalyzed dearomative [3+2] annulation of 3-nitroindoles and allenoates

The efficient phosphine-catalyzed dearomative [3+2] annulation of 3-nitroindoles with allenoates has been successfully developed, providing a facile access to cyclopenta[b]indolines with good to excellent yields and high diastereoselectivities. This strategy features mild reaction conditions, high functional group tolerance, and scalability. Additionally, the 2-nitrobenzofuran and 2-nitrobenzothiophene were good dearomative [3+2] annulation partners.     

Iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of 3-substituted unsaturated oxindoles to prepare C3-mono substituted oxindoles

An efficient and enantioselective hydrogenation of 3-substituted unsaturated oxindoles has been developed by an iridium complex of tropos phosphine-oxazoline ligands. It is the first example to prepare chiral C3-mono substituted oxindoles via asymmetric catalysis. And the reaction provides instant access to this kind of compounds with excellent conversion and enantioselectivities (up to 93% ee).     

FeCl3-catalyzed alkylation of indoles with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds: an expedient synthesis of 3-substituted indoles

Indoles undergo smooth alkylation at the 3-position with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in the presence of 20 mol % of FeCl₃ under mild reaction conditions to produce a wide range of 3-substituted indoles in excellent yields and with high E-selectivity.     

O-Alkylation of 3-hydroxyisoxazoles predominates under Mitsunobu conditions

Regiochemical control in the functionalization of ambident nucleophiles is of particular interest in organic chemistry. Herein, we demonstrate that O-alkylation of ambident 3-hydroxyisoxazoles, which are heterocyclic bioisosteres of carboxylic acids, predominates under Mitsunobu conditions. In several cases, excellent O-regioselectivity (?95%) was observed. It is noteworthy that reactions were complete within 15 min at room temperature. Furthermore, the conditions are compatible with a range of alcohols that cover all of the typical protecting groups for the 3-hydroxyisoxazole motif, providing milder, simpler and less hazardous protocols to those commonly followed in the literature.     

Iodine-catalyzed C3-formylation of indoles using hexamethylenetetramine and air

An efficient iodine-catalyzed chemoselective 3-formylation of free (N–H) and N-substituted indoles was achieved by using hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) in the presence of activated carbon under air atmosphere. This new method could provide 3-formylindoles in moderate to excellent yields with fairly short reaction times. Moreover, this catalytic formylation of indoles procedure can be applied to gram-scale synthesis.     

Chemoselective synthesis of 3H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinolin-4(5H)-one derivatives from 3-phenacylideneoxindoles and substituted tosylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC)

A simple and convenient synthetic approach to access of 3H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinolin-4(5H)-one derivatives by the reaction of (Z)-3-(2-oxo-2-ethylidene)indolin-2-one derivatives 1 with functionalized TosMICs under basic conditions has been reported. The desired products were obtained in good to excellent yields (82–94%). The easy accessibility of the starting materials, simple and mild reaction conditions, short reaction time, and good to excellent chemical yields make this methodology highly efficient.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric [3+2]-cycloaddition of 3-isothiocyanato oxindoles with 1,3,5-trisubstituted-hexahydro-1,3,5-triazines to access spiro-imidazolidinethione-oxindoles

An efficient asymmetric [3 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction of 3-isothiocyanato oxindoles and formaldimines in-situ generated from 1,3,5-trisubstituted-hexahydro-1,3,5-triazines with a cinchona alkaloid-derived thiourea as the catalyst has been developed. A range of biologically important spiro-imidazolidinethione-oxindoles were obtained in excellent yields with good enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield and 93% ee).     

I2-mediated C3-formylation of indoles by tertiary amine and H2O

An I₂-promoted 3-formylation of free (N–H) and N-substituted indoles with tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) and H₂O as the carbonyl source is achieved, providing 3-formylindole in moderate to excellent yields with good functional group tolerance. This procedure represents an exceedingly attractive alternative to the traditional formylation methods.     

Bi(OTf)3-catalyzed conjugate addition of indoles to p-quinones: a facile synthesis of 3-indolyl quinones

A wide range of indoles undergo conjugate addition to p-benzoquinones in the presence of 2 mol% bismuth triflate under mild conditions to afford the corresponding 3-indolyl quinones in excellent yields with high selectivity.     

AgNO3 catalyzed synthesis of 5-substituted-1H-tetrazole via [3+2] cycloaddition of nitriles and sodium azide

An efficient one-pot, convenient catalysis for the synthesis of 5-substituted-1H-tetrazoles is reported. The [3+2] cycloaddition involves various nitriles, sodium azide in refluxing DMF and AgNO₃ as catalyst to give corresponding 5-substituted-1H-tetrazoles in good to excellent yields. It is expected that the reaction proceeds via in situ formation of a silver azide species, which participates in coordination of nitrile moiety followed by cycloaddition of azide ion to give tetrazole.     

Direct SNAr amination of fluorinated imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine nucleosides: efficient syntheses of 3-fluoro-3-deazaadenosine analogs

This paper describes the ready preparation of 3,6-difluoro-3-deazapurine (4,7-difluoroimidazo[4,5-c]pyridine). This novel base was glycosylated under mild conditions using three different ribose sugar analogs. 3,6-Difluoro-3-deazapurine ribonucleoside analogs underwent direct S_NAr amination reactions with liquid ammonia to give 3-fluoro-3-deazaadenosine analogs in excellent yield; in contrast, 6-chloro-3-fluoro-3-deazapurine nucleosides were inert under similar reaction conditions.     

BF3-OEt2 Catalyzed C3-Alkylation of Indole: Synthesis of Indolylsuccinimidesand Their Cytotoxicity Studies

A simple and efficient BF₃-OEt₂ promoted C3-alkylation of indole has been developed to obtain3-indolylsuccinimidesfrom commercially available indoles and maleimides, with excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, anti-proliferative activity of these conjugates was evaluated against HT-29 (Colorectal), Hepg2 (Liver) and A549 (Lung) human cancer cell lines. One of the compounds, 3w, having N,N-Dimethylatedindolylsuccinimide is a potent congener amongst the series with IC₅₀ value 0.02 µM and 0.8 µM against HT-29 and Hepg2 cell lines, respectively, and compound 3i was most active amongst the series with IC₅₀ value 1.5 µM against A549 cells. Molecular docking study and mechanism of reaction have briefly beendiscussed. This method is better than previous reports in view of yield and substrate scope including electron deficient indoles.     

A new diastereoselective multicomponent, one-pot strategy for the synthesis of 3-substituted isoindolinones via efficient C-C bond formation

A new three-component reaction among o-phthalaldehyde, N-alkyl/aryl substituted urea, and an aromatic aldehyde has been developed at ambient condition, and a class of isoindolinones with novel C-3 substitution were conveniently synthesized. The general diastereomeric excess as high as over 99% of the products indicated the excellent stereoselectivity posed in this multicomponent reaction.     

A new, one-pot, multi-component synthesis of imines of 3-amino-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, 3-amino-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazines, and 3-amino-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines

An efficient, one-pot, multi-component synthesis of 3-amino-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, 3-amino-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazines, and 3-amino-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines is described. Heating a mixture of a 2-aminopyridine, 2-aminopyrazine or 2-aminopyrimidine, a benzaldehyde, and imidazoline-2,4,5-trione under solvent-free conditions afforded imine derivatives of the title compounds in excellent yields. Single-crystal X-ray analysis conclusively confirms the structure of these bridgehead bicyclic 5-6 heterocycles.