Employing Arynes in Diels-Alder Reactions and Transition-Metal-Free Multicomponent Coupling and Arylation Reactions

Alder-ene reactions driven by high steric strain and bond angle distortion to form benzocyclobutenes

A unique aryne-based Alder-ene reaction to form benzocyclobutene is described.

A unique aryne-based Alder-ene reaction to form benzocyclobutene is described. In this process, the thermodynamic barrier to form a four-membered ring is compensated by the relief of the strain energy of an aryne intermediate. On the other hand, the driving force to overcome the high kinetic barrier is provided by the gearing effect of the bulky substituent at the ortho-position of the ene-donor alkene. To maximize the steric strain by the ortho-substituent, a structural element for internal hydrogen bonding is installed, which plays a crucial role for both the hexadehydro Diels–Alder and the Alder-ene reactions. DFT calculations show that the bulky hydrogen bonding element lowers the activation barrier for the Alder-ene reaction by destabilizing the intermediate, which is due to the severe bond angle distortion. The preferred formation of cis-isomers can also be explained by the extent of bond angle distortion.

Transition-Metal-Free Thioamination of Arynes Using Sulfenamides

The insertion of arynes into the S-N σ-bond of sulfenamides allowing the synthesis of o-sulfanylaniline derivatives with reasonable functional group compatibility is presented. The aryne generated from 2-(trimethylsilyl)aryl triflates using CsF in DME was the key for the success of this transition-metal-free thioamination reaction, which involves new C-N and C-S bond formations in a single step under mild conditions. Moreover, the synthetic potential of this method was demonstrated by the synthesis of the antidepressant drug vortioxetine.

Arylpyridines, arylpyrimidines and related compounds as potential modulator agents of the VEGF, hTERT and c-Myc oncogenes

Twenty-four derivatives structurally related to honokiol have been synthesized and biologically evaluated. IC₅₀ values were determined towards the HT-29, MCF-7 and HEK-293 cell lines. Some of these derivatives exhibited comparable or lower IC₅₀ values than honokiol towards the HT-29 and MCF-7 cell lines or else higher selectivity indexes than the natural product. Twelve selected derivatives were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the expression of the VEGFA, hTERT and c-Myc genes and also to inhibit the production of total c-Myc protein and the secretion of the VEGF protein. One of the most promising compounds, 3-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)pyridine, may be a good candidate for further studies as an anticancer agent as it is able to improve the effect shown by honokiol in downregulating all gene expression and protein production at a safe concentration for non-tumor cells.

Synthesis of dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptanoids via aryne insertion into 2-arylidene-1,3-indandiones

A cascade synthetic strategy for the direct synthesis of dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptanoids and dibenz[a,c]anthracene-9,14-dione derivatives from aryne precursors has been developed.

The aryne Sommelet–Hauser rearrangement

An aryne induced transition-metal-free and mild Sommelet–Hauser rearrangement of tertiary benzylamines for the synthesis of α-aryl amino acid derivatives in moderate to good yields and with broad substrate scope is presented.

A cascade process for the synthesis of ortho-formyl allyl aryl ethers and 2H-chromen-2-ol derivatives from arynes via trapping of o-quinone methide with an activated alkene

A transition-metal free synthetic strategy for the direct synthesis of ortho-formyl substituted allyl aryl ethers and 2H-chromen-2-ol derivatives via a cascade three-component coupling of arynes, activated alkene and N,N-dimethylformamide.

Synthesis of blue-red emissive amido-substituted di(het)aryl and tri(het)aryl amine derivatives via chemoselective N-mono and N,N-diarylation of (het) aryl amino amides using benzyne/arynes

Chemoselective synthesis of amide-substituted triaryl and diaryl amines by N-mono and N,N-diarylation of (het)aryl amino amides using arynes has been reported. Selected triarylamines showed blue-red emission.

Direct bromocarboxylation of arynes using allyl bromides and carbon dioxide

An unprecedented multicomponent reaction involving arynes, allyl bromides, and CO₂ has been developed to construct various allyl o-bromobenzoate scaffolds.

Sequential cycloaddition and ring expansion reaction of arynes and methylenebenzothiopheneones: synthesis of a benzo-fused eight-membered ring via sulfonium ylides

Efficient construction of benzo-fused eight-membered ring containing sulfur. New reaction profile with sulfonium ylides.

Palladium-catalyzed annulation of N-alkoxy benzsulfonamides with arynes by C–H functionalization: access to dibenzosultams

Palladium-catalyzed C–H/N–H functionalization of N-alkoxy benzsulfonamides with arynes provides dibenzosultams via C–C/C–N bond formation, accompanied by an unexpected N–O bond cleavage.

Direct methylation and carbonylation of in situ generated arynes via HDDA-Wittig coupling

A high-efficiency HDDA-Wittig coupling strategy for synthesis of fully functionalized benzenes is reported. Direct methylation and carbonylation of aryne intermediates reacted with phosphorus ylides to form the carbonylated 2,3-dihydro-1H-indenes.

Synthesis of Arenesulfonyl Fluorides via Sulfuryl Fluoride Incorporation from Arynes

Transition-metal-free multicomponent reactions involving aryne precursors, secondary amines, and sulfuryl fluoride are reported herein. Zwitterionic intermediates formed from the reaction of arynes with amine nucleophiles can capture SO₂F₂ under mild conditions, offering a novel and practical protocol for the synthesis of 2-dialkyl-, 2-alkylaryl-, or 2-diarylamino-substituted arenesulfonyl fluoride derivatives in good to excellent yields.

The mechanism of the triple aryne-tetrazine reaction cascade: theory and experiment

This article describes an experimental and computational investigation on the possible aryne reactivity modes in the course of the reaction of two highly energetic molecules, an aryne and a 1,2,4,5-tetrazine. Beyond the triple aryne-tetrazine (TAT) reaction, it was observed that combinations of several reactivity modes afford several heterocyclic compounds. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations of competition between a second Diels-Alder reaction and the nucleophilic addition pathways indicates the latter to be more favorable. Crossover experiments and computational study of the proton transfer step reveal that the reaction proceeds intermolecularly with the assistance of a water molecule, rather than intramolecularly. The resulting enamine intermediate was found to undergo either a stepwise formal [2 + 2] or [4 + 2] cycloaddition, and their energetic profiles were compared against each other. Isolation of an ene-product and a rearranged product shows the potential competition with oxidation/desaturation. These studies show how multiple arynes react with a highly reactive starting material and provide guidance for future applications of aryne-based multicomponent cascade reactions.

A facile route to 1H- and 2H-indazoles from readily accessible acyl hydrazides by exploiting a novel aryne-based molecular rearrangement

Herein we report the transformation of readily synthesised acyl hydrazides into 2-hydrazobenzophenones via a novel molecular rearrangement pathway using aryne chemistry. The developed reaction protocol is performed under relatively mild conditions and is tolerant of a wide variety of functional groups, and the 2-hydrazobenzophenone products provide access to both 1H- and 2H-indazoles from a single intermediate.

Transition-Metal-Free Activation of Amide Bond by Arynes

Highly reactive arynes activate the N–C and C=O bonds of amide groups under transition metal-free conditions. This review highlights the insertion of arynes into the N–C and C=O bonds of the amide group. The insertion of arynes into the N–C bond gives the unstable four-membered ring intermediates, which are easily converted into ortho-disubstituted arenes. On the other hand, the selective insertion of arynes into the C=O bond is observed when the sterically less-hindered formamides are employed to give a reactive transient intermediate. Therefore, the trapping reactions of transient intermediates with a variety of reactants lead to the formation of oxygen atom-containing heterocycles. As relative functional groups are activated, the reactions of arynes with sulfinamides, phosphoryl amides, cyanamides, sulfonamides, thioureas, and vinylogous amides are also summarized.

Tandem Diels-Alder/oxidation-aromatization reactions involving 2-styrylchromones and arynes

Transition-metal-free Diels-Alder and tandem Diels-Alder/oxidation-aromatization reactions of 2-styrylchromones with arynes have been demonstrated under mild reaction conditions with a wide range of substrates. The tandem process afforded functionalized benzo[c]xanthone derivatives in moderate to good yields. This efficient protocol allows rapid access to either dihydrobenzo[c]xanthone and benzo[c]xanthone derivatives selectively by simply changing the atmosphere of the reaction.

Transition-Metal-Free Cyclization of Propargylic Alcohols with Aryne: Synthesis of 3-Benzofuranyl-2-oxindole and 3-Spirooxindole Benzofuran Derivatives ⊥

An unprecedented base-mediated cyclization of propargylic alcohols with aryne is reported, providing a novel method for the synthesis of 3-benzofuranyl-2-oxindole and 3-spirooxindole benzofuran scaffolds via a propargyl Claisen rearrangement/cycloaddition pathway. The nature of the substituent on acetylene group of propargylic alcohol influences the outcome of the reaction. The protocol offers a transition-metal-free and operationally simple methodology with broad substrate scope as a ready access to complex oxindole-linked heterocyclic compounds.

An aryne triggered ring-opening fluorination of cyclic thioethers with potassium fluoride

Herein, we report an aryne triggered ring-opening fluorination protocol of a great variety of saturated sulfur heterocycles. A key factor for the success is the identification of a suitable mediator. Compared to previous methods, this transition-metal free protocol employs low-cost potassium fluoride as the fluorine source. The operational simplicity and mild reaction conditions allow for the rapid synthesis of a wide range of aliphatic fluoride compounds in good yields.

Arynes and Cyclic Alkynes as Synthetic Building Blocks for Stereodefined Quaternary Centers

We report a facile method to synthesize stereodefined quaternary centers from reactions of arynes and related strained intermediates using β-ketoester-derived substrates. The conversion of β-ketoesters to chiral enamines is followed by reaction with in situ generated strained arynes or cyclic alkynes. Hydrolytic workup provides the arylated or alkenylated products in enantiomeric excesses as high as 96%. We also describe the one-pot conversion of a β-ketoester substrate to the corresponding enantioenriched α-arylated product. Computations show how chirality is transferred from the N-bound chiral auxiliary to the final products. These are the first theoretical studies of aryne trapping by chiral nucleophiles to set new stereocenters. Our approach provides a solution to the challenging problem of stereoselective β-ketoester arylation/alkenylation, with formation of a quaternary center.

Sequential σ-Bond Insertion/Benzannulation Involving Arynes: Selective Synthesis of Polysubstituted Naphthalenes

An interesting σ-bond insertion/benzannulation reaction for the synthesis of polysubstituted naphthalene derivatives has been developed from readily accessible ketones, arynes, and alkynoates. This practical and transition-metal-free method provides a novel route to diverse naphthalenes through a substrate-controlled rearrangement reaction with the cleavage of C-C bonds.

Intramolecular hydride transfer onto arynes: redox-neutral and transition metal-free C(sp3)-H functionalization of amines

Transition metal-free intramolecular hydride transfer onto arynes is reported for the first time. This unique transformation is utilized in redox-neutral intermolecular α-functionalization reactions of different tertiary amines, generating C(sp3)-C(sp3/sp2/sp) bonds in a single synthetic operation. Deuterium labeling studies support initial cleavage of the α-C-H bond via intramolecular 1,5-hydride transfer onto the aryne, which leads to activation of a range of integrated pronucleophiles and ultimately affords a new approach to cross-dehydrogenative coupling reactions which utilize aryne intermediates.

Domino Aryne Annulation via a Nucleophilic-Ene Process

1,2-Benzdiyne equivalents possess the unique property that they can react with two arynophiles through iteratively generated 1,2- and 2,3-aryne intermediates. Upon rational modification on the second leaving group of these aryne precursors, a domino aryne annulation approach was developed through a nucleophilic-ene reaction sequence. Various benzo-fused N-heterocyclic frameworks were achievable under transition metal-free conditions with a broad substrate scope.

Selective S-arylation of 2-oxazolidinethiones and selective N-arylation of 2-benzoxazolinones/2-benzimidazolinones

There exist three possible patterns for the reaction of cyclic 2-oxazolidinethione and 2-benzoxazolidinethione with arynes, namely (a) S-arylation, (b) N-arylation, and (c) aryne insertion into the thiocarbonyl group (C[double bond, length as m-dash]S). Our studies demonstrate that S-arylation wins out affording S-aryl dihydrooxazoles. In contrast, for related reactions of cyclic 2-benzoxazolinone and 2-benzimidazolinone with arynes, it is found that N-arylation outcompetes O-arylation and aryne insertion into the C[double bond, length as m-dash]O group to give N-aryl 2-benzoxazolinones and N-aryl 2-benzimidazolinones.

Unmasking Dipole Character of Acyl Ketene Dithioacetals via a Cascade Reaction with Arynes: Synthesis of Benzo[b]thiophenes

An unusual strategy toward novel substituted benzo[b]thiophenes has been developed. The generation of arynes in the presence of acyl ketene dithioacetals resulted in a cascade reaction involving [3 + 2] cycloaddition, and a dealkylative arylation of a thioether moiety to afford 2,3-disubstuted benzo[b]thiophenes. This route represents an expeditious approach to benzothiophenes that employs acyl ketene dithioacetals as dipoles.

Mild synthesis of triarylsulfonium salts with arynes

Reactions between arynes and alkyl sulfides have been extensively studied over the past few decades. These reactions commonly end with a dealkylation process and thus deliver thioethers as final products. In contrast, the transformation described furnishes valuable triarylsulfonium salts, in lieu of thioethers, from arynes and diarylsulfides. The reaction features mild conditions and a broad substrate scope. A suite of functional groups such as ketones, esters, nitriles, aryl ethers and aryl halides is tolerated, which can be issues faced by traditional synthetic methods. The practicality of the reaction and its extension to the synthesis of triphenyl selenonium salt are also exhibited herein.

Aryne triggered [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allyl and propargyl thioethers

An efficient protocol for [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allyl and propargyl thioethers is reported. The key sulfonium ylide intermediate is in situ formed via S-arylation of arynes. This transition metal-free method allows for ready access to a wide array of functionalized thioether derivatives in good to excellent yields.

Application of Sulfur Ylides in 1,2-Difunctionalization of Arynes via Insertion into a C-S σ-Bond

A novel reactivity of sulfur ylides has been demonstrated in a transition-metal-free protocol to access ortho-substituted thioanisole derivatives by insertion of arynes into a C-S σ-bond in moderate to good yields. The reaction involves the formation of C-C and C-S bonds and consecutive breaking of two C-S bonds under operationally mild reaction conditions.

Switchable Synthesis of 3-Substituted 1H-Indazoles and 3,3-Disubstituted 3H-Indazole-3-phosphonates Tuned by Phosphoryl Groups

3-Alkyl/aryl-1H-indazoles and 3-alkyl/aryl-3H-indazole-3-phosphonates were synthesized efficiently through a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between α-substituted α-diazomethylphosphonates and arynes under simple reaction conditions. The product distribution was controlled by the phosphoryl group, which acted both as a tuning group and a traceless group in the reaction.

Tandem nucleophilic addition–cycloaddition of arynes with α-iminoesters: two concurrent pathways to imidazolidines

The tandem nucleophilic addition-cycloaddition reaction of arynes with α-iminoesters gave functionalized imidazolidine derivatives with high yields, complete regioselectivities, and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.