Solvent-Free Heterocyclic Synthesis

The Bestmann-Ohira Reagent and Related Diazo Compounds for the Synthesis of Azaheterocycles

Azaheterocycles are one of the most prevalent classes of compounds present in numerous bioactive compounds, natural products, and agrochemicals, and undoubtedly, new methods to access them are always in high demand. Among the methods available, the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions involving diazo compounds are particularly attractive because of their ability to rapidly construct densely functionalized azaheterocycles in a regioselective manner. In this context, the Bestmann-Ohira reagent has become a well-known reagent for the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions to produce phosphonylated heterocycles, besides its widespread use as a homologating agent for the conversion of aldehydes to alkynes. This account details our efforts toward broadening the synthetic utility of the Bestmann-Ohira reagent and related compounds for the preparation of azaheterocycles such as pyrazoles, spirooxindoles, triazoles, triazolines, and spiropyrazolines, emphasizing on domino multicomponent reactions employing readily available feedstock reagents.

Solvent Free Three-Component Synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted-1H-pyrrol-3-ol-type Compounds from L-tryptophan: DFT-B3LYP Calculations for the Reaction Mechanism and 3H-pyrrol-3-one↔1H-pyrrol-3-ol Tautomeric Equilibrium

In this paper, we describe the solvent-free three-component synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted-1H-pyrrol-3-ol-type compounds from L-tryptophan. The first step of the synthetic methodology involved the esterification of L-tryptophan in excellent yields (93-98%). Equimolar mixtures of alkyl 2-aminoesters, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, and potassium hydroxide (0.1 eq.) were heated under solvent-free conditions. The title compounds were obtained in moderate to good yields (45%-81%). Density functional theory using "Becke, 3-parameter, Lee-Yang-Parr" correlational functional (DFT-B3LYP) calculations were performed to understand the molecular stability of the synthesized compounds and the tautomeric equilibrium from 3H-pyrrol-3-one type intermediates to 1H-pyrrol-3-ol type aromatized rings.

Phase Behavior That Enables Solvent-Free Carbonate-Promoted Furoate Carboxylation

Solvent-free chemistry has been used to streamline synthesis, reduce waste, and access novel reactivity, but the physical nature of the reaction medium in the absence of solvent is often poorly understood. Here we reveal the phase behavior that enables the solvent-free carboxylation reaction in which carbonate, furan-2-carboxylate (furoate), and CO₂ react to form furan-2,5-dicarboxylate (FDCA^2-). This transformation has no solution-phase analogue and can be applied to convert lignocellulose into performance-advantaged plastics. Using operando powder X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis to elucidate the temperature- and conversion-dependent phase composition, we find that the reaction medium is a heterogeneous mixture of a ternary eutectic molten phase, solid Cs₂CO₃, and solid Cs₂FDCA. During the reaction, the amounts of molten phase and solid Cs₂CO₃ diminish as solid Cs₂FDCA accumulates. These insights are critical for increasing the scale of furoate carboxylation and provide a framework for guiding the development of other solvent-free transformations.

Ruthenium-catalyzed, site-selective C-H activation: access to C5-substituted azaflavanone

A site-selective ruthenium-catalyzed keto group assisted C–H bond activation of 2-aryl tetrahydroquinoline (azaflavanone) derivatives has been achieved with a variety of alkenes for the first time. A wide range of substrates was utilized for the synthesis of a wide variety of alkenylated azaflavanones. This simple and efficient protocol provides the C5-substituted azaflavanone derivatives in high yields with a broad range of functional group tolerance. Further, the C5-alkenylated products were converted into substituted 2-aryl quinoline derivatives in good yields.

A site-selective ruthenium-catalyzed keto group assisted C–H bond activation of 2-aryl tetrahydroquinoline (azaflavanone) derivatives has been achieved with a variety of alkenes for the first time.

Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Cyclization of Aminodiazoesters with Aldehydes to 3-Carboxylate-N-Heterocycles

A Brønsted acid catalyzed cyclization of aminodiazoesters with aldehydes is described. This reaction features broad substrate generality and functional group compatibility, affording a wide range of 5-7-membered 3-carboxylate-N-heterocycles containing different functional groups. The title products are able to be further elaborated through simple functional group transformations to produce synthetically useful N-heterocycles.

tert-Butyl Bromide-Promoted Intramolecular Cyclization of 2-Arylamino Phenyl Ketones and Its Combination with Cu-Catalyzed C-N Coupling: Synthesis of Acridines at Room Temperature

Herein, a facile intramolecular cyclization of 2-arylamino phenyl ketones is established to supersede the traditional high-temperature, strongly acidic conditions and achieve 9-substituted acridines, by virtue of the combination of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol and tert-butyl bromide. This protocol can be merged well with the preceding Cu-catalyzed intermolecular Chan-Evans-Lam cross-coupling reactions, therefore enabling pot-economic modular synthesis of 9-substituted acridines from readily available 2-amino phenyl ketones and aryl boronic acids at room temperature.

Minimization of Amounts of Catalyst and Solvent in NHC-Catalyzed Benzoin Reactions of Solid Aldehydes: Mechanistic Consideration of Solid-to-Solid Conversion and Total Synthesis of Isodarparvinol B

Attempts were made to minimize the amounts of catalyst and solvent in the NHC-catalyzed benzoin reactions of solid aldehydes. In some case, solid-to-solid conversions proceeded in the solvent-free NHC-catalyzed benzoin reactions. Even if a mixture of the substrate, N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursor, and inorganic base was initially a powdery solid, the reaction did proceed at reaction temperature lower than the melting points of each compound. The solid mixture partially melted or became a slurry or suspension in the meantime. We call this solid/liquid mixture a semisolid state. The reaction giving an optically active product was faster than that giving a racemic mixture of the same product. Melting-point depression was observed for a series of mixtures of the substrate and product in different substrate/product ratios. Solvent-free solid-to-solid conversions were accelerated by the formation of a semisolid state resulting from the melting-point depression of the solid substrate accompanied by the product formation. In the case of solid substrates with high melting points, melting-point depression was useless, and the addition of a small amount of solvent was needed. The first total synthesis of isodarparvinol B was achieved via the NHC-catalyzed intramolecular benzoin reaction using a small amount of solvent as an additive.

Application of nitrogen-rich porous organic polymer for the solid-phase synthesis of 2-amino-4H-benzo[b]pyran scaffolds using ball milling process

This paper presents the efficient synthesis of 2-amino-4H-benzo[b]pyrans using mesoporous poly-melamine-formaldehyde as a polymeric heterogeneous catalyst. According to the principals of green chemistry, the reaction was performed by the planetary ball milling process at ambient and neat conditions. The heterogeneous catalyst could be reused up to five runs with no reducing of catalytic efficiency. A variety of substituted 2-amino-4H-benzo[b]pyrans were obtained in good to excellent yields under eco-friendly conditions. Other advantages of the current methodology include short reaction time, wide substrate-scope, and use of a metal-free polymeric catalyst. Also, the current method avoids the use of hazardous reagents and solvents, tedious workup and multi-step purification. This work revealed that porous organic polymers containing Lewis base sites having acceptor-donner hydrogen bonding functional groups, and high porosity could play a vital role in the promotion of the one-pot multicomponent reactions in the solid-phase synthesis.

Microwave-Assisted Protocol for Green Functionalization of Thiophenes With a Pd/β-Cyclodextrin Cross-Linked Nanocatalyst

Microwaves (MW) are often the most efficient, in terms of heat exchange and conversion rate, of all the energy sources used to promote chemical reactions thanks to fast volumetric dielectric heating, and metal-catalyzed synthetic reactions under heterogeneous conditions are an eloquent example. We herein report a MW-assisted green protocol for the C-H arylation of thiophenes with substituted aryl halides. This sustainable protocol carried out in γ-valerolactone (GVL) is catalyzed by Pd nanoparticles embedded in cross-linked β-cyclodextrin. In view of the excellent results achieved with activated substrates, the one-pot synthesis of a 4(3H)-quinazolinone derivative has been accomplished. A pressure-resistant MW reactor, equipped with multiple gas inlets, was used for sequential (i) C-H arylation, (ii) reduction, and (iii) carbonylation in the presence of the same catalyst, but under different gas atmospheres. The robust heterogeneous Pd catalyst showed limited metal leaching in GVL, making this an efficient MW-assisted process with high atom economy.

Green Method for the Synthetic Ugi Reaction by Twin Screw Extrusion without a Solvent and Catalyst

This study describes the solvent and catalyst-free Ugi reaction by way of twin screw extrusion (TSE). Multicomponent chemical synthesis can be converted into a single process without repeated use of solvents through TSE. High synthetic yields are achieved in short reaction times and produced in solvent-free conditions, which lead to a more environmentally friendly process.

Solvent-free synthesis of isoindolo[2,1-c]pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazoline and pyrazolo[5',1':2,3]pyrimido[6,1-a]isoindol derivatives through a one-pot three-component reaction

Some 5-substituted 3-aminopyrazoles were used for the synthesis of isoindolo[2,1-c]pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazoline and pyrazolo[5',1':2,3]pyrimido[6,1-a]isoindol derivatives via a mild and efficient one-pot three-component reaction with 2-formylbenzoic acid and different CH-acids under solvent-free condition.

Synthesis of a Novel Library of 1-Substituted Pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles

The reactivity and synthesis of new analogues of pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles have been explored. Twenty-three derivatives bearing phenoxy, thiophenoxy, aniline, and aryl groups at the 1-position were successfully synthesised in 25–91% yield, via nucleophilic substitution, Buchwald–Hartwig amination, and Suzuki coupling type processes. Solvent free synthetic protocols were employed to achieve the nucleophilic substitution of anilines with electron donating groups or moderately electron withdrawing groups on a sterically demanding intermediate (7a). An unusual polycyclic heterocycle was identified as a side-product during this work: a dimeric bis(pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole).

Thermal-mediated [1,3]-hydrogen transfer as the key step: access to oxindole-chromone hybrid collection with structural diversity

Inspired by the chemistry and biology of chromone and oxindole derivatives, herein we report the first example of thermal-mediated [1,3]-hydrogen transfer as the key step for the efficient synthesis of oxindole-chromone hybrid collections 2, which avoids additional catalyst and solvent conditions. All the oxindole-chromones 2 are smoothly obtained in >99% yields in all cases, avoiding column chromatography purification. In particular, the products 2 can act as potential synthons for further elaboration in structural diversity, which might be valuable in organic and medicinal chemistry.