Furan as a 1,3-diketone equivalent: the second type furan recyclization applied to indole synthesis

A new approach for the synthesis of indole derivatives based on protolytic recyclization of 2-alkyl-5-(2-tosylaminoaryl)-furans is described. The furan ring in this unusual transformation formally serves as a 1,3-diketone equivalent.     

Furan ring opening–indole ring closure: recyclization of 2-(2-aminophenyl)furans into 2-(2-oxoalkyl)indoles

The acid-catalyzed rearrangement of 5-alkyl-2-[2-(sulfonylamino)phenyl]furans into 2-(2-oxoalkyl)indoles is described. When the N-sulfonyl group in the starting compounds was displaced by an N-acyl group, the corresponding indoles were not formed under the same reaction conditions due to the in situ indole deacylation and decomposition. The presence of an alkyl group at the C5 position of the furan ring is also crucial for the efficiency of the process. The discussed rearrangement provides a simple and efficient approach to 2-(2-oxoalkyl)indoles.     

Ethynylation of 2-(furan-2-yl)- and 2-(thiophen-2-yl)pyrroles with acylbromoacetylenes in the Al2O3 medium: relative reactivity of heterocycles

2-(Furan-2-yl)- and 2-(thiophen-2-yl)pyrroles are readily ethynylated with acylbromoacetylenes in the solid Al₂O₃ medium (no solvent, room temperature, 1 h) to afford 5-(furan-2-yl)- and 5-(thiophen-2-yl)-2-acylethynylpyrroles in 39–74% yields. In the case of 2-(furan-2-yl)pyrroles, an alternative ethynylation of the furan ring takes place, the ratio of the furan and pyrrole ring ethynylation products being 1:5–7. No ethynylation of the thiophene ring as well as ethynylation of both heterocycles in a one molecule has been detected. Thus the reactivity of the heterocycles towards the ethynylation system (acylbromoacetylenes/Al₂O₃) falls in the order: pyrrole>furan>thiophene.     

Serendipitous stereoselective synthesis of brand-new fluorescent dyes: (1Z)-3-(alkylimino)-1-[(chromone-3-yl)methylene]-1,3-dihydro-9H-furo[3,4-b]chromen-9-one-type fluorophores with blue fluorescence emission properties

The reactions of 3-formylchromones with alkyl isocyanides in dry dichloromethane at room temperature lead to new types of organic fluorophores (1Z)-3-(alkylimino)-1-[(chromone-3-yl)methylene]-1,3-dihydro-9H-furo[3,4-b]chromen-9-one, which exhibited strong blue emission in solution. The reactions involve a [4+1] cycloaddition followed by an activated electrophilic aromatic substitution at the furan ring and dehydration sequence.     

2-(2-Furyl)-5,6-dihydro-1(3)H-acenaphtho[4,5-d]imidazole. Synthesis and electrophilic substitution reactions

2-(2-Furyl)-5,6-dihydro-1(3)H-acenaphtho[4,5-d]imidazole was synthesized by the Weidenhagen reaction of acenaphthene-4,5-diamine with furfural. Alkylation of the title compound with methyl iodide in KOH-DMSO gave isomeric 1- and 3-methyl derivative, the latter being the major product. 2-(2-Furyl)-3-methyl-5,6-dihydro-3H-acenaphtho[4,5-d]imidazole was subjected to electrophilic substitution reactions (bromination, nitration, formylation, acylation, and sulfonation. Depending on the conditions, electrophilic attack was directed at the furan ring or acenaphthene fragment or both these.     

Nitration of 2- and 4-[2-(2-furyl)vinyl]thiazole derivatives

Nitration of 4-methyl-2-[2-(nitro-2-furyl)vinyl]thiazole with a mixture of concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids leads to 4-methyl-5-nitro-2-[2-(3,5-dinitro-2-furyl)vinyl]thiazole. Under the same conditions 2-methyl- and 2-acetamido-4-[1-R-2-(5-nitro-2-furyl)vinyl]thiazoles (R=CH₃, Cl) are nitrated in the 3 position of the furan ring, 2-amino-4-[1-chloro-2-(5-nitro-2-furyl)vinyl]thiazole is nitrated in the 5 position of the thiazole ring and 2-acetamido-5-nitro-4-[2-(2-furyl)vinyl]thiazole undergoes profound changes. Under the influence of a mixture of of nitric acid and acetic anhydride the latter compound is converted quantitatively to the 5-nitro derivative (with respect to the furan ring), whereas 4-[2-(5-nitro-2-furyl)vinyl]thiazole derivatives do not undergo reaction.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 314–317, March, 1977.     

Structure and Dynamic of Three Indole Alkaloids from the Campylospermum Genus (Ochnaceae)

A new indole alkaloid, calanthumindole ( 4 ), and three known biflavonoids, amentoflavone, sequoiaflavone, and podoscarpusflavone B, were isolated from Campylospermum calanthum (Ochnaceae). Calanthumindole is a new indole alkaloid of the serotobenine family characterized by the presence of a C?C bond between atoms C(7′) and C(8′) of the furan ring. This is the first compound to have a fully unsaturated furan ring among the members of this family. The combination of NMR and DFT allowed the determination and comparison of the 3D structures and relevant conformational characteristics of serotobenine ( 1 ), flavumindole ( 2 ), and calanthumindole ( 4 ).     

2-(2-Furyl)-1(3)H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline. Synthesis and electrophilic substitution reactions

2-(2-Furyl)-1(3)H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline was synthesized by the Weidenhagen reaction of quinoline-5,6-diamine with furfural. Its alkylation with methyl iodide in the system KOH-DMSO gave two isomeric N-methyl derivatives, 2-(2-furyl)-1-methyl-1H- and 2-(2-furyl)-3-methyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinolines, the latter prevailing. 2-(2-Furyl)-3-methyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline was brought into electrophilic substitution reactions: bromination, nitration, formylation, acylation, sulfonation. Depending on the reaction conditions, electrophilic attack could be directed at both furan ring and quinoline fragment.     

Furan ring opening—indole ring closure: pseudooxidative furan ring opening in the synthesis of indoles

A new approach to the synthesis of 4-(2-indolyl)-3-buten-2-ones is described based on condensation of 2-tosylaminobenzyl alcohols with N-tosylfurfurylamine. Pseudooxidative furan ring opening occurred via protolytic elimination of tosylamide from the side chain of the 2-tosylaminoaryl(5-tosylaminomethylfur-2-yl)methanes formed in situ.     

Synthesis of a novel series of tetra-substituted furan[3,2-b]pyrroles

Furan[3,2-b]pyrroles are important isosteres for the indole scaffold in which the benzene ring is replaced by the furan ring. A series of novel tetra-substituted furan[3,2-b]pyrroles was synthesized from a simple furaldehyde. The divergent synthesis allows for substitution on multiple positions on the scaffold, creating the potential for the formation of large libraries.     

Transformation of 3-(Furan-2-yl)-1,3-di(het)arylpropan-1-ones to Prop-2-en-1-ones via Oxidative Furan Dearomatization/2-Ene-1,4,7-triones Cyclization

The approach to 3-(furan-2-yl)-1,3-di(het)arylprop-2-en-1-ones based on the oxidative dearomatization of 3-(furan-2-yl)-1,3-di(het)arylpropan-1-ones followed by an unusual cyclization of the formed di(het)aryl-substituted 2-ene-1,4,7-triones has been developed. The cyclization step is related to the Paal–Knorr synthesis, but the furan ring formation is accompanied in this case by a formal shift of the double bond through the formation of a fully conjugated 4,7-hydroxy-2,4,6-trien-1-one system or its surrogate.     

Synthesis of 2,5-bis{(diethyl-3′-indolyl)methyl}furan and its N,N′-dimetallated complexes (lithium, sodium and potassium): X-ray crystal structures of 2,5-bis{(diethyl-3′-indolyl)methyl}furan and the polymeric tetrahydrofuran adduct of the dilithiated complex

The synthesis of 2,5-bis{(diethyl-3′-indolyl)methyl}furan by the acid catalysed condensation of 2,5-bis(diethylhydroxymethyl)furan with indole is presented. Dilithium, disodium and dipotassium derivatives are prepared by the reaction of the bis(indole) with n-BuLi, NaH and K, respectively, in the presence of various Lewis bases. The X-ray structures of 2,5-bis{(diethyl-3′-indolyl)methyl}furan and the dilithiated derivative (as a polymeric tetrahydrofuran adduct) are reported.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acylimino-substituted 2-oxa-7-azaspiro[4.4]nona-3,6,8-trienes in the synthesis of 3-(1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-3<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-pyrrole-4-carbonitriles

Reaction with phenylhydrazine of 3Н-pyrroles spirobound to a furan ring, N-acylimino-substituted 2-oxa-7-azaspiro[4.4]nona-3,6,8-trienes, occurs with a diasteroselective formation of previously unknown derivatives of 1,2,4-triazole: 5-amino-3-(5-alkyl-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-2-morpholin-4-yl-3H-pyrrole-4-carbonitriles.     

Synthesis of 2-, 4- and 5-(2-alkylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)-7-alkyloxybenzo[b]furans and their leukotriene B4 receptor antagonistic activity

Variable benzo[b]furan derivatives having (E)- and (Z)-2-alkylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl groups at the 2-, 4- and 5-positions and a carboxylpropoxy or (1-phenyl)ethoxy group at the 7-position were prepared to find novel and selective leukotriene B4(LTB4) receptor antagonists. (E)-2-(2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)-7-(1-phenylethoxy)benzo[b]furan (4v) showed selective inhibition to the human BLT2 receptor (hBLT2). On the other hand, (E)-2-acetyl-4-(2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)-7-(1-phenylethoxy)benzo[b]furan (7v) inhibited both human BLT(1) receptor (hBLT1) and hBLT2. The (E)-2-(2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl) group lay on approximately the same plane as the benzo[b]furan ring, whereas the (E)-4-(2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl) group had the torsion angle (45.7 degree) from the benzo[b]furan ring plane. However, the (Z)-(2-alkylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)benzo[b]furans were inactive. The inhibitory activity depended on the conformation of the 2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl group.     

A novel synthetic route for the total synthesis of (±)-uleine

In this study, a new synthetic route for the total synthesis of (±)-uleine is described. The important step in the synthesis of this alkaloid consists of an intramolecular cyclization of the D ring of the azocino[4,3-b]indole skeleton. Reduction of (N-methyl){3-β-ethyl-4-oxo-2,3,4,9-tetrahydrospiro[1H-carbazole-1,2′(1,3)dithiolane]-2-yl}-2-acetamide with borane yielded the corresponding (N-methyl){3-β-ethyl-4-hydroxy-2,3,4,9-tetrahydrospiro[1H-carbazole-1,2′(1,3)dithiolane]-2-yl}-2-acetamide, which underwent acid-catalyzed ring closure to produce azocino[4,3-b]indole core. Finally, the synthesis of (±)-uleine was completed through several steps from the azocino[4,3-b]indole core.     

Reaction of alkyl-3-nitro-and-3-bromo-3-nitroacrylates with 2-(2-nitroethenyl)furan

The diene condensation of β-nitro and β-bromo-β-nitroacrylates with 2-(2-nitroethenyl)furan as 1,3-diene leads to a mixture of regioisomeric tetrahydrobenzofurans transforming under the reaction conditions into benzofurancarboxylates due to the easy dehydrohalogenation, denitration, and dehydration. In the case of a gem-bromonitroacrylate reaction takes two routes: diene synthesis and alkylation of the furan ring, the latter process prevailing. The structure of products formed was established by spectral methods. The investigation of geometry of 2-(1-methoxycarbonyl-2-nitroethenyl)-5-(2-nitroethenyl)furan by XRD analysis showed that its vinyl fragments have the coplanar chelate-like structure with the cisoid orientation of the CO₂Me and NO₂ groups. The ester group deviates from the plane of the the carbon-carbon multiple bond.     

The furan approach to oxacycles. Part 4: A synthesis of (+)-decarestrictine L

We describe an efficient new approach for the enantioselective synthesis of (+)-(2R,3S,6R)-decarestrictine L from commercially available starting material using our newly developed methodology based on the oxidation of a furan ring with singlet oxygen followed by an intramolecular hetero Michael addition.     

Reaction of 5-(2-furyl)-1-methyl-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H-</Emphasis> and 1-methyl-5-(2-thienyl)-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-imidazoles with electrophilic reagents

5-(2-Furyl)-1-methyl-1H- and 1-methyl-5-(2-thienyl)-1H-imidazoles were synthesized. The electronwithdrawing effect of the 5- and 2-imidazole substituents on the furan ring was studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations. Some electrophilic substitution reactions were investigated (nitration, bromination, sulfonation, hydroxymethylation, formylation, and acylation). In some cases, depending on the reaction conditions, both the furan and thiophene ring and the imidazole fragment undergo electrophilic attack.     

Synthesis and selected reactions of ethyl 5-(1-chloroethyl)-2-methylfuran-3-carboxylate

Ethyl 2-methylfuran-3-carboxylate is smoothly chloroethylated at 0°C in the 5 position of the ring. The resulting halide alkylates secondary amines but eliminates HCl with sodium diethyl phosphite under the Michaelis-Becker reaction conditions and with trimethyl phosphite under the Arbuzov reaction conditions. In the reaction with sodium diethyl phosphite, small amounts of 5-[1-(diethoxyphosphoryl)ethyl]furan-3-carboxylate and 5-ethylfuran-3-carboxylate are formed. In the Arbuzov reaction at a 1: 1.22 furan: trimethyl phosphite molar ratio, methyl 2,4-dimethyl-1-methoxy-1-oxo-1λ⁵-1,2-dihydrophospheto[3,2-b]furan-5-carboxylate was isolated.     

The synthesis and some transformations of 2-(2-Furyl)-1H-naphto[2,3-d]imidazole

2-(2-Furyl)-1H-naphto[2,3-d]imidazole was synthesised by interaction of 2,3-diaminonaphtalene with furfural in the conditions of Weidenhagen reaction. At its N-methylation in the KOH-DMSO system the 1-methyl-2-(2-furyl)-1H-naphto[2,3-d]imidazole was obtained, which we subjected to reactions of electrophilic substitution (nitration, bromination, sulfonation, formylation, and acylation). This compound possesses a specific reactivity: all reactions, as a rule, proceed at the naphthalene scaffold while the furan ring is not involved.