Studies on the Radical Cyclization of 3‐Oxopropanenitriles and Alkenes with Cerium(IV) Ammonium Nitrate in Ether Solvents

The radical cyclization of 3‐oxopropanenitriles 1a – 1e and alkenes 2a – 2g with cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN) in ether solvents was investigated (Tables 1 and 2). In the optimization study, 1,3‐dioxolane, 1,4‐dioxane, 1,2‐dimethoxyethane, Et₂O, and THF were used as ether‐based solvents, and the latter was found to be the most effective solvent in radical cyclizations mediated by cerium(IV). This system (cerium(IV)/THF) was applied to cyclizations of various 3‐oxopropanenitriles and 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with alkenes resulting in the formation of 4,5‐dihydrofurans in high yields (Table 2 and Scheme 2). The results of the cerium(IV)/THF radical cyclization were compared with those obtained with manganese(III) acetate/AcOH; the cerium(IV)/THF system turned out to be much more efficient.     

Synthesis of Thienyl‐Substituted Dihydrofuran Compounds Promoted by Manganese(III) Acetate

Radical cyclization reactions of both aliphatic 1,3‐diones 1a and 1b and of cyclic 1,3‐diones 1c – 1e with 2‐thienyl‐ and 3‐thienyl‐substituted alkenes 2a – 2d in the presence of manganese(III) acetate were investigated. Thienyl‐substituted dihydrofurans 3 were obtained with moderate to high yields (Table 1–3). Also, the favorable effect of the thienyl substituent on the intermediate carbocation stability was evaluated by comparison with a phenyl substituent.     

Synthesis of 4,5‐Dihydrofuran‐3‐carbonitrile Derivatives with Electron‐Rich Alkenes in the Presence of Manganese(III) Acetate

Radical cyclization reactions mediated by manganese(III) acetate were carried out with ν‐excessive alkenes ( 2a‐d ) and 3‐oxopropanenitriles ( 1a‐f ) resulting in the formation of 3‐cyano‐4,5‐dihydrofuran derivatives in poor to high yields. A mechanism was proposed for the cyclization reaction. The significance of the study is the formation of the 3‐cyano‐4,5‐dihydrofuran derivatives resembling terfuran, 2‐(2‐thienyl)furan and 2‐(2‐benzofuryl)furyl compounds having the fluorescent properties due to a conjugated ν‐electron system particularly containing the cyano moeity.     

Photochemical Reactions of N‐(2‐Halogenoalkanoyl) Derivatives of Anilines

The photochemical reactions of 2‐substituted N‐(2‐halogenoalkanoyl) derivatives 1 of anilines and 5 of cyclic amines are described. Under irradiation, 2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropananilides 1a – e undergo exclusively dehydrobromination to give N‐aryl‐2‐methylprop‐2‐enamides (=methacrylanilides) 3a – e (Scheme 1 and Table 1). On irradiation of N‐alkyl‐ and N‐phenyl‐substituted 2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropananilides 1f – m , cyclization products, i.e. 1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐indol‐2‐ones (=oxindoles) 2f – m and 3,4‐dihydroquinolin‐2(1H)‐ones (=dihydrocarbostyrils) 4f – m , are obtained, besides 3f – m . On the other hand, irradiation of N‐methyl‐substituted 2‐chloro‐2‐phenylacetanilides 1o – q and 2‐chloroacetanilide 1r gives oxindoles 2o – r as the sole product, but in low yields (Scheme 3 and Table 2). The photocyclization of the corresponding N‐phenyl derivatives 1s – v to oxindoles 2s – v proceeds smoothly. A plausible mechanism for the formation of the photoproducts is proposed (Scheme 4). Irradiation of N‐(2‐halogenoalkanoyl) derivatives of cyclic amines 5a – c yields the cyclization products, i.e. five‐membered lactams 6a , b , and/or dehydrohalogenation products 7a , c and their cyclization products 8a , c , depending on the ring size of the amines (Scheme 5 and Table 3).     

Synthesis of Dihydropyrans and Dihydrofurans via Radical Cyclization of Unsaturated Alcohols and 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds

The oxidative cyclization reactions of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds 1a – 1c and α,β‐unsaturated alcohols 2a – 2f with Mn(OAc)₃ were performed, leading to dihydrofurans. Treatment of 1a and 1b with 2‐methylbut‐3‐en‐2‐ol ( 2a ) gave dihydrofurans 3aa and 3ba , and dihydropyrans 4aa and 4ba , as unexpected products. While the reaction of 2‐methylbut‐3‐yn‐2‐ol ( 2b ) with acetylacetone ( 1b ) yielded a bifuran, ethyl acetoacetate ( 1a ) led to a mixture of furan, bifuran, and salicylate derivatives. Besides, surprisingly, styryl‐substituted dihydrofurans were obtained from the reactions of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds and (3E)‐2,4‐diphenylbut‐3‐en‐2‐ol. The reaction mechanisms were proposed for the formation of the different products, considering intermediates in these reaction mixtures.     

Copper‐Free Sonogashira Coupling of Acid Chlorides with Terminal Alkynes in the Presence of a Reusable Palladium Catalyst: An Improved Synthesis of 3‐Iodochromenones (=3‐Iodo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐ones)

Pd/C is used as an efficient catalyst for the copper‐free Sonogashira coupling of acid chlorides and terminal alkynes to afford ynones in high yields (Tables 1 and 3). Cyclization of (2‐methoxyaryl)‐substituted ynones induced by I₂/ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate (CAN) at room temperature gave 3‐iodochromenones (=3‐iodo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐ones) in excellent yield (Table 4).     

Report on an Unusual Cascade Reaction between Azulenes and 2,3‐Dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (=4,5‐Dichloro‐3,6‐dioxocyclohexa‐1,4‐diene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile; DDQ)

The oxidation of 1‐(3,8‐dimethylazulen‐1‐yl)alkan‐1‐ones 1 with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (=4,5‐dichloro‐3,6‐dioxocyclohexa‐1,4‐diene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile; DDQ) in acetone/H₂O mixtures at room temperature does not only lead to the corresponding azulene‐1‐carboxaldehydes 2 but also, in small amounts, to three further products (Tables 1 and 2). The structures of the additional products 3 – 5 were solved spectroscopically, and that of 3a also by an X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis (Fig. 1). It is demonstrated that the bis(azulenylmethyl)‐substituted DDQ derivatives 5 yield on methanolysis or hydrolysis precursors, which in a cascade of reactions rearrange under loss of HCl into the pentacyclic compounds 3 (Schemes 4 and 7). The found 1,1′‐[carbonylbis(8‐methylazulene‐3,1‐diyl)]bis[ethanones] 4 are the result of further oxidation of the azulene‐1‐carboxaldehydes 2 to the corresponding azulene‐1‐carboxylic acids (Schemes 9 and 10).     

Donor‐Acceptor‐Functionalized Tetraethynylethenes with Nitrothienyl Substituents: Structure‐Property Relationships

Tetraethynylethenes (TEEs) functionalized with donor (4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl) and acceptor (5‐nitro‐2‐thienyl) groups were prepared by Pd⁰‐catalyzed Sonogashira cross‐coupling reactions (Schemes 1 – 6). The physical properties of these novel chromophores were examined and compared with those of analogous systems containing 4‐nitrophenyl instead of 5‐nitro‐2‐thienyl acceptor groups. X‐Ray crystal‐structure analyses showed the π‐conjugated frameworks of 2 , 11 , and 13 , including the TEE core and all aryl moieties, to be nearly perfectly planar (Figs. 1, 3, and 4). In contrast, one 4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl group in 10 is rotated almost 90° out of the molecular plane, presumably due to crystal‐packing effects (Fig. 2). The analysis of bond lengths and bond angles revealed little, if any, evidence of intramolecular ground‐state donor‐acceptor interactions. The electrochemical behavior of nitrothienyl‐substituted TEEs is similar to that of the corresponding nitrophenyl‐functionalized derivatives (Table 3). The nitrothienyl groups were reduced at −1.23 V (vs. the ferrocene/ferricinium couple, Fc/Fc⁺), regardless of the degree or pattern of other substitutions. For nonsymmetrical TEE 13 , the reduction of the nitrothienyl group at −1.23 V is followed by a reduction of the nitrophenyl group at −1.40 V, a potential typical for the reduction of other nitrophenyl‐substituted TEEs, such as 17 – 20 . UV/VIS Spectroscopy showed a consistently lower‐energy absorption cutoff for nitrothienyl derivatives compared with the analogous nitrophenyl‐substituted TEEs that confirms a lowering of the HOMO‐LUMO gap as a result of nitrothiophene substitution (Figs. 5 and 6). A comparison of the tetrakis‐arylated TEEs 11 , 13 , and 20 clearly showed a steady bathochromic shift of the longest‐wavelength absorption maximum and the end‐absorption upon sequential replacement of nitrophenyl by nitrothienyl groups. Quantum‐chemical computations were performed to explain a number of complex features of the electronic absorption spectra. All empirical features of relevance in the experimental UV/VIS spectra for 2 , 5 , 6 , and 17 – 19 were correctly reproduced by computation (Tables 4 and 5). The combination of theory and experiment was found to be very useful to explain the particular acceptor properties of the 5‐nitro‐2‐thienyl group.     

Efficient Synthesis of 1‐Arylquinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones via Cyclocondensation of N‐Aryl‐Substituted 2‐Nitrosoanilines with Functionalized Alkyl Acetates

N‐Aryl‐substituted 2‐nitrosoanilines (=2‐nitrosobenzenamines) 1 , readily available by nucleophilic substitution of the ortho‐H‐atom in nitroarenes with arenamines, react with 2‐substituted acetic acid esters in the presence of a weak base giving 1‐arylquinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones (Scheme 2). This cyclocondensation allows for the synthesis of compounds 2 – 4 , unsubstituted at C(3) or substituted by alkyl, aryl, ester, amide, and keto groups, in good to excellent yields (Tables 1–4).     

Toward the Synthesis of Modified Carbohydrates by Conjugate Addition of Propane‐1,3‐dithiol to α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones

Selected 5‐substituted derivatives 4 of 1,1‐diethoxy‐5‐hydroxypent‐3‐yn‐2‐one were treated with propane‐1,3‐dithiol under various conditions. The unprotected hydroxy ketones underwent cyclization during the dithiol addition and gave the corresponding 3‐(diethoxymethyl)‐2‐oxa‐6,10‐dithiaspiro[4.5]decan‐3‐ols 5 in 80–90% yield as the only products (Scheme 3 and Table 1). These products can be regarded as partly modified carbohydrates in the furanose form. When the benzyl‐protected analogues 10‐Bn of the 1,1‐diethoxy‐5‐hydroxypent‐3‐yn‐2‐one derivatives were treated with the same dithiol, however, no cyclization occurred; instead the corresponding 3‐{2‐[(benzyloxy)methyl]‐1,3‐dithian‐2‐yl}‐1,1‐diethoxypropan‐2‐one derivatives 11‐Bn were formed in good yield (up to 99%; Table 4). These 1,3‐dithianes were and are in the process of being converted to a number of new carbohydrate analogues, and here are reported high‐yield syntheses of functionalized molecules 17 belonging to the 5,5‐diethoxy‐1,4‐dihydroxypentan‐2‐one family of compounds (Table 7), via 15‐Bn (Table 5) and 16‐Bn (Table 6 and Scheme 8).     

Synthesis of [3,3′(4H,4′H)‐Bi‐2H‐1,3‐oxazine]‐4,4′‐diones and Their Hydrolysis

The [3,3′(4H,4′H)‐bi‐2H‐1,3‐oxazine]‐4,4′‐diones 3a – 3i were obtained by [2+4] cycloaddition reactions of furan‐2,3‐diones 1a – 1c with aromatic aldazines 2a – 2d (Scheme 1). So, new derivatives of bi‐2H‐1,3‐oxazines and their hydrolysis products, 3,5‐diaryl‐1H‐pyrazoles 4a – 4c (Scheme 3), which are potential biologically active compounds, were synthesized for the first time.     

Synthesis of Indolones via Radical Cyclization of N‐(2‐Halogenoalkanoyl)‐Substituted Anilines

The radical reactions of N‐(2‐halogenoalkanoyl)‐substituted anilines (anilides) of type 1 have been investigated under various conditions. Treatment of compounds 1a – 1o with Bu₃SnH in the presence of (2,2′‐azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) afforded a mixture of the indolones (oxindoles) 2a – 2o and the reduction products 5a – 5o (Table 1). In contrast, the N‐unsubstituted anilides 1p – 1s, 1u , and 1v gave the corresponding reduction products exclusively (Table 1). Similar results were obtained by treatment of 1 with Ni powder (Table 2) or wth Et₃B (Table 3). Anilides with longer N‐(phenylalkyl) chains such as 6 and 7 were inert towards radical cyclization, with the exception of N‐benzyl‐2‐bromo‐N,2‐dimethylpropanamide ( 6b ), which, upon treatment with Ni powder in i‐PrOH, afforded the cyclized product 9b in low yield (Table 4). Upon irradiation, the extended anilides 6, 7, 10 , and 11 yielded the corresponding dehydrobromination products exclusively (Table 5).     

Metal‐Free 2,2,6,6‐Tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yloxy Radical (TEMPO) Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of Hydroxylamines and Alkoxyamines to Oximes and Oxime Ethers

TEMPO‐Mediated oxidation of hydroxylamines (=hydroxyamines) and alkoxyamines to the corresponding oxime derivatives is reported (TEMPO=2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yloxy radical; Scheme 2). These environmentally benign oxidations proceed in good to excellent yields (Table 1). For alkoxyamines, oxidation to the corresponding oxime ethers can be performed by using dioxygen as a terminal oxidant in the presence of 5–10 mol‐% of TEMPO or 4‐substituted derivatives thereof as a catalyst (Scheme 3 and Table 2). Importantly, benzyl bromides can directly be transformed to oxime ethers via in situ alkoxyamine formation by a nucleophilic substitution followed by TEMPO‐mediated oxidation (Scheme 4 and Table 3).     

A simple synthesis of 5‐ethoxycarbonyl‐6‐phenyl‐1,3‐dioxin‐4‐ones and ethyl 3‐benzoyl‐4‐oxo‐2,6‐diphenylpyran‐5‐carboxylate

4‐Ethoxycarbonyl‐5‐phenyl‐2,3‐dihydrofuran‐2,3‐dione 1 reacts with aldehydes via the acylketene intermediate 2 giving the 1,3‐dioxin‐4‐ones 3a‐e and the 1,4‐bis(5‐ethoxycarbonyl‐4‐oxo‐6‐phenyl‐4H‐1,3‐dioxin‐2‐yl)benzene 4 , and a one step reaction between dibenzoylmethane and oxalylchloride gave 3,5‐dibenzoyl‐2,6‐diphenyl‐4‐pyrone 7 . The reaction of 1 with dibenzoylmethane, a dicarbonyl compound, provided ethyl 3‐benzoyl‐4‐oxo‐2,6‐diphenylpyran‐5‐carboxylate derivative 9 . Compound 9 was converted into the corresponding ethyl 3‐benzoyl‐4‐hydroxy‐2,6‐diphenylpyridine‐5‐carboxylate derivative 10 via its reaction with ammonium hydroxyde solution in 1 ‐butanol.     

Photocycloaddition Reactions of Alkyl and Aryl 2‐Thioxo‐3H‐benzoxazole‐ 3‐carboxylates to Alkenes

The photochemical reactions of alkyl and aryl 2‐thioxo‐3H‐benzoxazole‐3‐carboxylates 1 have been examined. Irradiation of 1 in the presence of tetra‐ and trisubstituted alkenes 2a and 2b , 2‐methylprop‐2‐ene nitrile 2e , and dienes 2f and 2g gave [2+2] cycloadducts of the CS bond of 2‐thioxobenzoxazoles and the CC bond of alkenes, spiro[benzoxazole‐thietanes] 3, 4, 8 – 13, 15, 18, 20, 23 – 26 in moderate‐to‐good yields. The photoaddition reactions proceed in a regiospecific manner. The spirocyclic compounds obtained are indefinitely stable at room temperature. Irradiation of 1a in the presence of 1,1‐ and 1,2‐disubstituted alkenes 2c and 2d yielded the products 5 – 7 of oxazole‐ring cleavage. Compound 1d also underwent photoaddition with alkenes to yield spiro[benzoxazole‐thietanes] and/or 2‐substituted benzoxazoles and/or iminothietanes, depending on the nature of the substituents present in the alkenes. On intramolecular [2+2] photoadduct, tetracyclic 27 , was obtained, when ethenyl 2‐thioxobenzoxazole‐3‐carboxylate 1e was irradiated.     

Photochemistry of N‐(2‐Acylphenyl)‐2‐methylprop‐2‐enamides: Competition between Photocyclization and Long‐Range Hydrogen Abstraction

The photochemical reactions of various ‘N‐methacryloyl acylanilides’ (=N‐(acylphenyl)‐2‐methylprop‐2‐enamides) have been investigated. Under irradiation, the acyl‐substituted anilides 1a – 1c and 1o afforded exclusively the corresponding quinoline‐based cyclization products of type 2 (Table 1). In contrast, irradiation of the benzoyl (Bz)‐substituted anilides 1e – 1h afforded a mixture of the open‐chain amides 4e – 4h and the cyclization products 2e – 2h . Irradiation of the para‐acyl‐substituted anilides 6a – 6e and 6h afforded the corresponding quinoline‐based cyclization products of type 5 as the sole products (Table 2). The formation of the cyclization products 2a – 2c and 2o can be rationalized in terms of 6π‐electron cyclization, followed by thermal [1,5] acyl migration, and that of compounds 3p, 5a – 5e , and 5h can be explained by a 6π‐electron cyclization only. The formation of the open‐chain amides 4e – 4h probably follows a mechanism involving a 1,7‐diradical, C and a spirolactam of type D (Scheme). Long‐range ζ‐H abstraction by the excited carbonyl O‐atom of the benzoyl group on the aniline ring is expected to proceed via a nine‐membered cyclic transition state, as proposed on the basis of X‐ray crystallographic analyses (Fig. 2).     

Intramolecular Photocyclization of 2‐Acylphenyl Methacrylates: a Convenient Access to 4,5‐Dihydro‐1,4‐epoxy‐2‐benzoxepin‐3(1H)‐ones (= Benzo[c]‐6,8‐dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan‐7‐ones

The photochemical reactions of 2‐acylphenyl methacrylates (= 2‐acylphenyl 2‐methylprop‐2‐enoates) 1 were investigated. Irradiation of 2‐acylphenyl methacrylates 1a – d in MeCN gave the tricyclic lactones 2a – d in good yields, together with a small amount of O CO bond cleavage product, the 2‐acylphenols 3a – d (Scheme 2, Table). The formation of the tricyclic lactones 2 probably follows a mechanism involving a 1,7‐diradical through ζ‐H abstraction (1,8‐H transfer) by the excited carbonyl O‐atom (Scheme 3). Irradiation of 2‐acylphenyl tiglate (= 2‐acylphenyl (2E)‐2‐methylbut‐2‐enoate) 1e and 2‐acylphenyl methacrylates 1g – i , substituted by a MeO group (δ‐H) at the 3,5‐positions of the phenyl group, also gave the tricyclic lactones 2e and 2g – i , but in low yields. On the other hand, no H‐abstraction products were observed on irridation of 2‐(ethoxycarbonyl)phenyl methacrylate 1f , of 2‐acylphenyl methacrylate 1j which is substituted by a Me group (γ‐H) at the 3,5‐positions of the phenyl group, and of 1k with an OH group at the 3‐position of the phenyl group.     

A Facile synthesis of n,n′‐oligomethylenebis(4,5‐dihydrofuran‐3‐carboxamide)s using manganese(III)‐based radical cyclization of n,n′‐oligomethylenebis(3‐oxobutanamide)s with 1,1‐diarylethenes

The reaction of N,N′‐oligomethylenebis(3‐oxobutanamide)s with 1,1‐diarylethenes in the presence of manganese(III) acetate in acetic acid at 100° produced N N′‐oligomethylenebis(2‐methyl‐5,5‐diaryl‐4,5‐dihydrofuran‐3‐carboxamide)s. Similarly, the reaction of 3‐oxobutanamidoethyl 3‐oxobutanoate or N,N′‐(3,6‐dioxaoctamethylene)bis(3‐oxobutanamide) with 1,1‐diphenylethene gave (2‐methyl‐5,5‐diphenyl‐4,5‐dihydrofuran‐3‐amido)ethyl 2‐methyl‐5,5‐diphenyl‐4,5‐dihydrofuran‐3‐carboxylate or N,N′‐(3,6‐dioxa‐octamethylene)bis(2‐methyl‐5,5‐diphenyl‐4,5‐dihydrofuran‐3‐carboxamide) in moderate yields.     

Multicomponent Transformation of Isoindoline‐1,3‐diimine (=1H‐Isoindole‐1,3(2H)‐diimine), Acetylenic Esters,and Triphenylphosphine to Novel Dihydropyrimido[2,1‐a]isoindole Derivatives

The three‐component reaction of the zwitterions generated from dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates (=dialkyl but‐2‐ynedioates and triphenylphosphine (Ph₃P) with isoindoline‐1,3‐diimine (=1H‐isoindole‐1,3(2H)‐diimine) is described (Scheme 1). This reaction affords the corresponding special type of substituted dihydropyrimido[2,1‐a]isoindole derivatives in good yields without using any catalyst and activation (Table).     

Radical Cyclization of Fluorinated 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds with Dienes Using Manganese(III) Acetate and Synthesis of Fluoroacylated 4,5‐Dihydrofurans

Radical cyclizations of fluorinated 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with dienes mediated by Mn(OAc)₃ afforded 4,5‐dihydrofurans containing difluoroacetyl, trifluoroacetyl, or heptafluorobutanoyl groups in good‐to‐excellent yields. Additionally, 2‐(difluoromethyl)‐4,5‐dihydrofurans and a 4,7‐dihydrooxepin derivative were obtained as unexpected products in the reaction of 4,4‐difluoro‐1‐phenylbutane‐1,3‐dione with 1,3‐diphenylbuta‐1,3‐diene. The radical cyclization of symmetrical dienes such as 2,3‐dimethylbuta‐1,3‐diene and 1,4‐diphenylbuta‐1,3‐diene with 1,3‐diketones furnished the corresponding products in low yields. However, treatment of 1‐phenylbuta‐1,3‐diene with 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds afforded 4,5‐dihydrofurans containing fluoroacyl groups. The radical cyclizations with 3‐methyl‐1‐phenylbuta‐1,3‐diene and 1,3‐diphenylbuta‐1,3‐diene led to 4,5‐dihydrofurans in good yields, since Me and Ph groups at C(3) of these dienes increase the stability of the radical intermediate.