Total Synthesis of Murrayanine Involving 4,5‐Dimethyleneoxazolidin‐2‐ones and a Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Diaryl Insertion

A new total synthesis of the natural carbazole murrayanine ( 1 ) was developed by using the 4,5‐dimethyleneoxazolidin‐2‐one 12 as starting material. The latter underwent a highly regioselective Diels–Alder cycloaddition with acrylaldehyde (=prop‐2‐enal; 13 ) to give adduct 14 (Scheme 3). Conversion of this adduct into diarylamine derivative 9 was carried out via hydrolysis and methylation (Scheme 4). Differing from our previous synthesis, in which such a diarylamine derivative was transformed into 1 by a Pd^II‐stoichiometric cyclization, this new approach comprised an improved cyclization through a more efficient Pd⁰‐catalyzed intramolecular diaryl coupling which was applied to 9 , thus obtaining the natural carbazole 1 in a higher overall yield.     

A Convenient Synthesis of the Echinacea‐Derived Immunostimulator and HIV‐1 Integrase Inhibitor (−)‐(2R,3R)‐Chicoric Acid

The Echinacea‐derived immunostimulator and HIV‐1 integrase inhibitor (−)‐chicoric acid (=2,3‐bis{[3‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐1‐oxoprop‐2‐enyl]oxy}butanedioic acid; 1a ) was conveniently prepared via a silane‐promoted Pd‐mediated chemoselective hydrogenolysis of its perbenzylated derivative 12a , which was generated from an efficient and reliable carbodiimide‐mediated coupling reaction between the caffeic acid dibenzyl ether derivative 7 and commercially available (+)‐dibenzyl L ‐tartrate ( 9a ). The other naturally occurring dextrorotatory chicoric acid ( 1b ) can be similarly prepared.     

Synthesis of Pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidines by Copper‐Mediated Carbomagnesiations of N‐Sulfonyl Ynamides and Application to the Preparation of Rigidin A and a 7‐Azaserotonin Derivative

The treatment of readily available N‐alkynyl‐5‐iodo‐6‐sulfamido‐pyrimidines with iPrMgCl?LiCl followed by a transmetalation with CuCN?2 LiCl produces, after intramolecular carbocupration, metalated py r rolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidines. Quenching of these pyrimidines with allylic halides or acid chlorides results in polyfunctional pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidines. Further reaction with ICl and a Negishi cross‐coupling, using PEPPSI‐iPr as the catalyst, furnishes fully substituted N‐heterocycles. A formal synthesis of the marine alkaloid rigidin A has been achieved as well as the preparation of a derivative of 7‐azaserotonine, related to the natural hormone serotonin.     

Synthesis of 7‐Oxo‐1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b‐octahydroindolo[2,3‐a]quinolizine

A short synthesis of 7‐oxo‐1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b‐octahydroindolo[2,3‐a]quinolizine from 2‐acetylpyridine and phenylhydrazine is described. Ring C is forged using 2‐chloro‐N,N‐dimethylacetamide. This derivative of the natural alkaloid 1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b‐octahydroindolo[2,3‐a]quinolizine is an inhibitor of the ZipA–FtsZ protein–protein complex, which is a novel antibacterial target.     

Vertically π‐Expanded Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine: The Missing Link of the Puzzle

The dehydrogenative coupling of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine derivative has been achieved for the first time. In cases in which the most‐electron‐rich position of the electron‐excessive heterocycle was blocked by a naphthalen‐1‐yl substituent, neither oxidative aromatic coupling nor reaction under Scholl conditions enabled the fusion of the rings. The only method that converted the substrate into the corresponding imidazo[5,1,2‐de]naphtho[1,8‐ab]quinolizine was coupling in the presence of potassium in anhydrous toluene. Moreover, we discovered new, excellent conditions for this anion‐radical coupling reaction, which employed dry O₂ from the start in the reaction mixture. This method afforded vertically fused imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine in 63 % yield. Interestingly, whereas the fluorescence quantum yield (Φ_fl) of compound 3 , despite the freedom of rotation, was close to 50 %, the Φ_fl value of flat naphthalene‐imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine was only 5 %. Detailed analysis of this compound by using DFT calculations and a low‐temperature Shpol′skii matrix revealed phosphorescence emission, thus indicating that efficient intersystem‐crossing from the lowest‐excited S₁ level to the triplet manifold was the competing process with fluorescence.     

One‐Pot Protection‐Glycosylation Reactions for Synthesis of Lipid II Analogues

(2,6‐Dichloro‐4‐methoxyphenyl)(2,4‐dichlorophenyl)methyl trichloroacetimidate ( 3 ) and its polymer‐supported reagent 4 can be successfully applied to a one‐pot protection‐glycosylation reaction to form the disaccharide derivative 7 d for the synthesis of lipid II analogues. The temporary protecting group or linker at the C‐6 position and N‐Troc protecting group of 7 d can be cleaved simultaneously through a reductive condition. Overall yields of syntheses of lipid II ( 1 ) and neryl‐lipid II N^ε‐dansylthiourea are significantly improved by using the described methods.     

Synthesis of N‐Arylated 1,2‐Dihydroheteroaromatics Through the Three‐Component Reaction of Arynes with N‐Heteroaromatics and Terminal Alkynes or Ketones

The reaction of benzynes with N‐heteroaromatics including quinolines, isoquinolines, and pyridines and various terminal alkynes or ketones with an α‐hydrogen in the presence of KF and 18‐crown‐6 in THF at room temperature for 8 h gave various N‐arylated 1,2‐dihydroheteroaromatics in good to moderate yields. Some of these product structures are found in various naturally occurring and biologically active heterocyclic compounds. The reaction involves an unusual multiple construction of new C? C, C? N, and C? H bonds and the cleavage of a C? H bond in one pot. It is likely that the three‐component coupling proceeds through the nucleophilic addition of quinoline to benzyne, which generates a zwitterionic species. The latter then attracts a proton from terminal alkyne (or ketone) to generate an N‐arylated quinolinium cation and an acetylide anion. Further reaction of these two ions provides the final substituted 1,2‐dihydroquinolines. In the reaction, the terminal alkyne acts first as a proton donor and then as a nucleophile. The application of a three‐component coupling reaction product, 1,2‐dihydro‐2‐pyridinyl alkyne in a stereospecific [4+2] Diels–Alder cycloaddition reaction with N‐phenyl maleimide to give an isoquinuclidine derivative, an important core present in various natural products, is demonstrated.     

Non‐Enzymatic Oxidation of a Pentagalloylglucose Analogue into Members of the Ellagitannin Family

The occurrence of more than 1000 structurally diverse ellagitannins has been hypothesized to begin with the oxidation of penta‐O ‐galloyl‐β‐d ‐glucose (β‐PGG) for the coupling of the galloyl groups. However, the non‐enzymatic behavior of β‐PGG in the oxidation is unknown. Disclosed herein is which galloyl groups tended to couple and which axial chirality was predominant in the derived hexahydroxydiphenoyl groups when an analogue of β‐PGG was subjected to oxidation. The galloyl groups coupled in the following order: at the 4,6‐, 1,6‐, 1,2‐, 2,3‐, and 3,6‐positions with respective S ‐, S ‐, R ‐, S ‐, and R ‐axial chirality. Among them, the most preferred 4,6‐coupling reflected the what was observed for natural ellagitannins. A new finding was that the second best coupling occured at the 1,6‐positions. With the detection of a 3,6‐coupled product, this work demonstrated that even ellagitannin skeletons with an axial‐rich glucose core may be generated non‐enzymatically.     

Synthesis and Properties of a Decacyclene Monoimide and a Naphthalimide Derivative as Three‐Dimensional Acceptor–Donor–Acceptor Systems

A method involving the Diels–Alder (DA) cycloaddition of diacenaphtheno[1,2‐b;1′,2′‐d]thiophenes (DATs) with N‐alkylacenaphthylene‐5,6‐dicarboximides (AIs) was developed to synthesize decacyclene monoimides (DCMIs). The reactions generate the corresponding 1:2 adducts (BAIAs) as major products together with 1:1 adducts (the DCMIs). The molecular structure of BAIAb (N‐octyl derivative) was unambiguously assigned as the bis‐adduct having an endo,endo spatial disposition of the two acenaphthylene‐5,6‐dicarboximide moieties by using X‐ray crystallographic analysis. Relative to the absorption spectrum of decacyclene triimide (DCTIa, N‐2‐ethylhexyl derivative), that of the analogous N‐2‐ethylhexyl‐substituted monoadduct, DCMIa, is bathochromically shifted despite the fact that it possesses a less delocalized π‐electron system. DCMIa does not fluoresce in various organic solvents, whereas DCTIa emits yellow fluorescence in CH₂Cl₂ with a low quantum yield (Φ_SN). Moreover, DCMIa in CDCl₃ displays concentration‐dependent ¹H NMR spectroscopy behavior, which suggests that it self‐aggregates with an association constant (K_a) of (193±50) m ^?1 at 20 °C. Despite the presence of four bulky tert‐butyl groups in DCMIa, its K_a value for aggregate formation is comparable to that of DCTIa [(495±42) m ^?1], which does not contain tert‐butyl substituents. Spectroscopic studies with the bis‐adduct BAIAa (N‐2‐ethylhexyl derivative) show that it displays remarkable solvatofluorochromism corresponding to an emission maximum shift (Δλ_EM) of 100 nm. The results of density functional theory calculations on BAIAc (N‐methyl derivative) demonstrate that a considerable spatial separation exists between the HOMO and LUMO coefficient distributions, which indicates that the ground‐to‐excited state transition of the novel three‐dimensional acceptor–donor–acceptor BAIAa system should have intramolecular charge‐transfer character.     

Comparative Study on the Reactivity of 6‐Haloimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine Derivatives towards Negishi‐ and Stille‐Coupling Reactions

The scope of the Suzuki‐cross‐coupling reaction of 6‐haloimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines is dependent on the availability of the (hetero)arylboronic acids. Thus, with the aim to develop expanded applications of (hetero)arylations of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines, we investigated the Negishi‐ and Stille‐cross‐coupling reactions at the 6‐position. Remarkably, attempts to apply the Negishi‐cross‐coupling conditions to the organozinc derivative prepared from 6‐haloimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine via a lithium? zinc exchange led to the 5‐phenyl compound 3 in 54% yield instead of the desired 6‐phenyl isomer (Scheme 1). In contrast, various commercially available halogenated five‐ or six‐membered‐ring heterocycles were efficiently coupled to the 6‐(trialkylstannyl)imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine under Stille conditions (Table 2).     

Oligonucleosides with a Nucleobase‐Including Backbone,Part 4, A Convergent Synthesis of Ethynediyl‐Linked Adenosine Tetramers

Deprotection of the tetramer 24 , obtained by coupling the iodinated dimer 18 with the alkyne 23 gave the 8′,5‐ethynediyl‐linked adenosine‐derived tetramer 27 (Scheme 3). As direct iodination of C(5′)‐ethynylated adenosine derivatives failed, we prepared 18 via the 8‐amino derivative 17 that was available by coupling the imine 15 with the iodide 7 ; 15 , in its turn, was obtained from the 8‐chloro derivative 12 via the 4‐methoxybenzylamine 14 (Scheme 2). This method for the introduction of the 8‐iodo substituent was worked out with the N‐benzoyladenosine 1 that was transformed into the azide 2 by lithiation and treatment with tosyl azide (Scheme 1). Reduction of 2 led to the amine 3 that was transformed into 7 . 1,3‐Dipolar cycloaddition of 3 and (trimethylsilyl)acetylene gave 6 . The 8‐substituted derivatives 4a – d were prepared similarly to 2 , but could not be transformed into 7 . The known chloride 8 was transformed into the iodide 11 via the amines 9 and 10 . The amines 3 , 10 , and 16 form more or less completely persistent intramolecular C(8)N−H⋅⋅⋅O(5′) H‐bonds, while the dimeric amine 17 forms a ca. 50% persistent H‐bond. There is no UV evidence for a base‐base interaction in the protected and deprotected dimers and tetramers.     

Synthesis of N,N,N-4,4＂-Di-（4-methylphenyl）-2,2＇：6＇,2＂- terpyridine-N,N,N-tris（isothiocyanato） Ruthenium（Ⅱ） and Application to Colorimetric Hg^2＋ Sensor

A terpyridine derivative DPTP [di-（4-methylphenyl）-2,2＇：6＇,2＂-terpyridine] was conveniently synthesized from 2-bromopyridine via halogen-dance reaction, Kharash coupling and Stille coupling reaction. Then its corresponding ruthenium complex Ru-DPTP [N,N,N-4,4＇＇-di-（4-methy,phenyl）-2,2＇：6＇,2＂-terpyridine-N,N,N-tris（is,-thi,cyanat,）- ruthenium（H） ammonium] was obtained and fully characterized by IR, UV-Vis, ESI MS and elemental analysis. The MLCT absorption band of Ru-DPTP was blue-shifted from 570 to 500 nm upon addition of Hg^2＋. Among a series of surveyed metal ions, the complex showed a unique recognition to Hg^2＋, indicating that it can be used as a selective colorimetric sensor for Hg^2＋.     

Facile Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of 5‐Amino‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐thieno[3,2‐c]pyrazole‐6‐carbonitrile and Their Derivatives

5‐Amino‐thieno[3,2‐c]pyrazole derivative 2 was prepared by Gewald reaction in a one‐pot procedure. The amino group of compound 2 like primary aromatic amine formed the diazonium salt when treated with NaNO₂/HCl, followed by coupling with different nucleophiles to yield the azo coupling products 3a – d . The reactivity of 5‐amino‐thienopyrazole 2 has been investigated towards different electrophilic reagents such as aromatic aldehydes, alkyl halide, acid chloride, acid anhydride, phenyl isothiocyanate, carbon disulfide, ethyl glycinate, and thioacetamide, which afforded the reaction products 4 – 14 , respectively.     

Enantiospecific Total Syntheses and Assignment of Absolute Configuration of Cannabinol‐Skeletal Carbazole Alkaloids Murrayamines‐O and ‐P

First enantiospecific total syntheses of the cannabinol‐skeletal carbazole alkaloids murrayamines‐O and ‐P isolated from root barks of Murraya euchrestifoli, have been accomplished by highly diastereoselective, Lewis acid catalyzed coupling reactions of commercially available monoterpenes with carbazole derivative, which in addition to confirming the structure also established the absolute configuration of the natural products. Synthesis of both natural products and their enantiomers was achieved with high atom economy, in a protecting‐group free manner and in six steps longest linear sequence from commercially available aniline derivative and verbenol.     

Transition‐Metal‐Free Cross‐Coupling of Benzothiophenes and Styrenes in a Stereoselective Synthesis of Substituted (E,Z)‐1,3‐Dienes

A transition metal‐free one‐pot stereoselective approach to substituted (E,Z)‐1,3‐dienes was developed by using an interrupted Pummerer reaction/ligand‐coupling strategy. Readily available benzothiophene S‐oxides, which can be conveniently prepared by oxidation of the parent benzothiophenes, undergo Pummerer coupling with styrenes. Reaction of the resultant sulfonium salts with alkyllithium/magnesium reagents generates underexploited hypervalent sulfurane intermediates that undergo selective ligand coupling, resulting in dismantling of the benzothiophene motif and the formation of decorated (E,Z)‐1,3‐dienes.     

π‐Helicenes Truncated to a Minimum: Access Through a Domino Approach Involving Multiple Carbopalladations and a Stille Coupling

A novel type of π‐helicenes is reported, in which the π‐system is truncated to an all‐s‐cis all‐Z oligoene chain. A domino sequence was developed, consisting of up to four consecutive carbopalladation reactions and a terminal Stille cross‐coupling, to generate these entities in one step from the respective linear oligoynes. Despite the minimal π‐system, very high optical rotation values were encountered for the single enantiomers. X‐ray crystallography confirmed their screw‐shaped structure.     

Anion‐Binding Catalysis by Electron‐Deficient Pyridinium Cations

A new activation principle in organocatalysis is presented: halide binding through Coulombic interactions. This mode of catalysis was realized by using 3,5‐di(carbomethoxy)pyridinium ions that carry an additional electron‐withdrawing substituent on the nitrogen atom, for example, pentafluorobenzyl or cyanomethyl. For the N‐pentafluorobenzyl derivative, Coulombic interaction with the pyridinium moiety is complemented in the solid state by anion–π interactions with the perfluorophenyl ring. Bromide and chloride are bound by these cations in a 1:1 stoichiometry. Catalysis of the C? C coupling between 1‐chloroisochroman (and related electrophiles) with silyl ketene acetals occurs at ?78 °C and at low catalyst loading (2 mol %).     

Electronic Stabilization Effect of a Spin‐Delocalized Neutral Radical: Synthesis of an 8‐Cyano‐6‐oxophenalenoxyl Derivative and Quantitative Evaluation of the Electronic Spin Structure in terms of Resonance Structures

A new 2,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐6‐oxophenalenoxyl (6OPO) derivative with a cyano group at the 8‐position, where a large spin density resides, has been synthesized. This neutral radical exhibits high stability in the solid state in air despite the low steric protection on the 8‐position; the stability is comparable to that of a corresponding 8‐tert‐butylated 6OPO derivative. EPR/¹H‐ENDOR/TRIPLE (electron paramagnetic resonance/¹H‐electron‐nuclear double resonance/TRIPLE) spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry showed an extended spin delocalization on the cyano group and a significant increase in electron‐accepting ability relative to that of the 8‐tert‐butylated 6OPO derivative. DFT calculations indicated the extension of a singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) onto the cyano group and the lower‐lying SOMO and LUMO in comparison with those of the 8‐tert‐butylated 6OPO derivative, which was consistent with experimental results. Furthermore, the extended nature of π conjugation onto the cyano group was quantitatively evaluated by calculating the contributing weights of resonance structures in terms of a molecular orbital (MO)‐based valence‐bond (VB) method. Herein, the synthesis and physical properties of the 8‐cyano‐6OPO derivative are described, emphasizing that the high stability arises from the electronic effect of the cyano group. Also, the usefulness of the quantitative resonance structure analysis is shown.     

Iridium complex grafted to 3,6‐carbazole‐alt‐tetraphenylsilane copolymers for blue electrophosphorescence

We designed a 3,6‐dibromo‐9‐hexyl‐9H‐carbazole derivative with the blue emissive iridium complex bis[2‐(4,6‐difluorophenyl)pyridyl‐N,C^2′](picolinato)iridium(III) (FIrpic) linked at the alkyl terminal. Based on this monomer, novel 3,6‐carbazole‐alt‐tetraphenylsilane copolymers grafted with FIrpic were synthesized by palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction, and the content of FIrpic in the polymers could be controlled by feed ratio of the monomers. The polymer films mainly show blue emission from FIrpic, and the emission intensity from the polymer backbones is much weaker compared with the doped analogues, which demonstrates an efficient energy transfer from polymeric host to covalently bonded guest. The phase separation in the polymers was suppressed, which can be identified by atomic force microscopy and designed electroluminescent (EL) devices. EL devices based on the polymers exhibited blue phosphorescence from FIrpic. The luminous efficiency of preliminary devices reached 2.3 cd/A, and the efficiency roll‐off at high current densities was suppressed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1859–1865, 2010     

6‐Azido‐6‐deoxy‐l‐idose as a Hetero‐Bifunctional Spacer for the Synthesis of Azido‐Containing Chemical Probes

The design of 6‐azido‐6‐deoxy‐l ‐idose for use as a hetero‐bifunctional spacer is reported. The hemiacetal at one terminus is an equivalent of an aldehyde and can react with nucleophiles, such as amino groups and electron‐rich aromatics. The azido group at the other terminus bio‐orthogonally undergoes a Hüisgen [3+2] cycloaddition with an acetylene. The idose derivative exhibited a higher level of reactivity towards oxime formation than a corresponding glucose derivative. The ¹³C NMR spectrum of the uniformly ¹³C‐labeled 6‐azido‐idose indicated that the acyclic forms of the sugar totaled 0.3 % of all the isomers, whereas those of glucose totaled 0.01 %. The larger population of the acyclic forms of the idose derivative would result in higher reactivity towards electrophilic addition in comparison with glucose derivatives. Finally, we prepared a C‐idosyl epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that bears an azido group through C‐glycosylation of EGCG with 6‐azido‐idose. This glycosyl form of the C‐idosyl EGCG exhibited a cytotoxicity against U266 cells that was comparable to that of EGCG. These results suggested that the EGCG derivative could be used as an effective chemical probe for the elucidation of EGCG biological functions.