Synthesis of Quinolines by Visible-Light Induced Radical Reaction of Vinyl Azides and α-Carbonyl Benzyl Bromides

Base Metal-Controlled Chemodivergent Cyclization of Propargylamines for the Atom-Economic Synthesis of Nitrogen Heterocycles

Herein, a base metal-enabled chemodivergent cyclization of propargylamines for the atom-economic construction of nitrogen heterocycles has been developed. Due to the different modes of activation of metal to propargylamine, copper-catalyzed 6-endo-dig cyclization generates functionalized 2-substitued quinoline-4-carboxylates, while iron-promoted cascade amino Claisen rearrangement, aromatization, and aza-Michael addition afford diverse 2-substituted indole-3-carboxylate derivatives. Excellent selectivity, broad functional group tolerance, mild conditions, and flexible late-stage functionalization illustrate the high efficiency and synthetic utility of this chemodivergent reaction.

Metal-catalyzed reactions of organic nitriles and boronic acids to access diverse functionality

The nitrile or cyano (-CN) group is one of the most appreciated and effective functional groups in organic synthesis, having a polar unsaturated C-N triple bond. Despite sufficient stability and being intrinsically inert, the nitrile group can be easily transformed into many other functional groups, such as amines, carboxylic acids, ketones, etc. which makes it a vital group in organic synthesis. On the other hand, despite several boronic acids having a low level of genotoxicity, they have found wide applicability in the field of organic synthesis, especially in transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Recently, transition-metal-catalyzed cascade additions or addition/cyclization processes of boronic acids to the nitrile group open up exciting and useful strategies to prepare a variety of functional molecules through the formation of C-C, C-N and CO bonds. Boronic acids can be added to the cyano functionality through catalytic carbometallation or through a radical cascade process to provide newer pathways for the rapid construction of various important acyclic ketones or amides, carbamidines, carbocycles and N,O-heterocycles. The present review focuses on various transition-metal-catalyzed additions of boronic acids via carbometallation or radical cascade processes using the cyano group as an acceptor.

Visible Light-Induced Transition Metal Catalysis

In recent years, visible light-induced transition metal catalysis has emerged as a new paradigm in organic photocatalysis, which has led to the discovery of unprecedented transformations as well as the improvement of known reactions. In this subfield of photocatalysis, a transition metal complex serves a double duty by harvesting photon energy and then enabling bond forming/breaking events mostly via a single catalytic cycle, thus contrasting the established dual photocatalysis in which an exogenous photosensitizer is employed. In addition, this approach often synergistically combines catalyst-substrate interaction with photoinduced process, a feature that is uncommon in conventional photoredox chemistry. This Review describes the early development and recent advances of this emerging field.

Copper-Catalyzed Difluoroalkylation of Alkene/Nitrile Insertion/Cyclization Tandem Sequences: Construction of Difluorinated Bicyclic Amidines

A copper-catalyzed difluoroalkylation of an alkene/nitrile insertion/cyclization tandem sequence of N-cyanamide alkene was described, which provided a convenient synthetic approach for accessing difluorinated bicyclic amidines bearing imine moieties in a sustainable fashion. This protocol is characterized by high yields, a broad substrate scope, and good functional group compatibility. In addition, the desired product can be readily converted into other valuable functionalized fluorinated aza-heterocycles.

Vinyl Azides as Radical Acceptors in the Vitamin B12-Catalyzed Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Ketones

Vinyl azides are very reactive species and as such are useful building blocks, in particular, in the synthesis of N-heterocycles. They can also serve as precursors of ketones. These form in reactions of vinyl azides with nucleophiles or radicals. We have found, however, that under light irradiation vitamin B₁₂ catalyzes the reaction of vinyl azides with electrophiles to afford unsymmetrical carbonyl compounds in decent yields. Mechanistic studies revealed that alkyl radicals are key intermediates in this transformation.

Visible-Light-Promoted Multistep Tandem Reaction of Vinyl Azides toward the Formation of 1-Tetralones

A visible-light-driven multistep tandem reaction between vinyl azides and alkyl bromides has been developed leading to the formation of tetralone skeletons under mild conditions, which can be easily scaled up to the gram scale. Various 1-tetralone derivatives are synthesized and transformed into desired products in good to high yields.

Palladium-Catalyzed Three-Component Cascade Reaction of Nitriles: Synthesis of 2-Arylquinoline-4-carboxylates

A new method for converting easy availability starting materials 2-(2-oxoindolin-3-yl)acetonitrile, arylboronic acids, and alcohols into 2-arylquinoline-4-carboxylates is reported. The procedure involves a three-component addition/ring expansion/esterification reaction in the presence of Pd(II) catalyst with high functional group tolerance under mild conditions. In addition, the photophysical properties of the resulting product were investigated and exhibited excellent polarity-sensitive fluorescence properties and AIE property.

Palladium-catalyzed difunctionalization/dearomatization of N-benzylacrylamides with α-carbonyl alkyl bromides: facile access to azaspirocyclohexadienones

An efficient palladium-catalyzed difunctionalization/dearomatization of N-benzylacrylamides with α-carbonyl alkyl bromides as alkyl radical precursors has been described. Various α-carbonyl alkyl bromides, including α-bromoalkyl esters and ketones, reacted smoothly to provide important azaspirocyclohexadienones in moderate to excellent yields. In addition, mechanistic studies suggested that the reaction proceeded via a radical pathway.

Synthesis of Quinolines via the Metal-free Visible-Light-Mediated Radical Azidation of Cyclopropenes

We report the synthesis of quinolines using cyclopropenes and an azidobenziodazolone (ABZ) hypervalent iodine reagent as an azide radical source under visible-light irradiation. Multisubstituted quinoline products were obtained in 34-81% yield. The reaction was most efficient for 3-trifluoromethylcyclopropenes, affording valuable 4-trifluoromethylquinolines. The transformation probably proceeds through the cyclization of an iminyl radical formed by the addition of the azide radical on the cyclopropene double bond, followed by ring-opening and fragmentation.

An aryl thiol-vinyl azide coupling reaction and a thiol-vinyl azide coupling/cyclization cascade: efficient synthesis of β-ketosulfides and arene-fused 5-methylene-2-pyrrolidinone derivatives

The addition reaction of thiol to vinyl azide has been extensively studied. Variously substituted aryl thiols are all viable for this coupling process. The scope of the other partner is successfully expanded from α-aryl vinyl azide to α-alkyl vinyl azide. A thiol-vinyl azide coupling/cyclization cascade is realized with substituted aryl vinyl azides carrying a 2-methoxycarbonyl group. The value of β-ketosulfide products was demonstrated by its application in S-heterocycle synthesis.

Visible-light-mediated synthesis of quinolines

Visible light promoted synthetic routes of quinolines using different strategies are hereby documented.

Radical Transformations towards the Synthesis of Quinoline: A Review

Quinoline is considered one of the most ubiquitous heterocycles due to its engaging biological activities and synthetic utility over organic transformations. Over the past few decades, numerous reports have been documented in the synthesis of quinolines. The classical methods including, Skraup, Friedlander, Doebner-von-Miller, Conrad-Limpach, Pfitzinger quinoline synthesis, and so forth, these are the well-known methods to construct principal quinoline scaffold with several advantages and limitations. Recently, radical insertion or catalyzed reactions have emerged as a powerful and efficient tool to construct heterocycles with high atom efficiency and step economy. In this concern, this minireview mainly focused on the developments of Quinoline synthesis via radical reactions. In addition, a brief description of the preparation procedure, reactivity, and mechanisms is also included, where as possible. Respectively, the synthesis of quinolines is classified and summarized based on its reactivity, so it will help the researchers to grab the information in this exploration area, as Quinolines are promising pharmacophores.

Recent Progress in the Synthesis of Quinolines

BACKGROUND

Quinoline-containing compounds present in both natural and synthetic products are an important class of heterocyclic compounds. Many of the substituted quinolines have been used in various areas including medicine as drugs. Compounds with quinoline skeleton possess a wide range of bioactivities such as antimalarial, anti-bacterial, anthelmintic, anticonvulsant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activity. Due to such a wide range of applicability, the synthesis of quinoline derivatives has attracted a lot of attention of chemists to develop effective methods. Many known methods have been expanded and improved. Furthermore, various new methods for quinoline synthesis have been established. This review will focus on considerable studies on the synthesis of quinolines date which back to 2014.

OBJECTIVE

In this review, we discussed recent achievements on the synthesis of quinoline compounds. Some classical methods have been modified and improved, while other new methods have been developed. A vast variety of catalysts were used for these transformations. In some studies, quinoline synthesis reaction mechanisms were also displayed.

CONCLUSION

Many methods for the synthesis of substituted quinoline rings have been developed recently. Over the past five years, the majority of those reported have been based on cycloisomerization and cyclization processes. Undoubtedly, more imaginative approaches to quinoline synthesis will appear in the literature in the near future. The application of known methods to natural product synthesis is probably the next challenge in the field.

Synthesis of 3-sulfonylquinolines by visible-light promoted metal-free cascade cycloaddition involving N-propargylanilines and sodium sulfinates

A visible-light promoted radical cascade reaction of N-propargylanilines with sodium sulfinates as sulfonyl radical precursors was developed under metal-free conditions.

Recent advances in iminyl radical-mediated catalytic cyclizations and ring-opening reactions

Iminyl radicals have emerged as versatile synthons for N-heterocycle constructions and ring-opening reactions.

New quinoline/chalcone hybrids as anti-cancer agents: Design, synthesis, and evaluations of cytotoxicity and PI3K inhibitory activity

A series of quinoline-chalcone hybrids was designed as potential anti-cancer agents, synthesized and evaluated. Different cytotoxic assays revealed that compounds experienced promising activity. Compounds 9i and 9j were the most potent against all the cell lines tested with IC₅₀ = 1.91-5.29 µM against A549 and K-562 cells. Mechanistically, 9i and 9j induced G₂/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in both A549 and K562 cells. Moreover, all PI3K isoforms were inhibited non selectively with IC₅₀s of 52-473 nM when tested against the two mentioned compounds with 9i being most potent against PI3K-γ (IC₅₀ = 52 nM). Docking of 9i and 9j showed a possible formation of H-bonding with essential valine residues in the active site of PI3K-γ isoform. Meanwhile, Western blotting analysis revealed that 9i and 9j inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt, mTOR, as well as GSK-3β in both A549 and K562 cells, suggesting the correlation of blocking PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway with the above antitumor activities. Together, our findings support the antitumor potential of quinoline-chalcone derivatives for NSCLC and CML by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Oxidative cyclization of 2-allenyl-1,1'-biphenyls with α-carbonyl alkyl bromides: facile access to functionalized phenanthrenes

A new copper-facilitated oxidative cyclization of 2-allenyl-1,1'-biphenyls with α-carbonyl alkyl bromides for producing functionalized phenanthrenes is presented, which represents the first allene 2,3-dicarbofunctionalization triggered by oxidative radical-medicated C3-addition of the terminal allene moiety and C-Br/C-H functionalization.

Photocatalysis in organic and polymer synthesis

This review, with over 600 references, summarizes the recent applications of photoredox catalysis for organic transformation and polymer synthesis. Photoredox catalysts are metallo- or organo-compounds capable of absorbing visible light, resulting in an excited state species. This excited state species can donate or accept an electron from other substrates to mediate redox reactions at ambient temperature with high atom efficiency. These catalysts have been successfully implemented for the discovery of novel organic reactions and synthesis of added-value chemicals with an excellent control of selectivity and stereo-regularity. More recently, such catalysts have been implemented by polymer chemists to post-modify polymers in high yields, as well as to effectively catalyze reversible deactivation radical polymerizations and living polymerizations. These catalysts create new approaches for advanced organic transformation and polymer synthesis. The objective of this review is to give an overview of this emerging field to organic and polymer chemists as well as materials scientists.

Radical-mediated synthesis of γ-lactones by copper-catalyzed intermolecular carboesterification of alkenes with α-carbonyl alkyl bromides and H2O

A novel copper-catalyzed intermolecular carboesterification strategy of alkenes with α-carbonyl alkyl bromides is described.

α-Substituted vinyl azides: an emerging functionalized alkene

Vinyl azides are highly versatile synthons that provide access to numerous N-heterocycles and other functional groups.

A dual removable activating group enabled the Povarov reaction of N-arylalanine esters: synthesis of quinoline-4-carboxylate esters

A dual removable activating group enabled Povarov reaction of N-arylalanine esters was reported.

Synthesis of quinazolinones via radical cyclization of α-azidyl benzamides

Under visible light irradiation with N-bromosuccinimide, α-azidyl benzamides can be transformed into quinazolinones in high efficiency via cascade radical processes.

Visible light-induced intramolecular dearomative cyclization of α-bromo-N-benzyl-alkylamides: efficient construction of 2-azaspiro[4.5]decanes

An efficient intramolecular dearomative cyclization via visible light-induced photoredox catalysis allows for a highly regioselective dearomative cyclization of α-bromo-N-benzyl-alkylamides to construct 2-azaspiro[4.5]decanes in the presence of an iridium catalyst.

Visible-light-promoted iminyl radical formation from vinyl azides: synthesis of 6-(fluoro)alkylated phenanthridines

An efficient strategy assisted by visible-light-promoted iminyl radical formation has been developed for the synthesis of 6-(fluoro)alkylated phenanthridine derivatives. In the reactions, addition of alkyl and trifluoromethyl radicals onto vinyl azides gives iminyl radicals, which then undergo intramolecular homolytic aromatic substitution leading to phenanthridines. These reactions can be carried out under mild conditions with high chemical yields and broad substrate scope.

A new era for homolytic aromatic substitution: replacing Bu3SnH with efficient light-induced chain reactions

Herein is a pertinent review of recent photochemical homolytic aromatic substitution (HAS) literature. Issues with using the reductant Bu3SnH in an oxidative process where the net loss of a hydrogen atom occurs is discussed. Nowadays more efficient light-induced chain reactions are used resulting in HAS becoming a synthetic mechanism of choice rivaling organometallic, transition-metal and electrophilic aromatic substitution protocols. The review includes aromatic substitution as part of a tandem or cascade reaction, Pschorr reaction, as well as HAS facilitated by ipso-substitution, and Smiles rearrangement. Recently visible-light photoredox catalysis, which is carried out at room temperature has become one of the most important means of aromatic substitution. The main photoredox catalysts used are polypyridine complexes of Ru(ii) and Ir(iii), although eosin Y is an alternative allowing metal-free HAS. Other radical initiator-free aromatic substitutions have used 9-mesityl-10-methylacridinium ion and N,N-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)perylene-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide) as the photoredox catalyst, UV-light, photoinduced electron-transfer, zwitterionic semiquinone radical anions, and Barton ester intermediates.

Visible-light photoredox intramolecular difluoroacetamidation: facile synthesis of 3,3-difluoro-2-oxindoles from bromodifluoroacetamides

We report an operationally simple, visible-light-driven protocol for intramolecular C-H difluoroacetamidation of arenes for the synthesis of biologically relevant 3,3-difluoro-2-oxindoles at room temperature. Using fac-Ir(ppy)3 as a photocatalyst and a 3 W blue LED as a light source, an array of difluoroxindoles was prepared from rapidly available tertiary aryl bromodifluoroacetamides in moderate to excellent yields.