Recent advances in the synthesis of pyrroles by multicomponent reactions

Cobalt(iii)-catalyzed synthesis of pyrroles from enamides and alkynes

An efficient and regioselective cobalt-catalyzed synthesis of multi-substituted pyrroles is reported by the use of readily available enamides and alkynes.

Synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted pyrroles via dehydrogenative condensation of secondary alcohols and 1,2-amino alcohols by supported platinum catalysts

2,5-Disubstituted pyrroles are synthesized by acceptorless dehydrogenative reaction of 1,2-aminoalcohols and secondary alcohols by Pt/carbon catalyst.

Reaction of 2H-Azirine-Phosphine Oxides and -Phosphonates with Enolates Derived from β-Keto Esters

Cyclopenta[b]-pyrrole-2-phosphine oxides 4a and -phosphonates 4b,c are generated by the addition of cyclic enolates derived from ethyl 2-oxo-cyclopentanecarboxylate 2 to phosphorated 2H-azirines 1. However, the addition of enolate derived from acyclic 2-oxo-butanoate 10 to 2H-azirine phosphine oxide 1 led to vinylogous N-acyl-α-aminoalkyl phosphine oxides 12, involving the carbonyl group and the Cα of the keto ester 10. Ring closure of vinylogous derivative 12 in the presence of base afforded pyrrole-2-phosphine oxide 11. The addition of enolates derived from indenone-carboxylate 15 to 2H-azirines 1 led to the formation of functionalized N-substituted 1H-benzo[d]azepine derivatives 17.

Coumarin heterocyclic derivatives: chemical synthesis and biological activity

This review highlights the broad range of science that has arisen from the synthesis of coumarin-linked and fused heterocycle derivatives. Specific topics include their synthesis and biological activity.

Zn(OTf)2 promoted rearrangement of 1,2-cyclopropanated sugars with amines: a convenient method for the synthesis of 3-polyhydroxyalkyl-substituted pyrrole derivatives

A rearrangement reaction of 1,2-cyclopropanated sugars with alkylamines or arylamines promoted by Zn(OTf)2 is described. The method offers a series of 3-polyhydroxyalkyl-substituted pyrrole derivatives with multiple chiral centers in moderate to excellent yields. The epimerization is achieved by inverting the stereochemistry at the free hydroxyl group of the resulting pyrrole, which would give access to many more possible stereoisomers.

Catalytic formal [2+2+1] synthesis of pyrroles from alkynes and diazenes via Ti(II)/Ti(IV) redox catalysis

Pyrroles are structurally important heterocycles. However, the synthesis of polysubstituted pyrroles is often challenging. Here, we report a multicomponent, Ti-catalysed formal [2+2+1] reaction of alkynes and diazenes for the oxidative synthesis of penta- and trisubstituted pyrroles: a nitrenoid analogue to classical Pauson-Khand-type syntheses of cyclopentenones. Given the scarcity of early transition-metal redox catalysis, preliminary mechanistic studies are presented. Initial stoichiometric and kinetic studies indicate that the mechanism of this reaction proceeds through a formally Ti(II)/Ti(IV) redox catalytic cycle, in which an azatitanacyclobutene intermediate, resulting from [2+2] alkyne + Ti imido coupling, undergoes a second alkyne insertion followed by reductive elimination to yield pyrrole and a Ti(II) species. The key component for catalytic turnover is the reoxidation of the Ti(II) species to a Ti(IV) imido via the disproportionation of an η(2)-diazene-Ti(II) complex.

Base-Catalyzed Selective Synthesis of 2-Azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-enes and Sulfonyl Vinyl-Substituted Pyrroles from 3-Aza-1,5-enynes

A base-catalyzed selective cycloisomerization of 3-aza-1,5-enynes is developed. This transformation provides a facile access to highly functionalized 2-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-enes and sulfonyl vinyl-substituted pyrroles. The chemoselectivity was controlled by the substituent pattern of the substrates.

Copper-catalyzed condensation of imines and α-diazo-β-dicarbonyl compounds: modular and regiocontrolled synthesis of multisubstituted pyrroles

The Cu-catalyzed condensation of ketimines and diazodicarbonyl compounds enables the rapid and regiocontrolled synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant multisubstituted pyrroles.

In the presence of a copper(ii) catalyst, enolizable imines bearing various N-substituents and α-diazo-β-ketoesters undergo denitrogenative and dehydrative condensation to afford highly substituted pyrroles in moderate to good yields with exclusive regioselectivity. The reaction likely involves nucleophilic addition of the imine nitrogen to a copper carbenoid, tautomerization of the resulting azomethine ylide to an α-enaminoketone, and a subsequent enamine–ketone cyclocondensation. With Yb(OTf)₃ as a unique cocatalyst, α-diazo-β-diketones also participate in the same condensation reaction. The present reaction is applicable to acyclic, exocyclic, and endocyclic imines with tolerance of a broad range of functional groups and heterocyclic moieties, thus opening a new convenient route for the synthesis of the lamellarin family of natural products.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Pyrrole-Based Spiro- and Polycyclic Derivatives by Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Dearomatization and Controllable Migration Reactions

The first highly diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of five-membered spiro-2H-pyrroles was achieved using an Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic dearomatization reaction. The spiro-2H-pyrrole derivatives readily undergo a controllable and stereospecific allylic migration under acid catalysis, providing polycyclic pyrrole derivatives in excellent yields and ee values. Additionally, the novel Ir-complex K1, derived from [Ir(cod)Cl]2 (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) and N-benzhydryl-N-phenyldinaphthophosphoramidite (BHPphos), showed excellent control of both diastereo- and enantioselectivities.

Synthesis of furans and pyrroles via migratory and double migratory cycloisomerization reactions of homopropargylic aldehydes and imines

A novel gold-catalyzed divergent sysnthesis of furans and pyrroles employing readily available homopropargylic aldehydes and imines have been developed. The regiochemical outcome of this reaction is dependent on the substituent on the terminal alkyne of substrate. Thus, substrates possessing alkyl and aryl substituent at the alkyne moiety produce 2,3,5-substituted furans and pyrroles via a migratory cycloisomerizaton reaction. Whereas, their silicon analogues are capable to undergo a double migratory process leading to 2,3,4-substituted heterocycles.

Gold-catalyzed allene cycloisomerization for pyrrole synthesis: towards highly fluorinated BODIPY dyes

A novel synthetic strategy toward highly fluorinated BODIPY dyes with exceptional photostabilities relying on sustainable gold catalysis has been developed. A key to the tailored pyrrole precursors is the gold catalysis performed in ionic liquids as the reaction medium, allowing a facile recycling of the catalysts. The dyes prepared are well-matching with the spectral windows of popular rhodamine dyes and possess high brightness while showing a distinctly higher photostability than the rhodamines especially in aprotic solvents.

Multicomponent Polymerization System Combining Hantzsch Reaction and Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer to Efficiently Synthesize Well-Defined Poly(1,4-dihydropyridine)s

A novel multicomponent system has been constructed through the combination of Hantzsch reaction and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in a one-pot manner. Compared to traditional stepwise methods, this one-pot system exhibits much more advantages to facilely and efficiently prepare well-defined poly(1,4-dihydropyridine)s (poly(1,4-DHP)s). A series of poly(1,4-DHP) derivatives have also been successfully prepared through this Hantzsch-RAFT system using different aldehydes as reactants, suggesting this system is a general and versatile approach to prepare well-defined functional polymers with 1,4-DHPs as side groups. Since 1,4-DHP derivatives are an important class of bioactive molecules in the pharmaceutical field, this simple method to prepare poly(1,4-DHP)s might have potential to prepare related functional polymers for biological and pharmaceutical applications.

Heterogeneous Fe-MIL-101 catalysts for efficient one-pot four-component coupling synthesis of highly substituted pyrroles

Fe-MIL-101 as efficient heterogeneous catalysts for four-component coupling synthesis of highly substituted pyrroles.

An efficient catalyst-free chemoselective multicomponent reaction for the synthesis of pyrimidine functionalized pyrrolo-annelated derivatives

An efficient catalyst-free, one-pot multicomponent reaction has been developed for the synthesis of pyrimidine functionalized pyrrolo-annelated derivatives. The method offers easy and column free separation, mild reaction conditions and high yields.

Domino transformation of isoxazoles to 2,4-dicarbonylpyrroles under Fe/Ni relay catalysis

The domino reaction of 5-alkoxy- or 5-aminoisoxazoles, under metal relay catalysis, with symmetric 1,3-diketones gives 4-acylpyrrole-2-carboxylic acid derivatives in high yield.

Organocatalytic multicomponent synthesis of polysubstituted pyrroles from 1,2-diones, aldehydes and arylamines

We have developed an organocatalyzed three-component reaction of 1,2-diones, aldehydes and arylamines, which provides an efficient approach to access polysubstituted pyrroles.

In situ generation and protonation of the isocyanide/acetylene adduct: a powerful catalyst-free strategy for multicomponent synthesis of ketenimines, aza-dienes, and heterocycles

In addition to isocyanide-based Ugi, Passerini, van Leusen, and Orru multicomponent reactions, a new class of isocyanide/acetylene-based multicomponent reactions, using zwitterionic adducts, have emerged as powerful methods to synthesize biologically interesting molecules.

Metal-free domino one-pot protocols for quinoline synthesis

Metal-free domino one-pot protocols for quinoline synthesis have been reviewed.

Meglumine catalyzed one-pot, three-component combinatorial synthesis of pyrazoles bearing a coumarin unit

Meglumine has been found to be an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of pyrazolylcoumarins by one-pot three-component reaction of salicylaldehyde, 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one, and hydrazine.

Step economical synthesis of o-aryl benzamides via C–H activation relayed by the in situ installation of directing group: a multicomponent method

Multicomponent reactions have been successfully applied as a platform for the step economical C–H activation based synthesis wherein the in situ installation of directing group and the subsequent C–H arylation have been achieved in one-step.

Pyrrole: a resourceful small molecule in key medicinal hetero-aromatics

Pyrrole is widely known as a biologically active scaffold which possesses a diverse nature of activities.

Expedient, catalyst-free, three-component synthesis of fused tetrahydropyridines in water

An expedient, three-component synthesis of oxazolo[3,2-a]pyridines and pyrido[2,1-b][1,3]oxazines was achieved under catalyst-free conditions in water.

A multicomponent pathway-inspired regioselective synthesis of 2,3,4-trisubstituted 1H-pyrroles via [3+2] cycloaddition reaction

An operationally simple, functional group tolerant and highly efficient domino protocol for the synthesis of pyrroles has been developed.