Synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles: vilsmeier formylation of some 3-methylindol-2-yl ketones and 3(3-methylindol-2-yl)propenoic ester

3-Methylindol-2-yl methyl ketone reacted with phosphoryl chloride in dimethylformamide to give 3-chloro-3(3-methylindol-2-yl), propenal (4). 2-Carbomethoxy- and 2-carbethoxy-1-chloro- 9H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indol-9-ylidene acetaldehyde (10a and b) were formed by reaction with the same reagent of 3(3-methylindol-2-yl) propenoate (7) and 3(3-methylindol-2-yl)-3-oxopropanoate (2) respectively. In the latter case, 2-carbethoxy-1-chloro-3-dimethylamino-9-methyl-3H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole (9b) was isolated as an intermediate. The structure of the pyrroloindolylidene acetaldehydes was proved by synthesis of the chromophore from 4-acetyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-pyrrole-2-carboxylate (26). The preparation and behaviour of 1-phenylpyrrole-2,4- and 3,4-dicarboxylates, monomethylated in the pyrrole ring, is described. These compounds were prepared during a search for a satisfactory route to a starting material for the synthesis of compounds related to 10a and b. The saponification of such diesters is remarkably selective, and in the case of the 2,4-dicarboxylates, contradicts accepted generalisations concerning the lability of pyrrole α,β-diesters to selective hydrolysis.     

Quantum chemical study of the transformation of 2-(N-alkylamino)-3-(indol-1-yl)-and 2-(N-alkylamino)-3-(indol-3-yl)maleimides by protic acids: Tandem hydride transfer/cyclization mechanism

The geometric parameters, the charge distribution, and the energetics of N-methyl-2-(N-ethylanilino)-3-(indol-1-yl)-and N-methyl-2-(N-ethylanilino)-3-(indol-3-yl)maleimides and their conjugated acids were studied by density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. The mechanism of the tandem hydride transfer/cyclization sequence, which occurs after protonation of N-methyl-2-(N-ethylanilino)-3-(indol-1-yl)-and N-methyl-2-(N-ethylanilino)-3-(indol-3-yl)maleimides, was analyzed. The investigation of the potential energy surface for the tandem hydride transfer/cyclization of the iminium cation that formed upon protonation revealed that the hydride transfer followed by intramolecular cyclization at position 7 of the indole fragment in N-methyl-2-(N-ethylanilino)-3-(indol-1-yl)maleimide is the preferable process, unlike alternative intramolecular cyclization involving the cationic center at the C(2) atom of the indole fragment and the benzene ring of the N-ethylaniline fragment of the indoleninium cation in N-methyl-2-(N-ethylanilino)-3-(indol-3-yl)maleimide. A study of the key intermediates of the assumed reaction mechanism demonstrated that these intermediates are actually stationary points on the potential energy surface (minima and transition states). Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2069–2073, December, 2006.     

Synthesis of the (2<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,4<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-stereoisomers of 4-(indol-1-yl) and 4-arylamino derivatives of 5-oxoproline,proline, and 2-hydroxymethylpyrrolidine

Nucleophilic substitution of the halogen atom in dimethyl (S)-4-bromoglutamate followed by removal of the protecting groups and closure of a lactam ring afforded (2S,4S)-4-(indolin-1-yl)-5-oxoproline. The indoline fragment was oxidized into the indole fragment to give (2S,4S)-4-(indol-1-yl)-5-oxoproline; reduction of the carbonyl groups with BH3 yielded (2S,4S)-4-(indol-1-yl)prolines and (2S,4S)-2-hydroxymethyl-4-(indol-1-yl)pyrrolidines. Reduction of (2S,4S)-4-arylamino-5-oxoprolines with BH3 to the corresponding (2S,4S)-4-arylaminoprolines and (2S,4S)-4-arylamino-2-hydroxymethylpyrrolidines was studied.     

Synthesis and reactions of some 3-(2-haloacyl)indoles

The reaction between indole and N-(2-haloacyl)pyridinium salts has been studied. With dioxan as solvent 1-(2-haloacyl)indole (2) was generally the product at low temperatures and 3-(2-haloacyl)indole (1) at high temperatures, as illustrated by the following α-bromopropionylation: Product ratio (1c/2a), 20° (0·01), 40° (0·8) and 60° (8·5). The fact that the a-bromobutyrylation at 60° gave 3-{N-(2-bromobutyryl)-1,4-dihydro-4-pyridyl}indole (6) as the main product, and 3-(2-bromobutyryl)indole (1d) only as a minor product, shows that the 3-acylation is affected by steric hindrance.At high reaction temperature (> 60°) the yield of1 decreased, owing to the formation of 3-indacylpyridinium salts (4).     

Acid catalyzed rearrangements in the arylimino indoline series. Part IV . Reactions of 1,2-dihydro-2-phenyl-2-(indol-3-yl-derivatives)-3-phenylimino-3H-indole with trichloroacetic and hydrochloric acids. Crystal structure of 1,2-dihydro-2-phenyl-2-(indol-3-yl)-3-phenylimino-3H-indole

2-Phenyl-3-phenylimino-3H-indole reacts with indole, 2-methylindole and 1,2-dimethylindole in the presence of stoichiometric trichloroacetic acid to form 1,2-dihydro-2-phenyl-2-(indol-3-yl-derivatives)-3-phenylimino-3H-indole, which during a longer period of time (16 hours) undergoes indolyl transposition to carbon-3 and elimination of aniline affording the 3,3′-bis-indolyls. In the case of 1,2-dimethylindole the intermediate coming from the indolyl migration may undergo a nucleophilic addition to carbon-2 of another molecule of indole; the new intermediate leads to the formation of 2-phenyl-3,3′-di-(1,2-dimethylindol-3-yl)-3H-indole by elimination of aniline and migration to carbon-3 of the second molecule of indole. By treatment with hydrochloric acid in refluxing ethanol, 1,2-dihydro-2-phenyl-2-(indol-3-yl-derivatives)-3-phenylimino-3H-indole afford to 3,3′-bis-indolyls and 1,2-dihydro-2-phenyl-2-(indol-3-yl-derivatives)-3H-indol-3-one (indoxyls). The crystal structure of 1,2-dihydro-2-phenyl-2-(indol-3-yl)-3-phenylimino-3H-indole is also reported. The latter compound does not give rearrangement products by acid treatment, only untreatable tarry material.     

The configuration of esters of β-(indol-3- yl)-α-nitroacrylic acid

It has been shown by PMR spectroscopy that for the methyl and benzyl esters of β-(indol-3-yl)-α-nitroacrylic acid and their N-acetylated derivatives the isomers with the cis arrangement of the nitro group and the indole nucleus are the more stable.     

Enantioselective one-pot synthesis of 2-amino-4-(indol-3-yl)-4H-chromenes

An enantioselective one-pot synthesis of 2-amino-4-(indol-3-yl)-4H-chromenes via a Knoevenagel/Pinner/Friedel-Crafts reaction of salicylaldehyde, malononitrile, and indole is presented. Moderate to good yields (up to 89%) and high enantioselectivities (up to 90% ee) were obtained with an N,N'-dioxide-Zn(II) complex as the catalyst. This strategy provides an efficient and convenient method to access enantiomerically enriched 2-amino-4H-chromene derivatives.     

Transition-metal-free insertion of benzyl bromides into 2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)benzaldehyde: One-pot switchable syntheses of benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]quinolin-5(7H)-ones and 3-arylquinolin-4-ones mediated by base

A transition-metal-free insertion of benzyl group between aldehyde and imidazole of 2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)benzaldehyde was achieved for the first time. Two diverse sets of quinolin-4-one derivatives: benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]quinolin-5(7H)-ones (2) and 3-arylquinolin-4-ones (3) were synthesized based on identical starting materials 2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)benzaldehydes (1) and benzyl bromides. In the preparations, two key intermediates I and II were involved and might be synthesized in situ through the reaction of an intra-Breslow intermediate with benzyl bromide via an enol attack in the presence of base or a NHC-based enamine attack in the absence of base, respectively, in which the intra-Breslow intermediate might function as a nucleophilic reagent by following two novel different pathways.     

Synthesis of (r)- and (s)-1-formyl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro- N,N-(dipropyl)-3H-benz[e]indol-8-amines: Potent and orally active 5-ht1a receptor agonists

An efficient synthesis of the potent and orally active 5-HT_1A agonists, (R)-(+)- and (S)-(-)-1-formyl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-N,N-dipropyl-3H-benz[e]indol-8-amines 1a and 1b , is described. This synthesis was accomplished in twelve steps from commercially available 1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-4H-indol-4-one ( 5 ). The key step involved a regio-controlled Friedel-Crafts acylation of 1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)indol-4-acetyl chloride with ethylene to yield a versatile synthon, 3-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-3H-benz[e]indol-8-one ( 10 ). Subsequent coupling of this ketone with chiral α-methylbenzylamine under reductive amination conditions yielded a mixture of diastereomers. These diastereomers were efficiently separated by either chromatography or fractional recrystallization of the derived hydrochloride salts. Debenzylation of the pure diastereomers was followed by alkylation and formylation to yield (R)-(+)- and (S)-(-)-enantiomers 1a and 1b with >99% purity.     

A facile synthesis of novel 3-(aryl/alkyl-2-ylmethyl)-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones using microwave heating

(Z)-5-(2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)-2-oxoethylidene)-3-(aryl/alkyl-2-ylmethyl)-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones (7a–w) have been synthesized by the Knoevenagel condensation reaction of 3-(aryl/alkyl-2-ylmethyl)-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones (3a–d) with suitably substituted 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)2-oxoacetaldehydes (6a–g) under microwave conditions. The thioxothiazolidin-4-ones were prepared from the corresponding aryl/alkyl amines (1a–d) and di-(carboxymethyl)-trithiocarbonyl (2). The aldehydes (6a–g) were synthesized from the corresponding acid chlorides (5a–g) using HsnBu₃.     

5-(α-Fluorovinyl)tryptamines and 5-(α-Fluorovinyl)-3-(N-methyl-1′,2′,5′,6′,-tetrahydropyridin-3′- and -4′-yl)indoles—5-(α-Fluorovinyl)tryptamines

5-(α-Fluorovinyl)tryptamines 4a, 4b and 5-(α-fluorovinyl)-3-(N-methyl-1′,2′,5′,6′-tetrahydropyridin-3′- and -4′-yl) indoles 5a, 5b were synthesized using 5-(α-fluorovinyl)indole ( 7 ). The target compounds are bioisosteres of 5-carboxyamido substituted tryptamines and their tetrahydropyridyl analogs.     

Uncatalyzed addition of indoles and N-methylpyrrole to 3-formylchromones: synthesis and some reactions of (chromon-3-yl)bis(indol-3-yl)methanes and E-2-hydroxy-3-(1-methylpyrrol-2-ylmethylene)chroman-4-ones

(Chromon-3-yl)bis(indol-3-yl)methanes and E-2-hydroxy-3-(1-methylpyrrol-2-ylmethylene)chroman-4-ones have been obtained in good yields from 3-formylchromones on reaction with indoles and N-methylpyrrole under solvent-free conditions. Reactions of (chromon-3-yl)bis(indol-3-yl)methanes with guanidine carbonate and hydrazine hydrate proceed with the participation of the chromone ring system and lead to the formation of the corresponding pyrimidines and pyrazoles bearing the bis(indol-3-yl)methyl moiety.     

Heterocycles 35. CaL-B mediated synthesis of enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-ethyl 3-(2-arylthiazol-4-yl)-3-hydroxypropanoates

Herein we present the lipase catalyzed synthesis of four new enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-ethyl 3-(2-arylthiazol-4-yl)-3-hydroxypropanoates and their butanoates by enzymatic enantioselective acylation of the racemic alcohols rac-1a–d and by ethanolysis of the corresponding racemic esters rac-2a–d mediated by lipase B from Candida antarctica (CaL-B) in organic solvents. In terms of stereoselectivity and activity, both procedures, the acylation and alcoholysis, are successful (50% conversion, E ≫ 200). The absolute configuration of the resolution products was determined by a detailed ¹H NMR study of the Mosher’s derivatives of (S)-1a.     

Synthesis of trans-2-(indol-3-yl)-3-nitrothiochroman-4-ones from 3-nitrothiochromone and indoles

1,4-Nucleophilic addition reactions of 3-nitrothiochromone with indoles gave a number of novel trans-2-(indol-3-yl)-3-nitrothiochroman-4-ones in 36–89% yields. During the reactions, the thiopyrone ring underwent no opening.     

Synthesis and chemical reactivity of the novel 3-chloro-3-(4-chlorocoumarin-3-yl)prop-2-enal

Vilsmeier-Haack formylation of 3-acetyl-4-hydroxycoumarin (1) afforded the unexpected 3-chloro-3-(4-chlorocoumarin-3-yl)prop-2-enal (3). Compound 3 reacted with p-toluidine and benzylamine producing Schiff base 4 and enamine 6, respectively. Treatment of compound 3 with hydrazine hydrate produced bis-coumarin 15 which upon treating with hydrazine hydrate afforded bis chromeno[4,3-c]pyrazole derivative 16. Compound 3 reacted with cyanoacetohydrazide under different conditions. Condensation of compound 3 with some heterocyclic amines and 1,2-N,N-binucleophiles was studied. Structures of the new synthesized products were deduced on the basis of their analytical and spectral data.     

Anion binding properties of indolylmethanes

The anion binding properties of the indolylmethanes (1) were investigated by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy in CDCl₃. Tris(3-methylindol-2-yl)methane (1a) selectively bound a chloride anion the over other tested anions (Br^?, I^?, HSO ₄ ^? , and NO ₃ ^? ). In contrast, analogous compounds, phenyl bis(3-methylindol-2-yl)methane (1b), 2-hydroxyphenyl bis(3-methylindol-2-yl)methane (1c), tri(indol-3-yl)methane (1d), and phenyl di(indol-2-yl)methane (1e), showed a low anion binding ability and selectivity. These results indicate that the number and a position of the binding sites (indole NH protons) of the indolylmethanes are important factors for the formation of the complex with an anion. The high binding ability and selectivity of 1a toward a chloride anion is attributed to the proper size of the binding pocket for a chloride anion and the formation of multiple hydrogen bonds between the three indole NH protons and a chloride anion. The anion affinity of 1a was significantly affected by the cation component of quaternary ammonium salts, indicating that it is ion pair binding and not solely anion binding.     

Dual reactivity in 1,2-disubstituted dihydro-N-heteroaromatic systems. 12. Aromatization of 1-substituted-2-(indol-3-yl)-1,2-dihydroquinolines with 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene

As the electron-acceptor properties of the N-substituents in 1-R-2-(indol-3-yl)-1,2-dihydroquinolines decrease, their ability to undergo heterolysis of the internuclear C-C bond to give ion pairs of 1-R-quinolinium cations and indole anions decreases. Reaction of these ion pairs with 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene gives salts of 1-R-quinolinium cations and the 1-(indol-3-yl)-2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexadiene anion. With undissociated dihydroquinolines, aromatization under similar conditions gives salts of 1-R-2(indol-3-yl)quinolinium cations and the 1,1-dihydro-2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexadiene anion.For Communication 11, see [1].Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 80–84, January, 1988.     

Synthesis of 1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)indol-3-acetic acid

By condensation of ethyl indolin-3-acetate ( 4 ) and 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoylribofuranosyl-1-acetate ( 5 ), ethyl 1-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)indolin-3-acetate ( 6 ) was obtained in good yield. The indoline nucleoside 6 was aromatized to ethyl 1-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)indol-3-acetate ( 7 ) with DDQ. The treatment of the indole nucleoside with barium hydroxide and methanol gave the methyl ester 8 , which was further treated in water to give the desired 1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)indol-3-acetic acid ( 9 ).     

Facile synthesis of chiral 2-amino-4-(indol-3-yl)-4H-chromene derivatives using thiourea as the catalyst

The enantioselective Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indoles with iminochromenes catalyzed by a bifunctional thiourea organocatalyst was investigated. This reaction afforded chiral functionalized 2-amino-4-(indol-3-yl)-4H-chromenes in good yields (up to 87% yield) and with moderate to good enantioselectivities (up to 86% ee).     

Reaction of indol-3(2H)-one derivatives with some active methylene compounds

The reaction of substituted (Z)- and (E)-2-arylmethylideneindolin-3(2H)-ones with malononitrile gave the Micheal addition products which could be cyclised to the corresponding pyrano[3,2-b]indole. Larger molecules such as cyanoacetic acid and ethyl cyanoacetate failed to react.