Mechanistic Study on Rearrangement Cascades Starting from Annulated 2-Aza-hepta-2,4-dienyl-6-ynyl Anions: Formation of Aniline and Azepine Derivatives

Synthesis of dihydrotropone derivatives using an anionic 8π-electrocyclic reaction

A new method to synthesise functionalised cycloheptatrienes was established using the anionic 8π-electrocyclic reaction of β-ketoester-derived dienyne substrates. The cyclised products were converted to a variety of cycloheptatriene derivatives including tropones. Using this method, a concise, first total synthesis of (-)-orobanone, a natural sesquiterpenoid, was achieved.

Recent advances in 8π electrocyclization reactions

Medium-ring systems, which constitute a class of structurally intriguing and biologically important molecules, are present in many natural products and pharmaceuticals. However, the construction of these skeletons tends to be difficult because of the torsional strain of the medium-sized ring, and control of the selectivity is also challenging in these flexible skeletons. Electrocyclization is one of the most straightforward methods to construct medium-sized rings and this process typically proceeds in a stereospecific manner, resulting in the stereo-controlled formation of two neighboring stereocenters. At present, there are few studies on 8π electrocyclization, mainly focusing on the synthesis of small molecules, while the applications in the synthesis of functional materials and biological contexts are rare. This feature article highlights recent advances, from 2000 to 2022, in the 8π electrocyclization reaction. This study is organized into four sections based on the size/composition of the target ring, including the synthesis of aza-seven-membered, cycloheptene, cyclooctene and bicyclo[4,2,0]octane frameworks. We expect that this feature article will provide beneficial guidance for the selective construction of medium-ring skeletons.

Synthesis of Bio-Inspired 1,3-Diarylpropene Derivatives via Heck Cross-Coupling and Cytotoxic Evaluation on Breast Cancer Cells

The Heck cross-coupling reaction is a well-established chemical tool for the synthesis of unsaturated compounds by formation of a new C-C bond. In this study, 1,3-diarylpropene derivatives, designed as structural analogues of stilbenoids and dihydrostilbenoids, were synthesised by the palladium-catalysed reactions of 2-amidoiodobenzene derivatives with either estragole or eugenol. The products were obtained with high (E) stereoselectivity but as two regioisomers. The ratios of isomers were found to be dependent on the nature of the allylbenzene partner and were rationalised by electronic effects exercising a determining influence in the β-hydride elimination step. In addition, the cytotoxic effects of all the Heck reaction products were evaluated against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, with unpromising results. Among all, compound 7d exhibited weak cytotoxic activity towards MCF-7 cell lines with IC50 values of 47.92 µM in comparison with tamoxifen and was considered to have general toxicity (SI value < 2).

Ring closure reactions of 2,6-diazaheptatrienyl metal compounds: synthesis of 3-aminoindole derivatives and 14-membered macrocyclic dimers

2,6-Diazaheptatrienyl metal compounds 6(-)K(+) are easily accessible from the corresponding diimines 6 by deprotonation using KO-t-Bu as base. According to quantum chemical calculations, they are, in comparison to other isomeric species with nitrogen atoms in other positions, highly reactive intermediates, which undergo in dilute solution at 50 °C ring closure reactions to form 3-aminoindole derivatives 8/10. In contrast, in more concentrated solution at room temperature, the formation of 14-membered macrocyclces 13 as a result of formal dimerization is observed. The 3-aminoindole derivatives obtained in this work possess rare substitution patterns, and the macrocyclic compounds are essentially unknown. Two-fold vinylogous derivatives 7 give rise to tricyclic systems with δ-carboline backbone 12. The experimental results are interpreted using high-level DFT calculations with regard to the possible reaction mechanism and the nature of the transition state of the five-membered ring formation. The molecular structures in the solid state of all types of compounds were elucidated by X-ray diffraction.