Isocyanide-Based Multicomponent Reactions: Concise Synthesis of Spirocyclic Oxindoles with Molecular Complexity by Using a [1,5]-Hydrogen Shift as the Key Step

Isocyanide-based synthesis of spirorhodanine-cyclopentadiene and spirorhodanine-iminobutenolide conjugates from Winterfeldt's zwitterions and 5-ylidene rhodanines

An ultrasonic-assisted isocyanide-based protocol to access a series of functionalized spirorhodanine-cyclopentadiene and spirorhodanine-iminobutenolide conjugates from alkyl isocyanides and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates in the presence of 5-ylidene rhodanines in MeCN, is described. The reaction proceeds via interception of the reactive Winterfeldt's zwitterions by 5-ylidene rhodanine derivatives. The structures of the target compounds were confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies.

Cascade reaction of o-enoyl arylisocyanide and o-hydroxy aromatic aldimine: diastereoselective access to a polycyclic spirobenzoxazine chromeno[4,3-b]pyrrole derivative

A series of structurally unusual spirobenzoxazine chromeno[4,3-b]pyrrole derivatives have been efficiently constructed in a single operation from readily available starting materials. This domino transformation forms successively three new rings and provides a fast and economic strategy with excellent diastereoselectivity.

Tandem 1,6-addition/cyclopropanation/rearrangement reaction of vinylogous para-quinone methides with 3-chlorooxindoles: construction of vicinal quaternary carbon centers

A novel tandem 1,6-addition/cyclopropanation/rearrangement reaction of vinylogous para-quinone methides with 3-chlorooxindoles has been developed, providing dispirooxindole–cyclopentane–cyclohexadienones with vicinal quaternary carbon centers.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of Tetracyclic Tetrahydroquinoline Derivative Enabled by Multicomponent Reaction of Isocyanide, Allenoate, and 2-Aminochalcone

We report here a multicomponent protocol to assemble several polycyclic dihydropyran-fused tetrahydroquinoline structures with excellent diastereoselectivity. This procedure employs simple feedstocks to accomplish a series of diverse structures, which is difficult to attain by traditional sequences.

Stereoselective synthesis and applications of spirocyclic oxindoles

This review summaries recent synthetic developments towards spirocyclic oxindoles and applications as valuable medicinal and synthetic targets.

A bicyclization reaction with two molecular allenyl ketones and isocyanides: synthesis of a lactone-containing azaspirocycle derivative

A novel bicyclization reaction of two molecular allenyl ketones and isocyanides has been disclosed. This strategy allows for the construction of structurally complex spirocyclic lactam–lactone systems in an efficient manner.

Cascade cyclization and acyl migration of propargylic esters with isocyanides: rapid access to substituted furans

A novel rearrangement of ester-activated propargylic acetate with isocyanide has been disclosed. This protocol enables a quick synthesis of polysubstituted furan derivatives.

Carbon-nitrogen bond cleavage of pyridine with two molecular substituted allenoates: access to 2-arylpyrimidin-4(3H)-one

A DABCO-catalyzed annulation reaction of pyridin-2-amine and substituted allenoates has been disclosed. This strategy allows for the ring-opening of a pyridine ring system and the formation of two new rings including a pyrimidinone ring and a benzene ring in an efficient manner.

Fe(III)-Catalyzed Bicyclization of Yne-Allenones With Indoles for the Atom-Economic Synthesis of 3-Indolyl Cyclobutarenes

A new Fe(III)-catalyzed bicyclization reaction of yne-allenones with indoles has been established, enabling the direct construction of cyclobuta[a]naphthalen-4-ols with an all-carbon quaternary center in good to excellent yields. This reaction was performed by using low-cost FeCl3 as the catalyst and EtOH as the environmentally benign solvent, providing a green protocol for constructing the cyclobutarene framework with a high degree of atom economy and functional group compatibility. The reaction mechanism was proposed to proceed through a [2 + 2] cycloaddition/1,6-conjugate addition cascade.

A domino reaction of 2-isocyanophenyloxyacrylate and aryne to synthesize arenes with vicinal olefin and benzoxazole

An unusual domino reaction of 2-isocyanophenyloxyacrylate and aryne has been disclosed. The present strategy experiences nucleophilic addition, Michael addition, carbon–oxygen cleavage, and cyclization, thus enabling the quick aryne vicinal difunctionalization by the installation of a benzoxazole and an olefin.

Ytterbium and silver co-catalyzed synthesis of pyrrole-fused bicyclic skeletons from enynones and isocyanides

A cascade reaction of isocyanide and enynone using Yb/Ag cooperative catalysis provided a quick access to structurally complex pyrrole-fused heterocycles.

A multicomponent bicyclization reaction of isocyanide, allenoate, imine and water to synthesize pyrrolidine-fused rings

A multicomponent bicyclization of isocyanide, allenoate, imine, and water has been disclosed. This protocol involves the formation of five chemical bonds (two C–C, two C–N, and one C–O), thus providing a new pathway to fused rings.

Base-Promoted [4 + 1]/[3 + 1 + 1] Bicyclization for Accessing Functionalized Indeno[1,2-c]furans

A novel three-component bicyclization strategy for the metal-free synthesis of densely functionalized indeno[1,2-c]furans with generally good yields has been established from readily accessible o-phthalaldehydes (OPA), isocyanides, and α-diazoketones. The reaction pathway involves aldol-type addition, 1,2-hydride shift, 5-exo-trig cyclization, and 1,4-addition as well as an oxo-5-exo-dig cyclization sequence, resulting in continuous multiple bond-forming events including C-C and C-O bonds to rapidly build up functional oxo-heterocycles.

Unexpected isocyanide-based three-component bicyclization for the stereoselective synthesis of densely functionalized pyrano[3,4-c]pyrroles

A novel three-component bicyclization strategy for the efficient synthesis of densely functionalized pyrano[3,4-c]pyrroles has been established from readily accessible 3-aroylacrylic acids, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and isocyanides. The reaction pathway involves Huisgen 1,3-dipole formation, Passerini-type reaction, Mumm rearrangement and an oxo-Diels-Alder reaction sequence, resulting in continuous multiple bond-forming events including C-N, C-O and C-H bonds to rapidly build up molecular complexity.

Isocyanide-based multicomponent reactions in the synthesis of heterocycles

In this review, we update our previous presentation, underscoring the recent applications of isocyanides as privileged synthons in the synthesis of various heterocyclic compounds, especially focused on those synthesizedviamulticomponent reactions.

Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Δ(2)-Isoxazoline from Toluene Derivatives Enabled by the Triple Role of Silver Nitrate

A palladium-catalyzed direct synthesis of Δ(2)-isoxazoline from toluene derivatives has been established. The present reaction proceeds through nondirected Csp(3)-H activation, benzylic nitration, dehydration, and cycloaddition. This protocol also features the unusual triple role of silver nitrate in a one-pot reaction.

Synthesis of isocoumarins with different substituted patterns via Passerini-aldol sequence

An efficient combination between the Passerini three-component reaction and aldol condensation has been developed for the synthesis of bicyclic isocoumarins with different substituted patterns via solvent-dependent domino pathways. These two operationally friendly methods simultaneously install C–O and C–C bonds in a one-pot manner, allowing the utilization of low-cost and readily accessible 2-formylbenzoic acid, isocyanides, and arylglyoxals. Mechanisms of formation of different substituted isocoumarin derivatives are also proposed.