Fragmentation of nitrone triflates to 9-membered rings

A new fragmentative rearrangement of nitrone derivatives to form 9-membered rings is reported. The fragmentations are triggered when nitrones are treated with triflic anhydride; a C-C bond antiperiplanar to the cleaving N-O bond is activated either by an oxygen lone pair or by an electron-rich aromatic ring. In the former case, further cyclization of the 9-membered intermediate leads to a rearranged condensed ring system, but when triggered by arenes, 9-membered ring amides are isolated.     

A novel acid-catalyzed rearrangement of n-aryl-n′-aryloxyureas to biphenyl derivatives. A [5,5]-rearrangement involving three heteroatoms.

In the presence of trifluoroacetic acid, N-phenyl-N′-phenoxyurea (1a) rearranges to N-(4′-hydroxy-2-biphenylyl)urea (2a) and N-carbamoyl-2-hydroxy-diphenylamine (3a). The rearrangement is an intramolecular reaction, and the transition state of the breakage of the N-O bond is deduced to be polarized in the form N^δ- --- O^δ+. The reaction is entirely new and constitutes a fundamental aromatic rearrangement.     

On the aromaticity and Meisenheimer rearrangement of strained heterocyclic amine, phosphine, and arsine oxides

A theoretical investigation (AIM and ELF analyses together with NMR chemical shifts) has been conducted for three-membered heterocycle (N, P, and As) oxides. An aromatic stabilization was found for the P and As rings. However, the N derivatives displayed a net negative hyperconjugation in the N-O bond formation, without ring aromaticity observed for their electronic properties. The calculated delta(C) and delta(H) shifts also supported the ring delocalization for the P and As unsaturated heterocycle oxides (delta(C) approximately 165 and delta(H) approximately 9 ppm). In addition, these values for 1H-azirine oxide resembled standard C=C double bond values (delta(C) approximately 130 and delta(H) approximately 7 ppm). The different behavior for the N oxides was also observed in their Meisenheimer rearrangement (MR). All the reaction paths, yielding the corresponding hydroxyl structures, were exothermic (G2 method). However, the N derivatives showed the lowest values for activation enthalpy, DeltaH(). The C=C bond influence in the MR was slight, with the same DeltaH values for the saturated and unsaturated paths. This rearrangement for the P and As oxides yielded TSs closer to the reactives; however, the corresponding TSs resembled the products for the N-derivatives. The different reaction paths have been examined by their corresponding AIM and ELF analyses at the B3LYP/6-311G level.     

A green route for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzoxazole derivatives catalyzed by Al-exchanged K10 clay

A new, simple, and efficient protocol is developed for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzoxazole derivatives through N–C–O bond formation using Al³⁺-exchanged K10 clay (Al³⁺-K10) as catalyst. A wide range of benzoxazole derivatives are synthesized in high yields without affecting many functional groups. Hot filtration experiments showed the absence of metal leaching and catalyst can be reused for five times with only a slight decrease in yield.     

An approach to the synthesis of stenine

A type 2 N-acylnitroso intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction followed by reductive N-O bond cleavage formed the B and C rings of the Stemona alkaloid stenine. Further elaboration provided the functionalized tricyclic core.     

Molybdenum-mediated cleavage reactions of isoxazoline rings fused in bicyclic frameworks

The molybdenum-mediated cleavage reactions of isoxazoline rings fused in bicyclic frameworks were investigated. A tandem N-O bond cleavage-retro aldol reaction of an isoxazoline ring fused in a bicyclic framework led to the cleavage of the bicyclic framework. These reactions provide a novel stereoselective synthesis of substituted cyclopentene rings, cyclopentane rings, and attached-ring systems. [reaction: see text]     

Kinetics of reductive N-O bond fragmentation: the role of a conical intersection

N-alkoxyheterocycles can act as powerful one-electron acceptors in photochemical electron-transfer reactions. One-electron reduction of these species results in formation of a radical that undergoes N-O bond fragmentation to form an alkoxy radical and a neutral heterocycle. The kinetics of this N-O bond fragmentation reaction have been determined for a series of radicals with varying substituents and extents of delocalization. Rate constants varying over 7 orders of magnitude are obtained. A reaction potential energy surface is described that involves avoidance of a conical intersection. A molecular basis for the variation of the reaction rate constant with radical structure is given in terms of the relationship between the energies of the important molecular orbitals and the reaction potential energy surface. Ab initio and density functional electronic structure calculations provide support for the proposed reaction energy surface.     

1,3-Difunctionalizations of [1.1.1]Propellane via 1,2-Metallate Rearrangements of Boronate Complexes

1,3-Disubstituted bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (BCPs) are valuable bioisosteres of para-substituted aromatic rings. The most direct route to these structures is via multicomponent ring-opening reactions of [1.1.1]propellane. However, challenges associated with these transformations mean that difunctionalized BCPs are more commonly prepared by multistep reaction sequences with BCP-halide intermediates. Herein, we report three- and four-component 1,3-difunctionalizations of [1.1.1]propellane with organometallic reagents, organoboronic esters, and a variety of electrophiles. This process is achieved by trapping intermediate BCP-metal species with boronic esters to form boronate complexes, which are versatile intermediates whose electrophile-induced 1,2-metallate rearrangement chemistry enables a broad range of C−C bond-forming reactions.     

Collision-induced dissociation of valdecoxib metabolites: a novel rearrangement involving an isoxazole ring

Valdecoxib is a potent COX-2 inhibitor. During metabolism studies of valdecoxib by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, we observed a novel mass spectral rearrangement involving an isoxazole ring for some of the metabolites in the negative ion mode. Accurate mass measurements were performed with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry to determine the elemental compositions of the fragments. Additionally, two types of stable-isotope labeled analogues were prepared to assist with the assignments of these fragments and possible mechanistic rearrangements resulting from collision-induced dissociation (CID). Detailed analyses of the CID mass spectra suggest that the fragmentation process involves a novel two-step rearrangement. The first step consists of an intramolecular SN2 reaction with a five-membered ring rearrangement to form an intermediate. The second step involves a four-membered ring intramolecular rearrangement followed by a cleavage of the N-O bond on the isoxazole ring to form a unique fragment ion at m/z 196. The same phenomenon was observed for a group of structurally related metabolites that also contain a 5-hydroxymethyl or 5-carboxylic acid moieties. A mechanism for the novel rearrangement involving an isoxazole ring is proposed.     

Mechanism of dioxygen cleavage in tetrahydrobiopterin-dependent amino acid hydroxylases

The reaction mechanism for the formation of the hydroxylating intermediate in aromatic amino acid hydroxylases (i.e., phenylalanine hydroxylase, tyrosine hydroxylase, tryptophan hydroxylase) was investigated by means of hybrid density functional theory. These enzymes use molecular oxygen to hydroxylate both the tetrahydrobiopterin cofactor and the aromatic amino acid. A mechanism is proposed in which dioxygen forms a bridging bond between the cofactor and iron. The product is an iron(II)-peroxy-pterin intermediate, and iron was found to be essential for the catalysis of this step. No stable intermediates involving a pterin radical cation and a superoxide ion O(2)(-) were found on the reaction pathway. Heterolysis of the O-O bond in the iron(II)-peroxy-pterin intermediate is promoted by one of the water molecules coordinated to iron and releases hydroxypterin and the high-valent iron oxo species Fe(IV)=O, which can carry out subsequent hydroxylation of aromatic rings. In the proposed mechanism, the formation of the bridging C-O bond is rate-limiting in the formation of Fe(IV)=O.     

Facile synthesis of 2-benzoxazoles via CuI/2,2'-bipyridine catalyzed intramolecular C–O coupling of 2-haloanilides

Development of newer methods for the synthesis of Benzoxazoles has of greater interest due to their wide range of biological activities and pharmaceutical importance. We herein report a facile and general method for the synthesis of 2-substituted Benzoxazoles via copper catalyzed intramolecular C–O cross-coupling of 2-haloanilides. A combination of CuI (5?mol%), 2,2'-bipyridine (10?mol%), Cs₂CO₃ (2 equiv.) in DMF solvent with 4?Å molecular sieves at 140?°C, illustrated the scope for tuning the reactivity of 2-haloanilides toward the selective formation of a series of 2-alkyl benzoxazole derivatives in moderate to good yields. This is the first systematic study using CuI/2,2'-Bipyridine as the catalytic system for the synthesis of 2-substituted Benzoxazoles. The outcome of the reaction was found to be significantly influenced by the aromatic and amide substituents of 2-haloanilides.     

Copper-catalyzed domino annulation approaches to the synthesis of benzoxazoles under microwave-accelerated and conventional thermal conditions

Two domino annulation approaches for benzoxazole synthesis have been developed. In the first approach, copper-catalyzed intermolecular cross-coupling of 1,2-dihaloarenes with primary amides initially forms the Ar-N bond of the benzoxazole ring, followed by copper-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization to form the Ar-O bond. Benzoxazoles were formed in good yields for the reaction of 1,2-dibromobenzene, but the reaction was not regioselective for the reaction of 3,4-dibromotoluene. Furthermore, the method is limited by the availability of 1,2-dihaloarenes. As a result of these limitations, an alternative more versatile one-pot domino annulation strategy was developed involving reaction of 2-bromoanilines with acyl chlorides in the presence of Cs2CO3, catalytic CuI, and the non-acylatable ligand 1,10-phenanthroline. Under these conditions initial acylation of the aniline is followed by copper-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of the resultant 2-haloanilide to form the Ar-O bond of the benzoxazole ring. Optimized conditions using microwave irradiation achieved much shorter reaction times than conventional heating (i.e., 210 degrees C for 15 min versus 95 degrees C for 24 h) and were applied to the synthesis of a small library of benzoxazoles. These copper-catalyzed approaches complement existing strategies for benzoxazole synthesis, which typically utilize 2-aminopheonls as precursors.     

Dicobalt octacarbonyl promoted rearrangement of 4-isoxazolines to acylaziridines: dramatic rate acceleration with very high substrate tolerance

[reaction: see text] Dicobalt octacarbonyl [Co(2)(CO)(8)] in acetonitrile at 75 degrees C triggers the cleavage of the N-O bond of 4-isoxazolines (1) to bring about the valence rearrangement to 2-acylaziridines (2). The isoxazolines were stable at 75 degrees C in the absence of the cobalt complex.     

Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of 3-substituted benzisoxazoles

A variety of 3-substituted benzisoxazoles were reduced with hydrogen using the chiral ruthenium catalyst, {RuCl(p-cymene)[(R,R)-(S,S)-PhTRAP]}Cl. The ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogenation proceeded in high yield in the presence of an acylating agent, affording α-substituted o-hydroxybenzylamines with up to 57% ee. In the catalytic transformation, the N-O bond of the benzisoxazole substrate is reductively cleaved by the ruthenium complex under the hydrogenation conditions. The C-N double bond of the resulting imine is saturated stereoselectively through the PhTRAP-ruthenium catalysis. The hydrogenation produces chiral primary amines, which may work as catalytic poisons, however, the amino group of the hydrogenation product is rapidly acylated when the reaction is conducted in the presence of an appropriate acylating agent, such as Boc?O or Cbz-OSu.     

Theoretical studies on N-O or N-N bond formation from aryl azide catalyzed by iron(II) bromide complex

DFT calculations have been carried out to study the reaction mechanism on N-O or N-N bond formation from aryl azide catalyzed by iron(II) bromide complex. A favorable reaction pathway is proposed to account for the construction of the core structure of 2H-indazoles or 2,1-benzisoxazoles.     

Regioselective access to substituted oxindoles via rhodium-catalyzed carbene C-H insertion

Rhodium-catalyzed decomposition of diazoamides followed by insertion of the resulting carbenes into an aromatic C-H bond gives access to substituted oxindoles. The reaction takes place with aromatic rings substituted by either electron-donating or -withdrawing groups at ortho, meta or para positions and the regioselectivity can be controlled by a substitution α to the diazo functionality. In the presence of an ester, the reaction leads to the formation of 2-silyloxyindole-3-carboxylates in 40-85% yields and regioselectivities up to 80% are observed in the case of meta-substituted substrates. This selectivity mainly relies on steric factors and use of a more bulky N,N-diethylamide then affords 2-silyloxyindole-3-carboxamides in 42-91% yields with complete regioselectivity.     

C→N Migrations of the ethoxycarbonyl group in reactions of ortho-substituted aryl isocyanates with the 1,3-zwitterion derived from triisopropylphosphine and ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate

The reactions of meta—para-substituted aryl isocyanates with phosphorus-containing 1,3-zwitterions, which proceed with the CN migration of the CO₂Et group to form the corresponding carbamates, were extended to ortho-substituted aryl isocyanates. The influence of the steric and electronic effects of the ortho substituents in the aromatic rings of aryl isocyanates on the ease of this rearrangement is qualitatively considered.     

Ru(III)-catalyzed construction of variously substituted quinolines from 2-aminoaromatic aldehydes (ketones) and isoxazoles: Isoxazoles as cyclization reagent and cyano sources

A Ru(Ⅲ)-catalyzed annulation reaction of 2-aminoaromatic aldehydes (ketones) and isoxazoles to afford diverse 3-cyanoquinolines has been developed. Notably, isoxazole acted as a cyclization reagent and nontoxic cyano source via N-O bond cleavage and fragmentation. Variously substituted (especially 6- or 7-substituted) quinolines could be easily afforded. This procedure features wide functional group compatibility, efficiency and avoiding toxic cyano source. Meanwhile, this protocol could be successfully applied to scale-up synthesis. Further chemical transformations of 3-cyanoquinoline could give some valuable skeletons, demonstrating its potential in synthetic application     

Base-promoted aromatic [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of N-acyl-O-arylhydroxylamine derivatives

The base-promoted aromatic [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of N-acyl-O-arylhydroxylamines giving α-(2-hydroxyphenyl)amides was successfully demonstrated. The substrates were prepared from N-substituted hydroxylamines by N-acylation followed by copper(I)-mediated O-arylation with boronic acids. Treatment of the substrates with lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) in THF at 0?°C to room temperature generated the corresponding amide enolates. The aromatic [3,3] rearrangement of the enolates provided the desired products in moderate to good yields. A crossover experiment produced only intramolecular products and clarified that the reaction proceeds via the aromatic [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement, not a bond-cleavage–recombination process. Our method is a formal α-arylation of amides.     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Studies of Organophosphates Derived From 2-(2″-Hydroxynaphthyl)Benzoxazole

Abstract

A series of biologically active phenoxy derivatives of 2-substituted benzoxazole organophosphates have been synthesized by the reaction of O-(naphthyl benzoxazolyl-2-) phosphorodichloridate/phosphorodichloridothioate with phenol/4-chlorophenol/4-nitroph- enol in 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios. These compounds have been characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, and mass spectral studies. The antibacterial activity of these 2-substituted benzoxazole phenoxy derivatives has been evaluated against pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (+ve) and Escherichia coli (?ve). The antifungal activity of these 2-substituted benzoxazole phenoxy derivatives has been evaluated against pathogenic fungi Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporium. All compounds were found to have significant antibacterial and antifungal activity.