Rhodium-Catalyzed [3 + 2] Annulation of Cyclic N-Acyl Ketimines with Activated Olefins: Anticancer Activity of Spiroisoindolinones

Rh(III)-Catalyzed C–H Bond Activation for the Construction of Heterocycles with sp3-Carbon Centers

Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H activation features mild reaction conditions, good functional group tolerance, high reaction efficiency, and regioselectivity. Recently, it has attracted tremendous attention and has been employed to synthesize various heterocycles, such as indoles, isoquinolines, isoquinolones, pyrroles, pyridines, and polyheterocycles, which are important privileged structures in biological molecules, natural products, and agrochemicals. In this short review, we attempt to present an overview of recent advances in Rh(III)-mediated C–H bond activation to generate diverse heterocyclic scaffolds with sp3 carbon centers.

Spiro[indene-1,4'-oxa-zolidinones] Synthesis via Rh(III)-Catalyzed Coupling of 4-Phenyl-1,3-oxazol-2(3H)-ones with Alkynes: A Redox-Neutral Approach

Transition-metal-catalyzed C-H activation synthesis of heterocyclic spiro[4,4]nonanes has persistently witnessed the use of additional stoichiometric transition-metal oxidant when employing C═C bond as the spiro ring closure site. Herein, we have addressed the issue by reporting a redox-neutral strategy for spiro[indene-1,4'-oxa-zolidinones] synthesis via Rh(III)-catalyzed coupling of 4-phenyl-1,3-oxazol-2(3H)-ones with alkynes. The synthesis features a broad substrate scope and high regiospecificity.

Rapid assembly of cyclopentene spiroisoindolinones via a rhodium-catalysed redox-neutral cascade reaction

A rhodium-catalysed redox-neutral cascade reaction starting from benzamides and cyclopropenones for the rapid assembly of cyclopentene spiroisoindolinones has been developed.

Regioselective C–H alkylation and alkenylation at the C5 position of 2-amino-1,4-naphthoquinones with maleimides under Rh(iii) catalysis

Rh(iii)-Catalyzed substituent enabled alkylation and alkenylation of 1,4-naphthoquinones with maleimides under acidic and basic conditions is described.

Catalyst and Additive-Free Diastereoselective 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Quinolinium Imides with Olefins, Maleimides, and Benzynes: Direct Access to Fused N,N'-Heterocycles with Promising Activity against a Drug-Resistant Malaria Parasite

A convenient and eco-friendly synthesis of various fused N-heterocyclic compounds through catalyst and additive-free 1,3 dipolar cycloadditions of quinolinium imides with olefins, maleimides, and benzynes in excellent yields and diastereoselectivities is reported. The thermally controlled diastereoselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between quinolinium imides and olefins provided cis-isomers at low temperature and trans-isomers at high temperature. A reaction between quinolinium imides with substituted maleimides gave four-ring-fused N-heterocyclic compounds in high yields as a single diastereomer. The aryne precursors also provided four-ring-fused N,N'-heterocyclic compounds in high yields. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity of selected molecules revealed that this class of molecules possesses potential for ongoing studies against malaria.

Direct Synthesis of 2‐Acyl Acridines Using Aldimines and Anthranils: Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Anti‐Inflammatory Activity

Rhodium (III)‐catalyzed C−H aminations of aldimines with anthranils followed by intramolecular cyclization are described. These transformations facilitate the efficient generation of 2‐acyl acridines, which are important motifs found in bioactive natural products and pharmaceuticals. All synthesized 2‐acyl acridines were first screened for cytotoxic activity against human renal carcinoma cells (CAKI‐1 and 786‐O) and human breast carcinoma cells (MCF‐7). Compound 3 z showed the most potent cytotoxic activity, which is stronger than that of doxorubicin against CAKI‐1 and 786‐O cells. In addition, compounds that exhibited potent cytotoxicities were selected for further in vitro anti‐inflammatory activity testing using interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced RAW264.7 cells. Notably, compounds (3 k, 3 n, 3 s and 3 x–3 z) were found to exhibit inhibitory activities that are about two‐ to three‐times more potent than that of the anti‐inflammatory drug dexamethasone.

Synthesis of (2 H)-Indazoles through Rh(III)-Catalyzed Annulation Reaction of Azobenzenes with Sulfoxonium Ylides

The rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H functionalization followed by intramolecular annulation reactions between azobenzenes and sulfoxonium ylides is described. This protocol leads to the efficient formation of 3-acyl (2 H)-indazoles with a range of substrate scope. A high level of chemoselectivity and functional group tolerance of this transformation were also observed.

Synthesis of TMPA Derivatives through Sequential Ir(III)-Catalyzed C-H Alkylation and Their Antidiabetic Evaluation

The synthesis and antidiabetic evaluation of ethyl 2-[2,3,4-trimethoxy-6-(1-octanoyl)phenyl]acetate (TMPA) and its structural analogs are described. The construction of TMPA derivatives has been successfully achieved in only two steps, which involve the iridium(III)-catalyzed α-alkylation of acetophenones with alcohols and the ketone-directed iridium(III)- or rhodium(III)-catalyzed redox-neutral C-H alkylation of α-alkylated acetophenones using Meldrum's diazo compounds. This synthetic protocol efficiently provides a range of TMPA derivatives with site selectivity and functional group compatibility. In addition, the site-selective demethylation of TMPA derivative affords the naturally occurring phomopsin C in good yield. Moreover, all synthetic compounds were screened for in vitro adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation using HepG2 cells. Furthermore, TMPA (5ac) and 5cd showing the most potent AMPK activation were treated for the in vivo antidiabetic experiment. Notably, our synthetic compound 5cd was found to display the powerful antidiabetic effect, stronger than that of metformin and TMPA (5ac).

Rhodium-Catalyzed Cyclization of O,ω-Unsaturated Alkoxyamines: Formation of Oxygen-Containing Heterocycles

O,ω-Unsaturated N-tosyl alkoxyamines undergo unexpected Rh^III -catalyzed intramolecular cyclization by oxyamination to produce oxygen-containing heterocycles. Mechanistic studies show that an aziridine intermediate seems to be responsible for the formation of the heterocycles, possibly via a Rh^V species.

Rhodium-catalyzed C7-alkylation of indolines with maleimides

A rhodium(iii)-catalyzed direct cross-coupling reaction of indolines with maleimides via C–H bond activation was developed.

Chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed enantioselective N-alkylation of indoles with in situ generated cyclic N-acyl ketimines

A chiral SPINOL derived phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric N-alkylation reaction of indoles with cyclic α-diaryl-substituted N-acyl imines, which are generated in situ from 3-aryl 3-hydroxyisoindo-linones, has been demonstrated.

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Diastereoselective Synthesis of 1‐Aminoindanes via C−H Activation

The rhodium(III)‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction between N‐sulfonyl aldimines and various olefins such as maleimides, fumarates, maleates, α,β‐unsaturated ketones, acrylate and nitroalkenes is described. This transformation efficiently leads to the diastereoselective synthesis of pharmacologically privileged 1‐aminoindane derivatives via the C−H alkylation followed by subsequent intramolecular cyclization. Notably, single diastereomers in all cases were observed, and the relative stereochemistry of products was confirmed by the X‐ray crystallographic data.

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Total Synthesis and Anti-inflammatory Evaluation of Penchinone A and Its Structural Analogues

The first total synthesis and biological evaluation of penchinone A and its structural analogues are described. The key steps for the preparation of penchinone A derivatives involve the oxime-directed palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative acylation, Claisen rearrangement, and base-mediated olefin migration. This transformation efficiently provides a range of allyl-substituted biaryl ketones with site-selectivity and functional group compatibility. In addition, all synthetic compounds were screened for anti-inflammatory activity against nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. Generally, a range of penchinone A derivatives potently inhibited NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 productions, compared to dexamethasone as a positive control. Notably, penchinone A (8g) and its derivatives (8e and 8f) were found to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity stronger than that of dexamethasone.

One‐pot Synthesis of Oxindoles through C−H Alkylation and Intramolecular Cyclization of Azobenzenes with Internal Olefins

The rhodium(III)‐catalyzed site‐selective C−H alkylation of azobenzenes and internal olefins, such as maleimides, maleates and fumarates, followed by reductive intramolecular cyclization is described. A cationic rhodium catalyst in the presence of acetic acid additive in dichloroethane solvent was found to be the optimal catalytic system for the construction of ortho‐alkylated azobenzenes, which smoothly underwent the intramolecular cyclization leading to the formation of C3‐functionalized oxindoles in the presence of zinc powder and acetic acid. The formed oxindole scaffold could be an important asset towards the development of novel bioactive compounds.

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