Recent advances in the synthesis of benzo[b]thiophene fused polycyclic derivatives: Strategies and reactions

Benzo[b]thiophene fused compounds with a unique active heterocyclic skeleton have wide applications in the fields of medicinal chemistry, organic synthesis, and organic functional materials, which resulted in rapid development of many efficient methods for the construction of benzo[b]thiophene-fused heterocycles in recent years. Among these methods, the domino reaction of benzo[b]thiophene derivatives is a practical and powerful synthetic route to access benzo[b]thiophene-fused heterocycles by virtue of the particularity of sulfur atom. This review summarizes the latest developments in the construction of benzo[b]thiophene-fused heterocycles by ring formation at the C2-C3-position of benzo[b]thiophene derivatives in the past decade. Additionally, this review is divided into four parts according to the four kinds of benzo[b]thiophene derivatives used, including thioaurone, thioisatin, substituted benzo[b]thiophene, and azadiene.     

Sodium halides as the source of electrophilic halogens in green synthesis of 3-halo- and 3,n-dihalobenzo[b]thiophenes

A convenient methodology for the synthesis of mono- and di-halogenated benzo[b]thiophenes is described herein, which utilizes copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate and various sodium halides in the presence of substituted 2-alkynylthioanisoles. The proposed method is facile, uses ethanol as a green solvent, and results in uniquely substituted benzo[b]thiophene structures with isolated yields up to 96%. The most useful component of this methodology is the selective introduction of bromine atoms at every available position (2–7) around the benzo[b]thiophene ring, while keeping position 3 occupied by a specific halogen atom such as Cl, Br or I. Aromatic halogens are useful reactive handles; therefore, the selective introduction of halogens at specific positions would be valuable in the targeted synthesis of bioactive molecules and complex organic materials via metal-catalyzed cross coupling reactions. This work is a novel approach towards the synthesis of dihalo substituted benzo[b]thiophene core structures, which provides a superior alternative to the current methods discussed herein.     

Synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted benzo[c]thiophene analogs containing benzo[b]thiophene/benzo[b]pyrrole

The synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted benzo[c]thiophene analogs incorporating benzo[b]thiophene/benzo[b]pyrrole units is described.     

Synthesis and characterization of benzo[c]thiophene analogs incorporating benzo[b]thiophene/1-hexylindole/benzo[b]furan

Synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted benzo[c]thiophene analogs incorporating heterocycles such as benzo[b]thiophene/1-hexylindole/benzo[b]furan and thiophene units is described. Optical and electrochemical studies of the benzo[c]thiophene analogs are also reported.     

Heck-like coupling and Pictet-Spengler reaction for the synthesis of benzothieno[3,2-c]quinolines

A series of 6-arylbenzothieno[3,2-c]quinolines were synthesised in three steps from benzo[b]thiophene. After a selective Heck-type coupling of benzo[b]thiophene with different o-nitroaryl bromides to obtain 2-(o-nitroaryl)benzo[b]thiophenes, corresponding 2-(benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)anilines were involved in a Pictet-Spengler reaction to form the quinoline cycle.     

The synthesis of benzo[b]phenanthro[d]thiophenes and anthra[b]benzo[d]thiophenes

The synthesis of benzo[b]phenanthro[2, 3-d]thiophene ( 5 ), benzo[b]phenanthro[4, 3-d]thiophene ( 6 ), benzo-[b]phenanthro[2, 1-d]thiophene ( 9 ), benzo[b]phenanthro[3, 2-d]thiophene ( 14a ), anthra[1, 2-b]benzo[d]thiophene ( 24 ), anthra[2, 3-b]benzo[d]thiophene ( 29 ) and anthra[2, 1-b]benzo[d]thiophene ( 30 ) is described as well as the preparation of 13-methylbenzo[b]phenanthro[3, 2-d]thiophene ( 14b ).     

Photochemical synthesis of heteroatom-containing polycyclic aromatic compounds

Anthra[2,1-b]furan, anthra[2,1-b]benzo[d]furan, anthra[2,1-b]thiophene, anthra[1,2-b]thiophene, anthra[2,1-b]benzo[d]thiophene, anthra[2,1-b]pyrrole and naphtho[2,3-c]carbazole derivatives were synthesized in fairly good yields by a one-pot photocycloaddition reaction of 2,3-disubstituted 1,4-naphthoquinone with 1,1-diarylethylene. This is the first reported synthesis of these aromatic compounds.     

Palladium-catalyzed amination and cyclization to heteroannellated indoles and carbazoles

New ortho-bromodiarylamines in the benzo[b]thiophene series were prepared by palladium-catalyzed amination, either in the benzene or in the thiophene ring. These were submitted to palladium-catalyzed cyclization, under different required conditions, to give several differently substituted thieno[3,2-c] or [2,3-b]carbazoles and indolo[3,2-b]benzo[b]thiophenes. This constitutes a novel synthetic route to both tetracyclic systems.     

Benzo[b]thiophen-3(2H)-one 1,1-dioxide—a versatile reagent in the synthesis of spiroheterocycles

New applications of benzo[b]thiophen-3(2H)-one 1,1-dioxide have been investigated. The synthesis of a new heterocyclic system 3H,2′H-spiro[benzo[b]thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-3,2′-benzo[b]thiophene] is described and a mechanism for the cyclisation is proposed.     

Synthesis of benzo[b]phenanthro[d]thiophenes

The synthesis of benzo[b]phenanthro[1,2-d]thiphene ( 1 ), benzo[b]phenanthro[4,3-d]thiophene ( 2 ), benzo-[b]phenanthro[2,1-d]thiophene ( 3 ) and benzo[b]phenanthro[3,4-d]thiophene ( 4 ) from appropriately substituted olefines by photochemical cyclodehydrogenation is described. The photolysis of olefin 9 gave a mixture of 4 and anthra[1,2-b]benzo[d]thiophene ( 5 ).     

Angular polycyclic thiophenes containing two thiophene rings. I

We describe the synthesis of thieno[2,3-c]dibenzothiophene ( 6 ), thieno[3,2-c]dibenzothiophene ( 10 ), thieno-[3,2-a]dibenzothiophene ( 14 ), thieno[2,3-a]dibenzothiophene ( 16 ), benzo[1,2-b:4,3-b]bisbenzo[b]thiophene ( 18 ), benzo[1,2--6:3,4-b]bisbenzo[b]thiophene ( 20 ), benzo[2,1--6:3,4-b]bisbenzo[b]thiophene ( 22 ), benzo[1,2-b:3,4-g]bisbenzo[b]thiophene ( 27 ), benzo[1,2-b:4,3-e]bisbenzo[b]thiophene ( 29 ), benzo[2,1--6:3,4-g]bisbenzo[b]thiophene ( 36 ), benzo[2,1--6:4,3-e]bisbenzo[b]thiophene ( 38 ), benzo[1,2--6:4,3-g]bisbenzo[b]thiophene ( 41 ), benzo[1,2-b:4,5-g]bisbenzo[b]thiophene ( 42 ), benzo[1,2-b:3,4-e]bisbenzo[b]thiophene ( 44 ) and benzo-[1,2-b:5,4-e]bisbenzo[b]thiophene ( 45 ).     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition reactions of benzo[b]thiophene 1,1-dioxide with azomethine ylides

New pyrrolo derivatives of benzo[b]thiophene 1,1-dioxide have been synthesised via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions. Reaction of benzo[b]thiophene 1,1-dioxide with stabilised azomethine ylides gave products in low yield but high stereoselectivity whereas reaction with non-stabilised azomethine ylides gave high overall yields but low stereoselectivity.     

Highly Efficient and Diastereoselective Construction of Tricyclic Pyrrolidine‐Fused Benzo[b]thiophene 1,1‐dioxide Derivatives via 1,3‐Dipolar [3 + 2] Cycloaddition

A rapid and highly efficient 1,3‐dipolar [3 + 2] cycloaddition of nonstabilized azomethine ylides generated in situ with benzo[b]thiophene 1,1‐dioxides as the dipolarophiles has been developed. The efficient method affords tricyclic pyrrolidine‐fused benzo[b]thiophene 1,1‐dioxide derivatives in high to excellent yields (up to 99%) with excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >25:1 dr) under mild reaction conditions. The structure of a typical product was confirmed by X‐ray crystallography.     

Construction of new heteroacenes based on benzo[b]thieno[2,3-d]thiophene / quinoline or 1,8-naphthyridine systems using the Friedländer reaction

Two new classes of heteroacenes, namely benzo[4′,5′]thieno[2′,3′:4,5]thieno[3,2-b]quinolines and benzo[4′,5′]thieno[2′,3′:4,5]thieno[3,2-b][1,8]naphthyridines, have been formed using the Friedländer reaction to annulate the benzo[b]thieno[2,3-d]thiophene scaffold to quinoline or 1,8-naphthyridine fragments. In accordance with this synthetic strategy, benzo[b]thieno[2,3-d]thiophen-3(2H)-ones were treated with 2-aminobenzaldehydes or 2-aminonicotinaldehyde in the presence of pyrrolidine in glacial acetic acid at reflux to give the desired quinoline- or 1,8-naphthyridine-fused compounds, respectively. The optical and electrochemical properties of selected heteroacenes were determined.     

Montmorillonite K10/ZnCl2 Catalyzed Alkyl Disulfide Substitution Reactions: Preparation of Thiomethyl Derivatives for the Synthesis of Organic Conducting Materials

Experiments are described detailing a method for the direct introduction of thiomethyl groups into activated benzenes, thiophene and benzo[b]thiophene using an activated mesoporous clay to promote thiomethyl substitution. Elaboration of 2,3-dithiomethylbenzo[b]thiophene, a product of the clay-catalyzed reaction of benzo[b]thiophene with dimethyl disulfide, to a tetrathiafulvalene derivative is described.     

Synthesis of anthra[b]thiophenes and benzo[b]naphtho[d]thiophenes

All isomers of the parent anthra[b]thiophenes and benzo[b]naphtho[d]thiophenes, namely anthra[2,3-b]thio-phene, anthra[2,1-b]thiophene, anthra[1,2-b]thiophene, benzo[b]naphtho[2,3-d]thiophene, benzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]thiophene and benzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]thiophene were synthesized using a new procedure.     

Benzannelated analogs of phenanthro[1,2-b]- and [2,1-b]thiophene: Synthesis and structural characterization by two-dimensional NMR and X-ray techniques

Syntheses of benzo[3,4]phenanthro[1,2-b]thiophene, benzo[3,4]phenanthro[2,1-b]thiophene and their 1-methyl analogs are reported as potential constituents of solvent refined coal liquids and for mutagenicity testing. The attempted synthesis of the 13-methyl analogs which gave the 11-methyl isomers is also described. Total assignments of the ¹H- and ¹³C-nmr spectra based on long range optimized heteronuclear protoncarbon two-dimensional chemical shift correlation are reported. Carbon assignments obtained for benzo[3,4]-phenanthro[1,2-b]thiophene using this approach were confirmed with a 125 MHz ¹³C–¹³C INADEQUATE spectrum. X-Ray crystal structures were determined for benzo[3,4]phenanthro[1,2-b]thiophene and 1-methyl-benzo[3,4]phenanthro[2,1-b]thiophene. Both molecules were helically distorted from planarity. Close intramolecular contacts between the bay region H1–H13 and ClMe-H13 of 2.03 and 2.28 Å, respectively, were responsible for the distortions. There were no close intermolecular contacts of <3.5Å. both molecules refined to an R value of <0.05.     

Synthesis and Structure–Property Relationships of 2,2′‐Bis(benzo[b]phosphole) and 2,2′‐Benzo[b]phosphole–Benzo[b]heterole Hybrid π Systems

The first comprehensive study of the synthesis and structure–property relationships of 2,2′‐bis(benzo[b]phosphole)s and 2,2′‐benzo[b]phosphole–benzo[b]heterole hybrid π systems is reported. 2‐Bromobenzo[b]phosphole P‐oxide underwent copper‐assisted homocoupling (Ullmann coupling) and palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling (Stille coupling) to give new classes of benzo[b]phosphole derivatives. The benzo[b]phosphole–benzo[b]thiophene and ‐indole derivatives were further converted to P,X‐bridged terphenylenes (X=S, N) by a palladium‐catalyzed oxidative cycloaddition reaction with 4‐octyne through the C_β? H activation. X‐ray analyses of three compounds showed that the benzo[b]phosphole‐benzo[b]heterole derivatives have coplanar π planes as a result of the effective conjugation through inter‐ring C? C bonds. The π–π* transition energies and redox potentials of the cis and trans isomers of bis(benzo[b]phosphole) P‐oxide are very close to each other, suggesting that their optical and electrochemical properties are little affected by the relative stereochemistry at the two phosphorus atoms. The optical properties of the benzo[b]phosphole–benzo[b]heterole hybrids are highly dependent on the benzo[b]heterole subunits. Steady‐state UV/Vis absorption/fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence lifetime measurements, and theoretical calculations of the non‐fused and acetylene‐fused benzo[b]phosphole–benzo[b]heterole π systems revealed that their emissive excited states consist of two different conformers in rapid equilibrium.     

Site-specific preparation of 4-substituted-6-fluoro(carboalkoxyl)benzo[b]furans and benzo[b]thiophenes via base-catalyzed cyclization of enyne derivatives

A site-specific synthesis of 4-substituted-6-fluoro(carboalkoxyl)benzo[b]furans and benzo[b]thiophenes is described. The reactions of heterocyclic aromatic aldehydes with a Wittig reagent, followed by Sonogashira reaction with terminal alkynes, and subsequent base-catalyzed cyclization site-specifically provide 4-substituted-6-fluoro(carboalkoxyl)benzo[b]furans and benzo[b]thiophenes in good yields.     

l-Proline catalyzed one-step synthesis of 4,5-diaryl-2H-1,2,3-triazoles from heteroaryl cyanostilbenes via [3+2]cycloaddition of azide

Use of a novel reagent has been established for the synthesis of a series of 4,5-diaryl-2H-1,2,3-triazoles (6a–i and 9a–e) from cyanostilbene analogs of benzo[b]thiophene, benzo[b]furan, and indole, catalyzed by l-proline via Lewis base-catalyzed one-step [3+2]cycloaddition of azide. This method provides an efficient, simple, and environmentally benign procedure that affords good yields and relatively short reaction times.