Modular Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Imidazoles and Trisubstituted Oxazoles by Aldimine Cross-Coupling

Tuning Regioselectivity in the [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of Alkynyl Sulfonium Salts with Binucleophilic N-Aryl Amidines

A tunable reaction manifold of alkynyl sulfonium salts with binucleophilic N-aryl amidines in the absence of any transition metal catalyst is first reported. This methodology involves sequential addition/cyclization that is perfectly tuned by stepwise addition of K2CO3, affording a plethora of valuable 1,2,4- and 1,2,5-trisubstituted imidazoles in good yields with high regioselectivity. Importantly, trapping and isolation of the reactive intermediate unveiled the reaction mechanism of β-attack on the triple bond in this [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction.

Metal-Free Atom-Economical Synthesis of Tetra-Substituted Imidazoles via Flavin-Iodine Catalyzed Aerobic Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling of Amidines and Chalcones

Herein, we demonstrated the oxidative cross-dehydrogenative coupling between amidines and chalcones catalyzed by flavin and iodine. The riboflavin-iodine catalytic system played multiple roles in substrate- and O₂-activation, enabling the facile and atom-economical synthesis of tetra-substituted imidazoles in good yields (60-87%). This metal-free reaction consumed only 1 equiv of molecular oxygen and generated 2 equiv of environmentally benign H₂O as the only byproduct.

Synthesis of 2,4,5-Trisubstituted Oxazoles via Pd-Catalyzed C-H Addition to Nitriles/Cyclization Sequences

A practical and flexible intermolecular protocol for the diverse synthesis of trisubstituted oxazole derivatives via a Pd-catalyzed direct C-H addition of electronic-rich heteroarenes to O-acyl cyanohydrins bearing an α-hydrogen/cyclization sequence is described. A wide range of trisubstituted oxazoles can be prepared from readily available starting materials in good to high yields with high efficiency under redox neutral reaction conditions.

Synthesis of fully arylated (hetero)arenes

Multiply arylated arenes are privileged structures with highly useful functions and fascinating optoelectronic and biological properties. This feature article reports the synthesis of fully arylated (hetero)arenes bearing more than two different aryl substituents and categorizes this emerging topic by the type of (hetero)arene core and the type of chemistry employed to install the (hetero)aryl substituents.

Imidazole synthesis by transition metal free, base-mediated deaminative coupling of benzylamines and nitriles

An unprecedented transition metal free, base-mediated deaminative coupling of benzylamines and nitriles is reported. This protocol provides a practical strategy for the synthesis of 2,4,5-tri-substituted imidazoles with liberation of NH₃.

One-Pot Synthesis of 2,4,5-Trisubstituted Imidazoles via [2 + 2 + 1] Cycloannulation of 1,3-Bishet(aryl)-monothio-1,3-diketones, α-Substituted Methylamines and Sodium Nitrite through α-Nitrosation of Enaminones

An efficient one-pot synthesis of a series of diversely functionalized trisubstituted 4(5)het(aroyl)-2,5(4)-het(aryl)/alkylimidazoles from readily available 1,3-bishet(aryl)monothio-1,3-diketones has been reported. This novel sequential one-pot, three step protocol, wherein three new carbon nitrogen bonds are formed in contiguous fashion, involves in situ generation of enaminones by reaction of monothio-1,3-diketones with α-substituted methylamines, followed by their α-nitrosation with sodium nitrite and subsequent base mediated intramolecular heterocyclization of the resulting α-hydroxyiminoimines to trisubstituted imidazoles in high yields under mild conditions. These newly prepared 4(5)-het(aroyl)-5(4)-het(aryl)/alkylimidazoles are shown to exist as tautomeric mixture, however, their subsequent alkylation with methyl iodide in the presence of potassium carbonate affords 1-N-methy-2,5-bishet(aryl)-4-het(aroyl)imidazoles in highly regioselective fashion in most of the cases. Synthesis of few 4(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2,5(4)-substituted imidazoles, which are known to be good coordinating ligands, has also been reported. A probable mechanism for the formation of these imidazoles from hydroxyiminoimine intermediates has also been suggested.

A short synthesis of pyridines from deprotonated α-aminonitriles by an alkylation/RCM sequence

α-Aminonitriles can serve as versatile key precursors for the synthesis of nitrogen containing heterocycles. After unsuccessful trials involving the [1,2]-Stevens rearrangement of nitrile-stabilized ammonium ylides, we herein report a simple three-step synthesis of substituted pyridines based on an alkylation/ring-closing metathesis/aromatization sequence.

Multicomponent green synthesis, spectroscopic and structural investigation of multi-substituted imidazoles. Part 1

Ten 1,2,4,5-tetra-substituted imidazole derivatives have been synthesized with a 2-hydroxyethy substituent at the 1-nitrogen atom and potentially electron releasing hydroxy-, methoxy-, dimethylamino- or nitro substituents in various positions on the benzene ring located on the 2-carbon atom. The prototypical derivative with an unsubstituted phenyl ring at the 2-position is also reported. The compounds are obtained in excellent yields (average 86%) via a four-component cyclocondensation reaction of benzil, ethanolamine, and the appropriate aromatic carbaldehyde together with ammonium acetate. The reaction uses a novel ionic liquid catalyst, DEAHS (diethyl ammonium hydrogen sulfate), under solvent-free conditions and a green synthetic protocol. The key advantages of this process are high yield, shorter reaction times and ease of work-up. Furthermore, the products can be purified by a non-chromatographic method and the catalyst is re-usable. All of these newly synthesized compounds have been characterized from spectral data; the X-ray structures of three representative molecules are also detailed.

Convenient Route to Trisubstituted Oxazoles via a Copper-Catalysed Tandem Oxidative Cyclisation by Oxygen Oxidation

A novel copper-catalysed oxidative cyclisation has been developed for the synthesis of trisubstituted oxazoles, which is thought to proceed through cascade formation of C-N and C-O bonds by oxygen oxidation. The desired products can be obtained from readily available starting materials while avoiding hazardous materials. Therefore, a green synthetic method for the preparation of oxazoles has been found.

Electrochemically promoted synthesis of polysubstituted oxazoles from β-diketone derivatives and benzylamines under mild conditions

An efficient electrochemical route has been developed to synthesize polysubstituted oxazoles, without the use of hazardous oxidants and transition metal catalysts.

Converting oxazoles into imidazoles: new opportunities for diversity-oriented synthesis

We report the optimization of a neglected reaction for the rapid and direct conversion of oxazoles into N-substituted imidazoles.

2-(4-Meth-oxy-phen-yl)-1-pentyl-4,5-di-phenyl-1H-imidazole

The title compound, C27H28N2O, is a lophine (2,4,5-triphenyl-1H-imidazole) derivative with an n-pentyl chain on the amine N atom and a 4-meth-oxy substituent on the benzene ring. The two phenyl and meth-oxy-benzene rings are inclined to the imidazole ring at angles of 25.32 (7), 76.79 (5) and 35.42 (7)°, respectively, while the meth-oxy substituent lies close to the plane of its benzene ring, with a maximum deviation of 0.126 (3) Å for the meth-oxy C atom. In the crystal, inversion dimers linked by pairs of C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds generate R2(2)(22) loops. These dimers are stacked along the a-axis direction.

CuI/BF3·Et2O cocatalyzed aerobic dehydrogenative reactions of ketones with benzylamines: facile synthesis of substituted imidazoles

A novel CuI/BF(3)·Et(2)O/O(2)-mediated reaction utilizing ketones and benzylamines for the construction of substituted imidazoles in one step under mild conditions has been demonstrated. This protocol involved the removal of eight hydrogen atoms, the functionalization of four C(sp(3))-H bonds and three new C-N bond formations.

Ugi/Robinson-Gabriel reactions directed toward the synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted oxazoles

This Letter discloses a novel concise synthesis of a series of 2,4,5-trisubstituted oxazoles via a tandem Ugi/Robinson-Gabriel sequence. Herein, 2,4-dimethoxybenzylamine 1 was used as an ammonia equivalent in combination with arylglyoxal 3 and supporting Ugi reagents, an isonitrile and carboxylic acid. As such the product of the acid treated Ugi intermediate is ideally configured to undergo a Robinson-Gabriel cyclodehydration reaction to yield the desired oxazole scaffold 5.

Catalyst-free preparation of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles from a novel unexpected domino reaction of 2-azido acrylates and nitrones

A highly efficient and convenient method for the synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles from readily accessible 2-azido acrylates and nitrones has been developed. This reaction proceeded under mild conditions without the assistance of any metal, acid, or base.