Multicomponent [5 + 2] cycloaddition reaction for the synthesis of 1,4-diazepines: isolation and reactivity of azomethine ylides

Pd-Catalyzed C(sp2)-H Imidoylative Annulation: A General Approach To Construct Dibenzoox(di)azepines

A general method to construct the scaffolds of dibenzooxazepine and dibenzodiazepine, through Pd-catalyzed isocyanide insertion and intramolecular C(sp²)-H activation, has been developed. This is the first example of seven-membered heterocycle formation by C-H imidoylative annulation.

Catalytic asymmetric cycloaddition reactions of enoldiazo compounds

This review describes catalytic asymmetric cycloaddition reactions of silyl-protected enoldiazo compounds for the construction of highly functionalized carbo- and heterocycles which possess one or more chiral center(s). The enoldiazo compound or its derivative, donor-acceptor cyclopropene, form electrophilic vinylogous metal carbene intermediates that combine stepwise with nucleophilic dipolar reactants to form products from [3 + 1]-, [3 + 2]-, [3 + 3]-, [3 + 4]-, and [3 + 5]-cycloaddition, generally in high yield and with exceptional stereocontrol and regioselectivity.

Diastereoselective access to 2-aminoindanonesviathe rhodium(ii)-catalyzed tandem reaction involving O–H insertion and Michael addition

A rhodium(ii)-catalyzed tandem reaction involving O–H insertion ofN-sulfonyl 1,2,3-triazoles and Michael addition has been described. A series of 2-amino-1-indanones were afforded in acceptable to good yields with high diastereoselectivities.

Recent development on the [5+2] cycloadditions and their application in natural product synthesis

The recent developments on the [5+2] cycloadditions and their application in the synthesis of complex natural products are discussed.

Rhodium(ii)-catalyzed annulation of N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles with 1,3,5-triazinanes to produce octahydro-1H-purine derivatives: a combined experimental and computational study

The Rh(ii)-catalyzed annulation of N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles with 1,3,5-triazinanes leading to the octahydro-1H-purine derivatives with moderate to good yields is described in this communication.

Ring-opening formal hetero-[5+2] cycloaddition of 1-tosyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrroles with terminal alkynes: entry to 1-tosyl-2,3-dihydro 2,3-dihydro-1H-azepines

Lewis acid-catalyzed formal hetero-[5+2] cycloaddition of 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrroles with alkynes through C(sp²)–N bond cleavage toward 2,3-dihydro-1H-azepines is described.

Rhodium(ii)-catalyzed divergent intramolecular tandem cyclization of N- or O-tethered cyclohexa-2,5-dienones with 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazole: synthesis of cyclopropa[cd]indole and benzofuran derivatives

A novel rhodium(ii)-catalyzed divergent intramolecular tandem cyclization of N- or O-tethered cyclohexa-2,5-dienones and 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazole is disclosed, affording cyclopropa[cd]indole and benzofuran derivatives in moderate to good yields.

Pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates as a useful class of sulfur-containing synthons: application to the synthesis of 2,5-dihydro-1,4,5-thiadiazepines

A class of air-stable, odorless, easy-to-handle, and readily available sulfur-containing synthons that react with 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes to afford 2,5-dihydro-1,4,5-thiadiazepines is described.

Nucleophilic Dearomatization of Activated Pyridines

Amongst nitrogen heterocycles of different ring sizes and oxidation statuses, dihydropyridines (DHP) occupy a prominent role due to their synthetic versatility and occurrence in medicinally relevant compounds. One of the most straightforward synthetic approaches to polysubstituted DHP derivatives is provided by nucleophilic dearomatization of readily assembled pyridines. In this article, we collect and summarize nucleophilic dearomatization reactions of - pyridines reported in the literature between 2010 and mid-2018, complementing and updating previous reviews published in the early 2010s dedicated to various aspects of pyridine chemistry. Since functionalization of the pyridine nitrogen, rendering a (transient) pyridinium ion, is usually required to render the pyridine nucleus sufficiently electrophilic to suffer the attack of a nucleophile, the material is organized according to the type of N-functionalization. A variety of nucleophilic species (organometallic reagents, enolates, heteroaromatics, umpoled aldehydes) can be productively engaged in pyridine dearomatization reactions, including catalytic asymmetric implementations, providing useful and efficient synthetic platforms to (enantioenriched) DHPs. Conversely, pyridine nitrogen functionalization can also lead to pyridinium ylides. These dipolar species can undergo a variety of dipolar cycloaddition reactions with electron-poor dipolarophiles, affording polycyclic frameworks and embedding a DHP moiety in their structures.

The Expanding Utility of Rhodium-Iminocarbenes: Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Natural Products and Related Scaffolds

Rhodium-iminocarbenes that are derived from N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles have become an important class of reactive species and useful intermediates in organic synthesis. Over the last several years, many practical and versatile approaches involving rhodium-iminocarbene intermediates to synthetically challenging molecules (scaffolds) have been developed. This Minireview mainly summarizes the recent advance of rhodium-iminocarbene involved reactions in the synthesis of natural products and their related scaffolds by the end of 2017. Several applications in important pharmaceuticals are documented as well.

Gold-catalyzed [5+2] cycloaddition of quinolinium zwitterions and allenamides as an efficient route to fused 1,4-diazepines

Herein, we demonstrate a new catalytic cycloaddition of quinolinium zwitterions involving a gold-bound allylic cation intermediate. This ligand-free higher-order cycloaddition efficiently affords a variety of fused 1,4-diazepine derivatives in a stereospecific manner at room temperature.

Polycyclic Indoline-Benzodiazepines through Electrophilic Additions of α-Imino Carbenes to Tröger Bases

Polycyclic indoline-benzodiazepines can be accessed through the intermolecular reaction of Tröger bases with N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles. Under RhII catalysis, α-imino carbenes are generated and a subsequent cascade of [1,2]-Stevens, Friedel-Crafts, Grob, and aminal formation reactions yield the polycyclic heterocycles as single isomers (d.r.>49:1, four stereocenters including two bridgehead N atoms). Further ring expansion by insertion of a second α-imino carbene leads to elaborated polycyclic 9-membered-ring triazonanes.

Catalyst-free [3 + 2] cyclization of dihydroisoquinoline imines and isatin-derived Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates via 1,5-electrocyclization: synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinoline-fused spirooxindoles

The incorporation of tetrahydroisoquinoline and spirooxindole frameworks has been achieved.

Understanding the chemoselectivities between carbonyl and hydroxyl groups in the Rh(ii)–azavinyl carbene involved reactions

Computational studies were carried out to understand the chemoselectivities between carbonyl and hydroxyl groups in the Rh(ii)–AVC involved reactions.

Accessing benzooxadiazepinesviaformal [4 + 3] cycloadditions of aza-o-quinone methides with nitrones

Seven membered N-heterocycles were constructed through a formal [4 + 3] cycloaddition of nitrones within situgenerated aza-o-quinone methides.

Divergent synthesis of N-heterocycles by Pd-catalyzed controllable cyclization of vinylethylene carbonates

Here, we report a palladium-catalyzed controllable cyclization of vinyl ethylene carbonates that proceeds through formal migration [2+3] and [5+2] cycloadditions, respectively, under mild conditions.

Facile synthesis of pyrroloindoles via a rhodium(ii)-catalyzed annulation of 3-benzylidene-indolin-2-ones and α-imino carbenes

A novel carbenoid strategy to construct pyrrole-fused indole alkaloids.

Cycloaddition reactions of enoldiazo compounds

Enoldiazo esters and amides have proven to be versatile reagents for cycloaddition reactions that allow highly efficient construction of various carbocycles and heterocycles. Their versatility is exemplified by (1) [2+n]-cycloadditions (n = 3, 4) by the enol silyl ether units of enoldiazo compounds with retention of the diazo functionality to furnish α-cyclic-α-diazo compounds that are themselves subject to further transformations of the diazo functional group; (2) [3+n]-cycloadditions (n = 1-5) by metallo-enolcarbenes formed by catalytic dinitrogen extrusion from enoldiazo compounds; (3) [2+n]-cycloadditions (n = 3, 4) by donor-acceptor cyclopropenes generated in situ from enoldiazo compounds that produce cyclopropane-fused ring systems. The role of dirhodium(ii) and the emergence of copper(i) catalysts are described, as are the different outcomes of reactions initiated with these catalysts. This comprehensive review on cycloaddition reactions of enoldiazo compounds, with emphasis on methodology development, mechanistic insight, and catalyst-controlled chemodivergence, aims to provide inspiration for future discoveries in the field and to catalyze the application of enoldiazo reagents by the wider synthetic community.

Synthesis of 6-Substituted Piperidin-3-ones via Rh(II)-Catalyzed Transannulation of N-Sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles with Electron-Rich Aromatic Nucleophiles

A highly diastereoselective rhodium(II)-catalyzed transannulation of aldehyde-tethered N-sulfonyl triazoles with electron-rich aromatic nucleophiles is reported for the first time to afford functionalized 6-substituted piperidin-3-ones. The reaction has a broad substrate scope including both aliphatic and aromatic N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles together with various aromatic nucleophiles. The addition of a catalytic amount of Lewis acid has proven to be crucial for the yield improvement. By employing this methodology, hardly accessible piperidin-3-ones bearing quaternary carbons could be obtained.

3,5-Diarylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines as Color-Tunable Fluorophores

A new protocol for the synthesis of color-tunable fluorescent 3,5-diarylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines has been achieved via palladium-catalyzed C-H amination of pyridinium zwitterions. Based on experimental results and computational analysis, we extracted a high correlation of photophysical properties with the theoretical concept and predicted emission wavelengths of 3,5-diarylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines. The emission wavelengths of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines increase as a function of the electron-withdrawing nature of the substituent on the C5-aryl group of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine as a result of inductive effects on the LUMO levels. Varying the substituent on the C3-aryl group imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine changes the HOMO levels. Combining these two sites, the HOMO and LUMO levels can be tuned fairly decoupled from each other. This conceptual trend is demonstrated across a series where the C3 and C5 positions were functionalized independently and then utilizes a combination strategy where both sites are used to prepare fluorophores with a large window of emission wavelengths. In view of the biological properties of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, the developed method provides an efficient approach for understanding and preparing strongly fluorescent bioprobes.

Scope of the Reactions of Indolyl- and Pyrrolyl-Tethered N-Sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles: Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Indole- and Pyrrole-Fused Polycyclic Compounds

An efficient synthesis of tetrahydrocarboline-type products and polycyclic spiroindolines has been achieved. The transformation proceeds via rhodium(II)-catalyzed intramolecular annulations of indolyl- and pyrrolyl-tethered N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles. The reaction could be tuned toward either the formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition or the C-H functionalization reaction depending on the electronic and structural features of the substrates, leading to the production of a variety of structurally related heterocyclic compounds.

A Rh(II)-catalyzed multicomponent reaction by trapping an α-amino enol intermediate in a traditional two-component reaction pathway

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) represent an ideal organic synthesis tool for the rapid construction of complex molecules due to their step and atom economy. Compared to two-component reactions, the development of new MCRs has been greatly limited during the 170 years since the first MCR was reported. Theoretically, the trapping of an active intermediate generated from two components by a third component could change the traditional two-component reaction pathway, leading to the discovery of MCRs. We report an example of the trapping of α-imino enols generated in situ from 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles via α-imino metal carbene species by vinylimine ions using C(2)-substituted indoles and paraformaldehyde as precursors in the presence of a rhodium(II) catalyst. The traditional enol-ketone transformation pathway was suspended by the trapping procedure and efficiently switched to an MCR pathway to produce α-amino-β-indole ketones in moderate to good yields. Unexpectedly, the resulting products and the theoretical density functional theory (DFT) calculation results indicated that the enolic carbon had a stronger nucleophilicity than the well-known traditional enamic carbon in the trapping process. The reaction mechanism was investigated using control experiments and detailed DFT calculations, and the synthetic application of the products was also illustrated. The developed strategy provides a mild and rapid access to α-amino-β-indole ketones and suggests a rationale for the discovery of MCRs by trapping an active intermediate with a third component in a traditional two-component reaction pathway.

Mechanism of the Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Münchnones: The Role of Ligands in N-Acyl Iminium Salt Carbonylation

The palladium-catalyzed carbonylative coupling of imines, acid chlorides, and dipolarophiles can provide efficient routes to prepare nitrogen-containing heterocycles. One challenge in developing this reaction, and in the creation of more active catalyst systems, is the lack of data on how this complex transformation proceeds. To address this, we report here the results of our mechanistic studies on this system, and in particular the formation of mesoionic münchnones. This includes the synthesis of key catalytic intermediates, model reactions, and kinetic studies that support the role of these compounds in catalysis. Together, these studies provide a clear picture of the impact of catalyst structure, ligands, and palladium nanoparticles on facilitating the carbonylation of in situ generated iminium salts, and suggest an avenue for the creation of more active catalyst systems.