Radical Route for the Alkylation of Purine Nucleosides at C6 via Minisci Reaction

Silver-catalyzed C2-selective direct alkylation of heteroarenes with tertiary cycloalkanols

A silver-catalyzed regioselective C2-alkylation of heteroarenes with primary radicals produced by tertiary cycloalkanols was developed.

Photoredox-mediated Minisci C-H alkylation of N-heteroarenes using boronic acids and hypervalent iodine

A photoredox-mediated Minisci C-H alkylation reaction of N-heteroarenes with alkyl boronic acids is reported. A broad range of primary and secondary alkyl groups can be efficiently incorporated into various N-heteroarenes using [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 as photocatalyst and acetoxybenziodoxole as oxidant under mild conditions. The reaction exhibits excellent substrate scope and functional group tolerance, and offers a broadly applicable method for late-stage functionalization of complex substrates. Mechanistic experiments and computational studies suggest that an intramolecularly stabilized ortho-iodobenzoyloxy radical intermediate might play a key role in this reaction system.

Improved Synthesis of Cytidine Diphosphate Choline (CDP-Choline) Via Selective Phosphorylation

An improved, three-step synthesis of cytidine diphosphate choline (CDP-choline) from cytidine was achieved in 68% overall yield. Selective phosphorylation of cytidine was accomplished by the use of morpholinophosphodichloridate to give cytidine-5′-phosphomorpholide, which was condensed with choline phosphate chloride in the presence of a catalytic amount of H2SO4 to give CDP-choline. The intermediates and products could be efficiently purified by recrystallisation, thus avoiding the use of chromatography at all stages. The reaction could be scaled up to 200 g in 64% overall yield, making this route attractive for industrial application.

Synthesis of cycloalkyl substituted purine nucleosides via a metal-free radical route

An efficient route to synthesize cycloalkyl substituted purine nucleosides was developed. This metal-free C-H activation was accomplished by a tBuOOtBu initiated radical reaction. By adjusting the amount of tBuOOtBu and reaction time, the selective synthesis of C6-monocycloalkyl or C6,C8-dicycloalkyl substituted purine nucleosides could be realized. Furthermore, uracil and related nucleosides were also suitable substrates, giving the C5-cyclohexyl substituted uracil derivatives in good yields with excellent regioselectivities.

Direct α-heteroarylation of amides (α to nitrogen) and ethers through a benzaldehyde-mediated photoredox reaction

A photoredox reaction for cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) was developed to Cα-arylate amides (α to nitrogen) and ethers using a variety of five- and six-membered electron-deficient heteroarenes. A unique decomposition mechanism of ammonium persulfate enhanced by photoexcited benzaldehydes was revealed. This benzaldehyde-mediated photoredox reaction proceeded smoothly with household 23 W CFL bulbs as the energy source under metal-free conditions, allowing the construction of new Csp2 -Csp2 and Csp3 -Csp2 bonds and access to important pharmacophores of broad utility using commercially available reagents.

The Convenient Synthesis of Unsaturated Nucleoside Analogues in Water under Microwave Irradiation

A convenient method for the regioselective synthesis of unsaturated nucleoside analogs in water under microwave irradiation was developed. All pyrimidine and purine nucleoside derivatives were exclusively alkylated at N1 and N9 respectively in good to excellent yields. In addition, this system could tolerate a broad range of functional groups, such as chloro, bromo, iodo, alkyl, amino, and hydroxyl groups. More importantly, the reaction scale could be enlarged to 50 mmol which made this route attractive for industrial application.

Radical trideuteromethylation with deuterated dimethyl sulfoxide in the synthesis of heterocycles and labelled building blocks

A selective introduction of trideuteromethyl groups for the synthesis of labelled compounds under radical reaction conditions is demonstrated.

The Synthesis of 2,6-Diamino-9-ß-D-Arabinofuranosylpurine from Vidarabine by the Selective Nitration and Ammonolysis

A practical synthesis of 2,6-diamino-9-β-D-arabinofuranosylpurine from the commercially available vidarabine is reported. Treatment of fully protected vidarabine with 2,2,2-trifluoroacetic anhydride and tetrabutylammonium nitrate introduced a –NO2 group in the C2 position in high yield. 2,6-Diamino-9-β-D-arabinofuranosylpurine was synthesised in three steps and 61% total yield after ammonolysis of the –NO2 accompanied by removal of the benzoyl groups.

Efficient Synthesis of Cladribine via the Metal-Free Deoxygenation

The efficient synthesis of cladribine via the metal-free deoxygenation was developed. Using (Bu4N)2S2O8/HCO2Na instead of Bu3SnH/AIBN as deoxygenation system, cladribine could be obtained with good yield and even on tens of grams scales. The intermediates and product could be purified by simple work-up process and chromatography was avoided, which showed the good future for industrial applications.

Copper-catalyzed C–H alkylation of 8-aminoquinolines via 8-amide chelation assistance

A copper-catalyzed 8-amide chelation-assisted C–H alkylation of 8-aminoquinolines is described.

Fragmentation of structural units of lignin promoted by persulfate through selective C–C cleavage under mild conditions

A high selectivity and activity for the fragmentation of β-O-4 and β-1 lignin models to high-value chemicals were achieved by using persulfate.

Silver catalysed decarboxylative alkylation and acylation of pyrimidines in aqueous media

Decarboxylative alkylation or acylation reactions of simple pyrimidines have been developed in aqueous media.