Total synthesis of the antitumor active pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline alkaloid (±)-crispine A

Addition of a propargyl Grignard reagent to 3,4-dihydro-6,7-dimethoxyisoquinoline, silver(I)-promoted oxidative cyclization, and chemoselective hydrogenation of the pyrrole ring provide a simple three-step route to the antitumor active pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline alkaloid (±)-crispine A.     

Synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolines by 1,5-electrocyclisation of non-stabilised azomethine ylides

A new route to the pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline ring system has been developed via the 1,5-dipolar electrocyclisation reactions of azomethine ylides derived from easily available 3-formylquinoline derivatives. The intermediacy of azomethine ylides was shown by the trapping of the proposed dipoles with N-phenylmaleimide.     

The synthesis of indolo- and pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines

The synthesis of fused isoquinolines from N-benzyl protected indoles and pyrroles is described. For example, treatment of t-butyl-2-(2-formyl-3,4-dihydro-1-naphthalenyl)-3-methyl-1H-indole-1-carboxylate with KOBu^t in DMF provided 14-methyl-8-phenylbenzo[h]indolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline in good yield. Analogous N-benzylpyrrole precursors could similarly be cyclized to give pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines.     

Synthesis of indazole-N-oxides via the 1,7-electrocyclization of azomethine ylides

The first examples of the 1,7-electrocyclization of azomethine ylides onto a nitro group, to give benz-1,2,6-oxadiazepine intermediates are reported. Subsequent ring contraction results in the formation of indazole-N-oxides.     

One-pot construction of isoindolo[2,1-a]quinoline system

Polycyclic compounds bearing isoindolo[2,1-a]quinoline system were easily prepared stereo- and regioselectively, and in one-pot, in a tandem fashion containing Povarov’s multicomponent and condensation reactions. Involving a stepwise route for the aza Diels-Alder reaction within the synthesis was suggested.     

Synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolines by 1,5-electrocyclisation of non-stabilised azomethine ylides

A new route to the pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline ring system has been developed via the 1,5-dipolar electrocyclisation reactions of azomethine ylides derived from easily available 3-formylquinoline derivatives. The intermediacy of azomethine ylides was shown by the trapping of the proposed dipoles with N-phenylmaleimide.     

Cycloaddition reactions of thiazolium azomethine ylides: application to pyrrolo[2,1-b]thiazoles

Thiazolium azomethine ylides, equipped with a C-2 methanethiol group, participate in an efficient [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with acetylene derivatives to yield unique pyrrolo[2,1-b]thiazoles. The elimination of the methanethiol leaving group from the cycloadduct has replaced the need for a separate oxidation step and suppresses ring-opening side reactions. Products were obtained in short synthetic sequences to demonstrate their use as a scaffold for compound libraries.     

A new approach towards the synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines

Reaction of 5-bromo-2-methyl-8-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline with activated alkynes affords stable tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-4-ium ylides. Further reactions of ylide 2 gives access to substituted dihydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines in good yields.     

Novel synthesis of the pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazocine ring system via a Dieckmann condensation

A novel four-step synthesis to the pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazocine ring system is described. 1H-Pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde was alkylated with ethyl or methyl bromoacetate and the resulting ethyl or methyl (2-formyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)acetates oxidised with potassium permanganate to the corresponding 1-[(2-ethoxy or methoxy)-2-oxoethyl]-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acids. The latter was converted into their acid chlorides by reaction with thionyl chloride and without isolation transformed into the respective methyl 2-({[1-(2-ethoxy or methoxy-2-oxoethyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl]carbonyl}amino)benzoates by reaction with methyl anthranilate. Dieckmann condensation of methyl 2-({[1-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl]carbonyl}amino)benzoate provided the pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazocine.     

5,6-Dihydropyrrolo[2,1-b]isoquinolines as scaffolds for synthesis of lamellarin analogues

Efficient modular synthetic routes to open chain marine alkaloids such as lamellarins have been developed. 5,6-Dihydropyrrolo[2,1-b]isoquinoline scaffolds were prepared, and protocols enabling regioselective bromination followed by Suzuki cross-coupling were established for the introduction of aryl groups onto the 2- and 3-positions.     

Novel one pot synthesis of polysubstituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]- and imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines

We have described a convenient regioselective one-pot approach to pyrazolo[1,5-a]- and imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine derivatives from α,β-unsaturated imines generated in situ and amino heterocycles. Reaction is general with respect to all three components, namely (i) nitrile, (ii) aldehyde, and (iii) amino heterocycle reagents. Good yields (52-77%), convenient isolation of the targeted molecules are the distinct characteristics of the developed protocol.     

Synthesis of dihydrobenzoimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines

A one-pot protocol toward several substituted 5,6-dihydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines 1 starting with 2-allylbenzaldehydes 2 was described. The process was carried out the one-pot condensation/hydroamination reaction of substituted 2-allylbenzaldehydes 2 with 1,2-diaminobenzenes 3 in refluxing toluene in good yields. Skeleton 2 was prepared via one-pot ortho-metalative PhBCl₂-mediated double alkylation of hydroxybenzaldehyde 4 with LDA in moderate yields.     

One-pot concise syntheses of benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines by a microwave-accelerated tandem process

Direct, efficient syntheses of the benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline ring system have been achieved with 2-bromoarylaldehydes, terminal alkynes, and 1,2-phenylenediamines by a microwave-accelerated tandem process in which a Sonogashira coupling, 5-endo cyclization, oxidative aromatization, and 6-endo cyclization can be performed in a single synthetic operation.     

Efficient route to benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]phthalazines

Benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]phthalazines have been obtained from various o-nitrophenylhydrazines through different 2-(2-nitrophenyl)-1,2-dihydro-1-phthalazinones as intermediates using an elaborated advanced procedure. An activated chlorine atom in 2-nitrophenyl moiety of the latter is able to undergo nucleophilic substitution for secondary alicyclic amines yielding novel substituted phthalazinones. Their one-pot reduction and cyclodehydration yield a series of novel substituted benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]phthalazines.     

Diversity-oriented decoration of pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines

Diversity-oriented synthesis of a chemical library based on a pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine core is described by using palladium-catalyzed direct C6 arylation of pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines with various aryl bromides. The starting materials, pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines, were easily synthesized by the base-mediated N-alkylation of pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde with several 2-bromoacetophenones followed by dehydrative cyclization with incorporation of nitrogen by the action of ammonium acetate. Introduction of other functional groups on this chemical scaffold is also discussed herein.     

A facile synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazoles and pyrazolo[3,4:4′,3′]pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives

Reaction of 2-cyanomethylbenzimidazole 1 with hydrazonoyl halides 2 led to formation of pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives 7. Similar reaction of 1 with halides 3 afforded 5-amino-4-(benzimidazol-2-yl)pyrazole derivatives 11 or 1-amino-2-arylpyrazolo[3,4:4′,3′]pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazol-4-one 14 depending on the reaction conditions. The mechanisms of the studied reactions are discussed.     

Synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines from activated acetylenes, benzoylnitromethanes, and isoquinoline

Isoquinoline reacts smoothly with aroylnitromethanes in the presence of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and dibenzoylacetylene to produce pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines in good yields. Quinoline and benzothiazole also react in a similar way. Pyridine and N-methylimidazole catalyze the reaction between nitromethane derivatives with electron-deficient acetylenes to produce highly functionalized isoxazoles.     

Synthesis of the dibenzopyrrocoline alkaloid skeleton: indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and related analogues

The indolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline and pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline nuclei have been synthesized from N-benzylindole or ethyl 1H-indol-1-ylacetate and N-benzylpyrrole precursors, respectively. Firstly, at C-2 of either the indole or pyrrole nucleus, aromatic rings containing a carbonyl substituent ortho to the newly formed biaryl axis were introduced using the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction. Thereafter, under basic conditions the nucleophile that formed at the acidic methylene protons of the N-benzylindole, ethyl 1H-indol-1-ylacetate or N-benzylpyrrole intermediate reacted with the internal aromatic carbonyl to yield (after the expulsion of water) the title compounds. For example, exposure of ethyl 2-(2-(2-formylphenyl)-1H-indol-1-yl)acetate to potassium tert-butoxide resulted in the formation of ethyl indolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-6-carboxylate.     

Synthesis of benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]phthalazines

5,9-Disubstituted benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]phthalazines are synthesized efficiently from acylbenzoic acids and 2-nitro-5-chlorophenylhydrazine. Nucleophilic substitution in phthalazinones gave a variety of the title compounds after reduction and cyclization.