Update 1 of: Synthesis and Functionalization of Indoles Through Palladium-Catalyzed Reactions

Annulation Cascades of N-Allyl- N-((2-bromoaryl)ethynyl)amides Involving C-H Functionalization

An annulation cascades of N-allyl- N-((2-bromoaryl)ethynyl)amides with terminal alkynes or 1,3-dicarbonyls involving C-H functionalization for producing 2,3-functionalized indoles has been first developed by means of Cu catalysis. The method is enabled by the formation of the ketenimine intermediates to deliver 2,3-disubstituted indoles through a sequence of aza-Claisen rearrangement, C-H functionalization, Ullmann C-N coupling, and cyclization.

Synthesis and study of Au(iii)-indolizine derivatives: turn-on luminescence by photo-induced controlled release

The photo- and structural properties of a series of Au(iii) indolizine complexes were determined. Controlled release of halogenated indolizine derivatives from the corresponding Au(iii) complexes was achieved by photoinduced C-X bond formation, which provided turn-on luminescence with an increase in emission intensity of up to 67 times.

Cobalt-catalyzed C2α-acyloxylation of 2-substituted indoles with tert-butyl peresters

An efficient cobalt-catalyzed C2α selective C(sp3)-H acyloxylation of 2-substituted indoles with tert-butyl peresters to synthesize diverse 2α-acyloxylated indole derivatives is described. This newly developed method exhibits mild conditions, low-cost catalyst, and high functional group compatibility. In addition, the effectiveness of this chemistry is illuminated by a late-stage modification of methylated indomethacin.

Regioselective N-1 and C-2 diacylation of 3-substituted indoles with arylglyoxal hydrates for the synthesis of indolyl diketones

A highly regioselective N-1 and C-2 diacylation of 3-substituted indoles with arylglyoxal hydrates to afford N-1 and C-2 indolyl diketones in moderate to good yields is described. Notably, the control of regioselectivity is achieved by small changes in the Cu catalyst, additive and solvent. Importantly, the intermediates for N-1 and C-2 diacylation were detected and two plausible pathways were also proposed.

A novel synthesis of N-hydroxy-3-aroylindoles and 3-aroylindoles

A straightforward indole synthesis via annulation of C-nitrosoaromatics with conjugated terminal alkynones was realised achieving a simple, highly regioselective, atom- and step economical access to 3-aroylindoles in moderate to good yields. Further functionalizations of indole scaffolds were investigated and an easy way to JWH-018, a synthetic cannabinoid, was achieved.

Copper-catalyzed oxidative benzylic C-H cyclization via iminyl radical from intermolecular anion-radical redox relay

Base-promoted C-H cleavage without transition metals opens a practical alternative for the one based on noble metals or radical initiators. The resulting carbanion can pass through radical addition to unsaturated bonds like C-N or C-C triple bonds, in which stoichiometric oxidants are needed. When in situ C-H cleavage meets catalytic carbanion-radical relay, it turns to be challenging but has not been accomplished yet. Here we report the combination of base-promoted benzylic C-H cleavage and copper-catalyzed carbanion-radical redox relay. Catalytic amount of naturally abundant and inexpensive copper salt, such as copper(II) sulfate, is used for anion-radical redox relay without any external oxidant. By avoiding using N-O/N-N homolysis or radical initiators to generate iminyl radicals, this strategy realizes modular synthesis of N-H indoles and analogs from abundant feedstocks, such as toluene and nitrile derivatives, and also enables rapid synthesis of large scale pharmaceuticals.

The synthesis of high value heterocycles from cheap starting materials remains challenging. Here, the authors develop a new strategy to realize practical and modular synthesis of N-H indoles and analogs from toluene and nitrile derivatives using naturally abundant copper salt as catalyst.

Palladium-catalyzed N1-selective allylation of indoles with allylic alcohols promoted by titanium tetraisopropoxide

The N1-selective allylation of indoles with allylic alcohols has been accomplished by synergistic functions of palladium catalysts and titanium tetraisopropoxide.

Selective C–H acylation of indoles with α-oxocarboxylic acids at the C4 position by palladium catalysis

The first catalytic C–H acylation of indoles at the C4 position with α-oxocarboxylic acids by palladium catalysis is described.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed indole synthesis at room temperature using the transient oxidizing directing group strategy

Rh-Catalyzed reactions of N-alkyl anilines with internal alkynes at room temperature have been developed using an in situ generated N-nitroso group as a transient oxidizing directing group.

3d Transition Metals for C-H Activation

C-H activation has surfaced as an increasingly powerful tool for molecular sciences, with notable applications to material sciences, crop protection, drug discovery, and pharmaceutical industries, among others. Despite major advances, the vast majority of these C-H functionalizations required precious 4d or 5d transition metal catalysts. Given the cost-effective and sustainable nature of earth-abundant first row transition metals, the development of less toxic, inexpensive 3d metal catalysts for C-H activation has gained considerable recent momentum as a significantly more environmentally-benign and economically-attractive alternative. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview on first row transition metal catalysts for C-H activation until summer 2018.

Palladium-Catalyzed Cyclization of N-Acyl- o-alkynylanilines with Isocyanides Involving a 1,3-Acyl Migration: Rapid Access to Functionalized 2-Aminoquinolines

A simple and expedient approach for the synthesis of functionalized 2-aminoquinolines via palladium-catalyzed annulation of N-acyl- o-alkynylanilines with isocyanides has been developed with high atom economy, in which an unconventional 6- endo-dig cyclization process is observed. Further investigations of the mechanism demonstrated that an intramolecular acyl migration of the N-protecting groups was involved in this transformation.

Synthesis and anticholinesterase activity of 2-substituted-N-alkynylindoles

In this paper, we report a protocol for the preparation of 2-substituted-N-alkynylindoles via metalation of N-alkynylindoles followed by the capture of a 2-indolyl lithium intermediate with different electrophiles. The reactivity of the indoles prepared was also demonstrated through the reaction with CBr4/Ph3P for the preparation of 2-gem-dibromovinyl N-alkynylindoles and the hydrotelluration reaction of N-alkynylindoles, which led to vinylic tellurides. Some compounds prepared showed AChE inhibitory potential in the low micromolar range similar to that obtained with donepezil, a commercially available cholinesterase inhibitor.

Synthesis of Indoles through Palladium-Catalyzed Three-Component Reaction of Aryl Iodides, Alkynes, and Diaziridinone

The three-component reaction of aryl iodides, alkynes, and diaziridinone is described. The reaction provides an innovative synthetic approach for indoles. The approach features high efficiency, broad substrate scope, and excellent regioselectivity. C, C-Palladacycles should act as the intermediates. The C, C-palladacycles are obtained from simple aryl halides and alkynes and then reacted with diaziridinone to afford indoles.

Recent Progress in the Transition Metal Catalyzed Synthesis of Indoles

Indole is the most frequently found heterocyclic core structures in pharmaceuticals, natural products, agrochemicals, dyes and fragrances. For about 150 years, chemists were absorbed in finding new and easier synthetic strategies to build this nucleus. Many books and reviews have been written, but the number of new syntheses that appear in the literature, make necessary continuous updates. This reviews aims to give a comprehensive overview on indole synthesis catalyzed by transition metals appeared in the literature in the years 2016 and 2017.

Synthesis of Functionalized Indoles via Palladium-Catalyzed Aerobic Cycloisomerization of o-Allylanilines Using Organic Redox Cocatalyst

A scalable and practical synthesis of functionalized indoles via Pd- ^tBuONO cocatalyzed aerobic cycloisomerization of o-allylanilines is reported. Using molecular oxygen as a terminal oxidant, a series of substituted indoles were prepared in moderate to good yields. The avoidance of hazardous oxidants, heavy-metal cocatalysts, and high boiling point solvents such as DMF and DMSO enables this method to be applied in pharmaceutical synthesis. A practical gram-scale synthesis of indomethacin demonstrates its application potential.

A novel Pd-catalysed sequential carbonylation/cyclization approach toward bis-N-heterocycles: rationalization by electronic structure calculations

An unprecedented palladium-catalysed sequential aminocarbonylation/cyclization synthetic strategy, using carbon monoxide and structurally different aliphatic diamines as N-nucleophiles, gives access, in one pot, to a new family of indole-based N-heterocyclic derivatives (hydropyrazinones, benzodiazepinones and hydroquinoxalines). Optimization of the reaction conditions towards double carbonylation (P _CO = 30 bar, T = 80°C, iodoindole/diamine ratio = 1 : 1.5, toluene as solvent) allowed the target cyclic products, which are formed in situ via intramolecular cyclization of the ketocarboxamide intermediates, to be obtained through a nucleophilic addition/elimination reaction with the pendant terminal amine groups. The structure of the diamine nucleophile was revealed to affect the reaction's selectivity, with the best yields for the cyclic products being obtained in the presence of (1S,2S)-(+)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (a) as the nucleophile, using either 5- or 7-iodoindole as the substrate. The reaction's selectivity was rationalized based on electronic structure calculations, which explain the effect of the diamine structure on the predominant formation of the cyclic products.

Tandem cyclization of o-alkynylanilines with isocyanides triggered by intramolecular nucleopalladation: access to heterocyclic fused 2-aminoquinolines

Herein, a novel strategy for the synthesis of various heterocyclic fused 2-aminoquinolines via palladium-catalyzed tandem cyclization of o-alkynylanilines with isocyanides has been developed. This process includes trans-oxy/aminopalladation, isocyanide insertion, elimination and 1,3-hydrogen migration. Besides high atom and step economy, this method shows good functional group compatibility with excellent chemo- and regioselectivities under mild reaction conditions.

Synthesis of 5-Cyano-Tryptophan as a Two-Dimensional Infrared Spectroscopic Reporter of Structure

A concise synthesis of protected 5-cyano-l-tryptophan (Trp5CN ) has been developed for 2D IR spectroscopic investigations within either peptides or proteins. To assess the potential of differently substituted cyano-tryptophans, several model cyano-indole systems were characterized using IR spectroscopy. Upon assessment of their spectroscopic properties, Trp5CN was integrated into a model peptide sequence, Trp5CN -Gly-Phe4CN , to elucidate its structure. This peptide demonstrates the capability of this probe to capture structural information by 2D IR spectroscopy. The 2D IR spectrum of the peptide in water was simulated to reveal a unique spectral signature resulting from the presence of dipolar coupling. The coupling strength between cyano labels was determined to be 1.4 cm-1 by matching the slopes along the max contour for the simulated and experimental spectrum. Using transition dipole coupling, a distance between the two probes of 13 Å was calculated.

Copper-Catalyzed Synthesis of Multisubstituted Indoles through Tandem Ullmann-Type C-N Formation and Cross-dehydrogenative Coupling Reactions

Multisubstituted indoles were synthesized via a one-pot tandem copper-catalyzed Ullmann-type C-N bond formation/intramolecular cross-dehydrogenative coupling process at 130 °C in DMSO. The methodology allows practical and modular assembly of indoles in good to excellent yields from readily available aryl iodides and enamines.