ROM-RCM of cycloalkene-yne

Ring-opening metathesis and ring-closing metathesis (ROM-RCM) of cycloalkene-yne was demonstrated using a first- or second-generation ruthenium complex. When cycloalkenes bearing the alkyne part at the C-3 position were reacted with a first-generation ruthenium-carbene complex under an atmosphere of ethylene, ROM-RCM proceeded smoothly to give skeletal reorganized products in good yields. In this reaction, cycloalkene-ynes having terminal alkyne were suitable. On the other hand, when cycloalkenes bearing the alkyne part at the C-1 position were treated with a second-generation ruthenium-carbene complex, ROM-RCM proceeded smoothly to give bicyclic compounds and/or dimeric compounds in good yields.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening and ring-closing enyne metathesis

[reaction: see text]. When a CH2Cl2 solution of an enyne containing the cycloalkene moiety was stirred in the presence of ruthenium-carbene complex (10 mol %) at room temperature under ethylene gas (1 atm), ring-opening and ring-closing metathesis occurred to afford cyclized triene. The reaction was carried out under argon gas, and no cyclized product was obtained. Enynes with a terminal alkyne gave good results.     

Synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine in the presence of iodine–water catalytic system

We have devised an expedient, cleaner, and environmentally friendly approach for ‘on water’ mediated synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives. The synthesis involves in situ formation of imines followed by addition of alkyne to give the desired products in excellent yield.     

A practical, multigram synthesis of the 2-(2-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-5,7-dimethylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl)acetamide (DPA) class of high affinity translocator protein (TSPO) ligands

A practical, multigram approach to the 2-(2-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-5,7-dimethylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl)acetamide (DPA) class of ligands targeting the translocator protein (TSPO) is described. This synthetic route offers several improvements over all previously described sequences, including the isolation of intermediates without resort to chromatography. The common precursor to the DPA class of high affinity TSPO ligands, N,N-diethyl-2-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dimethylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl)acetamide, was produced in 40% yield over six steps, and was cleanly alkylated to give multigram quantities of several DPA analogues in 90-96% yield after recrystallization.     

Synthesis of 1,3-diarylated imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines with a combinatorial approach: metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of 1-halo-3-arylimidazo[1,5-a]pyridines with arylmetal reagents

The halogenation of 3-arylimidazo[1,5-a]pyridines was carried out with iodine, bromine, N-chlorosuccinimide, and 1-fluoro-2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate as halogenating agents to give selectively halogenated products 1-halo-3-arylimidazo[1,5-a]pyridines in good to excellent yields. Kumada-Tamao-Corriu cross-coupling of the obtained 1-iodo-3-arylimidazo[1,5-a]pyridines and aryl Grignard reagents led to 1,3-diarylated imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines in good to excellent yields. Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of the 1-bromo-3-phenylimidazo[1,5-a]pyridine and p- or m-methoxycarbonylphenylboronic acids furnished the coupling product in respective yields of 91% and 61%. The obtained 1,3-diarylated imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines showed a wide variety of fluorescent emissions in a wavelength range of 449-533 nm with improved quantum yields compared to monoarylated ones.     

A one-pot four-component synthesis of N-arylidene-2-aryl-imidazo[1,2-a]azin-3-amines

N-Arylidene-2-aryl-imidazo[1,2-a]azin-3-amines were synthesized via a one-pot, four-component condensation reaction using a 2-aminoazine, toluene-4-sulfonylmethyl isocyanide (TsCH₂NC), and two equivalents of readily available aromatic aldehydes. The reaction was performed in diethyl ether as the solvent, with p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA) as the catalyst at reflux temperature.     

Short and efficient access to imidazo[1,2-a]pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives

Access to N-protected or N-free imidazo[1,2-a]pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives as potential antiviral compounds was achieved in good yields from N-protected 7-amino-8-halo-2-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines by catalytic coupling of terminal acetylenes under mild conditions using [PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂] or [Cu(Phen)(PPh₃)₂]NO₃.     

A new, one-pot, three-component synthesis of 4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, 4H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, and 4H-pyrazino[1,2-a]pyrimidines

A new, one-pot and three-component synthesis of 4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, 4H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, and 4H-pyrazino[1,2-a]pyrimidines is described. The reactive 1:1 zwitterionic intermediate, formed by the addition of isocyanides to dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, was trapped by N-(2-heteroaryl)amides to yield a ketenimine intermediate, which was cyclized and then rearranged under the reaction conditions to afford the title compounds under mild reaction conditions in good yields. Single-crystal X-ray analysis conclusively confirms the structure of the obtained bridgehead bicyclic 6-6 heterocyclic compounds.     

Novel synthesis of 2,4-bis(2-pyridyl)-5-(pyridyl)imidazoles and formation of N-(3-(pyridyl)imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine)picolinamidines: nitrogen-rich ligands

Heating a neat 1:2 mixture of 2-picolylamine and 2-cyanopyridine followed by treatment of the resultant red gummy substance with aqueous KOH resulted in the isolation of 2,4,5-tris(2-pyridyl)imidazole (1a) as the major product and N-(3-(2-pyridyl)imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine)picolinamidine (2a) in small amounts. Similarly, by using 3-picolylamine, 2,4,-bis(2-pyridyl)-5-(3-pyridyl)imidazole (1b) and N-(3-(3-pyridyl)imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine)picolinamidine (2b) were isolated, and by using 4-picolylamine, 2,4,-bis(2-pyridyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)imidazole (1c) and N-(3-(4-pyridyl)imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine)picolinamidine (2c) were isolated. The plausible mechanism of the formation of 1a-c and 2a-c is delineated.     

Synthesis of substituted benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and its condensed analogues using Pd(0)-catalyzed cyclization/C-H activation

An efficient route for the synthesis of benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and its condensed analogues has been developed via the palladium-catalyzed cyclization/C-H activation of N-allyl and N-methallyl derivatives of benzimidazoles.     

Synthesis of 2,3-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-ones by the domino Michael addition retro-ene reaction of 2-alkoxyiminoimidazolidines and acetylene carboxylates

2-Alkoxyiminoimidazolidines 2-3 react with acetylene dicarboxylates and ethyl phenylpropiolate to give 8-alkoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(3H)-ones C, which subsequently undergo a sterically induced multihetero-retro-ene fragmentation to give imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-ones 4-7 together with formaldehyde or benzaldehyde. On the other hand, a similar reaction of 2-3 with ethyl propiolate gives corresponding 8-alkoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(3H)-ones 8-10. The unsubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-one 11 can be prepared by retro-ene reaction of 9 upon prolonged heating in refluxing ethanol. A direct synthetic approach to 1-formyl-7-phenyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-5(1H)-one 14 is reported using DMF/sulfonyl chloride as a new Vilsmeier-type N-formylating reagent.     

A general approach toward the synthesis of 8-acylamidopyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazines

An expedient synthesis of 8-acylamidopyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazines was developed by treating 8-amino-4-[N-(4-aminophenyl)-N-(methyl)amino]pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazine with various acyl chlorides following by the displacement of the so-formed N-(methyl)-N-[4-(acylamido)phenyl]amino leaving group with various amines. Applications to high-throughput synthesis are suggested.     

Unexpected nitrilimine cycloaddition of thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine derivatives

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of 2-arylidene-6,7-dihydro-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine-3(5H)-ones to diphenylnitrilimine (generated in situ by triethylamine dehydrohalogenation of the N′-phenylbenzohydrazonoyl chloride) proceeded regio- and site-selectively affording a mixture of two unexpected isomer products at reflux temperature. The cycloaddition/ring-opening/rearrangement/substitution, mechanism of the reaction was also discussed.     

Combining α-amidoalkylation reactions of N-acyliminium ions with ring-closing metathesis: access to versatile novel isoindolones spirocyclic compounds

A novel approach to diversely spirocyclic isoindoles has been developed by using N-acyliminium/ring-closing metathesis strategy. Spirocyclization precursors, diolefinic, and enyne spiro-fused-isoindole derivatives have been obtained by a regioselective reduction of the spiro-imide compounds, followed by the allylation of the N-acyliminium intermediates (generated from the acetoxylactam compounds). Ruthenium catalyzed ring-closing metathesis of the above unsaturated derivatives provided novel spiroisoindoles.     

Tracer studies on dinoflagellate luciferin with [N]-glycine and [N]-l-glutamic acid in the dinoflagellate Pyrocystis lunula

The bioluminescence of dinoflagellate is a typical luciferin-luciferase reaction. To clarify the biosynthesis of dinoflagellate luciferin, we performed a feeding experiment with [¹⁵N]-glycine and [¹⁵N]-l-glutamic acid in the dinoflagellate Pyrocystis lunula. In a control experiment, we also examined whether or not chlorophyll a was incorporated with these labeled compounds. We detected by mass spectrometry the incorporation of [¹⁵N]-glycine and [¹⁵N]-l-glutamic acid into the four tetrapyrrole rings of the luciferin. In the control experiment, chlorophyll a was also incorporated with [¹⁵N]-glycine and [¹⁵N]-l-glutamic acid. Our results show that either glycine or glutamic acid could be the original component of dinoflagellate luciferin as well as chlorophyll a in the dinoflagellate P. lunula.     

Synthesis and ring transformations of 1-amino-1,2,3,9a-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]indol-2(9H)-ones

Heating 1-carbamoylmethyl-2,3,3-trimethyl-3H-indolinium chloride in the presence of hydrazine bishydrate produces regioselectively the five-membered heterocycle 1-amino-1,2,3,9a-tetrahydro-9,9,9a-trimethylimidazo[1,2-a]indol-2(9H)-one. The assignment of the structure is based on extensive ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopic studies. No ring-chain tautomerism of the 1-amino-1,2,3,9a-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]indol-2(9H)-one was observed to open-chain hydrazides or the corresponding six-membered 1,2,10,10a-tetrahydro[1,2,4]triazino[4,3-a]indol-3(4H)-one. Further transformations of 1-amino-1,2,3,9a-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]indol-2(9H)-one were performed by treatment with aromatic aldehydes, acid chlorides and isocyanates giving access to 40 novel hydrazones, N,N′-diacylhydrazines, N-acyl-N′-carbamoylhydrazines and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles.     

Facile access to methoxylated 2-phenylnaphthalenes and epoxydibenzocyclooctenes

Methoxylated phenylethanals were treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid in 1,4-dioxane to give methoxylated 2-phenylnaphthalenes or 1,2,9,10-tetrahydro-1,9-epoxydibenzo[a,e]cyclooctenes. Yields in 2-phenylnaphthalenes were quite good and 1,2,9,10-tetrahydro-1,9-epoxydibenzo[a,e]cyclooctenes could be easily isolated. 2-Phenylnaphthalenes were obtained by a tandem aldol condensation-intramolecular Friedel-Crafts cyclisation and 1,2,9,10-tetrahydro-1,9-epoxydibenzo[a,e]cyclooctenes by a O-condensation followed by a double intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation.     

Michael additions of dihydropyrimidines and 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles to α,β-ethylenic compounds: using polyethylene glycols as a green reaction media

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was found to be an inexpensive, non-toxic, and effective medium for the Michael additions of 3,4-dihydropyrimidines to α,β-ethylenic compounds to provide N3-functionalized dihydropyrimidines in the presence of K₂CO₃ as the catalyst. Under similar reaction conditions, 2-amino-5-aryloxymethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazoles reacted with methyl acrylate to give unexpected products 5H,6H-[1,3,4]thiadiazolo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-7-ones through tandem Michael addition and intramolecular cyclization.     

InBr3-catalyzed three-component, one-pot synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

Indium(III) bromide has been used for the first time for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in a one-pot operation from 2-aminopyridine, aldehydes, and alkynes. InBr₃ was found to be more effective for the activation of both alkyne and imine derived from aryl aldehyde and 2-aminopyridine.     

Hemisynthesis of 13,17-cyclomesopheophorbide-a-enol

Cyclopheophorbides are often major chlorophyll-a degradation products in biogeochemical situations. Authentic standards are unavailable and facile generation of pure compounds is required. 13²,17³-Cyclomesopheophorbide-a-enol (mesoCYCLO) was prepared in moderate yields via a known Dieckmann-like condensation of mesopyropheophorbide-a methyl ester (mpPBIDaME). MesoCYCLO was purified by flash chromatography over a polymeric reversed phase (PRP-1™) material, negating the requirement for a crystallization step. Structural verification included ultraviolet-visible spectrometry, high resolution matrix (sulfur/CS₂) assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance.