Cu‐Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Cyclizations of 3‐N‐Hydroxyamino‐1,2‐propadienes with Alcohols,Thiols, and Amines To Form α‐O‐, S‐, and N‐Substituted 4‐Methylquinoline Derivatives

A one‐pot, two‐step synthesis of α‐O‐, S‐, and N‐substituted 4‐methylquinoline derivatives through Cu‐catalyzed aerobic oxidations of N‐hydroxyaminoallenes with alcohols, thiols, and amines is described. This reaction sequence involves an initial oxidation of N‐hydroxyaminoallenes with NuH (Nu=OH, OR, NHR, and SR) to form 3‐substituted 2‐en‐1‐ones, followed by Brønsted acid catalyzed intramolecular cyclizations of the resulting products. Our mechanistic analysis suggests that the reactions proceed through a radical‐type mechanism rather than a typical nitrone‐intermediate route. The utility of this new Cu‐catalyzed reaction is shown by its applicability to the synthesis of several 2‐amino‐4‐methylquinoline derivatives, which are known to be key precursors to several bioactive molecules.     

Ring‐Opening Reactions of 3‐Aryl‐1‐benzylaziridine‐2‐carboxylates and Application to the Asymmetric Synthesis of an Amphetamine‐Type Compound

Nucleophilic ring‐opening reactions of 3‐aryl‐1‐benzylaziridine‐2‐carboxylates were examined by using O‐nucleophiles and aromatic C‐nucleophiles. The stereospecificity was found to depend on substrates and conditions used. Configuration inversion at C(3) was observed with O‐nucleophiles as a major reaction path in the ring‐opening reactions of aziridines carrying an electron‐poor aromatic moiety, whereas mixtures containing preferentially the syn‐diastereoisomer were generally obtained when electron‐rich aziridines were used (Tables 1–3). In the reactions of electron‐rich aziridines with C‐nucleophiles, S_N2 reactions yielding anti‐type products were observed (Table 4). Reductive ring‐opening reaction by catalytic hydrogenation of (+)‐trans‐(2S,3R)‐3‐(1,3‐benzodioxol‐5‐yl)aziridine‐2‐carboxylate (+)‐trans‐ 3c afforded the corresponding α‐amino acid derivative, which was smoothly transformed into (+)‐tert‐butyl [(1R)‐2‐(1,3‐benzodioxol‐5‐yl)‐1‐methylethyl]carbamate((+)‐ 14 ) with high retention of optical purity (Scheme 6).     

Towards the Synthesis of 1‐Deoxy‐1‐nitropiperidinoses

In the course of the first of several attempts to elaborate methods for the synthesis of 1‐nitropiperidinoses, lincosamine was transformed into lactam 6 via hemiacetal 1 , lactone 2 , amide 3 , oxo amide 4 , and its cyclic tautomer 5 . Treatment of the N‐Boc‐protected lactam oxime 9 , obtained from lactam 6 , with brominating agents failed to provide the bromonitroso carbamate 10 . The N‐Boc‐protected lactam 13 derived from 6 was reduced to hemiacetal 14 , but the corresponding N‐Boc‐aminooxime did not tautomerise to the C(1)‐hydroxylamine, and nitrone 17 , a potential precursor of the nitropiperidine 12 , was not formed. Oxidation of the anomeric azide 20 with HOF?MeCN failed to provide the expected nitropiperidine 21 . The phosphinimines 22 derived from 20 did not react with O₃. In the next approach to 1‐nitropiperidinoses, we treated the N‐Boc‐protected hemiacetal 25 , obtained from the known gluconolactam 23 with N‐benzylhydroxylamine. The resulting nitrone 26 exits in equilibrium with the anomeric N‐benzyl‐glycosylhydroxylamine that was oxidized to the anomeric nitrone 28 . Ozonolysis of 28 led to the hemiacetal 25 , resulting from the desired, highly reactive protected nitropiperidinose 29 , that was evidenced by an IR band at 1561 cm^?1. Similarly to the synthesis of nitrone 26 , reaction of the N‐tosyl‐protected hemiacetal 31 with N‐benzylhydroxylamine and oxidation provided the anomeric N‐benzylhydroxylamines 33 via the p‐toluenesulfonamido nitrone 32 . Their oxidation with MnO₂ led to the anomeric nitrone 34 . Ozonolysis of 34 as evidenced by ¹H‐NMR and ReactIR spectroscopy led to the highly reactive nitropiperidinose 35 . Like 29, 35 was transformed during workup, and only the hemiacetal 31 was isolated. The similarly prepared lincosamine‐derived nitrone 17 was subjected to ReactIR‐monitored ozonolysis that evidenced the formation of the protected nitropiperidinose 12 , but only led to the isolation of 14 . The facile transformation of the nitropiperidinoses to hemiacetals is rationalised by heterolysis of the anomeric C,N bond, recombination of the ion pair, and denitrosation of the resulting anomeric nitrite by a nucleophile. Attempts to convert the 1‐deoxy‐1‐nitropiperidinose 35 to uloses 43 by base‐catalysed Michael additions or Henry reactions were unsuccessful.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Oxidative Dimerizations of 3‐N‐Hydroxy‐aminoprop‐1‐enes to form 1,4‐Dihydroxy‐2,3‐diaminocyclohexanes with C2 Symmetry

This work describes the one‐step construction of complex and important molecular frameworks through copper‐catalyzed oxidations of cheap tertiary amines. Copper‐catalyzed aerobic oxidations of N‐hydroxyaminopropenes to form C₂‐symmetric N‐ and O‐functionalized cyclohexanes are described. Such catalytic oxidations proceed with remarkable stereocontrol and high efficiency. Reductive cleavage of the two N? O bonds of these products delivers 1,4‐dihydroxy‐2,3‐diaminocyclohexanes, which are important skeletons of several bioactive molecules.     

Synthesis of 3‐thiocyanato‐1H,3H‐quinoline‐2,4‐diones

4‐Hydroxy‐1H‐quinolin‐2‐ones ( 1 ) react with thiocyanogen in acetic acid to the corresponding 3‐thiocyanato‐1H,3H‐quinoline‐2,4‐diones ( 2 ) in good yields. In some cases, 3‐bromo‐1H,3H‐quinoline‐2,4‐diones ( 4 ) were isolated as minor reaction products. Compounds 2 are very reactive towards nucleophiles and easily hydrolyze to the corresponding 4‐hydroxy‐1H‐quinoline‐2‐ones ( 1 ).     

Diversity‐Oriented Synthesis of α‐Functionalized Acylborons and Borylated Heteroarenes by Nucleophilic Ring Opening of α‐Chloroepoxyboronates

The ring‐opening reactions of N‐methyliminodiacetyl (MIDA) α‐chloroepoxyboronates with different nucleophiles allow the modular synthesis of a diverse array of organoboronates. These include seven types of α‐functionalized acylboronates and seven types of borylated heteroarenes, some of which are difficult‐to‐access products using alternative methods. The common synthons, α‐chloroepoxyboronates, could be viably synthesized by a two‐step procedure from the corresponding alkenyl MIDA boronates. Mild reaction conditions, good functional‐group tolerance, and generally good efficiency were observed. The utility of the products was also demonstrated.     

Investigations on regio‐ and stereoselectivities in cycloadditions involving α‐ (3‐pyridyl)‐N‐phenylnitrone: Development of an efficient route to novel nicotine analogs

Thermal reactions of hitherto α‐(3‐pyridyl)‐N‐phenylnitrone ( 1 ) with mono‐substituted electron‐rich and electron‐neutral dipolarophiles are regio‐, and stereo‐selective (exo‐selective), controlled by LUMO ‐ dipole ‐ HOMO‐ dipolarophile interaction, and furnish syn‐5‐substituted‐3‐(3‐pyridyl)‐isoxazolidines ( 5 ) in high yields. With electron deficient dipolarophiles such as acrylonitrile there is observed a loss of regioselectivity as well as stereoselectivity and the regioselectivity is reversed in reactions with methyl vinyl ketone and methyl acrylate, due to intervention of HOMO‐dipole ‐ LUMO‐dipolarophile interaction, affording 4‐substi‐tuted‐3‐(3‐pyridyl)‐isoxazolidines ( 7 ) as major products. Reactions of nitrone ( 1 ) with disubstituted dipolarophiles such as methyl methacrylate and ethyl coronate furnish methyl syn‐5‐methy‐3‐pyridyl‐1‐phenyl‐isoxazolidine‐5‐carboxylate ( 8 ) and ethyl anti‐5‐methy‐3‐pyridyl‐1‐phenyl‐isoxazolidine‐4‐carboxylate ( 10 ), respectively, in high yields. Reaction with N‐Phenylmaleimide affords novel isoxazolidino‐pyrro‐lidinediones bearing a 3‐pyridyl moiety ( 11, 12 ). A mechanistic rationalization of the obtained results in terms of electronic, steric and secondary interactions is proffered.     

Wolff Rearrangement of Oxidatively Generated α‐Oxo Gold Carbenes: An Effective Approach to Silylketenes

Gold‐catalyzed oxidations of alkynes by N‐oxides offer direct access to reactive α‐oxo gold carbene intermediates from benign and readily available alkynes instead of hazardous diazo carbonyl compounds. Despite various versatile synthetic methods developed based on this strategy, one of the hallmarks of α‐oxo carbene/carbenoid chemistry, that is, the Wolff rearrangement, has not been realized in this context. This study discloses the first examples that show the Wolff rearrangement can be readily realized by α‐oxo gold carbenes oxidatively generated from TBS‐terminated alkynes (TBS=tert‐butyldimethylsilyl). The thus‐generated silylketenes can be either isolated pure or subsequently trapped by various internal or external nucleophiles in one pot to afford α‐silylated carboxylic acids, their derivatives, or TBS‐substituted allenes.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of Pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinolin‐1‐ones by the Cyclocondensation of 5‐Hydroxy‐1‐arylpyrrolidin‐2‐ones with Dicarbonyls

A one‐pot synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinolin‐1‐ones has been developed from the reactions of 5‐hydroxy‐1‐arylpyrrolidin‐2‐ones with 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds under the promotion of H₃PO₄/P₂O₅ or HOAc/H₂SO₄. The pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinolin‐1‐ones are formed by two‐step reactions, that is, the coupling of N‐acyliminium ion intermediates produced from 5‐hydroxy‐1‐arylpyrrolidin‐2‐ones with 1,3‐dicarbonyls and subsequent Friedel–Crafts reactions of the resulting ketone with the aryl ring.     

Synthesis of New 1‐Hydroxyindole‐2‐Carboxylates and Mechanistic Studies on Reaction Pathways

Synthesis of new 1‐hydroxyindole‐2‐carboxylates 1 and mechanistic studies on the reaction pathways were described. The substrates 2 , prepared through two‐step synthetic sequences, were treated with nucleophiles in the presence of SnCl₂ · 2H₂O to obtain compounds 1 . In particular, the mechanistic studies led to a significant finding that reactions with thiol nucleophiles occur through a newly proposed pathway (path B: 1,4‐addition followed by reduction/condensation) rather than through a previously assumed pathway (path A: reduction/condensation followed by 1,5‐addition). Further mechanistic investigations revealed steric effects of o‐substituents in 2 governing the ratio of products ( 1i / 7 ).     

Reaction of β‐cyano esters with hydrazine hydrate. Unexpected formation of dipyrrolo[1,2‐b:1′,2′‐e][1,2,4,5]tetrazine,a novel ring system

Some intermediates and by‐products of the title reaction, known to yield 6‐hydrazinopyridazine‐3‐one derivatives, were isolated or detected when the amount of hydrazine hydrate used to react with two model β‐cyano esters was reduced to less than two equivalents. N'‐(1‐amino‐4‐hydrazino‐4‐oxo‐2‐phenylbutyli‐dene)‐4‐hydrazino‐4‐oxo‐2‐phenylbutanehydrazonamide and 3,3,8,8‐tetramethyl‐2,3,7,8‐tetrahydro‐1H,6H‐dipyrrolo[1,2‐b:1′,2′‐e][1,2,4,5]tetrazine‐1,6‐dione were isolated as the terminal products of side‐reactions; they were unreactive to hydrazine. The latter compound is a derivative of a novel ring system. Mechanism of the reaction was proposed.     

1‐Methyl‐3‐phenyl‐3‐thiocyanato‐1H,3H‐quinoline‐2,4‐dione: A novel thiocyanating agent

Under mild reaction conditions, the thiocyanato group is selectively transferred from 1‐methyl‐3‐phenyl‐3‐thiocyanato‐1H,3H‐quinoline‐2,4‐dione ( 3 ) to some nucleophiles. Aliphatic primary and secondary amines are converted to S‐cyanothiohydroxylamines, anilines afford p‐thiocyanatoanilines, Wittig reagent is thiocyanated in α‐position, and thiols are oxidized to disulfides.     

Microwave‐assisted nucleophilic cleavage of 5,7‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1‐oxo‐lH‐pyrazolo[ 1,2‐a]pyrazol‐4‐ylium‐3‐olate to α‐phenylmalonamides

Three α‐phenylmalonamides have been prepared by the selective nucleophilic cleavage of 5,7‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1‐oxo‐1H‐pyrazolo[1,2‐a]pyrazol‐4‐ylium‐3‐olate in solventless microwave syntheses. The three weak nucleophiles employed were aniline, p‐chloroaniline and m‐toluidine. The α‐phenylmalonamides of these three aniline derivatives could not be prepared using the previously reported solvent syntheses via 3‐oxopyrazolo[1,2‐a]pyrazol‐8‐ylium‐1‐olates. All products were characterised using, infrared spectroscopy, ¹H nmr and electrospray mass spectrometry. The single crystal X‐ray structures of the starting pyrazolo‐[1,2‐a]pyrazole and α‐phenylmalon‐m‐toluidide are also reported.     

Gas‐phase pyrolysis mechanisms of 3‐anilino‐1‐propanol: Density functional theory study

The gas‐phase pyrolytic decomposition mechanisms of 3‐anilino‐1‐propanol with the products of aniline, ethylene, and formaldehyde or N‐methyl aniline and aldehyde were studied by density functional theory. The geometries of the reactant, transition states, and intermediates were optimized at the B3LYP/6‐31G (d, p) level. Vibration analysis was carried out to confirm the transition state structures, and the intrinsic reaction coordinate method was performed to search the minimum energy path. Four possible reaction channels are shown, including two concerted reactions of direct pyrolytic decomposition and two indirect channels in which the reactant first becomes a ring‐like intermediate, followed by concerted pyrogenation. One of the concerted reactions in the direct pyrolytic decomposition has the lowest activation barrier among all the four channels, and so, it occurs more often than others. The results appear to be consistent with the experimental outcomes. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Asymmetric Copper‐Catalyzed Vinylogous Mukaiyama Michael Addition of Cyclic Dienol Silanes to Unsaturated α‐Keto Phosphonates

A highly stereoselective vinylogous Mukaiyama Michael reaction (VMMR) leading to α‐keto phosphonate‐containing γ‐butenolides with two stereogenic centers is described. The presented transformation is catalyzed by a combination of a commercially available C₂‐symmetric bisoxazoline (BOX) ligand and a copper salt and tolerates a variety of nucleophiles and electrophiles. The stereoselectivities of the reactions are good to excellent and the products are obtained in moderate to high yields.     

An Efficient New Route for the Synthesis of Some 3‐Hterocyclylquinolinones via Novel 3‐(1,2‐Dihydro‐4‐hydroxy‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoquinolin‐3‐yl)‐3‐oxopropanal and Their Antioxidant Screening

3‐(4‐hydroxy‐1‐methylquinoline‐3‐yl)‐3‐oxoproponal ( 5 ) was synthesized from 3‐[(E)‐3‐(dimethylamino)‐2‐propenoyl]‐4‐hydroxy‐1‐methyl‐2(1H )‐quinolinone ( 3 ) and was utilized as a starting precursor material. A convenient new route to functionalized 3‐heterocyclyl 4‐hydroxy‐2(1H )‐quinolinones such as pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl, pyrimidinyl, azepineyl , pyridonyl, and pyranyl heterocycles was described via cyclization of compound 5 with some N and C ‐nucleophiles. The newly synthesized aldehyde 5 showed only one ring closure possibility with maximum yield instead of using compound 3 that exhibited different regioselective ring closure routes with minimum yields. All newly synthesized products were structurally elucidated on the basis of their relevant spectroscopic data and elemental microanalyses. The antioxidant activity of the products was screened in a series of in vitro tests.     

Intermediates Formed in the Reactions of Organocuprates with α,β‐Unsaturated Nitriles

Conjugate additions of organocuprates are of outstanding importance for organic synthesis. To improve our mechanistic understanding of these reactions, we have used electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the identification of the ionic intermediates formed upon the treatment of LiCuR₂ ? LiCN (R=Me, Bu, Ph) with a series of α,β‐unsaturated nitriles. Acrylonitrile, the weakest Michael acceptor included, did not afford any detectable intermediates. Fumaronitrile (FN) yielded adducts of the type Li_n?1Cu_nR_2n(FN)_n^?, n=1–3. When subjected to fragmentation in the gas phase, these adducts were not converted into the conjugate addition products, but re‐dissociated into the reactants. In contrast, the reaction with 1,1‐dicyanoethylene furnished the products of the conjugate addition without any observable intermediates. Tri‐ and tetracyanoethylene proved to be quite reactive as well. The presence of several cyano groups in these substrates opened up reaction pathways different from simple conjugate additions, however, and led to dimerization and substitution reactions. Moreover, the gas‐phase fragmentation behavior of the species formed from these substrates indicated the occurrence of single‐electron transfer processes. Additional quantum‐chemical calculations provided insight into the structures and stabilities of the observed intermediates and their consecutive reactions.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Cyclization of 1‐(Indol‐3‐yl)‐3‐alkyn‐1‐ols: Facile Synthesis of Diversified Carbazoles

Efficient cyclization of 1‐(indol‐3‐yl)‐3‐alkyn‐1‐ols in the presence of a cationic gold(I) complex, leading to annulated or specific substituted carbazoles, was observed. Depending on the reaction conditions and substitution pattern, divergent reaction pathways were discovered, furnishing diversified carbazole structures. Cycloalkyl‐annulated [b]carbazoles are obtained through 1,2‐alkyl migration of the metal‐carbene intermediates; cycloalkyl‐annulated [a]carbazoles are formed through a Wagner–Meerwein‐type 1,2‐alkyl shift; carbazole ethers are constructed through ring‐opening of the cyclopropyl group by nucleophilic attack of water or an alcohol.     

Reactivity study on morpholine‐1‐carbothioic acid (2‐phenyl‐3H‐quinazolin‐4‐ylidene) amide

Regioselective reactions of morpholine‐1‐carbothioic acid (2‐phenyl‐3H‐quinazolin‐4‐ylidene) amide ( 1 ) with electrophiles and nucleophiles were studied. The compound ( 1 ) reacts with alkyl halides in basic medium to afford S‐substituted isothiourea derivatives, with amines to give 1,1‐disubstituted‐3‐(2‐phenyl‐3H‐quinazolin‐4‐ylidene) thioureas and l‐substituted‐3‐(2‐phenyl‐quinazolin‐4‐yl) thioureas via transami‐nation reaction. The reaction of ( 1 ) with amines in the presence of H₂O₂ provided N⁴‐disubstituted‐N'⁴‐(2‐phenylquinazolin‐4‐yl)morpholin‐4‐carboximidamide via oxidative desulfurization. Estimation of reactivity sites on ( 1 ) was supported using the ab initio (HF/6‐31G**) quantum chemistry calculations. The ir, ¹H nmr, ¹³C nmr, mass spectroscopy and x‐ray identified the isolated products.     

Utilization of hypervalent iodine in organic synthesis: A novel and facile two‐step protocol for the synthesis of new derivatives of 1H‐Imidazo[1,2‐b]pyrazole by the cyclocondensation involving α‐Tosyloxyacetophenones

A series of new 2‐aryl‐7‐cyano/ethoxycarbonyl‐6‐methylthio‐1H‐imidazo[1,2‐b]pyrazoles ( 5 ) have been synthesized in moderate to good yields, via a two‐step cyclocondensation procedure of 5‐amino‐4‐cyano/ethoxycarbonyl‐3‐methylthio‐1H‐pyrazole ( 1 ) and α‐bromoacetophenones ( 3 ) or α‐tosyloxyacetophenones ( 2 ), which were prepared by the reactions of acetophenones with [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene (HTIB). The intermediates, 5‐amino‐1‐(aroylmethyl)‐4‐ cyano/ethoxycarbonyl‐3‐methylthio‐1H‐pyrazoles ( 4 ), have been isolated, serving as evidence for the regioselectivity. When utilizing α‐tosyloxy‐acetophenones, the reactions were more eco‐friendly, the reaction time was significantly reduced and the synthetic procedure was more convenient and easier to manipulate. Surprisingly, using potassium carbonate to displace sodium carbonate in the synthesis of 4 , in the case of 1 (R? CN), two novel cyclocondensation products have been isolated and fully characterized, followed by the proposal of a plausible mechanism.