Selective radical cyclisation of propargyl bromoethers to tetrahydrofuran derivatives via electrogenerated nickel(I) tetramethylcyclam

The controlled-potential reduction of [1-bromo-2-methoxy-2-(prop-2′-ynyloxy)ethyl]benzene (1a), 1-[2-bromo-2-phenyl-1-(prop-2′-ynyloxy)ethyl]-4-methoxybenzene (1b) and 2-bromo-3-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-propargyloxypropanamide (1c) catalysed by (1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)nickel(I), [Ni(tmc)]⁺, at a vitreous carbon cathode in DMF/Et₄NBF₄ leads to 2-methoxy-4-methylene-3-phenyl-tetrahydrofuran (2a), 2-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-4-methylene-3-phenyl-tetrahydrofuran (2b) and 2-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-carbamoyl-4-methylenetetrahydrofuran (2c), respectively, in very high yields.     

A convenient synthesis of linear pyridinoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine and pyrroloimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine cores

Two new imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives, pyridinoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (10) and pyrroloimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (16), were synthesised from 2-amino-4-methyl-5-nitropyridine (1) by linear cyclisation, making use of dimethylformamide dimethylacetal (DMFDMA) as an agent of vinylamine functionalisation. This report describes first the formation of pyridine and pyrroloimidazopyridine from (1), and then the formation of pyridine-fused and pyrrolo-fused pyridine by the Friedländer method and reductive cyclisation followed by treatment of the resulting adduct with chloroacetaldehyde.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of novel N-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)-benzo[d]thiazole-, thiazolo[4,5-b]pyridine-, thiazolo[5,4-b]pyridine- and benzo[d]oxazole-2-carboximidamides inspired by marine topsentines and nortopsentines

We report the synthesis of novel N-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)-substituted benzo[d]thiazole-, thiazolo[4,5-b]pyridine-, thiazolo[5,4-b]pyridine- and benzo[d]oxazole-2-carboximidamides, which were inspired by marine topsentines and nortopsentines. Condensation of 4,5-dichloro-1,2,3-dithiazolium chloride (Appel salt) with various ortho-halogenated anilines, aminopyridines and aminophenols gave the corresponding aryliminodithiazoles in good to excellent yields. Copper(I)-mediated or nucleophilic-assisted cyclization of aryliminodithiazoles furnished cyano-functionalized benzo[d]thiazoles, thiazolo[4,5-b]- and thiazolo[5,4-b]-pyridines and benzo[d]oxazoles. The latter were condensed with substituted 4-phenylthiazol-2-amines to furnish twenty seven new polyaromatic carboximidamides in moderate to good yields.     

Rational multistep synthesis of a novel polyfunctionalized benzo[d]thiazole and its thiazolo[5,4-b]pyridine analogue

Reliable synthetic routes were studied for an access to a novel polyfunctionalized 6-amino-2-cyanobenzo[d]thiazole-5-carboxylate ester (1) and its analogue 5-amino-2-cyanothiazolo[5,4-b]pyridine-6-carboxylate ester (2). Both compounds 1 and 2 are functionalized as molecular bricks for the synthesis of innovative molecular systems. Part of the chemistry performed in this study was achieved under microwave irradiation.     

Direct synthesis of oxazolidin-2-ones from tert-butyl allylcarbamate via halo-induced cyclisation

A novel synthetic pathway towards the 2-oxazolidinone derivatives involving the halo-induced cyclisation of tert-butyl allyl(phenyl)carbamate was successfully developed. Various halogenating reagents were evaluated under different reaction conditions for the reaction optimisation. Interestingly, the synthetic route to 2-oxazolidinone derivatives containing one halogen atom in the aliphatic site or two halogen atoms including the extra halogen atom substituted in the aryl group at the para position, were thoroughly established for all chloro-, bromo- and iodo compounds. Either halo-unsubstituted-aryl oxazolidinone or p-halo-substituted-aryl oxazolidinone could be selectively produced by selecting the appropriate choices of halogenated reagents and reaction conditions e.g. reaction time and temperature. Toloxatone, a commercial antidepressant, was successfully synthesized by using this developed method.     

Stereoselective syntheses of (−)-tetrahydrolipstatin via Prins cyclisations

Stereoselective syntheses of (−)-tetrahydrolipstatin have been achieved via two divergent approaches through Prins cyclisations as the key steps. PCC mediated oxidative cleavage, Frater alkylation, Keck allylation, Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and allylic cleavage were the other key steps employed.     

A biomimetic type expedient approach to the tricyclic core of xyloketals. Application to a short, stereocontrolled synthesis of alboatrin and a remarkable epi to natural isomerisation

An expedient synthesis of the linear tetrahydrofurano benzopyran ring system of xyloketals is described involving an ortho ester Claisen rearrangement and an intramolecular cationic cyclisation. This strategy was applied for a short, stereocontrolled and high yield synthesis of the phytotoxic metabolite alboatrin.     

Bu3SnH-mediated radical cyclisation onto azoles

Alkyl radicals have been cyclised onto pyrroles, imidazoles and pyrazoles, and acyl radicals cyclised onto pyrroles, using Bu₃SnH-, (TMS)₃SiH- and Bu₃GeH-mediated aromatic homolytic substitution for the synthesis of bicyclic N-heterocycles. The reactions yield intermediate π-radicals that lose hydrogen in the rearomatisation step of the aromatic homolytic substitution. Mechanistic studies of these rearomatisation steps indicate aromatic homolytic substitution in which the initiator or breakdown products from the inhibitor are responsible for the H-abstraction step.     

Lithium-liquid ammonia mediated carbocyclisation of δ,ε-unsaturated esters: annulation of cyclopentanones

Lithium-liquid ammonia mediated carbanion cyclisation of δ,ε-unsaturated esters leading to cyclopentanes, fused as well as spiro, via annulation is described.