Iron(III) Chloride/Dialkyl Diselenides‐Promoted Cascade Cyclization of ortho ‐Diynyl Benzyl Chalcogenides

Recent Progress in Synthetic and Biological Application of Diorganyl Diselenides

Diorganyl diselenides have emerged as privileged structures because they are easy to prepare, have distinct reactivity, and have broad biological activity. They have also been used in the synthesis of natural products as an electrophile in the organoselenylation of aromatic systems and peptides, reductions of alkenes, and nucleophilic substitution. This review summarizes the advancements in methods for the transformations promoted by diorganyl diselenides in the main functions of organic chemistry. Parallel, it will also describe the main findings on pharmacology and toxicology of diorganyl diselenides, emphasizing anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, chemotherapeutic, and antimicrobial activities. Therefore, an examination detailing the reactivity and biological characteristics of diorganyl diselenides provides valuable insights for academic researchers and industrial professionals.

Gold(I)-Catalyzed Synthesis of 4H-Benzo[d][1,3]oxazines and Biological Evaluation of Activity in Breast Cancer Cells

The first gold(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization procedure applied to the synthesis of substituted 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazines has been developed starting from N-(2-alkynyl)aryl benzamides. The chemoselective oxygen cyclization via the 6-exo-dig pathway yielded the observed heterocycles in modest to good chemical yields under very mild reaction conditions. The obtained oxazines were assayed on the breast cancer (BC)-derived cell lines MCF-7 and HCC1954 with differential biological activity. The newly synthesized 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazine compounds showed several degrees of cell proliferation inhibition with a remarkable effect for those compounds having a substituted aryl at C-2 of the molecules. The 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazines showed an IC₅₀ ranking from 3.1 to 95 μM in MCF-7 and HCC1954 cells. These compounds represent potential drug candidates for BC treatment. However, additional assays are needed to elucidate their complete effect over the cellular and molecular hallmarks of cancer.

Addition of benzyl ethers to alkynes: a metal-free synthesis of 1H-isochromenes

Bromotrimethylsilane (TMSBr)-promoted intramolecular cyclization of (o-arylethynyl)benzyl ethers to form 1H-isochromenes at room temperature is reported. Further studies indicated that vinyl carbocations are the reaction intermediates which are stabilized by the conjugated aryl groups. Thus, O-addition of benzyl ethers/tetrahydropyrans to alkynes was achieved under metal-free, acidic conditions. These reaction conditions were compatible with an alkynyl Prins reaction; therefore, 1H-isochromenes were produced directly from alkynyl benzaldehydes and alkynyl alcohols using a one-pot procedure.

Synthesis of benzo[b]chalcogenophenes fused to selenophenes via intramolecular electrophilic cyclization of 1,3-diynes

We describe herein an alternative and transition-metal-free procedure for the access of benzo[b]chalcogenophenes fused to selenophenes via intramolecular cyclization of 1,3-diynes. This efficient protocol involves a double cyclization of 1,3-diynyl chalcogen derivatives promoted by the electrophilic species of organoselenium generated in situ by the oxidative cleavage of the Se-Se bond of dibutyl diselenide using Oxone® in acetonitrile as solvent in an open-flask at 80 °C. In this study, 15 selenophenes with broad substrate scope were prepared in moderate to excellent yields (55-98%) with short reaction times (0.5-3.0 h).

Diorganyl Dichalcogenides and Copper/Iron Salts: Versatile Cyclization System To Achieve Carbo- and Heterocycles from Alkynes

Organochalcogen-containing cyclic molecules have shown several promising pharmacological properties. Consequently, different strategies have been developed for their synthesis in the past few years. Particularly due to the low cost and environmental aspects, copper- and iron-promoted cyclization reactions of alkynyl substrates have been broadly and efficiently applied for this purpose. This short review presents an overview of the most recent advances in the synthesis of organochalcogen-containing carbo- and heterocycles by reacting diorganyl disulfides, diselenides, and ditellurides with alkyne derivatives in the presence of copper and iron salts to promote cyclization reactions.

1 Introduction

2 Synthesis of Carbo- and Heterocycles via Reactions of Alkynes with Diorganyl Dichalcogenides and Copper Salts

3 Synthesis of Carbo- and Heterocycles via Reactions of Alkynes with Diorganyl Dichalcogenides and Iron Salts

4 Conclusions

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Selenophenes and Their Derivatives

The selenophene derivatives are an important class of selenium-based heterocyclics. These compounds play an important role in prospecting new drugs, as well as in the development of new light-emitting materials. During the last years, several methods have been emerging to access the selenophene scaffold, employing a diversity of cyclization-based synthetic strategies, involving specific reaction partners and particularities. This review presents a comprehensive discussion on the recent advances in the synthesis of selenophene-based compounds, starting from different precursors, highlighting the main differences, the advantages, and limitations among them.

Synthesis of organoselenyl isoquinolinium imides via iron(III) chloride-mediated tandem cyclization/selenation of N'-(2-alkynylbenzylidene)hydrazides and diselenides

This report describes the synthesis of organoselenyl isoquinolinium imides through a tandem cyclization between N'-(2-alkynylbenzylidene)hydrazides and diselenides. The reaction was carried out at room temperature under an ambient atmosphere using cheap iron(iii) chloride as the metallic source. The strategy shows good tolerance to a broad range of N'-(2-alkynylbenzylidene)hydrazides and diselenides, and forms C-N and C-Se bonds in one step. The obtained product is further transformed into a bioactive H-pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinoline skeleton easily via a silver catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition.

Polyynes to Polycycles: Domino Reactions Forming Polyfused Chalcogenophenes

Polyfused chalcogenophenes are prepared in one step through polyelectrophilic cyclization of polyynes using the ambiphilic reagent MeACl (A = S, Se, or Te). Up to four new rings have been generated under mild conditions, including thiophenes, selenophenes, and tellurophenes.

Cyclization of Thiopropargyl Benzimidazoles by Combining Iron(III) Chloride and Diorganyl Diselenides

A practical synthetic approach to the synthesis of 3-(organoselenyl)-imidazothiazines was developed. The methodology involved the regioselective 6-endo-dig cyclization of thiopropargyl benzimidazoles promoted by diorganyl diselenides and iron(III) chloride. The investigation to determine the best reaction conditions indicated the use of thiopropargyl benzimidazoles (0.25 mmol) with diorganyl diselenides (1.0 equiv) and iron(III) chloride (2.0 equiv) in dichloromethane at 40 °C for 30 min to be optimal. Under these conditions, the scope of the substrates was evaluated varying the structures of thiopropargyl benzimidazoles and diorganyl diselenides giving 28 3-(organoselenyl)-imidazothiazines in moderate to good yields. The reaction conditions were also applicable to diorganyl ditellurides; however, they did not work for diorganyl disulfides. The mechanism studies were carried out indicating that the cyclization proceeds via a cooperative action of diorganyl diselenides and iron(III) chloride, but a direct electrophilic cyclization, promoted by the in situ formed electrophilic organoselenium species, cannot be ruled out.

Iodine mediated in situ generation of R-Se–I: application towards the construction of pyrano[4,3-b]quinoline heterocycles and fluorescence properties

Iodine mediated in situ generation of R-Se–I and its application towards the construction of pyrano[4,3-b]quinolin-1-one derivatives.