Copper-Catalyzed Direct Secondary and Tertiary CH Alkylation of Azoles through a Heteroarene-Amine-Aldehyde/Ketone Coupling Reaction

C3-Alkylation of Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via Three-Component Aza-Friedel-Crafts Reaction Catalyzed by Y(OTf)3

As an important class of nitrogen-containing fused heterocyclic compounds, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines often exhibit significant biological activities, such as analgesic, anticancer, antiosteoporosis, anxiolytic, etc. Using Y(OTf)3 as a Lewis acid catalyst, a simple and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of C3-alkylated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines through the three-component aza-Friedel-Crafts reaction of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, aldehydes, and amines in the normal air atmosphere without the protection of inert gas and special requirements for anhydrous and anaerobic conditions. A series of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives were obtained with moderate to good yields, and their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. Furthermore, this conversion has the advantages of simple operation, excellent functional group tolerance, high atomic economy, broad substrate scope, and can achieve gram-level reactions. Notably, this methodology may be conveniently applied to the further design and rapid synthesis of potential biologically active imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with multifunctional groups.

Visible-Light Photocatalytic Ugi/Aza-Wittig Cascade towards 2-Aminomethyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole Derivatives

A new visible-light photocatalytic multicomponent reaction (MCR) involving N-alkyl-N-methylanilines, N-isocyanoiminotriphenylphosphorane, and carboxylic acids leading to 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives is reported. The developed mild reaction conditions enable a broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance, as further highlighted in the late-stage functionalization of amino acids and drugs. Additionally, a two-step one-pot protocol for the synthesis of non-symmetrical diacylhydrazines is also reported.

General α-Amino 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Synthesis via Late-Stage Reductive Functionalization of Tertiary Amides and Lactams*

An iridium-catalyzed reductive three-component coupling reaction for the synthesis of medicinally relevant α-amino 1,3,4-oxadiazoles from abundant tertiary amides or lactams, carboxylic acids, and (N-isocyanimino) triphenylphosphorane, is described. Proceeding under mild conditions using (<1 mol %) Vaska's complex (IrCl(CO)(PPh3 )2 ) and tetramethyldisiloxane to access the key reactive iminium ion intermediates, a broad range of α-amino 1,3,4-oxadiazole architectures were accessed from carboxylic acid feedstock coupling partners. Extension to α-amino heterodiazole synthesis was readily achieved by exchanging the carboxylic acid coupling partner for C-, S-, or N-centered Brønsted acids, and provided rapid and modular access to these desirable, yet difficult-to-access, heterocycles. The high chemoselectivity of the catalytic reductive activation step allowed late-stage functionalization of 10 drug molecules, including the synthesis of heterodiazole-fused drug-drug conjugates.

Lewis acid mediated, mild C-H aminoalkylation of azoles via three component coupling

This manuscript reports the development of a mild, highly functional group tolerant and metal-free C–H aminoalkylation of azoles via a three-component coupling approach. This method enables the C–H functionalization of diverse azole substrates, such as oxazoles, benzoxazoles, thiazoles, benzothiazoles, imidazoles, and benzimidazoles. DFT calculations identify a key deprotonation equilibrium in the mechanism of the reaction. Using DFT as a predictive tool, the C–H aminoalkylation of initially unreactive substrates (imidazoles/benzimidazoles) can be enabled through an in situ protecting/activating group strategy. The DFT-supported mechanistic pathway proposes key interactions between the azole substrate and the Lewis acid/base pair TBSOTf/EtNⁱPr₂ that lead to azole activation by deprotonation, followed by C–C bond formation between a carbene intermediate and an iminium electrophile. Two diverse approaches are demonstrated to explore the amine substrate scope: (i) a DFT-guided predictive analysis of amine components that relates reactivity to distortion of the iminium intermediates in the computed transition state structures; and (ii) a parallel medicinal chemistry workflow enabling synthesis and isolation of several diversified products at the same time. Overall, the presented work enables a metal-free approach to azole C–H functionalization via Lewis acid mediated azole C–H deprotonation, demonstrating the potential of a readily available, Si-based Lewis acid to mediate new C–C bond formations.

Lewis acid mediated activation enables mild, metal-free, and highly functional group tolerant C–H aminoalkylation of diverse azoles via three-component coupling.

Recent Developments in Transition-Metal Catalyzed Direct C-H Alkenylation, Alkylation, and Alkynylation of Azoles

The transition metal-catalyzed C–H bond functionalization of azoles has emerged as one of the most important strategies to decorate these biologically important scaffolds. Despite significant progress in the C–H functionalization of various heteroarenes, the regioselective alkylation and alkenylation of azoles are still arduous transformations in many cases. This review covers recent advances in the direct C–H alkenylation, alkylation and alkynylation of azoles utilizing transition metal-catalysis. Moreover, the limitations of different strategies, chemoselectivity and regioselectivity issues will be discussed in this review.

Synthesis, Characterization, Catalytic Activity, and DFT Calculations of Zn(II) Hydrazone Complexes

Two new Zn(II) complexes with tridentate hydrazone-based ligands (condensation products of 2-acetylthiazole) were synthesized and characterized by infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The complexes 1, 2 and recently synthesized [ZnL³(NCS)₂] (L³ = (E)-N,N,N-trimethyl-2-oxo-2-(2-(1-(pyridin-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazinyl)ethan-1-aminium) complex 3 were tested as potential catalysts for the ketone-amine-alkyne (KA²) coupling reaction. The gas-phase geometry optimization of newly synthesized and characterized Zn(II) complexes has been computed at the density functional theory (DFT)/B3LYP/6–31G level of theory, while the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO and LUMO) energies were calculated within the time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) at B3LYP/6-31G and B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) levels of theory. From the energies of frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO–LUMO), the reactivity descriptors, such as chemical potential (μ), hardness (η), softness (S), electronegativity (χ) and electrophilicity index (ω) have been calculated. The energetic behavior of the investigated compounds (1 and 2) has been examined in gas phase and solvent media using the polarizable continuum model. For comparison reasons, the same calculations have been performed for recently synthesized [ZnL³(NCS)₂] complex 3. DFT results show that compound 1 has the smaller frontier orbital gap so, it is more polarizable and is associated with a higher chemical reactivity, low kinetic stability and is termed as soft molecule.

1,3,4-Oxadiazoles by Ugi-Tetrazole and Huisgen Reaction

Easy to perform, functional group tolerant, and short syntheses of the privileged scaffold oxadiazole are highly desired. Here, a metal-free protocol for MCR-based synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles via a Ugi-tetrazole/Huisgen sequence was developed. Optimization and scope and limitations of this short and general sequence are described. The reaction was also successfully performed on a gram scale.

Zn-Catalyzed Multicomponent KA2 Coupling: One-Pot Assembly of Propargylamines Bearing Tetrasubstituted Carbon Centers

Tetrasubstituted propargylamines comprise a unique class of highly useful compounds, which can be accessed through the multicomponent coupling between ketones, amines, and alkynes (KA² coupling), an underexplored transformation. Herein, the development of a novel, highly efficient, and user-friendly catalytic system for the KA² coupling, based on the environmentally benign, inexpensive, and readily available zinc acetate, is described. This system is employed in the multicomponent assembly of unprecedented, tetrasubstituted propargylamines derived from structurally diverse, challenging, and even biorelevant substrates. Notable features of this protocol include the demonstration of the enhancing effect that neat conditions can have on catalytic activity, as well as the expedient functionalization of hindered, prochiral cyclohexanones, linear ketones, and interesting molecular scaffolds such as norcamphor and nornicotine.

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric alkynylation of cyclic N-sulfonyl ketimines

A Cu-catalyzed asymmetric alkynylation of cyclic N-sulfonyl ketimines was developed, providing the corresponding chiral α-tertiary amines with up to 98% ee.

Metal-catalyzed C–H functionalization involving isocyanides

This review demonstrates the metal-catalyzed incorporation of isocyanides into C–H functionalization to establish complicated reactions utilizing synergistic effects.

Silver-catalyzed C2-selective direct alkylation of heteroarenes with tertiary cycloalkanols

A silver-catalyzed regioselective C2-alkylation of heteroarenes with primary radicals produced by tertiary cycloalkanols was developed.

C3 functionalization of indolizines via In(iii)-catalyzed three-component reaction

Post-functionalization at the C3 position of indolizines via In(iii)-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction with amines and aldehydes allowed rapid access to a new class of indolizines with diverse functional groups at the C3 position in good to excellent yields.

Post-Ugi gold-catalyzed diastereoselective domino cyclization for the synthesis of diversely substituted spiroindolines

An Ugi four-component reaction of propargylamine with 3-formylindole and various acids and isonitriles produces adducts which are subjected to a cationic gold-catalyzed diastereoselective domino cyclization to furnish diversely substituted spiroindolines. All the reactions run via an exo-dig attack in the hydroarylation step followed by an intramolecular diastereoselective trapping of the imminium ion. The whole sequence is atom economic and the application of a multicomponent reaction assures diversity.