Aryne Cycloaddition with Stable Münchnones: Synthesis of 9,10-Dihydro-9,10-epiminoanthracenes and Isoindoles

KOtBu-Catalyzed Synthesis of Isoindole Derivatives from N-Benzyl Amides Bearing an Ortho Alkynyl Group via 1,2-Acyl Shift

In this study, we present the catalytic conversion of benzylamides featuring an ortho alkynyl moiety into 1-acylisoindole derivatives via a 1,2-acyl shift. Remarkably, this transformation proceeds without the need for transition-metal catalysts; instead, KOtBu alone serves as the catalyst. This method enables the efficient synthesis of isoindoles from easily accessible amides with an atom economy of 100%.

Recent Developments in Isoindole Chemistry

Isoindoles are highly reactive aromatic heterocycles that have a variety of important applications in areas such as medicine, analytical detection, and solar energy. Due to their highly reactive nature, isoindoles can be used to access their derivatives, which possess a diverse array of biological activities. However, their reactivity also makes isoindoles unstable and thus, difficult to prepare. Consequently, there has been a need for the development of novel methods that address some of the synthetic challenges and limitations, as well as reactions that utilize isoindoles to access potentially useful compounds. This review will give an overview of the novel reactions reported within the past decade (2012 to 2022) that involve 2H- and 1H-isoindoles and fused isoindoles as reactants, key intermediates, or products. This review is divided into two parts, with the first part focusing on the synthesis of isoindoles and the second part focusing on reactions of isoindoles. The scopes and limitations of the methods described therein will be discussed and the significance of their contributions to the literature will be highlighted. Similar reactions will also be compared.

1 Introduction

2 Synthesis of Isoindoles

2.1 Synthesis of 2H-Isoindoles

2.2 Synthesis of 1H-Isoindoles

3 Reactions of Isoindoles

3.1 Reactions of 2H-Isoindoles

3.2 Reactions of 1H-Isoindoles

4 Conclusions

Transition-Metal-Free Synthesis of 4-Amino Isoquinolin-1(2H)-ones via Tandem Reaction of Arynes and Oxazoles

A facile and transition-metal-free method for the synthesis of 4-amino isoquinolin-1(2H)-ones has been developed. Arynes react with 4, 5-disubstituted oxazoles through a tandem Diels-Alder reaction/dehydrogenation-aromatization/tautamerization process to produce 4-amino isoquinolin-1(2H)-ones...

Click and Bio-Orthogonal Reactions with Mesoionic Compounds

Click and bio-orthogonal reactions are dominated by cycloaddition reactions in general and 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions in particular. Among the dipoles routinely used for click chemistry, azides, nitrones, isonitriles, and nitrile oxides are the most popular. This review is focused on the emerging click chemistry that uses mesoionic compounds as dipole partners. Mesoionics are a very old family of molecules, but their use as reactants for click and bio-orthogonal chemistry is quite recent. The facility to derivatize these dipoles and to tune their reactivity toward cycloaddition reactions makes mesoionics an attractive opportunity for future click chemistry development. In addition, some compounds from this family are able to undergo click-and-release reactions, finding interesting applications in cells, as well as in animals. This review covers the synthetic access to main mesoionics, their reaction with dipolarophiles, and recent applications in chemical biology and heterocycle synthesis.

Introducing chirality in halogenated 3-arylsydnones and their corresponding 1-arylpyrazoles obtained by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

New 1-arylpyrazoles substituted with halogen atoms (Br, I) were synthesized from the corresponding sydnones by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. By introduction of a prochiral group such as isopropyl, in the ortho position of the benzene ring, in the starting phenylglycine 1 the rotamers caused by the hindered rotation between the phenyl and the heterocyclic ring were detected by NMR spectroscopy for 1-arylpyrazoles and for the first time for 3-arylsydnones. The N-nitrosophenylglycines present E–Z stereoisomerism due to the partial C–N double bond character. All the new compounds were structurally characterized by NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The crystal structures of N-nitrosophenylglycine 2c and of the sydnone 3c present similar Br⋯Br type II halogen contacts.

New 1-arylpyrazoles substituted with halogen atoms (Br, I) were synthesized from the corresponding sydnones by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.