Synthesis of 2‐Aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,8‐naphthyridin‐4(1H)‐ones by Deprotective Cyclization of N‐{3‐[(2E)‐3‐Arylprop‐2‐enoyl]pyridin‐2‐yl}‐2,2‐dimethylpropanamides in Water

A new and convenient method for the preparation of 2‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,8‐naphthyridin‐4(1H)‐ones 4 has been developed. Thus, N‐{3‐[(2E)‐3‐arylprop‐2‐enoyl]pyridin‐2‐yl}‐2,2‐dimethylpropanamides 3 are synthesized from commercially available pyridin‐2‐amine using an easily performed three‐step sequence and are subjected to cyclization with deprotection under acidic conditions in H₂O to give the desired products. Similarly, 2‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,7‐naphthyridin‐4(1H)‐ones 8 and 2‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,6‐naphthyridin‐4(1H)‐ones 12 can be prepared from pyridin‐3‐amine and pyridin‐4‐amine, respectively.     

Diastereoselective Hydroxyethylation of β‐Hydroxyketones: A Reformatsky Cyclization‐Lactone Reduction Cascade Mediated by SmI2−H2O

The hydroxyethylation of β‐hydroxyketones allows diastereoselective access to important 1,3,5‐triols. The approach exploits a SmI₂?H₂O‐mediated Reformatsky cyclization‐lactone reduction cascade.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Isoschizogamine

The total synthesis of (?)‐isoschizogamine was accomplished, featuring the construction of the quaternary carbon center by the modified Johnson–Claisen rearrangement in basic media and the facile assembly of the key tetracyclic quinolone intermediate through a cascade cyclization. The characteristic cyclic aminal was constructed by late‐stage C?H functionalization at the position adjacent to the lactam nitrogen using a combination of CrO₃ and nBu₄NIO₄ and subsequent Bi(OTf)₃‐mediated cyclization.     

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).     

A Visible Light Photocatalytic Cross‐Dehydrogenative Coupling/Dehydrogenation/6π‐Cyclization/Oxidation Cascade: Synthesis of 12‐Nitroindoloisoquinolines from 2‐Aryltetrahydroisoquinolines

A visible light‐induced photocatalytic dehydrogenation/6π‐cyclization/oxidation cascade converts 1‐(nitromethyl)‐2‐aryl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolines into novel 12‐nitro‐substituted tetracyclic indolo[2,1‐a]isoquinoline derivatives. Various photocatalysts promote the reaction in the presence of air and a base, the most efficient being 1‐aminoanthraquinone in combination with K₃PO₄. Further, the 12‐nitroindoloisoquinoline products can be accessed directly from C1‐unfunctionalized 2‐aryl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolines by extending the one‐pot protocol with a foregoing photocatalytic cross‐dehydrogenative coupling reaction, resulting in a quadruple cascade transformation.     

Catalytic,Cascade Ring‐Opening Benzannulations of 2,3‐Dihydrofuran O,O‐ and N,O‐Acetals

An Al(OTf)₃‐catalyzed intramolecular cascade ring‐opening benzannulation of 2,3‐dihydrofuran O,O‐ and N,O‐acetals is described. The cascade sequence involves the dihydrofuran ring‐opening by acetal hydrolysis, an intramolecular Prins‐type cyclization, and aromatization to generate an array of benzo‐fused (hetero)aromatic systems in up to 95 % yield. This method represents the first example of dihydrofuran acetal usage in benzannulation reactions. The approach provides excellent regiocontrol based on the choice of alkenes used to form the requisite dihydrofuran acetals.     

4‐Substituted 2,3‐Dihydroisoxazoles as Masked Azomethine Ylides: Access to Pyrrole Derivatives by 1,5‐ and 1,7‐Dipolar Electrocyclizations of Enynyl Derivatives

The enynyl‐substituted 2,3‐dihydroisoxazoles (‘isoxazolines') 9 – 14 were prepared by highly (Z)‐selective Peterson olefination reaction from the corresponding carbaldehydes 6 – 8 . On short‐time thermolysis (280 – 406°/10 s) the TMS derivatives 9 – 11 give rise to the annulated pyrrolines 18 – 20 , which, in some cases, suffer CH₄ elimination affording the pyrroles 15 – 17 . In contrast, thermolysis of the terminal alkyne derivatives 12 – 14 leads to the bicyclic compounds 21 – 23 . The reaction pathways are discussed on the basis of the formation of conjugated azomethine ylides as key intermediates, which either undergo a 1,5‐cyclization to 18 – 20 or a 1,7‐ring‐closure affording cycloallene intermediates of type V , which are further transformed into the azepino pyrroles 21 – 23 .     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Cephalotaxine and (−)‐Homoharringtonine via Furan Oxidation–Transannular Mannich Cyclization

Homoharringtonine and its congener cephalotaxine were synthesized. Oxidative ring‐opening of a furan unveils an amine‐tethered dicarbonyl, which undergoes spontaneous transannular Mannich cyclization. The cascade builds the full cephalotaxine substructure in a single operation in 60 % yield. A Noyori reduction enabled synthesis of the title compounds with excellent enantioselectivity (k_rel=278).     

A Novel Intramolecular Photocyclization of N‐(2‐Bromoalkanoyl) Derivatives of 2‐Acylanilines via 1,8‐Hydrogen Abstraction

The photochemical reactions of different N‐(2‐acylphenyl)‐2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropanamides have been investigated. Irradiation of the N‐unsubstituted anilides 1a – 1c gave the corresponding dehydrobromination, cyclization, and bromo‐migration products 2, 3 , and 4 , respectively (Table 1). Irradiation of the N‐alkyl anilides 1e – 1g afforded the corresponding deacylation and cyclization products 5 and 6 , respectively, whereas irradiation of the N‐alkyl anilides 1i – 1k , carrying 2‐benzoyl groups on the aromatic rings, afforded the unexpected tricyclic lactams 7 (besides 2, 5 , and 6 ). The formation of the cyclization products 6 could be rationalized in terms of an electrocyclic ring closure of the 6π‐electron‐conjugated enamides 2 produced by dehydrobromination of 1 , followed by thermal 1,5‐acyl migration (Path B in the Scheme). The formation of the bridged lactams 7 probably follows a mechanism involving the 1,7‐diradical 8 generated by ζ‐H‐abstraction (1,8‐H transfer) by an excited acyl O‐atom (Path A).     

Two‐step Synthesis of New γ‐Lactones via Cyclization of 7‐Chloro‐2‐(methoxycarbonyl)‐4‐6‐dimethylocta‐(2E,4E,6E)‐trienoic acid

A new rapid synthesis of γ‐lactones, cis fused with a cyclopentenic ring by thermal cyclization of 7‐chloro‐2‐(methoxycarbonyl)‐4‐6‐dimethylocta‐7‐phenyl (or methyl) (2E,4E,6E)‐trienoic acids was reported. The key step implicates an intramolecular cyclization to a cyclopentenyl cation, according to an electrocyclic π_2s + π_2a conrotatory process, published in a recent paper (from the corresponding diacids). We have investigated the thermal behavior of the corresponding half‐esters since; if the cyclization obeys to the proposed mechanism, the diacids, half‐esters must also cyclize in a similar manner. Saponification of these led to γ‐dilactones via intermediary cyclopropanes. Mechanistic pathways were investigated.     

Fe‐catalyzed hydrohalogenative cyclization of cyclohexadienone‐containing enynes

A Fe‐catalyzed hydrohalogenative cyclization of cyclohexadienone‐containing 1,n‐enynes to give three different types of compounds is discussed. 1,6‐enynes with a stoichiometric amount of FeX₃ provided cis‐hydrobenzofurans with moderate stereoselectivity, whereas the reaction with TMSX (X = Cl, Br) as the halide source in the presence of Fe catalyst improved the stereoselectivity of halide addition highly. The alkyl vs aryl shows difference that the reaction of 1,6‐enynes bearing an alkylethynyl group gave meta alkenated phenols (2 examples) whereas a similar reaction of 1,6‐enynes with an arylethynyl group delivered only cis‐hydrobenzofurans (12 examples). 1,7‐enynes afforded tricyclic products (4 examples). The different reactivity of 1,6‐ and 1,7‐enynes is probably influenced by the formation of a six‐membered chair‐like intermediate in 1,6‐enynes.     

AgNO3 Catalyzed Regio‐Selective Synthesis of 3‐Alkyl/Aryl‐idene‐3,4‐dihydro‐4‐tosyl‐2H‐1,4‐Benzoxazine: Novel Anti‐Tubercular Scaffolds

A facile and efficient method for the construction of 3‐alkyl/aryl substituted 1,4‐benzoxazine and benzoxazepine via AgNO₃ catalyzed cyclization of propargyloxy sulfonamides and their anti‐tubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇R_V is described. This cyclization proceeds through 6‐exo‐dig manner to generate the products in moderate to good yields.     

Synthesis of 4‐Aryl‐1,7‐naphthyridine‐2(1H)‐thiones by the Electrocyclic Reaction of 4‐(1‐Arylalk‐1‐enyl)‐3‐isothiocyanatopyridines Generated in situ from the Corresponding Isocyanides

A convenient synthis for 4‐substituted and 3,4‐disubstituted 1,7‐naphthyridine‐2(1H)‐thiones 7 has been developed. The method is based on the electrocyclic reaction of 4‐(1‐arylalk‐1‐enyl)‐3‐isothiocyanatopyridines 6 , generated in situ by the treatment of the respective isocyanides 5 with S₈ in the presence of a catalytic amount of selenium. The isocyanides 5 can be easily prepared from commercially available pyridin‐3‐amine by conventional organic reactions.     

Radical Cyclization/ipso‐1,4‐Aryl Migration Cascade: Asymmetric Synthesis of 3,3‐Difluoro‐2‐propanoylbicyclo[3.3.0]octanes

A novel method for the asymmetric synthesis of 3,3‐difluoro‐2‐propanoylbicyclo‐[3.3.0]octanes involves an unprecedented intramolecular radical cyclization/ipso‐1,4‐aryl migration cascade.     

Cu–N‐heterocyclic carbene‐catalysed synthesis of 2‐aryl‐3‐(arylethynyl)quinoxalines from one‐pot tandem coupling of o‐phenylenediamines and terminal alkynes

A series of new benzimidazolium chlorides bearing N,N′‐benzyl, 2,4,6‐trimethylbenzyl and 2,4,6‐triisopropylbenzyl substituents have been designed and synthesized from various o‐phenylenediamines. Subsequently, corresponding Cu‐based N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) were generated in situ in the reaction medium which represents a new application of NHCs exploiting distinct catalytic property towards intermolecular cyclization reaction cascade for the synthesis of 2‐aryl‐3‐(arylethynyl)quinoxalines from o‐phenylenediamines and terminal alkynes. The outcome of the cyclization reaction product depends upon the N,N′‐substituents present on the benzimidazolium chlorides.     

A Cascade Synthesis of Hetero‐arylated Triarylmethanes Through a Double 5‐endo‐dig Cyclization Sequence

A sequential two‐step method for the synthesis of hetero‐arylated triarylmethanes through a Ag‐catalyzed sequential double cyclization–nucleophilic addition cascade is described. This methodology basically involves an initial 5‐endo‐dig cyclization of o‐alkynyl anilines to provide 2‐substituted indole derivatives, which then react with 2‐(2‐enynyl)‐pyridines to afford indolizine‐containing unsymmetrical triarylmethanes through another 5‐endo‐dig cyclization.     

Synthesis and properties of isoviagra. A 2‐methyl‐2H‐pyrazolo[4,3‐d]pyrirnidin‐7‐one isomer of viagra®

The synthesis and spectral properties (ir, ms, nmr) of a substituted 2‐methyl‐2H‐pyrazolo[4,3‐d]‐pyrimidin‐7‐one ( 3 ), an isomer of Viagra^®, are described. The key synthon, 4‐amino‐1‐methyl‐5‐propyl‐3‐pyrazolecarboxamide ( 7 ), is prepared via the reaction of ethyl 2,4‐dioxoheptanoate with methylhydrazine, followed by cyclization, nitration, amidation, and nitro group reduction. Interaction of 7 with 2‐ethoxyben‐zoyl chloride yielded the respective bis‐amide ( 8 ) which was cyclized in polyphosphoric acid to the corresponding pyrazolo[4,3‐d]pyrimidin‐7‐one derivative 9 . Chlorosulfonylation of 9 , and subsequent treatment with 1‐methylpiperazine furnished iso Viagra ( 3 ).     

Long‐chain‐branched polyethene by the copolymerization of ethene and nonconjugated α,ω‐dienes

Ethene was copolymerized (1) with 1,5‐hexadiene with rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride/methylaluminoxane (MAO) used as a catalyst and (2) with 1,7‐octadiene with bis(n‐butylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride/MAO and rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)hafnium dichloride (Et[Ind]₂HfCl₂)/MAO used as catalysts at 80 °C in toluene. The copolymer microstructure and the influence of diene incorporation on the rheological properties were examined. Ethene and 1,5‐hexadiene formed a copolymer in which a major fraction of the 1,5‐hexadiene was incorporated into rings and a small fraction formed 1‐butenyl branches. The copolymerization of ethene with 1,7‐octadiene resulted in a higher selectivity toward branch formation. Some of the branches formed long‐chain‐branching (LCB) structures. The ring formation selectivity increased with decreasing ethene concentration in the polymerization reactor. Melt rheological properties of the diene copolymers resembled those of metallocene‐catalyzed LCB homopolyethenes and depended on the vinyl content, the catalyst, and the polymerization conditions. At high diene contents, all three catalysts produced crosslinked polyethene. This was especially pronounced with Et[Ind]₂HfCl₂, where only 0.2 mol % 1,7‐octadiene in the copolymer was required to achieve significantly modified rheological properties. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3805–3817, 2001     

Two isostructural carboranes: 3‐phenyl‐1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(12) and 1‐phenyl‐1,7‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(12)

Two phenyl‐substituted carboranes, 3‐phenyl‐1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(12), C₈H₁₆B₁₀, (I), and 1‐phenyl‐1,7‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(12), C₈H₁₆B₁₀, (II), were found to be isostructural. Comparison of the bond angles at the ipso‐C atoms of the phenyl substituent for (I) and (II) [117.71 (3) and 118.45 (10)°, respectively] indicates that electron donation of the carborane cage for B‐ and C‐substituted carboranes is different.     

Synthesis of 1,3,4‐Oxadiazole Acyclo C‐Nucleosides Bearing 5‐Methylthio{7‐substituted‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐d]tetrazol‐6‐yl}moieties

Oxidative cyclization of the sugar hydrazones ( 3_a‐f ) derived from {7H‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐d]tetrazol‐6‐ylsulfanyl}acetic acid hydrazide ( 1 ) and aldopentoses 2_a‐c or aldohexoses 2_d‐f with bromine in acetic acid in the presence of anhydrous sodium acetate, followed by acetylation with acetic anhydride gave the corresponding 2‐(per‐O‐acetyl‐alditol‐l‐yl)‐5‐methylthio{7H‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐d]tetrazol‐6‐yl}‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles ( 5_a‐f ). Condensative cyclization of the sugar hydrazones ( 3_a‐f ) by heating with acetic anhydride gave the corresponding 3‐acetyl‐2‐(per‐O‐acetyl‐alditol‐1‐yl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐5‐methylthio{7‐acetyl‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐d]tetrazol‐6‐yl}‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles ( 11_a‐f ). De‐O‐acetylation of the acyclo C‐nucleoside peracetates ( 5 and 11 ) with methanolic ammonia afforded the hydrazono lactones ( 7 ) and the acyclo C‐nucleosides ( 12 ), respectively. The structures of new oxadiazole derivatives were confirmed by analytical and spectral data.