Divergent Diazo Approach toward Alkyl 5/4-Hydroxy-3H-benzo[e]indole-4/5-carboxylates

A divergent diazo approach toward alkyl 5/4-hydroxy-3H-benzo[e]indole-4/5-carboxylates has been developed. The reaction of 1,3-diketones with alkyl 2-diazo-3-oxo-3-(2H-azirin-2-yl)propanoates catalyzed by Co(acac)3 or Ni(acac)2 gives various alkyl 3-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-2-diazo-3-oxopropanoate in good yields. The latter undergo Wolff rearrangement followed by the 6π-cyclization of transient ketene to form alkyl 5-hydroxy-3H-benzo[e]indole-4-carboxylates bearing various substituents in positions 1, 2, 7, and 8, as well as derivatives of methyl 4-hydroxy-6H-thieno[2,3-e]indole-5-carboxylates and methyl 5-hydroxy-7H-benzo[c]carbazole-6-carboxylate under thermolysis or Rh2(OAc)4 catalysis. Isomeric benzoindoles, alkyl 4-hydroxy-3H-benzo[e]indole-5-carboxylates, have been prepared by Boc-protection of the pyrrole nitrogen of alkyl 3-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-2-diazo-3-oxopropanoates followed by an intramolecular formal carbene insertion into the aromatic C-H bond catalyzed by Cu(OTf)2. The hydroxyl group of alkyl 5/4-hydroxy-3H-benzo[e]indole-4/5-carboxylates, through the formation of the corresponding triflates, allows the introduction of various substituents into the 5/4 position of benzo[e]indoles using the cross-coupling reaction and even form a new heterocyclic backbone, benzo[k]pyrrolo[2,3-i]phenanthridine, via a tandem Suzuki reaction/nucleophilic acyl substitution.

Synthesis of functionalized indoles via cascade benzannulation strategies: a decade's overview

Indoles are one of the most prominent aromatic heterocycles in the organic chemistry field. Due to their widespread presence in various natural products, alkaloids, drugs, approved medicines, etc. the synthesis and functionalization of indoles are of great interest. This review emphasizes recent developments and techniques in the domino cascade cyclization process in the last decade starting from the various building blocks. In particular, this review depicts several intriguing benzannulation methods of creating a benzene ring on a pre-existing pyrrole nucleus in an inter/intramolecular fashion under metal-catalyzed/metal-free approaches. Different subsections focus on gradual timely developments in this complementary area and a detailed analysis of the mechanisms and reactivity patterns. As a complementary method, this review gives a significant incentive to various annulation strategies and also gives an overview of the remaining challenges and upcoming possibilities.

Cascade Reaction of 2-Naphthols and Azirines: One-Pot Synthesis of C-3 Naphthol-Substituted Benzo[e]indoles

A copper-catalyzed annulation of 3-aryl-2H-azirines with 2-naphthols has been developed for the rapid assembly of C-3-naphthol-substituted benzo[e]indoles in one pot. This cascade reaction was realized through dearomatic nucleophilic ring opening of azirine, intramolecular cyclization, and oxidative cross-dehydrogenative coupling to furnish the important unreported π-expanded naphthol/benzo[e]indole biaryls.

Domino Reaction of 2,4-Diyn-1-ols with 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds: Direct Access to Aryl/Heteroaryl-Fused Benzofurans and Indoles

A domino propargylation/furanylation (intramolecular exo-dig-cyclization)/benzannulation reaction of 2,4-diyn-1-ols with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds has been developed for the first time. This provides a novel and effective method for the preparation of aryl/heteroaryl-fused benzofurans from easily accessible starting materials in a single step. The methodology was extended to pyrrolyl-benzannulation to obtain aryl/heteroaryl-fused indoles. Further, application of this approach in the synthesis of eustifoline D and dictyodendrin structural frameworks has been demonstrated.

Supramolecular architectures sustained by delocalised C–I⋯π(arene) interactions in molecular crystals and the propensity of their formation

A survey of delocalised C–I⋯π(chelate ring) interactions is presented.

Synthesis of 3-phosphinoylbenzofurans via electrophilic phosphination cyclization

An expedient strategy for the synthesis of 3-phosphinoylbenzofurans through a cascade electrophilic phosphination cyclization has been presented.

Synthesis of Anthraquinones by Iridium-Catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition of a 1,2-Bis(propiolyl)benzene Derivative with Alkynes

[2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of a 1,2-bis(propiolyl)benzene derivative with terminal and internal alkynes takes place in the presence of [Ir(cod)Cl]2 (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) combined with bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE) to give anthraquinones in 42% to 93% yields with a simple experimental procedure. A fluorenone derivative can also be synthesized by iridium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of a benzene-linked ketodiyne with an internal alkyne to give a 94% yield.

Cyclization of ortho-ethynylbiaryls as an emerging versatile tool for the construction of polycyclic arenes

Cyclization and cycloisomerization of ortho-aryl(ethynyl)arenes provide an easy direct access to fused polycyclic aromatic carbo- and heterocycles. This methodology has demonstrated an impressive progress in the recent years. The goal of this review is to give a comprehensive outlook on the synthetic potential, scope, limitations, and mechanistic aspects of the cyclization reactions. The material is arranged according to the activation method that can be used to induce cyclization: pyrolysis, metal catalysis, electrophilic activation, radical induction, base catalysis. Particular attention is paid to the specificity of ortho-ethynylbiaryls with a heterocyclic central core.

The bibliography includes 257 references.

One-pot sequential synthesis of 3-carbonyl-4-arylbenzo[f]indole and 3-carbonyl-4-arylnaphthofuran fluorophores

A robust synthetic method for the construction of valuable fluorophores, 3-carbonyl-4-arylbenzo[f]indoles and 3-carbonyl-4-arylnaphthofurans, has been developed. The strategy involved a one-pot domino process to achieve the products in moderate to excellent yields.

Silyl Group-Directed 6-exo-dig Iodocyclization of Homopropargylic Carbamates and Amides

Iodocyclization of silyl group-substituted homopropargylic carbamates and amides proceeded via 6-exo-dig mode to afford 6-vinylene-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazines in moderate to quantitative yields. This is the first report for silyl group-solely directed iodocyclization of alkynes utilizing the β-silyl effect. Under these mild reaction conditions, various functionalities such as secondary alcohol, acetal, urea, and sulfide were tolerated.

Divergent syntheses of iodinated isobenzofuranones and isochromenones by iodolactonization of 2-alkynylbenzoic acids in ionic liquids

2-Alkynylbenzoic acids can be divergently iodocyclized to either isobenzofuranones or isochromenones by changing the nature of the ionic liquid medium.

1,3-Dien-5-ynes: Versatile Building Blocks for the Synthesis of Carbo- and Heterocycles

1,3-Dien-5-ynes have been extensively used as starting materials for the synthesis of a wide number of different carbo- and heterocycles. The aim of this review is to give an overview of their utility in organic synthesis, highlighting the variety of compounds that can be directly accessed from single reactions over these systems. Thus, cycloaromatization processes are initially commented, followed by reactions directed toward the syntheses of five-membered rings, other carbocycles and, finally, heterocycles. The diverse methodologies that have been developed for the synthesis of each of these types of compounds from 1,3-dien-5-ynes are presented, emphasizing the influence of the reaction conditions and the use of additional reagents in the outcome of the transformations.