Squaramide Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of Five‐ and Six‐Membered Rings

Benzo-fused Nitrogen Heterocycles by Asymmetric Ring Expansion and Stereochemically Retentive Re-contraction of Cyclic Ureas

Benzo-fused nitrogen heterocycles are common features of bioactive molecules, and the enantioselective synthesis of their substituted analogues is an important goal. In this paper we demonstrate a practical and mechanistically intriguing approach to the enantioselective synthesis of 1-arylbenzazepines and their analogues. The reaction sequence starts with an asymmetric migratory ring expansion of indoline, tetrahydroquinoline, or tetrahydrobenzazepine ureas on treatment with a chiral lithium amide base. Treatment of the ring-expanded ureas with acid triggers a two-atom ring contraction-an 'azatropic shift' in which one urea nitrogen displaces the other-with almost complete retention of stereochemistry. Aminolysis of the urea products provides enantioenriched 1-aryl-tetrahydrobenzazepine derivatives and their congeners, including an analogue of an intermediate in the synthesis of the drug solifenacin. Deuteration, in situ IR, and DFT studies provide evidence for the mechanisms of the reaction steps.

Dehydroabietane-type bifunctional organocatalysts in asymmetric synthesis: recent progress

Dehydroabietane-type bifunctional organocatalysts derived from rosane-type diterpenes of dehydroabietic acid (DHAA) and dehydroabietylamine (DA) have been utilized in a wide variety of highly enantioselective reactions. Since one well-documented review exclusively reported on the development of terpene-derived bifunctional thioureas in asymmetric organocatalysis in 2013, fragmentary progress on the dehydroabietane-type bifunctional thioureas and squaramides has been mentioned in other reviews. In this mini-review, we systematically analyze and reorganize the published literature on dehydroabietane-type bifunctional organocatalysts in the recent decade according to the type of catalysts. Our aim is for this review to provide helpful research information and serve as a foundation for further design and application of rosin-based organocatalysts.

Aromatic C-H bond functionalization through organocatalyzed asymmetric intermolecular aza-Friedel-Crafts reaction: a recent update

The aza-Friedel-Crafts reaction allows an efficient coupling of electron-rich aromatic systems with imines for the facile incorporation of aminoalkyl groups into the aromatic ring. This reaction has a great scope of forming aza-stereocenters which can be tuned by different asymmetric catalysts. This review assembles recent advances in asymmetric aza-Friedel-Crafts reactions mediated by organocatalysts. The mechanistic interpretation with the origin of stereoselectivity is also explained.

Medicinal chemistry aspects and synthetic strategies of coumarin as aromatase inhibitors: an overview

Coumarin is a bicyclic oxygen bearing heterocyclic scaffold formed by fusion of benzene with the pyrone ring. Because of its unique physicochemical characteristics and the ease with which it may be transformed into a wide range of functionalized coumarins during synthesis, coumarin provides a privileged scaffold for medicinal chemists. As a result, many coumarin derivatives have been developed, synthesized, and evaluated to target a variety of therapeutic domains, thereby making it an attractive template for designing novel anti-breast cancer compounds. The main culprit in estrogen overproduction in the estrogen-dependent breast cancer (EDBC), is the enzyme aromatase (AR), and it is thought to be a significant target for the effective treatment of EDBC. Considering coumarins versatility, this review presents a detailed overview of diverse study of aromatase as a target for coumarins. An overview of structure-activity relationship analysis of coumarin core is also included so as to summarize the desired pharmacophoric features essential for design and development of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) using coumarin core. Identification of key synthesis techniques that could aid researchers in designing and developing novel analogues with significant anti-breast cancer properties along with their mechanism of action have also been covered in the current review.

Squaramide-Tethered Sulfonamides and Coumarins: Synthesis, Inhibition of Tumor-Associated CAs IX and XII and Docking Simulations

(1) Background: carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are attractive targets for the development of new anticancer therapies; in particular, CAs IX and XII isoforms are overexpressed in numerous tumors. (2) Methods: following the tail approach, we have appended a hydrophobic aromatic tail to a pharmacophore responsible for the CA inhibition (aryl sulfonamide, coumarin). As a linker, we have used squaramides, featured with strong hydrogen bond acceptor and donor capacities. (3) Results: Starting from easily accessible dimethyl squarate, the title compounds were successfully obtained as crystalline solids, avoiding the use of chromatographic purifications. Interesting and valuable SARs could be obtained upon modification of the length of the hydrocarbon chain, position of the sulfonamido moiety, distance of the aryl sulfonamide scaffold to the squaramide, stereoelectronic effects on the aromatic ring, as well as the number and type of substituents on C-3 and C-4 positions of the coumarin. (4) Conclusions: For sulfonamides, the best profile was achieved for the m-substituted derivative 11 (Ki = 29.4, 9.15 nM, CA IX and XII, respectively), with improved selectivity compared to acetazolamide, a standard drug. Coumarin derivatives afforded an outstanding selectivity (Ki > 10,000 nM for CA I, II); the lead compound (16c) was a strong CA IX and XII inhibitor (Ki = 19.2, 7.23 nM, respectively). Docking simulations revealed the key ligand-enzyme interactions.

Catalysts’ evolution in the asymmetric conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to electron-poor alkenes

This review provides a journey of the catalyst usage for the enantioselective conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to electron-poor olefins from the early attempts to the latest achievements. Selected applications are also reported.

Gold-Catalyzed Hydroarylation Reactions: A Comprehensive Overview

The hydroarylation of alkynes, alkene, and, allene is a cost-effective and efficient way to incorporate unsaturated moieties into aromatic substrates. This review focuses on gold-catalyzed hydroarylation, which produces aromatic alkenes,...

Organocatalytic diastereo- and enantioselective conjugate addition of pyrazol-3-ones to 3-trifluoroethylidene oxindoles with a newly developed squaramide catalyst

An efficient organocatalytic conjugated addition reaction of pyrazol-3-ones with 3-trifluoroethylidene oxindoles has been developed for the synthesis of enantioenriched triflouromethylated indolin-2-ones bearing adjacent tertiary chiral centers in good yields and good to excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. The use of a newly developed chiral spirobiindane-derived squaramide catalyst is essential in achieving high diastereo- and enantioselectivities.

Organocatalytic diastereo- and enantioselective conjugate addition of pyrazol-3-ones to 3-trifluoroethylidene oxindoles with a newly developed squaramide catalyst has been developed.

Regiodivergent Organocatalytic Reactions

Organocatalysts are abundantly used for various transformations, particularly to obtain highly enantio- and diastereomeric pure products by controlling the stereochemistry. These applications of organocatalysts have been the topic of several reviews. Organocatalysts have emerged as one of the very essential areas of research due to their mild reaction conditions, cost-effective nature, non-toxicity, and environmentally benign approach that obviates the need for transition metal catalysts and other toxic reagents. Various types of organocatalysts including amine catalysts, Brønsted acids, and Lewis bases such as N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysts, cinchona alkaloids, 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), and hydrogen bond-donating catalysts, have gained renewed interest because of their regioselectivity. In this review, we present recent advances in regiodivergent reactions that are governed by organocatalysts. Additionally, we briefly discuss the reaction pathways of achieving regiodivergent products by changes in conditions such as solvents, additives, or the temperature.