Direct benzylation reactions from benzyl halides enabled by transition-metal-free photocatalysis

An S_N2-based photochemical strategy using dithiocarbamate anion as catalyst was developed for the activation of benzyl halides, which are extremely challenging to be applied as radical precursors in visible light photocatalysis. With this transition-metal-free and oxidant-free protocol, the benzylation(or cyanomethylation) of various heterocycles including quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones, coumarin, 2-phenyl-2H-indazole, 1-methyl-5-phenylpyrazin-2(1H)-one, 1-(fluoromethyl)cinnolin-4(1H)-one, and...     

Synthesis of hydrogenated indazole derivatives starting with α,β-unsaturated ketones and hydrazine derivatives

The reaction of hydrazine derivatives with α,β-unsaturated ketones, such as cyclohexenyl(phenyl)methanone and (E)-2-benzylidenecyclohexanone, were investigated.The reaction between methylhydrazine and e.g., cyclohexenyl(phenyl)methanone was particularly interesting as 3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-1-methyl-3-phenyl-1H-indazole was obtained as the major product together with 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2-methyl-3-phenyl-2H-indazole as a minor product.     

Crystal and molecular structure of three biologically active nitroindazoles

3-Bromo-1-methyl-7-nitro-1H-indazole (1), 3-bromo-2-methyl-7-nitro-2H-indazole (2) and 3,7-dinitro-1(2)H-indazole (3) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy in solution and in solid-state. The dihedral angles obtained in the crystal structures are in good agreement with the molecular parameters calculated using DFT B3LYP calculations employing the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. Compounds 1 and 2 present intermolecular halogen bonds between the bromine and the oxygen atoms of the nitro group and in compound 3 inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding exists.     

Novel strategy for the preparation of 3-perfluoroalkylated-2H-indazole derivatives

A simple and novel methodology for the synthesis of 3-perfluoroalkylated-2H-indazole derivatives has been elaborated. The perfluoroalkylation of readily available 2-nitrobenzaldimines bearing electron donating groups was performed using the Ruppert-Prakash reagent and its analogues to afford α-difluoromethylated, α-trifluoromethylated and α-pentafluoroethylated benzylamines. A final reductive cyclization mediated by SnCl₂·2H₂O led to 2H-indazoles containing perfluoroalkyl groups via the generation of a new NN bond in moderate to good yields.     

Photoredox-catalyzed sulfenylation/cyclization of N-aryl-N-tosylpropargylamine with disulfide: A concise route to 3-phenylthioquinoline

A facile and novel protocol for one-pot synthesis of 3-phenylthioquinoline derivates via visible-light induced tandem cyclization of N-aryl-N-tosylpropargylamine with disulfides was developed. This unprecedented method, involving CS bond formation, detosylation and aromatization, afforded the desired products in a broad substrate scope under mild conditions.     

Regioselectivity in the formation of norbornene-fused pyrazoles: preparation of 1-substituted derivatives of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-4,7-methanoindazole

The structural characteristics of (±)-(exo,exo)-3-(hydroxymethylene)-5,6-(isopropylidenedioxy)bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one make the reactions between this β-diketone and hydrazines particularly interesting for elucidating the mechanism of pyrazole formation. The isolation and X-ray structure determination of two 5-hydroxy substituted Δ²-pyrazolines [(±)-(3aR*,4R*,5R*,6S*,7R*,7aR*)-7a-hydroxy-5,6-(isopropylidenedioxy)-3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-4,7-methano-1H-indazole] and [(±)-(3aS*,4R*,5R*,6S*,7R*,7aR*)-7a-hydroxy-5,6-(isopropylidene-dioxy)-1-phenyl-3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexa-hydro-4,7-methano-1H-indazole] has been determinant for proposing a mechanism. Besides B3LYP/6-31G* calculations have been carried out on all intermediate dihydroxypyrazolidines and 5-hydroxypyrazolines. Finally, the annular tautomerism of the NH-methanotetrahydroindazoles has been studied both experimentally (¹³C NMR) and theoretically: the Mills-Nixon effect favours the 2H-tautomer.     

Potentiometric and antimicrobial studies on the asymmetric Schiff bases and their binuclear Ni(II) and Fe(III) complexes; synthesis and characterization of the complexes

The protonation constants of two nitro-Schiff bases SB¹, SB² and three asymmetric tetradentate diimines H₂L¹, H₂L² and H₂L³ and the stability constants of their ML type binuclear Ni(II) and Fe(III) complexes have been determined potentiometrically. The asymmetric diimines are (2OH) RCHNC₆H₄CHNR′ (2OH) type compounds [where R = R′ = phenyl for H₂L¹; R = naphthyl, R′ = phenyl for H₂L² and R = R′ = naphthyl for H₂L³]. The effect of tautomeric forms on the acid-base properties of the diimines has been investigated and discussed. In addition, dimeric and binuclear Ni(II) and Fe(III) complexes of the diimines have been synthesized and characterized by physical and spectroscopic techniques. Also, in vitro antimicrobial activities of the diimines and the complexes have been evaluated against three bacteria: Micrococcus luteus (NRLL B-4375), Bacillus cereus (RSKK 863), Escherichia coli (ATCC 11230) and the fungus: Candida albicans (ATCC 10239).     

Preparation of a porphyrin-polyoxometalate hybrid and its photocatalytic degradation performance for mustard gas simulant 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide

By combining 5,10,15,20-tetra（4-chlorine）phenylporphyrin（TClPP） and α-Keggin polyoxometalate H₅PV₂Mo₁₀O₄₀（H₅PVMo） via a simple ion-exchange method, an organic-inorganic hybrid material[C₄₄H₂₈N₄Cl₄]_1.5[H₂PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀]·2C₂H₆O（H₂TClPP-H₂PVMo） was prepared and thoroughly characterized by a variety of techni...     

Selective reductive cleavage of 2-(phenylthio)pyrimidines for efficient synthesis of 2-(H)pyrimidines

A reaction method is described for selective reductive cleavage of 2-(phenylthio)pyrimidines using Pd(OAc)₂ and Et₃SiH to produce 2-(H)pyrimidines. The reaction proceeds efficiently with a wide range of 2-(phenylthio)pyrimidines. Considering the ready availability of 2-(arylthio)pyrimidines derived from oxidative CS cross coupling of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1H-2-thiones (DHPMs), this method unambiguously provides a shortcut to the preparation of 2-(H)pyrimidines with unprecedented diversity.     

Facile synthesis of 2H-indazole derivatives starting from the Baylis-Hillman adducts of 2-cyclohexen-1-one

Facile synthetic method of 2H-indazole derivatives was developed involving DDQ oxidation of pyrazoles, which were prepared starting from the Baylis-Hillman adducts of 2-cyclohexen-1-one.     

I2/TBHP mediated multiple CH bonds functionalization of azaarenes with methylarenes to synthesize iodoisoquinolinones via iodination/N-benzylation/amidation sequence

An oxidative multi-functionalization of azaarenes with benzylic CH bonds of methylarenes via iodination/N-benzylation/amidation cascade, to produce N-benzyl-4-iodoisoquinolin-1(2H)-ones and N-benzyl-3-iodoquinolin-2(1H)-ones is developed. The molecular iodine plays a triple role in activating benzylic sp³ CH bond of methylbenzenes, accelerating the oxidation process and serving as iodination reagent. This reaction utilizes cheap and readily available azaarenes and methylarenes as starting materials and proceeds under metal-free conditions to construct C-I, CN and CO bonds consecutively and afford iodo(iso)quinolinones efficiently.     

The Enantiomeric Discrimination of 5-Hexyl-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole by Sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin: A Case Study

1-Pyrrolines are important intermediates of active natural products, such as the 2,5-dialkyl-1-pyrroline derivatives found in fire ant venoms. Here, 5-hexyl-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole was synthesized by the enzymatic transamination/cyclization of 2,5-undecadione, and enantiodifferenciation was successfully achieved by capillary electrophoresis with sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin as the chiral selector. The rationale of the enantiomeric discrimination was based on the results of a docking simulation that revealed the higher affinity of (S)-5-hexyl-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole for the sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin.     

Synthesis of substituted 4-(1H-indol-6-yl)-1H-indazoles as potential PDK1 inhibitors

The development of a preparative route to a series of novel 4-(1H-indol-6-yl)-1H-indazole compounds as potential PDK1 inhibitors is described. The synthetic strategy centres on the late-stage Suzuki cross-coupling of N-unprotected indazole and indole fragments. The use of a monoligated palladium catalyst system was found to be highly beneficial in the cross-coupling reaction. The indazole and indole fragments were constructed by diazotisation/cyclisation and S_NAr/reductive cyclisation sequences, respectively.     

Reversible cooperative dihydrogen binding and transfer with a bis-phosphenium complex of chromium

The reversible reaction of H₂ with a bis-phosphenium complex of chromium provides a rare example of 3d transition metal/phosphenium cooperativity. Photolysis induces the activation of H₂ and yields a spectroscopically detectable phosphenium-stabilized (σ–H₂)-complex, readily showing exchange with gaseous H₂ and D₂. Further reaction of this complex affords a phosphine-functionalized metal hydride, representing a unique example of reversible H₂ cleavage across a 3d M P bond. The same species is also accessible via stepwise H⁺/H⁻ transfer to the bis-phosphenium complex, and releases H₂ upon heating or irradiation. Dihydrogen transfer from the H₂-complex to styrene is exploited to demonstrate the first example of promoting hydrogenation with a phosphenium complex.

Photolysis of a phosphenium complex enables reversible activation of H₂ to yield a dihydrogen complex which stimulates H₂ cleavage or catalytic hydrogenation.     

Protein nanoparticles containing Cu(II) and DOX for efficient chemodynamic therapy via self-generation of H2O2

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) refers to generating hydroxyl radical (OH) in tumor sites via hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) catalyzed by transition metal ions in cancer cells under acidic environment. However, H₂O₂ content is not enough for effective CDT, although H₂O₂ content in cancer cells is higher than that of normal cells. Herein, we synthesized DOX@BSA-Cu NPs (nanoparticles) for effective CDT by providing enhanced content of H₂O₂ in cancer cells. The results proved Cu²⁺ in NPs could be reduced to Cu⁺ by glutathione (GSH) and effectively converted H₂O₂ to OH. Moreover, the loaded low-dose doxorubicin (DOX) in the NPs could improve the content of H₂O₂ and resulted in more efficient generation of OH in cancer cells. Thus DOX@BSA-Cu NPs exhibited higher cytotoxicity to cancer cells. This research may provide new ideas for the further studies on more effective Cu(II)-based CDT nanoagents.     

Novel organic magnet derived from pyrazine-fused furazans

The first organic magnet based on a high-nitrogen framework of pyrazine-fused furazans Na(L⁻)(H₂O)₃ was found. A quantum-chemical study of M(L⁻)(H₂O)_n, where M = Li, Na, K, Rb, NH₄, revealed that exchange coupling energy between the neighboring radical anions proved highly sensitive to the motion of one L⁻ relative to another.     

Exploring Synthetic Strategies for 1H-Indazoles and Their N-Oxides: Electrochemical Synthesis of 1H-Indazole N-Oxides and Their Divergent C−H Functionalizations

The selective electrochemical synthesis of 1H-indazoles and their N-oxides and the subsequent C−H functionalization of the 1H-indazole N-oxides are described. The electrochemical outcomes were determined by the nature of the cathode material. When a reticulated vitreous carbon cathode was used, a wide range of 1H-indazole N-oxides were selectively synthesized, and the electrosynthesis products were deoxygenated to N-heteroaromatics, owing to cathodic cleavage of the N−O bond via paired electrolysis, when a Zn cathode was used. The scope of this electrochemical protocol is broad, as both electron-rich and electron-poor substrates were tolerated. The potency of this electrochemical strategy was demonstrated through the late-stage functionalization of various bioactive molecules, making this reaction attractive for the synthesis of 1H-indazole derivatives for pharmaceutical research and development. Detailed mechanistic investigations involving electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry suggested a radical pathway featuring iminoxyl radicals. Owing to the rich reactivity of 1H-indazole N-oxides, diverse C−H functionalization reactions were performed. We demonstrated the synthetic utility of 1H-indazole N-oxides by synthesizing the pharmaceutical molecules lificiguat and YD (3); key intermediates for bendazac, benzydamine, norepinephrine/serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SAM-531, and gamendazole analogues; and a precursor for organic light-emitting diodes.     

Spectroscopic identification of water splitting by neutral group 3 metals

Spectroscopic study of water splitting by neutral metal clusters is crucial to understanding the microscopic mechanism of catalytic processes but has been proven to be a challenging experimental target due to the difficulty in size selection. Here, we report a size-specific infrared spectroscopic study of the reactions between neutral group 3 metals and water molecules based on threshold photoionization using a vacuum ultraviolet laser. Quantum chemical calculations were carried out to identify the structures and to assign the experimental spectra. All the M₂O₄H₄ (M = Sc, Y, La) products are found to have the intriguing M₂(μ₂-O)(μ₂-H)(μ₂-OH)(η¹-OH)₂ structures, indicating that the HOH bond breaking, the MO/MH/MOH bond formation, and hydrogen production proceed efficiently in the reactions between laser-vaporized metals and water molecules. The joint experimental and theoretical results on the atomic scale demonstrate that the water splitting by neutral group 3 metals is both thermodynamically exothermic and kinetically facile in the gas phase. These findings have important implications for unravelling the structure-reactivity relationship of catalysts with isolated metal atoms/clusters dispersed on supports.     

Synthesis and investigation of anti-inflammatory and anticonvulsant activities of novel coumarin-diacylated hydrazide derivatives

A number of novel coumarin derivatives synthesized by the reaction of 3-carbonyl chloride coumarin with some substituted aryl acid hydrazides to investigate their anti-inflammatory and anticonvulsant activities. Carrageenan (0.1 ml of 1%, w/v) was injected subplantarly in the right paw of rats to induce an acute model of inflammation. Anti-inflammatory efficacy was evaluated for 5 hours at 3 different dosages 5, 10, 25 mg/kg. After that, the changes in the level of paw edema volumes and percentage inhibition of all groups were observed and the most effective coumarin derivative was found as N'-(2-hyroxybenzoyl)-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbohydrazide. In addition, N’-(2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbonyl)nicotinohydrazide, (E)-N’-(3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acryloyl)-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbohydrazide, and N’-(5-amino-2-hydroxybenzoyl)-2-oxo-2H-chromone-3-carbohydrazide showed their anti-inflammatory effects in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ, 80 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced seizure model was used to investigate the anticonvulsant activities of six newly synthesized coumarin derivatives in mice. Hybrid compound of salicylic acid hydrazide and 3-carbonyl chloride coumarin (8d) was found the most promising anticonvulsant agent among all treatment groups according to the onset of seizure and survival rate. Moreover, (E)-N'-cinnamoyl-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbohyrazide (8b) and (E)-N'-(3-(4-hyroxyphenyl)acryloyl)-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbohydrazide (8c) has potential anticonvulsant efficiency in low doses (30 mg/kg). The anticonvulsant effect of these coumarin derivatives may be through enhanced GABA-mediated inhibition in the brain.     

Tri-insertion with dearomatization of terminal arylalkynes using a carborane based frustrated Lewis pair template

Intramolecular vicinal Frustrated Lewis Pairs (FLPs) have played a significant role in the activation of small molecules, and their stabilities and reactivities are found to strongly depend on the nature of the bridging units. This work reports a new carborane based FLP, 1-PPh₂-2-BPh₂-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ (2), which reacts with an equimolar amount of p-R₂NC₆H₄C CH (R = Me, Et, Ph) at room temperature to give C C triple bond addition products 1,2-[PPh₂C(R₂NC₆H₄) CHBPh₂]-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ (3) in high yields. Compounds 3 react further with two equiv. of p-R₂NC₆H₄C CH (R = Me, Et) at 60–70 °C to give unprecedented stereoselective tri-insertion products, 3,3a,6,6a-tetrahydronaphtho[1,8a-b]borole tricycles (4), in which one of the aryl rings from arylacetylene moieties has been dearomatized with the formation of four stereocenters including one quaternary carbon center. It is noted that the phosphine unit functions as a catalyst during the reactions. After trapping and structural characterization of a key intermediate, a reaction mechanism is proposed, involving sequential alkyne insertion and 1,2-boryl migration.

A carborane based frustrated Lewis pair enables tri-insertion with dearomatization of arylalkynes, forming unprecedented products, borole tricycles, with the construction of four stereocenters including one quaternary carbon center in one process.