Stereoselective electrochemically induced cyclization of bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,2,3,3-tetracarbonitriles to 3-amino-1,1-dimethoxy-4,7-dihydro-1H-4,7-methanoisoindole-3a,7a-dicarbonitriles

Electrolysis of bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,2,3,3-tetracarbonitriles in methanol in an undivided cell in the presence of NaOAc leads to potentially pharmacologically active 3-amino-1,1-dimethoxy-4,7-dihydro-1H-4,7-methanoisoindole-3a,7a-dicarbonitriles containing a pyrroline fragment; the yield on compound were 80–88% and on current 800–880%.     

General non-catalytic approach to spiroacenaphthylene heterocycles: multicomponent assembling of acenaphthenequinone,cyclic CH-acids and malononitrile

The new type of non-catalytic cascade reaction was found: the direct multicomponent reaction of acenaphthenequinone, cyclic CH-acids, and malononitrile to form spiroacenaphthylene heterocycles. The direct heating in water acenaphthenequinone, cyclic CH-acids, and malononitrile at 80 °C results in the formation of spiroacenaphthylene heterocycles in 90–95% yields. Thus, a new simple and efficient green ‘one-pot’ method to synthesize substituted spiroacenaphthylene frameworks was found directly from simple starting compounds. The application of this convenient green multicomponent method is also beneficial from the viewpoint of diversity-oriented large-scale processes.     

The double role of ionic liquids in organic electrosynthesis: Precursors of N-heterocyclic carbenes and green solvents. Henry reaction

N-heterocyclic carbenes, electrogenerated by cathodic reduction of imidazolium-based room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), are stable bases able to catalyze the Henry reaction. Accordingly, the electrosynthesis of β-nitroalcohols has been achieved, under mild conditions and in high yields, by stirring nitromethane and aldehydes in previously electrolyzed RTILs. RTILs have been used as green solvents as well as precursors of N-heterocyclic carbenes.     

Multicomponent Synthesis of 2-(2,4-Diamino-3-cyano-5H-chromeno[2,3-b]pyridin-5-yl)malonic Acids in DMSO

Dimethyl sulfoxide is a widely used solvent in organic synthesis and in the pharmaceutical industry because of its low cost, stability, and low toxicity. Multicomponent reactions are an advanced approach that has become an efficient, economical, and eco-friendly substitute for the conventional sequential multi-step synthesis of various biologically active compounds. This approach was adopted for the synthesis of previously unknown 2-(2,4-diamino-3-cyano-5H-chromeno[2,3-b]pyridin-5-yl)malonic acids via transformation of salicylaldehydes, malononitrile dimer, and malonic acid. It was shown that the use of DMSO at room temperature makes it possible to synthesize previously unavailable compounds. The investigation of the reaction mechanism using ¹H-NMR monitoring made it possible to confirm the proposed mechanism of the transformation. The structure of synthesized 5H-chromeno[2,3-b]pyridines was confirmed by 2D-NMR spectroscopy.     

Electrocatalytic Fast and Efficient Multicomponent Approach to Medicinally Relevant (2‐Amino‐4H‐chromen‐4‐yl) phosphonate Scaffold

‘One‐pot’ electrocatalytic transformation of salicylaldehydes, malononitrile, and triethyl phosphite in an undivided cell results in the formation of diethyl (2‐amino‐3‐cyano‐4H‐chromen‐4‐yl)phosphonates in 88–93% substance yields and 880–930% current efficiency via complex multicomponent process. This novel electrocatalytic chain process opens an effective, fast, and convenient way to cyano‐functionalized (2‐amino‐4H‐chromen‐4‐yl)phosphonate systems which are promising compounds for biomedical applications. This efficient electrocatalytic approach to the (2‐amino‐4H‐chromen‐4‐yl)phosphonate scaffold represents novel synthetic concept for multicomponent reactions (MCR) strategy and allows to combine the synthetic virtues of conventional MCR with ecological benefits and convenience of facile electrocatalytic procedure.