Selective construction of carbocyclic eight-membered rings by ring-closing metathesis of acyclic precursors

Although the efficient preparation of cyclooctanoids has remained a long-standing objective, a real breakthrough was possible only relatively recently with the development of more specific reagents and by the development of new reactions. The direct construction of carbocyclic eight-membered rings from acyclic precursors is still a challenge, mainly because of unfavorable entropic and enthalpic factors that preclude ring formation. This Minireview describes the utilization of ring-closing metathesis (RCM) as a new approach to synthesize cyclooctanoids.     

Tandem Double‐Michael‐Addition/Cyclization/Acyl Migration of 1,4‐Dien‐3‐ones and Ethyl Isocyanoacetate: Stereoselective Synthesis of Pyrrolizidines

Up to four adjacent stereocenters can be formed stereoselectively in the construction of a pyrrolizidine unit through a novel organocatalytic reaction that involves treatment of various dienones with ethyl isocyanoacetate (see scheme; DBU=1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene). Mechanisms for this atom‐economic, one‐pot synthesis have been proposed.

     

Reaction of Nitro-Substituted Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes with Pyrazoles in DMSO: Unexpected Formation of Tandem Kornblum-Type Ring-Opening Oxidation/Aza-Michael Addition Products

The ring-opening reaction of nitro-substituted donor-acceptor cyclopropanes with pyrazoles in DMSO was investigated. Unexpectedly, the cyclopropanes underwent Kornblum-type ring-opening oxidation with DMSO to form aroylmethylidene malonates as intermediates in the reactions. The intermediates further underwent aza-Michael addition with pyrazoles in tandem manner to give the corresponding aza-Michael adducts. The highlights of the methodology include the occurrence of ring-opening/oxidation under neutral conditions with DMSO and formation of aza-Michael adducts with pyrazoles under catalyst-free conditions.     

Pd-Catalyzed Regioselective Domino C−C Bond Formation to Access N-Fused Benzimidazo-Indolo-Isoquinoline Heterocycles

Regioselective synthesis of N-fused benzimidazo-indolo-isoquinoline heterocycles via Pd-catalyzed domino coupling reaction of 1-(1-methyl-1H-indol-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazoles and aryl halides was developed. This one pot methodology proceeded via a five-member carbopalladacycle intermediate and provided direct and facile route to access structurally complex polyheterocycles in moderate to good yields. These unique hybrid molecules resembled structural similarity with naturally isolated alkaloids. Notably, the present domino process occurred through activation of three C−H bonds and the simultaneous formation of two new C−C bonds in one-shot. These molecules exhibited strong solid and solution phase fluorescence and their emission spectra in both the medium are reported here.     

Acidic Deep Eutectic Solvents as Active Media for Sustainable Synthesis of Biindoles Starting from 2,2’-Diaminotolanes and Aldehydes

We describe an alternative and more sustainable method for the synthesis of 2,2’-disubstituted 3,3’-biindoles starting from 2,2’-diaminotolanes and (hetero)arylaldehydes. The key feature of the approach is the use of an acidic Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) able to exploit a double activity, i. e., solvent and Brønsted Acid (BA) catalyst, avoiding the use of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as solvents and additional acid catalysts. By this way, we synthesized twenty-five biindoles, including eighteen new compounds. The reactions run quickly under mild conditions by microwave heating at 70 °C, with yields ranging from good to very good. The reaction scope is rather broad. The medium demonstrated to be reusable at least five times with only a slight reduction in yields. Based on experimental evidence and previous literature findings, a plausible mechanism is proposed.     

Mechanistic Studies on the Bidentate Lewis Acid Catalyzed Domino Inverse Electron-Demand Diels-Alder/Thiol Transfer Reaction

Recently, we presented a novel enantioselective multicomponent reaction of phthalazines, aldehydes and thiols accessing thioether-substituted 1,2-dihydronaphthalenes. Herein, a comprehensive investigation on the mechanism of this domino inverse electron-demand (IEDDA)/thiol transfer reaction is disclosed. In particular, the origin of the stereochemical outcome has been rationalized, as well as structural requirement of the thiol component for an efficient transfer step. Detailed NMR spectroscopy studies uncover a competing reaction pathway resulting in N,S-acetals. In addition, DFT computations illuminate the mechanism of the group transfer process and enable an explanation for the formation of the most dominant by-product. The insights allow a direct prediction of suitable substrates for the reaction and provide the basis for further developments of novel stereoselective domino reactions.