Highly diastereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nonstabilized azomethine ylides to 3-nitro-2-trihalomethyl-2H-chromenes: synthesis of 1-benzopyrano[3,4-c]pyrrolidines

Reactions of 3-nitro-2-trifluoro(trichloro)methyl-2H-chromenes, including 2-unsubstituted derivatives, with N-alkyl-α-amino acids (sarcosine, proline) and paraformaldehyde proceed diastereoselectively to give 1-benzopyrano[3,4-c]pyrrolidines in good yields as a result of a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the intermediate nonstabilized azomethine ylide at the Δ³-bond of the chromene system.     

Synthesis of chromeno[3,4-c][1,2]oxazine-N-oxides via formal [4+2] cycloaddition of 3-nitro-2-trihalomethyl-2H-chromenes with cyclohexanone and pinacolone enamines

3-Nitro-2-trichloro(trifluoro)methyl-2H-chromenes undergo a formal [4+2] cycloaddition reaction to cyclohexanone and pinacolone enamines, producing chromeno[3,4-c][1,2]benzoxazin-6-oxides with high diastereoselectivity and in good yields. In addition, some novel 2,3,4-trisubstituted chromanes were obtained. The stereochemistry of the products was established based on a 2D NOESY experiment and an X-ray diffraction study.     

Enantioselective Michael reaction of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to 3-nitro-2H-chromenes catalyzed by chiral nickel complexes

A chiral nickel complexes-catalyzed enantioselective Michael addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to 3-nitro-2H-chromenes has been developed; the products could be obtained in high yields and good enantioselectivities.     

A facile route to the pentacyclic lamellarin skeleton via Grob reaction between 3-nitro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-chromenes and 1,3,3-trimethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines

The basic structural framework of lamellarin alkaloids, 8,9-dihydro-6H-chromeno[4′,3′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline derivatives, has been obtained in good yields via Grob reaction between 3-nitro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-chromenes and 1,3,3-trimethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines in refluxing isobutanol. When the reaction was carried out in toluene at room temperature, only Michael adducts, as a mixture of two diastereomers, were isolated.     

A simple synthesis of the pentacyclic lamellarin skeleton from 3-nitro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-chromenes and 1-methyl(benzyl)-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines

The basic structural framework of lamellarin alkaloids, 8,9-dihydro-6H-chromeno[4′,3′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline derivatives, has been obtained in good yields via Grob synthesis between 3-nitro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-chromenes and 1-methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines in refluxing isobutanol. In the case of 1-benzyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines, a dynamic NMR effect was observed in the ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectra of the products as a result of restricted rotation about the single bond linking the benzene ring and the heterocyclic system. When the reaction was carried out with 3-nitro-2-(trichloromethyl)-2H-chromenes in toluene at room temperature, only Michael adducts, as a mixture of two diastereomers, were isolated.     

Ring-closing metathesis for the synthesis of 2H- and 4H-chromenes

Six 4H-chromenes were synthesized from substituted phenols using vinylstannylation and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) as key steps. In addition, a different approach involving amongst other steps, an aryl allyl isomerization and RCM afforded a set of seven 2H-chromenes from phenolic precursors.     

Reactions of 3-nitro-2-trihalomethyl-2H-chromenes with S-and N-nucleophiles. Synthesis and stereochemistry of 2,3,4-trisubstituted chromanes

The reactions of 3-nitro-2-trifluoromethyl-and 3-nitro-2-trichloromethyl-2H-chromenes with thiols and aromatic amines proceed via the nucleophilic addition type to the activated double bond to form 2,3,4-trisubstituted chromanes in high yields. The stereoisomeric compositions and structures of the diastereomers were determined by ¹H, ¹⁹F NMR and 2D NOESY spectroscopies and X-ray diffraction analysis. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 309–321, February, 2006.     

A simple and convenient synthesis of 4-methyl-3-nitro-2-trihalomethyl-2H-chromenes from N-unsubstituted imines of 2-hydroxyacetophenones and trichloro(trifluoro)ethylidene nitromethanes

The reaction of N-unsubstituted imines of 2-hydroxyacetophenones with trichloro(trifluoro)ethylidene nitromethanes in the presence of DABCO proceeds via tandem oxa-Michael/aza-Henry additions (in dichloromethane) or aza-Michael addition (in benzene) to give 4-methyl-3-nitro-2-trichloro(trifluoro)methyl-2H-chromenes or 1,1,1-trichloro(trifluoro)-3-nitro-N-[1-(2-hydroxyaryl)ethylidene]propan-2-amines, respectively.     

Synthesis of 4-(2-hydroxyaryl)-3-nitro-4H-chromenes

A combinatorial library of 4-(2-hydroxyaryl)-3-nitro-4H-chromenes was synthesized in high yield by C4-SMe substitution in N-alkyl/phenyl 4-(methylthio)-3-nitro-4H-chromen-2-amines with a variety of phenols. The reaction always provided C2 substitution in the phenol ring, dictated by hydrogen bond interactions between the phenolic hydroxyl group and the nitro group in 3-nitro-4H-chromenes. Reduction of the nitro group with concomitant hydrolysis of the enamine in 4-(2-hydroxyaryl)-3-nitro-4H-chromenes with Zn, Ac₂O in AcOH furnished hybrid amino-acid lactone incorporating ortho-tyrosine and phenyl alanine moieties.     

A solvent-free protocol for the synthesis of 3-formyl-2H-chromenes via domino oxa Michael/aldol reaction

A new solvent-free, TBD-catalyzed protocol for the synthesis of 3-formyl-2H-chromenes is presented. Substituted salicylaldehydes 1 and 3-methyl-2-butenal 2 in the presence of 10 mol % of TBD underwent a domino oxa Michael/aldol reaction to effectively yield the corresponding 2H-chromene derivatives 3. The methodology represents an improvement either in terms of efficiency and sustainability as a small amount of catalyst is required and the work-up procedure is simple and straightforward.     

Synthesis of 2,2-difluoro-2H-chromenes through the tandem reaction of ethyl 3-bromo-3,3-difluoropropionate with salicylaldehyde derivatives

A series of 2,2-difluoro-2H-chromenes were synthesized from the tandem reactions of ethyl 3-bromo-3,3-difluoropropionate with salicylaldehyde derivatives in good yields under basic conditions. In acidic environment defluorination took place during the reaction. A plausible mechanism was proposed based on the experimental results.     

Domino reaction of 3-nitro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-chromenes with 2-(1-phenylalkylidene)malononitriles: synthesis of functionalized 6-(trifluoromethyl)-6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyrans and a rare case of [1,5] sigmatropic shift of the nitro group

A variety of functionalized 6-(trifluoromethyl)-6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyrans were easily synthesized in good yields under mild conditions by a domino reaction of 3-nitro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-chromenes with 2-(1-phenylethylidene)- and 2-(1-phenylpropylidene)malononitriles. In the latter case, intermediate 7-amino-10-methyl-10-nitro-9-phenyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)-10,10a-dihydro-6H-benzo[c]chromene-8-carbonitriles were isolated as a result of a rare [1,5] sigmatropic shift of the nitro group.     

First synthesis of 2-aminosubstituted-2-perfluoroalkyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyrans by hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of fluorinated thioamides under microwave heating

This Letter presents the first examples of hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of polyfluoroalkanethiocarboxylic acid amides and 2,3-dimethylbutadiene under microwave heating. Cycloaddition reactions proved to be dependent on the nature of perfluoroalkyl chain and on the substituents attached to the nitrogen atom. Formation of ammonium salts was also performed by simple treatment of the corresponding cycloadducts with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. In the case of octafluorobutyl-substituted derivative, one spontaneous desamination reaction took place leading to new 2H-thiopyran.     

Stereoselective cycloaddition of 1-glucosyl-1,3-butadienes with tert-butyl 2H-azirine-3-carboxylate, glyoxylates and imines

Glucosyl dienes 1 have been reacted with the achiral 2H-azirine 4 and with glyoxylates, forming fused structures of type 5 and disaccharide-like compounds 7 with good to excellent selectivity. Glucosyl dienes 1 participated as dienophiles in reactions with Schiff bases derived from anilines forming isoquinolines 10 and 11. The diastereoselectivity of this reaction is poor.     

ReCl(CO)5-catalyzed cyclocondensation of phenols with 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol to afford 2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromenes

A direct one-pot route for the synthesis of 2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromenes by Re(CO)₅Cl-catalyzed cyclocondensation of phenols with 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol has been developed. The easy availability of starting materials, mild reaction conditions, high atom-efficiency, and the use of a recoverable catalyst are advantages of this procedure.     

Nitroketene acetal chemistry: efficient synthesis of 2-amino-3-nitro-4H-chromenes

Base-catalyzed reaction of the nitroketene N,S-acetals and the ring substituted 2-hydroxybenzaldehydes afforded a combinatorial library of the 2-alkylamino-3-nitro-4-alkylsulfanyl 4H-chromenes in excellent yields. Nucleophilic displacement of the C4 alkylsulfanyl group with different thiols afforded 4H-chromenes with structural diversity.     

Synthesis and photochromic behaviour of new methyl induced linear and angular thieno-2H-chromenes

New methyl induced linear and angular thieno-2H-chromenes 4, 5 and 6 were prepared by reaction of new methylated 6-hydroxybenzo[b]thiophenes 2 (a, b and c) and propargylic alcohols 3a and 3b, using acidic Alumina Brockmann I as catalyst and drying agent. Compounds 2 were prepared in good to excellent yields in a ‘one pot’ three step reaction from the corresponding bromo compounds 1. The photochromic behaviour of compounds 4, 5 and 6b was evaluated with the aid of a classical set of spectrokinetic parameters, and compared to reference compounds that are benzoannellated in the 5,6 and 6,7 positions of the chromene (naphthopyrans) and also to thieno-2H-chromenes 7 and 8, previously prepared, which are analogues of 5a. The resistance to fatigue (photodegradation) under continuous irradiation was also evaluated.     

An efficient regioselective reaction of indole with 2H-chromenes for the synthesis of new 4H-chromenes in environmentally benign media

An efficient regioselective, catalyst free, and green protocol has been developed for the synthesis of a novel class of 4H-chromene scaffolds at room temperature in ionic liquid. The method is general and applicable for a series of 2H-chromenes as well as indole derivatives.     

Synthesis of 4-dialkylaminopyridine derivatives through ring-rearrangement of 3-nitro-2H-pyran-2-one acetamidines

A new synthesis of substituted 4-dialkylaminopyridines was developed, starting from 3-nitropyran-2-one N-functionalized amidines. Secondary amines were reacted with the amidines in a sealed tube and in ethanol as the solvent yielding exclusively 4-dialkylaminopyridine derivatives or a mixture with 4-methylpyridine derivative, depending on the C-α-linked substituents of the starting amidine. Structural elucidation of the 4-dialkylaminopyridines revealed their existence as two tautomeric forms, depending on the solvent.     

2H-Azirines as dipolarophiles

2H-Azirine-3-carboxylates unsubstituted at C-2 act as dipolarophiles in the reaction with diazomethane giving new 4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrazole derivatives. The synthesis of a pyrimidine was also achieved via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of methyl 2-bromo-3-phenyl-2H-azirine-2-carboxylate with an azomethine ylide.