Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Pyrrolo[1,2-a ]pyrazines, Heteroaromatics Containing Two Nitrogen Atoms

Ir-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of N-Fused Heteroarenes with High Nitrogen Density: An Access to Chiral 2,5-Disubstituted 5,6-Dihydropyrrolo[1,2-a][1,2,4]triazolo[5,1-c]pyrazines

A highly enantioselective Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of 2,5-disubstituted pyrrolo[1,2-a][1,2,4]triazolo[5,1-c]pyrazines containing four nitrogen atoms has been first realized. Under additive-free conditions, a variety of chiral 2,5-disubstituted 5,6-dihydropyrrolo[1,2-a][1,2,4]triazolo[5,1-c]pyrazines can be afforded in high yields (86-98%) with excellent enantioselectivities of up to 99% ee. This method provides a straightforward strategy for the efficient synthesis of chiral multinitrogen polyheterocyclic compounds.

Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Heteroaromatics with Multiple N Atoms via Substrate Activation: An Entry to 4,5,6,7-Tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-carbonitrile Core of a Potent BTK Inhibitor

The chiral 4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine is the key core skeleton of potent Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor Zanubrutinib, and the catalyst-controlled asymmetric hydrogenation of planar multinuclear pyrimidine heteroarenes with multiple N atoms could provide an efficient route toward its synthesis. Owing to the strong aromaticity and poisoning effect toward chiral transition metal catalyst, asymmetric hydrogenation of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines with multiple nitrogen atoms is still a challenge for synthesizing the chiral 4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]-pyrimidine. Herein, an efficient iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines has been developed using substrate activation strategy, with up to 99% ee. The decagram scale synthesis further demonstrated the potential and promise of this procedure in the synthesis of Zanubrutinib. In addition, a mechanistic study indicated that the hydrogenation starts with 1,2-hydrogenation.

Highly Enantioselective Ir-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine for the Synthesis of Zanubrutinib

A highly enantioselective catalytic reduction of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine to zanubrutinib has been realized by the Ir/(R)-t-Bu-FcPhox complex. This chiral product could be obtained in up to >99% ee in the asymmetric transformation without any other additives, providing a new route for the asymmetric synthesis of zanubrutinib.

Highly enantioselective Rh-catalyzed asymmetric reductive dearomatization of multi-nitrogen polycyclic pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines

A highly enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed reductive dearomatization of 7-substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines has been realized for the first time by two strategies to afford chiral 4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines with excellent enantioselectivities of up to 98% ee. This method also provides an efficient approach for the synthesis of the powerful BTK inhibitor, zanubrutinib.

Recent Advances in the Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Amines via Transition Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

Chiral amines are key structural motifs present in a wide variety of natural products, drugs, and other biologically active compounds. During the past decade, significant advances have been made with respect to the enantioselective synthesis of chiral amines, many of them based on catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation (AH). The present review covers the use of AH in the synthesis of chiral amines bearing a stereogenic center either in the α, β, or γ position with respect to the nitrogen atom, reported from 2010 to 2020. Therefore, we provide an overview of the recent advances in the AH of imines, enamides, enamines, allyl amines, and N-heteroaromatic compounds.

Cascade synthesis of indolizines and pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines from 2-formyl-1-propargylpyrroles

A straightforward synthesis of indolizines and pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines was performed through a cascade condensation/cyclization/aromatization reaction of substituted 2-formyl-N-propargylpyrroles with active methylene compounds such as nitromethane, alkyl malonates, methyl cyanoacetate and malononitrile. Under basic conditions, the reaction proceeded satisfactorily to provide the corresponding 6,7-disubstituted indolizines. The condensation of the pyrrolic analogues with ammonium acetate gave rise to pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines in high yields. N-Allenyl-2-formylpyrroles behaved as more reactive substrates than 2-formyl-N-propargylpyrroles, furnishing the expected indolizines in higher yields. Hence, an allenyl-containing intermediate was probably generated as the reactive species in the reaction mechanism of some N-propargyl pyrroles prior to the cyclization reaction.

Palladium(II)-Catalyzed C(sp)–C(sp2) Coupling: A Direct Approach to Multi-Substituted Pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines

A direct synthesis of multi-substituted pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines via palladium(II)-catalyzed C(sp)–C(sp2) cascade coupling and intramolecular cyclization in the presence of ligand was developed. This reaction originates from phenylboronic acids and readily synthesized 2-carbonyl- or 2-formylpyrroloacetonitriles, and affords products in good to excellent yields for a diversity of substrates. Additionally, a possible mechanism for the transformation is proposed.

A convenient one-pot approach to the synthesis of novel pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles fused to heterocyclic systems and evaluation of their biological activity as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles fused with various heterocycles, such as oxazolidine, oxazinane, imidazolidine, hexahydropyrimidine and benzimidazole, were synthesized transition metal-free by domino reactions which involved the condensation of 1-(2-bromoethyl)-3-chloro-1H-indole-2-carbaldehydes 28–31 with various nucleophilic amines, resulting in the formation of two new interesting fused heterocycles. The anticholinesterase, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the compounds were evaluated. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities were tested by Ellman’s assay, antioxidant activities were detected using the 2,2-azinobis[3-ethylbenzthiazoline]-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•+) free-radical scavenging method and antibacterial activities were determined by agar diffusion tests. The oxazolo-pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles (8, 10), the oxazino-pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles (16, 18, 19), the pyrimido-pyrazino[1,2-a]indole (22), and the benzoimidazo-pyrazino[1,2-a]indole (27) possessed the highest inhibitory activity against AChE with IC50 values in the range 20–40 μg mL−1. The oxazolo-pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles (8, 9), the imidazo-pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles (12, 13), and the benzoimidazo-pyrazino[1,2-a]indole (24) revealed the highest antioxidant values with IC50 values less than 300 μg mL−1. However, the oxazolo-pyrazino[1,2-a]indole (11) and imidazo-pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles (12, 13) exhibited weak to moderate bioactivities against all tested Gram-positive bacteria, namely Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus.

Ambient access to a new family of pyrrole-fused pyrazine nitrones via 2-carbonyl-N-allenylpyrroles

The chemo-, regio- and stereoselective synthesis of pyrrole-fused pyrazine nitrones via the direct reaction of 2-carbonyl-N-allenylpyrroles (readily accessible from the corresponding NH-pyrroles) with hydroxyl amine hydrochloride has been developed.

Highly Diastereo- and Enantioselective Ir-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of 2,3-Disubstituted Quinolines with Structurally Fine-Tuned Phosphine-Phosphoramidite Ligands

A highly diastereo- and enantioselective Ir-catalyzed hydrogenation of unfunctionalized 2,3-disubstituted quinolines, especially 3-alkyl-2-arylquinolines, has been realized. The success of this hydrogenation is ascribed to the use of a structurally fine-tuned chiral phosphine-phosphoramidite ligand with a (S_a)-3,3'-dimethyl H₈-naphthyl moiety and (R_c)-1-phenylethylamine backbone. The hydrogenation displayed broad functional group tolerance, thus furnishing a wide range of optically active 2,3-disubstituted tetrahydroquinolines in up to 96% ee and with perfect cis-diastereoselectivity.

Nickel(II)-Catalyzed [5 + 1] Annulation of 2-Carbonyl-1-propargylindoles with Hydroxylamine To Synthesize Pyrazino[1,2-a]indole-2-oxides in Water

An atom-economical and practical method for the efficient synthesis of various pyrazino[1,2-a]indole-2-oxides was developed through a nickel(II)-catalyzed [5 + 1] annulation of 2-carbonyl-1-propargylindoles with hydroxylamine in water without using an organic solvent. The reaction involved an initial condensation of 2-carbonyl-1-propargylindoles with hydroxylamine to afford oxime intermediates, which then underwent a nickel(II)-catalyzed 6-exo-dig cyclization. Preliminary studies showed that (n-Bu)₄NI served as a phase transfer catalyst and promoted the formation of active nickel(II) species. More importantly, the nickel(II) salt and phase transfer catalyst-in-water could be recycled seven times, and a gram scalable product was easily obtained in good yields through a filtration and washing protocol.

Selective Arene Hydrogenation for Direct Access to Saturated Carbo- and Heterocycles

Arene hydrogenation provides direct access to saturated carbo- and heterocycles and thus its strategic application may be used to shorten synthetic routes. This powerful transformation is widely applied in industry and is expected to facilitate major breakthroughs in the applied sciences. The ability to overcome aromaticity while controlling diastereo-, enantio-, and chemoselectivity is central to the use of hydrogenation in the preparation of complex molecules. In general, the hydrogenation of multisubstituted arenes yields predominantly the cis isomer. Enantiocontrol is imparted by chiral auxiliaries, Brønsted acids, or transition-metal catalysts. Recent studies have demonstrated that highly chemoselective transformations are possible. Such methods and the underlying strategies are reviewed herein, with an emphasis on synthetically useful examples that employ readily available catalysts.