InBr3-Promoted Divergent Approach to Polysubstituted Indoles and Quinolines from 2-Ethynylanilines: Switch from an Intramolecular Cyclization to an Intermolecular Dimerization by a Type of Terminal Substituent Group

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 3-nitroindoles from N-aryl enamines via intramolecular arene-alkene coupling

A variety of N-aryl β-nitroenamines were effectively transformed into 3-nitroindoles in good yields and with complete regioselectivity via a rapid microwave (μW) assisted intramolecular arene-alkene coupling reaction. This report further demonstrates the versatility of this method by constructing 3-carboalkoxy- and 3-cyanoindoles. Optimization data, substrate scope, and applications are discussed.

Studies toward the unique pederin family member psymberin: full structure elucidation, two alternative total syntheses, and analogs

Two synthetic approaches to psymberin have been accomplished. A highly convergent first generation synthesis led to the complete stereochemical assignment and demonstrated that psymberin and irciniastatin A are identical compounds. This synthesis featured a diastereoselective aldol coupling between the aryl fragment and a central tetrahydropyran core and a novel one-pot procedure to convert an amide, via intermediacy of a sensitive methyl imidate, to the N-acyl aminal reminiscent of psymberin. The highlights of the second generation synthesis include an efficient iridium-catalyzed enantioselective bisallylation of neopentyl glycol and a stepwise Sonogashira coupling/cycloisomerization/reduction sequence to construct the dihydroisocoumarin unit. The two synthetic avenues were achieved in 17-18 steps (longest linear sequence, ~14-15 isolations) from 3 fragments prepared in 7-8 (first generation) and 3-8 (second generation) steps each. This convergent approach allowed for the preparation of sufficient amounts of psymberin (~ 0.5 g) for follow-up biological studies. Meanwhile, our highly flexible strategy enabled the design and synthesis of multiple analogs, including a psymberin-pederin hybrid, termed psympederin, that proved crucial to a comprehensive understanding of the chemical biology of psymberin and related compounds that will be described in a subsequent manuscript.

One-pot phosphine-catalyzed syntheses of quinolines

In this study we developed an efficient one-pot procedure for the preparation of 3-substituted and 3,4-disubstituted quinolines from stable starting materials (activated acetylenes reacting with o-tosylamidobenzaldehydes and o-tosylamidophenones, respectively) under mild conditions. The reaction appears to operate under a general base catalysis mechanism, instigated by the β-phosphonium enoate α-vinyl anion generated in situ through nucleophilic addition of PPh(3) to the activated alkyne. Michael addition of the deprotonated tosylamides to the activated alkynes and subsequent rapid aldol cyclization led to the formation of labile N-tosyldihydroquinoline intermediates. Driven by aromatization, detosylation of the dihydroquinoline intermediates occurred readily in the presence of dilute aqueous HCl to give the final quinoline products.

Ready synthesis of free N-H 2-arylindoles via the copper-catalyzed amination of 2-bromo-arylacetylenes with aqueous ammonia and sequential intramolecular cyclization

A wide range of free N-H 2-arylindoles were synthesised via the copper(II)-catalyzed amination of 2-bromo-arylacetylenes with aqueous ammonia and sequential intramolecular cyclization. The convenience and atom economy of aqueous ammonia, and the low cost of the copper catalytic system make this protocol readily superior in practical application.

5-Chloro-3-[(E)-1,2-diphenylethenyl]-1H-indole

In the title compound, C₂₂H₁₆ClN, the pyrrole system makes a dihedral angle of 68.9 (1)° with the plane of phenyl ring at the ethenyl 1-position. An intra­molecular C—H⋯π inter­action is observed. In the crystal, inter­molecular C—H⋯π inter­actions link the mol­ecules into infinite chains running along the b axis.