N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions: a facile synthesis of 3,5-di- and 3,4,5-trisubstituted isoxazoles

A first example of organo-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed click-type fast 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides with alkynes was developed for the regioselective synthesis of 3,5-di- and 3,4,5-trisubstituted isoxazoles. Triethylamine (Et(3)N) was employed as an effective base to generate both nitrile oxide and the organo-NHC catalyst in situ. This catalytic approach was used to attach a variety of substituents, including other biologically active fragments, onto the isoxazole ring to selectively design multinucleus structures. Further, we have also optimized the conditions for Cu(I)-free Sonogashira cross-coupling to obtain internal alkynes in high yields, which were subsequently used in cycloaddition. A catalytic cycle is proposed and the remarkable regiocontrol in the formation of isoxazoles was ascribed to a beneficial zwitterion intermediate developed by the interaction of the strongly nucleophilic organo-NHC catalyst with alkyne followed by nitrile oxide.