Self‐Relay Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Pictet–Spengler/Cyclization Cascade Reaction for the Rapid Elaboration of Pentacyclic Indole Derivatives

Gold‐catalyzed cascade reactions allow the rapid elaboration of pentacyclic indolo[2,3‐a]quinolizidines from N‐allyl tryptamines and ortho‐alkynylarylaldehydes. The tandem process combines a gold‐catalyzed Pictet‐Spengler reaction and a cyclization occurring concomitantly with an allyl transfer from the nitrogen atom to the stilbene function. Various substituted allyls were successfully transferred, furnishing the products in yields typically ranging from 60–98 % in high diastereoselectivity. Tryptamines bearing a butenol chain undergo an additional cyclization to chiral hemiaminals in high diastereoselectivities.     

Regioselective,Unconventional Pictet–Spengler Cyclization Strategy Toward the Synthesis of Benzimidazole‐Linked Imidazoquinoxalines on a Soluble Polymer Support

A novel strategy for an unconventional Pictet–Spengler reaction has been developed for the regioselective cyclization of the imidazole ring system at the C2 position. The developed strategy was utilized to develop a diversity‐oriented parallel synthesis for bis(heterocyclic) skeletal novel analogs of benzimidazole‐linked imidazoquinoxalines on a soluble polymer support under microwave conditions. Condensation of polymer‐immobilized o‐phenylenediamines with 4‐fluoro‐3‐nitrobenzoic acid followed by nucleophilic aromatic substitution with an imidazole motif affords bis(heterocyclic) skeletal precursors for the Pictet–Spengler reaction. The unconventional Pictet–Spengler cyclization with various aldehydes was achieved regioselectively at the C2 position of the imidazole ring to furnish rare imidazole‐fused quinoxaline skeletons. During the Pictet–Spengler cyclization, aldehydes bearing electron‐donating groups afford 4,5‐dihydro‐imidazoquinoxalines, which then auto‐aromatize into benzimidazole‐linked imidazo[1,2‐a]quinoxalines. However, interestingly, aldehydes bearing electron‐withdrawing groups directly provide aromatized imidazo[1,2‐a]quinoxalines, which unexpectedly afford novel benzimidazole‐linked 4‐methoxy‐4,5‐dihydro‐imidazo[1,2‐a]quinoxalines after polymer cleavage.     

Rh(III)‐Catalyzed Denitrogenative [4+2] Annulation of Benzamides and 3‐Diazoindolin‐2‐imines: Expedient Access to Indolo[2,3‐c] isoquinolin‐5‐ones

An effective and pragmatic strategy for the synthesis of structurally diverse indolo[2,3‐c]isoquinolin‐5‐ones has been developed via a Rh(III)‐catalyzed C?H activation and [4+2] annulation reaction of N‐methoxybenzamides and 3‐diazoindolin‐2‐imines. The reaction involves the efficient formation of two new (one C?C and one C?N) bonds under operationally simple conditions and has the benefits of a broad substrate scope.     

On the chemistry of 5‐aryl‐2‐hydrazino‐benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2‐b]pyrido[2,3‐e] pyrimidin‐4‐one

Several pyrido[2,3‐e]pyrimidine fused with other rings have been prepared by intramolecular cyclization of 5‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2‐hydrazino‐benzo [6,7]cyclohepta‐[1,2‐b]pyrido[2,3‐e]pyrimidine‐4‐one ( 1 ) with acids, carbon disulfide to form triazole derivatives ( 2,4 ), halo‐ketones to give triazine derivative ( 5 ), β‐ketoesters, β‐cyanoesters, and β‐diketones to yield 2‐(1‐pyrazolyl) derivatives ( 7,9,10 ), and aldehydes to form arylhydrazone derivatives ( 11a,b ) which cyclized to form triazoles ( 12a,b ). Also, acyclic N‐nucleosides are prepared by heating under reflux 2‐hydrazino‐benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2‐b]pyrido[2,3‐e] pyrimidin‐4‐one ( 1 ) with xylose and glucose to give the corresponding acyclic N‐nucleosides ( 13a,b ) which are cyclized to afford the corresponding protected tetra and penta–O‐acetate C‐nucleosides ( 14a,b ). Deacetylating of the latter nucleosides afforded the free acyclic C‐nucleosides ( 15a,b ). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:34–43, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20248     

Asymmetric Synthesis of (R)‐1‐Alkyl‐Substituted Tetrahydro‐ß‐carbolines Catalyzed by Strictosidine Synthases

Stereoselective methods for the synthesis of tetrahydro‐ß‐carbolines are of significant interest due to the broad spectrum of biological activity of the target molecules. In the plant kingdom, strictosidine synthases catalyze the C?C coupling through a Pictet–Spengler reaction of tryptamine and secologanin to exclusively form the (S)‐configured tetrahydro‐ß‐carboline (S)‐strictosidine. Investigating the biocatalytic Pictet–Spengler reaction of tryptamine with small‐molecular‐weight aliphatic aldehydes revealed that the strictosidine synthases give unexpectedly access to the (R)‐configured product. Developing an efficient expression method for the enzyme allowed the preparative transformation of various aldehydes, giving the products with up to >98 % ee. With this tool in hand, a chemoenzymatic two‐step synthesis of (R)‐harmicine was achieved, giving (R)‐harmicine in 67 % overall yield in optically pure form.     

Benzo[a]heptalenes from Heptaleno[1,2‐c]furans. Part 2

It is shown in this ‘Part 2’ that heptaleno[1,2‐c]furans 1 react thermally in a Diels–Alder‐type [4+2] cycloaddition at the furan ring with vinylene carbonate (VC), phenylsulfonylallene (PSA), α‐(acetyloxy)acrylonitrile (AAN), and (1Z)‐1,2‐bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethene (ZSE) to yield the corresponding 1,4‐epoxybenzo[d]heptalenes (cf. Schemes 1, 5, 6, and 8). The thermal reaction of 1a and 1b with VC at 130° and 150°, respectively, leads mainly to the 2,3‐endo‐cyclocarbonates 2,3‐endo‐ 2a and ‐ 2b and in minor amounts to the 2,3‐exo‐cyclocarbonates 2,3‐exo‐ 2a and ‐ 2b . In some cases, the (P*)‐ and (M*)‐configured epimers were isolated and characterized (Scheme 1). Base‐catalyzed cleavage of 2,3‐endo‐ 2 gave the corresponding 2,3‐diols 3 , which were further transformed via reductive cleavage of their dimesylates 4 into the benzo[a]heptalenes 5a and 5b , respectively (Scheme 2). In another reaction sequence, the 2,3‐diols 3 were converted into their cyclic carbonothioates 6 , which on treatment with (EtO)₃P gave the deoxygenated 1,4‐dihydro‐1,4‐epoxybenzo[d]heptalenes 7 . These were rearranged by acid catalysis into the benzo[a]heptalen‐4‐ols 8a and 8b , respectively (Scheme 2). Cyclocarbonate 2,3‐endo‐ 2b reacted with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) at ?70° under regioselective ring opening to the 3‐hydroxy‐substituted benzo[d]heptalen‐2‐yl carbamate 2,3‐endo‐ 9b (Scheme 3). The latter was O‐methylated to 2,3‐endo‐(P*)‐ 10b . The further way, to get finally the benzo[a]heptalene 13b with MeO groups in 1,2,3‐position, could not be realized due to the fact that we found no way to cleave the carbamate group of 2,3‐endo‐(P*)‐ 10b without touching its 1,4‐epoxy bridge (Scheme 3). The reaction of 1a with PSA in toluene at 120° was successful, in a way that we found regioisomeric as well as epimeric cycloadducts (Scheme 5). Unfortunately, the attempts to rearrange the products under strong‐base catalysis as it had been shown successfully with other furan–PSA adducts were unsuccessful (Scheme 4). The thermal cycloaddition reaction of 1a and 1b with AAN yielded again regioisomeric and epimeric adducts, which could easily be transformed into the corresponding 2‐ and 3‐oxo products (Scheme 6). Only the latter ones could be rearranged with Ac₂O/H₂SO₄ into the corresponding benzo[a]heptalene‐3,4‐diol diacetates 20a and 20b , respectively, or with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TfOSiMe₃/Et₃N), followed by treatment with NH₄Cl/H₂O, into the corresponding benzo[a]heptalen‐3,4‐diols 21a and 21b (Scheme 7). The thermal cycloaddition reaction of 1 with ZSE in toluene gave the cycloadducts 2,3‐exo‐ 22a and ‐ 22b as well as 2‐exo,3‐endo‐ 22c in high yields (Scheme 8). All three adducts eliminated, by treatment with base, benzenesulfinic acid and yielded the corresponding 3‐(phenylsulfonyl)‐1,4‐epoxybenzo[d]heptalenes 25 . The latter turned out to be excellent Michael acceptors for H₂O₂ in basic media (Scheme 9). The Michael adducts lost H₂O on treatment with Ac₂O in pyridine and gave the 3‐(phenylsulfonyl)benzo[d]heptalen‐2‐ones 28a and 3‐exo‐ 28b , respectively. Rearrangement of these compounds in the presence of Ac₂O/AcONa lead to the formation of the corresponding 3‐(phenylsulfonyl)benzo[a]heptalene‐1,2‐diol diacetates 30a and 30b , which on treatment with MeONa/MeI gave the corresponding MeO‐substituted compounds 31a and 31b . The reductive elimination of the PhSO₂ group led finally to the 1,2‐dimethoxybenzo[a]heptalenes 32a and 32b . Deprotonation experiments of 32a with t‐BuLi/N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethane‐1,2‐diamine (tmeda) and quenching with D₂O showed that the most acid C? H bond is H? C(3) (Scheme 9). Some of the new structures were established by X‐ray crystal‐diffraction analyses (cf. Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5). Moreover, nine of the new benzo[a]heptalenes were resolved on an anal. Chiralcel OD‐H column, and their CD spectra were measured (cf. Figs. 8 and 9). As a result, the 1,2‐dimethoxybenzo[a]heptalenes 32a and 32b showed unexpectedly new Cotton‐effect bands just below 300 nm, which were assigned to chiral exciton coupling between the heptalene and benzo part of the structurally highly twisted compounds. The PhSO₂‐substituted benzo[a]heptalenes 30b and 31b showed, in addition, a further pair of Cotton‐effect bands in the range of 275–245 nm, due to chiral exciton coupling of the benzo[a]heptalene chromophore and the phenylsulfonyl chromophore (cf. Fig. 10).     

Synthesis of pyrazolo[1,5‐a]‐, 1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐a]‐ and imidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidines related to zaleplon,a new drug for the treatment of insomnia

This paper describes the preparation of some pyrazolo[1,5‐a]‐, 1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐a]‐ and imidazo[1,2‐a]‐pyrimidines substituted on the pyrimidine moiety by a 4‐[(N‐acetyl‐N‐ethyl)amino]phenyl group. A new synthesis of related benzo[h]pyrazolo[1,5‐a]‐, benzo[h]pyrazolo[5,1‐b]‐ and benzo[h]1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐a]‐quinazolines is also reported.     

Syntheses of thiopyrone and pyrone derivatives by photocyclization reaction of 3‐aryl‐2‐( Benzothien‐3‐yl)propenoic acids

Naphtho[1,2‐b][1]benzothiophene‐6‐carboxylic acids, 6H‐benzo[b]naphtho[2,3‐d]thiopyran‐6‐ones and 6H‐benzo[b]naphtho[2,3‐d]pyran‐6‐ones were synthesized in one step by the photocyclization reaction of 3‐aryl‐2‐([1]benzothien‐3‐yl)propenoic acids. The photocyclization reaction did not occur when the 3‐aryl group contained the electron‐withdrawing nitro group. The assignment of the ¹H and ¹³C nmr spectra of 6H‐benzo[b]naphtho[2,3‐d]thiopyran‐6‐one and 6H‐benzo[b]naphtho[2,3‐d]pyran‐6‐one by two‐dimensional nmr methods is described. The difference between the chemical shift values of H12 for these two compounds is attributed to different molecular geometries.     

Heterocyclic synthesis via enaminones: Novel synthesis of (1H)‐pyridin‐2‐one,pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine and isoxazole derivatives incorporating a N‐methylphthalimide and their biological evaluation

Novel synthesis of (1H)‐pyridin‐2‐one, pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine and isoxazole derivatives incorporating N‐methylphthalimide moiety are reported. Reaction of enaminone 2 with malononitrile affords 4. Condensation of 2 with cyanothioacetamide or benzoylacetonitrile affords compounds 6 and 7 respectively. Reaction of 2 with hydrazine hydrate afford 2,3‐dihydrophthalazine‐1,4‐dione ( 10 ). Condensation of 2 with hydroxylamine and 3‐aminopyrazole derivatives affords compounds 12 and 15a,b respectively. Antimicrobial and antifungal activity were determined for representative compounds and most of them showed moderate activity as antimicrobial agents, while compounds 2 and 7 show strong activity against Aspergillus niger. The structure of the newly synthesized compounds was elucidated by elemental analyses and ¹H nmr spectra and some cases by ¹³C nmr investigation.     

Synthesis and Reactions of Some New Benzo[a]phenothiazine‐3,4‐dione Derivatives

The reaction of 2,3‐dihydro‐2,3‐epoxy‐1,4‐naphthoquinone ( 4 ) with substituted anilines furnished the corresponding benzo[fused]heterocyclic derivatives 5 , 6 , 6a , 6b , 7 , 8 . Furthermore, treatment of benzo[a]phenothiazine derivative 7 with halo compounds, namely, ethyl bromoacetate, phenacyl bromide, dibromoethane, or chloroacetone afforded ether derivatives 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , respectively. Moreover, the reaction of 11 with o‐substituted aniline gave the corresponding benzo[a]phenothiazin‐5‐one derivatives 15 , 16 , 17 and benzo[d][1,3]oxazin‐4‐one 18 , respectively. Finally, the chromenone derivative 19 was synthesized via the reaction of ester derivative 11 with salicyaldhyde in refluxing pyridine. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by spectroscopic measurements (IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectra).     

Ruthenium Catalyzed C−H Acylmethylation of N‐Arylphthalazine‐1,4‐diones with α‐Carbonyl Sulfoxonium Ylides: Highway to Diversely Functionalized Phthalazino‐fused Cinnolines

A direct ortho‐Csp²‐H acylmethylation of 2‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydrophthalazine‐1,4‐diones with α‐carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides is achieved through a Ru^II‐catalyzed C?H bond activation process. The protocol featured high functional group tolerance on the two substrates, including aryl‐, heteroaryl‐, and alkyl‐substituted α‐carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides. Thereafter, 2‐(ortho‐acylmethylaryl)‐2,3‐dihydrophthalazine‐1,4‐diones were used as potential starting materials for the expeditious synthesis of 6‐arylphthalazino[2,3‐a]cinnoline‐8,13‐diones and 5‐acyl‐5,6‐dihydrophthalazino[2,3‐a]cinnoline‐8,13‐diones under Lawesson's reagent and BF₃?OEt₂ mediated conditions, respectively. Of these, the BF₃?OEt₂‐mediated cyclization proceeded in DMSO as a solvent and a methylene source via dual C?C and C?N bond formations.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Chiral Polycyclic Indolic Architectures through Pd0‐Catalyzed Tandem Deprotection/Cyclization of Tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines on Allenes

Enantioenriched N‐allyl tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines were prepared by chiral phosphoric acid‐catalyzed Pictet–Spengler reactions. The compounds undergo Pd⁰‐catalyzed cyclizations through a tandem deprotection/cyclization process. The regioselectivity of the attack is controlled by the chain length and by the substitution pattern of the allene function. Products resulting from 5‐exo‐ or 6‐exo‐attack were obtained with diastereoisomeric ratio up to 95:5. Azepinopyrrido[3,4‐b]indoles were obtained by 7‐endo‐cyclizations.     

Reduction of indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidines with baker's yeast

The reduction of several indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidines with Baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) affords novel reduction products resulting from reduction of the indole double bond, cleavage of the C-D ring junction, or reduction of a lactam to a carbinol amine, as determined by high resolution mass spectrometry.     

Reactions of alkyl (z)‐2‐[(E)‐2‐ethoxycarbonyl‐2‐(2‐pyridinyl)‐ethenyl]amino‐3‐dimethylaminopropenoates with C‐ and N‐nucleophiles. the synthesis of fused pyranones,pyridinones and pyrimidinones

Alkyl 2‐[2‐ethoxycarbonyl‐2‐(2‐pyridinyl)ethenyl]amino‐3‐dimethylaminopropenoates 3 and 4 were transformed with C‐and N‐nucleophiles into β‐heteroaryl‐α,β‐didehydro‐α‐amino acid derivatives 13 ‐ 16 , substituted 3‐amino‐4H‐quinolizin‐4‐one 17, 2H,5H‐benzo[b]pyran‐2,5‐dione 18 and 19 , 2H,5H‐pyrano[4,3‐b]pyran‐2,5‐dione 20 , 2H,5H‐pyrano[3,2‐c]benzo[b]pyran‐2,5‐dione 21 , 2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one 22 and 24 , pyrido[l,2‐a]pyrimidin‐4‐one 31–34 and 39 derivatives, and N‐heteroaryl‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylates 37 and 38 .     

Synthesis of N‐methyl‐4‐pyridyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolines via a pictet‐spengler cyclisation

The synthesis of N‐methyl‐4‐pyridyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolines (6a,b,c) was achieved via a Pictet‐Spengler cyclization of an activated amino group derivatized in a carbamate form. The obtained compounds have been designed as potential serotonin analogs.     

Pyrazoles and pyrazolo[4,3‐e]pyrrolo[1,2‐a]pyrazines II

Synthesis of the title compounds was achieved using the anils 2a , 2b , 2c , 2d , 2e and 5a , 5b , 5c derived from the 4‐aminopyrazole 1 as starting materials. These compounds were allowed to react with mercaptoacetic acid in boiling dry benzene to afford the corresponding thiazolidinones and spiro‐thiazolidinones 3a , 3b , 3c , 3d , 3e and 6a , 6b , 6c , respectively. Pictet—Spengler reaction of the 4‐aminopyrazole hydrochloride 7 with aromatic aldehydes and cyclic ketones resulted in the formation of new pyrazolo[4,3‐e]pyrrolo[1,2‐a]pyrazines 8a , 8b , 8c , 8d , 8e and 9a , 9b , respectively. Other derivatives of pyrazolo pyrrolopyrazines 10 and 11 were obtained via the reaction of the amino derivative 1 with 1,1′‐carbonyldiimidazol and CS₂, respectively. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Synthesis of Indolo[3,2‐b]carbazoles via an Anomeric‐Based Oxidation Process: A Combined Experimental and Computational Strategy

Indolo[3,2‐b]carbazole is a molecule of great biological significance, as it is formed in vivo after consumption of cruciferous vegetables. The reaction of 1H‐indole and various aldehydes in the presence of a catalytic amount of N,2‐dibromo‐6‐chloro‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[e][1,2,4]thiadiazine‐7‐sulfonamide 1,1‐dioxide as an efficient and homogeneous catalyst in acetonitrile at 50°C produces 6,12‐disubstituted 5,7‐dihydroindolo[2,3‐b]carbazole with an in good to excellent yield. The presented technique offers a fast and robust method, by the use of inexpensive commercially available starting materials toward 6,12‐disubstituted 5,7‐dihydroindolo[2,3‐b]carbazole. A new anomeric‐based oxidation was kept in mind for the final step of the indolo[2,3‐b]carbazoles synthesis. The suggested anomeric‐based oxidation mechanism was supported by experimental and theoretical evidences.     

Microwave‐assisted Synthesis of 6‐{(5‐Aryl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl)methyl}‐6H‐indolo[2,3‐b]quinoxalines

An efficient and convenient synthesis of a new series of 2‐{(6H‐indolo[2,3‐b]quinoxalin‐6‐yl)methyl}‐5‐aryl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles from readily available 1,2‐diaminobenzene and isatins under microwave irradiation conditions was disclosed. The 6‐{(5‐aryl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl)methyl}‐6H‐indolo[2,3‐b]quinoxalines were also prepared by the thermal cyclo‐condensation reaction of 2‐(6H‐indolo[2,3‐b]quinoxalin‐6‐yl)acetohydrazides with carboxylic acids in refluxing POCl₃. The microwave‐assisted synthesis was rapid and resulted in higher yield of the products at lower operating temperature with reduced waste generation in comparison with the thermal reaction protocol.     

Three‐Component One‐Pot Synthesis of Indolo[3,4‐a]acridine Derivatives with High Regioselectivity under Catalyst‐Free Conditions

Three‐component reaction of aldehyde, 9‐ethyl‐9H‐carbazol‐3‐amine, and 5,5‐dimethyl cyclohexane‐1,3‐dione under catalyst‐free conditions in EtOH, regioselectivity gave corresponding indolo[3,4‐a]acridine rather than indolo[2,3‐b]acridine derivatives in high yields, which is confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis.     

On the π‐Electron Distribution in Biphenylene Analogues

The bonding situation in a series of biphenylene analogues – benzo[b]biphenylene and its dication, 4,10‐dibromobenzo[b]biphenylene, naphtho[2,3‐b]biphenylene and its dianion, benzo[a]biphenylene, (biphenylene)tricarbonylchromium, benzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2‐c]thiophene, benzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2‐c]thiophene 2‐oxide, benzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2‐c]thiophene 2,2‐dioxide, 4,10‐diazabenzo[b]biphenylene, biphenylene‐2,3‐dione, benzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2‐b]anthracene‐6,11‐dione, and 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2]cycloheptene – where one of the two benzo rings of biphenylene is replaced by a different π‐system (B) was investigated on the basis of the NMR parameters of these systems. From the vicinal ¹H,¹H spin‐spin coupling constants, the electronic structure of the remaining benzo ring (A) is derived via the Q‐value method. It is found that increasing tendency of B to tolerate exocyclic double bonds at the central four‐membered ring of these systems favors increased π‐electron delocalization in the A ring. The analysis of the chemical shifts supports this conclusion. NICS (nucleus‐independent chemical shift) values as well as C,C bond lengths derived from ab initio calculations are in excellent agreement with the experimental data. The charged systems benzo[b]biphenylene dication and naphtho[2,3‐b]biphenylene dianion ( 7 ²⁻) are also studied by ¹³C NMR measurements. The charge distribution found closely resembles the predictions of the simple HMO model and reveals that 7 ²⁻ can be regarded as a benzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2‐b]‐substituted anthracene dianion. It is shown that the orientation of the tricarbonylchromium group in complexes of benzenoid aromatics can be derived from the vicinal ¹H,¹H coupling constants.