Palladium-Catalyzed Ring-Expansion Reaction of Indoles with Alkynes: From Indoles to Tetrahydroquinoline Derivatives Under Mild Reaction Conditions

Is Enol Always the Culprit? The Curious Case of High Enantioselectivity in a Chiral Rh(II) Complex Catalyzed Carbene Insertion Reaction

The mechanism of Rh2 (S-NTTL)4 catalyzed carbene insertion into C(3)-H of indole is investigated using DFT methods. Since the commonly accepted enol mechanism cannot account for enantioinduction, a concerted oxocarbenium pathway was proposed in an earlier work using a model catalyst. However, after considering the full catalytic system, this study finds that akin to other reactions, here, too, the enol pathway is of lower energy, which now naturally raises a conundrum regarding the mode of chiral induction. Herein, a new water promoted mechanistic pathway involving a metal-associated enol intermediate hydrogen bonding and stereochemical model are proposed to solve this puzzle. It is shown how the catalyst bowl-shaped structure along with substrate-catalyst binding is crucial for achieving high levels of enantioselectivity. A stereodetermining water-assisted proton transfer is proposed and confirmed through deuterium-labeling experiments. The water molecules are held together by H-bonding interactions with the carboxylate ligands that is reminiscent of enzyme catalysis. Although several previous studies have aimed at understanding the mechanism of metal catalyzed carbene insertion reactions, the origin of high stereoinduction especially with chiral metal complexes remains unclear, and till date there is no transition state model that can explain the high enantioselectivity with such chiral Rh complexes. The metal-associated enol pathway is currently underrepresented in catalytic cycles and may play a crucial role in catalyst design. Since the enol pathway is commonly adopted in other metal-catalyzed X-H insertion reactions involving a diazoester, the presented results are not specific to the current reaction. Therefore, this study could provide the direction for achieving high levels of enantioselectivity which is otherwise difficult to achieve with a single metal catalyst.

Three-Component Ring-Expansion Reaction of Indoles Leading to Synthesis of Pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinolines

Herein, we have developed an atom- and step-economic three-component cascade reaction that enables a modular platform for the synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinoline compounds through ring-expansion/cyclization by way of novel N1-C2 cleavage of indoles. The metal-free catalytic system exhibits a broad functional group tolerance.

Gold-Catalyzed Intramolecular Hydroarylation and Transfer Hydrogenation of N-Aryl Propargylamines to Construct Tetrahydroquinolines and 5,6-Dihydro-4H-pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinolines

A novel protocol of gold-catalyzed N-aryl propargylamines to construct tetrahydroquinolines and 5,6-dihydro-4H-pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinolines in moderate to good yields has been developed through the tandem reactions of intramolecular hydroarylation and transfer hydrogenation. The strategy has the advantages of easy access to raw materials, simple reaction conditions, good substrate compatibility, high efficiency, and excellent regioselectivity.

Synthesis of Functionalized Tetrahydroquinoline Containing Indole Scaffold via Chemoselective Annulation of Aza-ortho-quinone Methide Precursor

The chemoselective annulation of aza-ortho-quinone methide generated by in situ o-chloromethyl sulfonamide has been achieved with bifunctional acyclic olefin. This efficient approach provides access to the diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized tetrahydroquinoline derivatives containing indole scaffolds through the inverse-electron-demand aza-Diels-Alder reaction under mild reaction conditions with excellent results (up to 93% yield, > 20:1 dr). Moreover, this article realized the cyclization of α-halogeno hydrazone with electron-deficient alkene affording the tetrahydropyridazine derivatives, which had never been reported.

Indole Editing Enabled by HFIP-Mediated Ring-Switch Reactions of 3-Amino-2-Hydroxyindolines

This work reports the novel reactivity of hemiaminal as a precursor for indole editing at the multi-site. The HFIP-promoted indole editing of indoline hemiaminals affords 2-arylindoles through a ring-switch sequence. The key to success of this transformation is to use a cyclic hemiaminal as an α-amino aldehyde surrogate under transient tautomeric control. This transformation features mild reaction conditions and good yields with broad functional group tolerance. The utility of this transformation is presented through the one-pot protocol and the synthesis of isocryptolepine.

Brønsted-Acid-Promoted Selective C2-N1 Ring-Expansion Reaction of Indoles toward Cyclopenta[b]quinolines

A novel Brønsted-acid-promoted selective C2-N1 ring-expansion reaction of indoles has been developed that provides a rapid and efficient protocol for the preparation of fused quinolines. A variety of corresponding quinolines were obtained in high yields. Controlled experiments revealed that C2-spiroindolenines might be intermediates of this C2-N1 ring-expansion reaction. The notable advantages of this process include excellent yields, good functional group tolerance, and operational simplicity.

Recent developments in palladium-catalyzed C–S bond formation

This review summarized the recent developments in palladium-catalyzed C–S bond formation involving sulfenylation and sulfonylation reactions.

Synthesis of A-ring quinolones, nine-membered oxolactams and spiroindoles by oxidative transformations of 2,3-indolotriterpenoids

This paper describes an access to new nitrogen-containing heterocyclic triterpenoids by the reaction of 2,3-indolotriterpenoids with ozone and dimethyldioxirane. The oxidation of indolo-fused 28-oxo-allobetulin or methyl platanoate with ozone led to a mixture of a quinolone as the major product and a nine-membered 2,3-seco-2-oxolactam and three different types of spiroindoles as byproducts. The formation of quinolone and 2,3-seco-2-oxolactam derivatives could be explained by the standard 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of ozone to the C2(3)-double bond of the triterpene core similar to the products observed in the ozonolysis of indoles in the Witkop-Winterfeldt oxidation (WWO). The formation of spiroindoles was unexpected and could be explained through the 1,2-cycloaddition of ozone to the C2(3)-double bond with consecutive intramolecular rearrangements of the 2,3-epoxy-intermediate. These spiroindoles seem to be novel structures observed in the WWO reaction. The formation of only two isomeric triterpene spiroindolinones was achieved by the oxidation of 2,3-indolo-28-oxo-allobetulin with dimethyldioxirane that could be explained by the rearrangement of the 2,3-epoxy-intermediate. 19β,28-Epoxy-18α-olean-28-oxo-2-nor-2,3-4'(1H)-quinolone was the most active against HPV-11 with EC50 0.45 μM and SI50 322 in a primary assay and SI90 < 10 against HPV-16 in a secondary assay. The oxidative transformations of indolotriterpenoids have great potential for further modifications towards the preparation of new biologically active compounds.

Visible-light-induced oxidative ring expansion of indoles with amidines

An efficient and mild visible-light-enabled reaction involving the oxidative ring expansion of indoles with amidines in the aqueous phase at room temperature is developed.

A straightforward TBHP-mediated synthesis of 2-amidobenzoic acids from 2-arylindoles and their antimicrobial activity

Synthesis of 2-amidobenzoic acids has been achieved through TBHP-mediated oxidative ring opening of 2-arylindoles. The synthesized compounds have been evaluated for their antimicrobial activity.

Cooperation of copper and dioxygen for the site-selective construction of benzo[1,5]diazocin-6(5H)-ones from indoles and enaminone analogues

A new route for the preparation of benzo[1,5]diazocines from indoles and enaminone analogues is described.

Efficient synthesis of 2-arylquinazolin-4-amines via a copper-catalyzed diazidation and ring expansion cascade of 2-arylindoles

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of 2-arylquinazolin-4-amines from readily available 2-arylindoles and TMSN₃ has been developed.

Rh-catalyzed aerobic oxidative cyclization of anilines, alkynes, and CO

We describe a novel Rh-catalyzed C–H cyclization of a wide range of anilines with alkynes and CO. Particularly, simple primary anilines and readily prepared tertiary anilines can be easily converted to quinolin-2(1H)-ones via C–N bond cleavage.

Transition-metal-catalyzed oxidative C–H cyclization of anilines has been an attractive and powerful strategy for the efficient construction of N-heterocycles. However, primary and tertiary anilines are rarely employed in this strategy due to the relative instability with strong oxidants or the presence of three C–N bonds. We describe here a novel Rh-catalyzed C–H cyclization of a wide range of anilines with alkynes and CO, using an aerobic oxidative protocol. Particularly, the simple primary anilines and readily prepared tertiary anilines could be easily converted to quinolin-2(1H)-ones, which are high value-added, biologically significant N-heterocycles, via C–N bond cleavage.

Transition-metal-free, visible-light-mediated cyclization of o-azidoarylalkynes with aryl diazonium salts

A visible-light promoted transformation of o-azidoarylalkynes and aryl diazonium salts for the synthesis of unsymmetrical 2,3-diaryl-substituted indoles under transition-metal-free conditions was described.

Rhodium-catalyzed C2 and C4 C–H activation/annulation of 3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-3-oxopropanenitriles with internal alkynes: a facile access to substituted and fused carbazoles

Rhodium-catalyzed C2 and C4 C–H activation/annulation of 3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-3-oxopropanenitriles with internal alkynes has been developed. Substituted and fused carbazole derivatives were obtained through formal rhodium-catalyzed (4+2) or tandem (4+2) and (5+2) cycloaddition reactions under mild reaction conditions in good yields.

Expeditious synthesis of pyrano[2,3,4-de]quinolines via Rh(iii)-catalyzed cascade C–H activation/annulation/lactonization of quinolin-4-ol with alkynes

One-step synthesis of tetracyclic pyrano[2,3,4-de]quinolones via Rh(iii)-catalyzed cascade C–H activation/annulation/lactonization is described.

Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Sulfenylation of Indoles and Related Electron-Rich Heteroarenes with Aryl Boronic Acids and Elemental Sulfur

An efficient and convenient palladium-catalyzed C-H bond oxidative sulfenylation of indoles and related electron-rich heteroarenes with aryl boronic acids and elemental sulfur has been described. This procedure provides a useful and direct approach for the assembly of a wide range of structurally diverse 3-sulfenylheteroarenes with moderate to excellent yields from simple and readily available starting materials. Moreover, this synthetic protocol is suitable for N-protected and unprotected indoles. Notably, the construction of two C-S bonds in one step was also achieved in this transformation.

Pd-catalyzed dehydrogenative annulation approach for the efficient synthesis of phenanthridinones

A novel Pd-catalyzed intermolecular dehydrogenative annulation of aryl iodides and aryl carbamic chlorides for the efficient synthesis of phenanthridinone derivatives was developed. Simple aryl iodides and carbamic chlorides readily made from various anilines, a broad substrate scope with hetero/polycycles, as well as high-value products, make this direct dehydrogenative annulation approach very practical and attractive.

Palladium-catalyzed ring contraction reaction of naphthoquinones upon reaction with alkynes

An unprecedented palladium catalysed ring-contraction reaction of naphthoquinones with alkynes is described to construct phthalides.

Palladium-catalysed decarboxylative nitrile insertion via C–H activation or self-coupling of indole-2-carboxylic acids: a new route to indolocarbolines and triindoles

Palladium catalysed decarboxylative nitrile insertion/dual C–H activation of indole carboxylic acids afforded indolocarbolines or triindoles in the absence of nitriles.

Palladium-catalyzed, copper-mediated construction of benzene rings from the reactions of indoles with in situ generated enones

Construction of the benzene ring was efficiently realized through a palladium(ii)-catalyzed, copper(ii)-mediated domino dehydrochlorination/alkenylation/cycloaddition–oxidation sequence.