Formation of 3,4-dimethyl-2-pyrones from allene carboxylates and 2-silyloxydienes via 3-carboethoxyethylidene cyclobutanols

The 3-carboethoxyethylidene cyclobutanols 4 are prepared in two steps via [2+2] cycloaddition of the 2-silyloxydienes 1 and the allene carboxylate 2 followed by acidic hydrolysis. Treatment of these cyclobutanols 4 with various bases affords good yields of the substituted 3,4-dimethyl-2-pyrones 6. The proposed mechanism involves ring opening of the metal alkoxide 7 to give the carbanion 8, which undergoes proton transfer to give the more stable carbanion 9 and double bond isomerization to give the enolate 10, which then forms the pyrone ring 6 via attack on the ester via 11.     

Palladium-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of benzo[b][1,6]naphthyridines via Sonogashira coupling and annulation reactions from 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbonitriles

Palladium-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted benzo[b][1,6]naphthyridines and [1,6]naphthyridines has been described from easily accessible precursors, 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbonitriles and 2-chloropyrido-3-carbonitrile via sequential additions of palladium-catalyst for Sonogashira-coupling and the following annulations in good to excellent yields. A plausible mechanism for annulation is discussed.     

Solid-state and solution photocycloadditions of 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones with maleimide

Solid-state photosensitized reactions of 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones (1b,c) with maleimide (2) afforded endo-endo double-[4+2] cycloadducts (3b,c) with high stereoselectivity. Sensitized photoreactions of 1a-d with 2 in solution gave exo-endo double-[4+2] cycloadducts (4a-d). 2-Pyrones 1a-d were photolyzed to give carboxylic acids (5a-d) via their valence isomerization in the solid state and in solution. Such kinds of photoreaction of the 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones were dramatically different from regio- and stereoselective [2+2] cycloadditions of 4-alkyloxy-2-pyrones. The photoreaction mechanisms of 1 with 2 and 1 itself were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction analysis and MO calculations.     

Palladium-catalyzed one-pot Suzuki coupling followed by arylpalladium addition to aldehyde: a convenient route to fluoren-9-one derivatives

Various fluoren-9-one derivatives were prepared efficiently by a one-pot reaction involving sequential Suzuki coupling of 2-bromophenyl boronic acid with 2-bromocarboxaldehyde followed by intramolecular arylpalladium addition to aldehyde.     

A convenient one-pot synthesis of substituted 2-pyrone derivatives

2-Pyrone derivatives were prepared in a one step procedure from readily available (chlorocarbonyl)phenyl ketene and 1,3-diketones such as 2,4-pentanedione, 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanedione, 1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione, 1,3-cyclohexanedione, 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione, 1,3-dimethyl-pyrimidine-2,4,6-trione and ethyl 2,4-dioxopentanoate. A mechanism is presented to account for the formation of the products. This method provides an easy route to prepare 3,4,5,6-tetrasubstituted 2-pyrones in good to excellent yields and in a short experimental time.     

Palladium-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of 2-alkyl-2-arylcyanoacetates

A one-pot procedure for the synthesis of 2-alkyl-2-arylcyanoacetates based on a Pd(OAc)2/DPPF (DPPF = 1,1'-diphenylphosphino ferreocene)-catalyzed enolate arylation followed by in situ alkylation has been developed. This procedure tolerates a diverse range of aryl and heteroaryl bromides, and provides a rapid entry to a variety of 2-alkyl-2-arylcyanoacetates in good to excellent yield.     

A convenient synthesis of substituted γ-pyrones

An efficient and general synthetic method for various 2-mono- and 2,6-disubstituted γ-pyrones has been developed. This utilizes the $\text{C}$-acylation (70–85%) of β-methoxy-α,β-enone lithium enolates $\text{4}$ by acid chlorides $\text{3}$ followed by the acid-catalyzed cyclization (>80%) of the resulting enols $\text{5}$ to γ-pyrones $\text{6}$.     

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of indole fused coumarins via cross-dehydrogenative coupling

The present method describes a palladium-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction of coumarin and aniline for the synthesis of indole fused coumarin derivatives. The one-pot method is operationally simple and molecular oxygen is used as sole oxidant. The target compounds are obtained in good yields from commercially available precursors.     

Expedient synthesis of highly substituted α-pyrones from Baylis-Hillman adducts and their conversion to poly-substituted aromatics

An efficient synthetic protocol of fully substituted α-pyrones has been developed starting from the Baylis-Hillman adducts. Subsequent Diels-Alder reaction of the α-pyrones and DMAD produced poly-substituted aromatic compounds in high yields.     

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of carbazoles from N-(2-halophenyl)-2,6-diisopropylanilines via C-C cleavage

The synthesis of 1-isopropyl-substituted carbazoles by the palladium-catalyzed dealkylative cyclization of N-(2-halophenyl)-2,6-diisopropylanilines is described. The reaction involves intramolecular C-C bond formation, coupled with the cleavage of a C-X bond and a C-C bond, and is proposed to proceed through the formation of a dearomatized intermediate.     

A convenient one-pot synthesis of 3,5-diarylisoxazoles via oxidative cyclisation using catalytic CuBr2 and oxone

A facile one-pot synthesis of 3,5-diarylisoxazoles from α,β-unsaturated ketones and hydroxylamine hydrochloride is reported. The reaction is efficiently promoted by catalytic CuBr₂ and Oxone to afford the desired products mostly in high yields and in relatively short time. The mild nature of the synthesis and short reaction time are notable advantages of the developed protocol. This protocol is effective toward various substrates having different functionalities.     

Simple and convenient one-pot synthesis of cyclooctatetraene

Cyclooctatetraene is readily synthesized by the oxidation of in situ generated [Li(TMEDA)]₂[C₈H₈] with 1,2-dibromoethane. The product is readily isolated and produced without the use of hazardous or toxic reagents.     

Selective synthesis of 3-methyleneindolin-2-ones by one-pot multicatalytic processes

A novel one-pot multicatalytic route for the synthesis of 3-methyleneindolin-2-ones has been developed involving sequential copper-catalyzed amination and palladium-catalyzed C-H functionalization processes. In the presence of CuI and Pd(OAc)₂, a variety of propiolamides underwent the reaction with iodides to afford the corresponding 3-methyleneindolin-2-ones in moderate yields.     

Palladium-catalyzed alkenylation of fluoro-substituted furans via C-H activation to form tetrasubstituted furans

A palladium-catalyzed oxidative Heck reaction of fluoro-substituted furans with alkenes was developed to afford tetrasubstituted furans in moderate to good yields.     

Mild and convenient one-pot synthesis of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles

A mild, general, convenient, and efficient one-pot synthesis of 2-phenyl-5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles is described. Both (hetero)aryl and alkyl carboxylic acids were efficiently condensed with benzohydrazide in the presence of TBTU to give diacylhydrazine intermediates. The latter underwent a smooth TsCl-mediated cyclodehydration reaction to afford 2-phenyl-5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles in good to very good yields.     

A convenient one-pot synthesis of ethylene blue

We have developed an efficient one-pot, two-step preparation of ethylene blue by eliminating aqueous work-ups and cumbersome purification techniques. Our procedure generates ethylene blue in good overall yields of 45-56% with approximately 95% purity, which is uncommon for the synthesis of a phenothiazinium salt. Due to its unique properties, ethylene blue has great potential for a broad range of biological applications and, as a result, an efficient procedure for the synthesis of ethylene blue is critical.     

Palladium-catalyzed carbonylative annulation of terminal alkynes: synthesis of coumarins and 2-quinolones

o-Iodophenols and o-iodoaniline derivatives react with terminal alkynes under 1 atm of CO in the presence of pyridine and catalytic amounts of Pd(OAc)₂ to generate coumarins and 2-quinolones, respectively, as the only products. Terminal alkynes bearing alkyl, aryl, silyl, hydroxyl, ester and cyano substituents are effective in these processes affording the desired products in moderate yields. The formation of coumarins and 2-quinolones in this process is in stark contrast with all previously described palladium-catalyzed reactions of o-iodophenols or o-iodoanilines with terminal alkynes and CO, which have afforded chromones and 4-quinolones. Moreover, under our reaction conditions terminal alkynes insert into the carbonpalladium bond instead of undergoing a Sonogashira-type coupling as confirmed by an isotope labeling experiment.     

Important consequences for gas chromatographic analysis of the Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction

On following the kinetics of the Sonogashira alkynylation reaction of halogenated 2-pyrone 1 with phenylacetylene we have found that turnover continues to occur in sample vials even after quenching by commonly employed silica adsorption methods and product elution with small quantities of CH₂Cl₂. Trace quantities of Pd are carried through the silica plug. Addition of a CH₂Cl₂ solution of 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) to the quenched sample inhibits the reaction and represents a more reliable method for determining yields and reaction kinetics.     

Stereoselective synthesis of tarchonanthuslactone via the Prins cyclisation

The stereoselective total synthesis of tarchonanthuslactone, a polyketide natural product, has been achieved. The synthesis exploits the high stereochemical control in the Prins cyclisation along with ring closing metathesis (RCM) as a key step.     

A convenient one-pot synthesis of 1-aryl-substituted 2H-isoquinolin-3-ones

The synthesis of 1-aryl-substituted 2H-isoquinolin-3-ones is studied from 2-cyanomethylbenzoic acid and substituted benzenes via Friedel–Crafts acylation and intramolecular cyclization of 2-acylphenylacetonitriles formed in a one-pot method using sulfated zirconia as catalysts. Short reaction times, simplicity of operation, and easy work-up are some advantages of this method.