Über die Kern-Kondensation von Phenolen und Phenol-äthern mit Nitrilen zu Phenol- und Phenol-äther-Ketimiden und -Ketonen (I.)

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Asperversin A

Asperversin A represents the first example of a steroid-sterigmatocystin heterodimer. We report the concise asymmetric total synthesis of this natural product in 11 steps (the longest linear sequence). The polycyclic ring system was constructed by a cascade dialdehyde cyclization and the late stage xanthene formation by a phenol-assisted reductive alkylation and a S_NAr reaction. The acetal linkage with ergosterol peroxide was furnished by a glycosylation-inspired approach.

Synthesis of dihydroquinazolines from 2-aminobenzylamine: N 3 -aryl derivatives with electron-withdrawing groups

The sequential N-functionalization of 2-aminobenzylamine (2-ABA) followed by cyclodehydration allowed for a straightforward and efficient synthesis of 3,4-dihydroquinazolines with N-aryl substituents bearing electron-withdrawing groups. The sequence involves an initial S_NAr displacement, N-acylation and MW-assisted ring closure. Remarkably, the uncatalyzed N-arylation of 2-ABA led to the monosubstitution product using equimolar amounts of both reagents. The individual steps were optimized achieving good to excellent overall yields of the desired heterocycles, avoiding additional protection and deprotection steps. A mechanistic interpretation for the cyclodehydration reaction promoted by trimethylsilyl polyphosphate (PPSE) is also proposed on the basis of literature data and our experimental observations.

Nitrilium ions – synthesis and applications

Access to both stable and transient nitrilium ions and the use of these synthons in the organic synthesis of imines and a large spectrum of heterocycles and transition metal complexes are succinctly summarized.

Synthesis of fluorescent naphthoquinolizines via intramolecular Houben-Hoesch reaction

The repertoire of synthetic methods leading to aza-analogues of polycyclic aromatic heterocycles has been enlarged by the discovery of the rearrangement of 10-substituted benzo[h]quinolines into compounds bearing an azonia-pyrene moiety. Acid-mediated intramolecular cyclization of derivatives bearing -CH2 CN and -CH2 CO2 Et groups led to compounds bearing a 5-substituted benzo[de]pyrido[3,2,1-ij]quinolinium core. Advanced photophysical studies including time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) and transient absorption spectroscopy of 5-aminobenzo[de]pyrido[3,2,1-ij]quinolin-4-ium salt and 5H-benzo[de]pyrido[3,2,1-ij]quinolin-5-one showed their promising optical properties such as high fluorescence quantum yields (37-59%), which was almost independent of the solvent, and high tenability of the absorption band position upon changing the solvent. The benzo[de]pyrido[3,2,1-ij]quinolinium salt selectively stains nucleic acids (in the nucleus and mitochondria) in eukaryotic cells.

Fluoro-substituted ketones from nitriles using acidic and basic reaction conditions

Fluoro-substituted aliphatic nitriles are shown to undergo the Houben-Hoesch reactions with arenes in CF(3)SO(3)H to give fluoro-substituted ketones in good yields. The fluorine substituents appear to enhance the reactivities of the nitriles (and the nitrilium ion intermediates) compared to similar aliphatic nitriles. Fluoro-substituted ketones are also shown to be accessible through the reactions of organometallic reagents and fluoro-substituted nitriles.

Superelectrophilic chemistry of amino-nitriles and related substrates

The superacid-promoted Houben-Hoesch reactions of amino-nitriles and related compounds have been studied. The nitriles form dicationic electrophiles and react with benzene in fair to good yields (12-95%). The intermediate iminium ions may also be reduced to the benzylic amines by NaBH(4) or H(2).

A novel, tandem construction of C–N and C–C bonds: facile and one-pot transformation of the Baylis–Hillman adducts into 2-benzazepines

A novel reaction involving tandem construction of C-N and C-C bonds via the simultaneous Ritter and Houben-Hoesch reactions on Baylis-Hillman adducts leading to a convenient, one-pot synthesis of 2-benzazepine derivatives is described. A facile stereoselective transformation of the Baylis-Hillman adducts into (E)- and (Z)-allyl amides is also presented.