A novel thermal rearrangement of allenic imidothioates. Formation of iminocyclobutenes

Allenic imidothioates, H₂CCC(Ph)C(SMe)NR (R = Me, t-Bu, Ph) have been obtained in good yields by reaction of 1,3-dilithiated 1-(2-propynyl)benzene with isothiocyanates and successive addition of t-butyl alcohol and methyl iodide. Heating the imidothioates at ∼120 °C gave an iminocyclobutene as the only isolated product (if R = t-Bu), a ∼4:6 mixture of a 2,3-dihydropyridine and an iminocyclobutene (if R = Me) or a 3:1 mixture of a quinoline and an iminocyclobutene (if R = Ph).     

Synthesis of benz[5,6]azepino[4,3-b]indoles by 1,7-electrocyclisation of azomethine ylides

A new, general route to the benz[5,6]azepino[4,3-b]indole ring system has been developed via the 1,7-dipolar electrocyclisation reactions of azomethine ylides derived from easily available 3-formyl indole derivatives. The intermediacy of azomethine ylides was shown by the trapping of the proposed α,β:γ,δ-conjugated dipole with N-phenylmaleimide.     

Total synthesis of cyercene A and the biomimetic synthesis of (±)-9,10-deoxytridachione and (±)-ocellapyrone A

This paper summarises our detailed study towards the biomimetic synthesis of the complex polypropionate derived natural product (±)-9,10-deoxytridachione. A previous study based on the elaboration of functionalised γ-pyrones allowed us to synthesise cyercene A. The same efficient methodology has been applied for the elaboration of a more complex fully conjugated γ-pyrone polyene. Our approach centred on a key tandem Suzuki-coupling/electrocyclisation reaction, which supports a possible biosynthetic pathway for this class of natural products. A related compound was obtained during our studies, which we identified as the correct structure of ocellapyrone A.     

Synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolines by 1,5-electrocyclisation of non-stabilised azomethine ylides

A new route to the pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline ring system has been developed via the 1,5-dipolar electrocyclisation reactions of azomethine ylides derived from easily available 3-formylquinoline derivatives. The intermediacy of azomethine ylides was shown by the trapping of the proposed dipoles with N-phenylmaleimide.     

Efficient one-pot synthesis of anti-HIV and anti-tumour β-carbolines

Thermal electrocyclisation of the azahexatriene system has been used as a key step for the synthesis of anti-HIV and anti-tumour compounds, harman, derivatives of harman and 1-aryl-β-carbolines. A one-pot reaction sequence was used to furnish these compounds in good yield.