Electrochemical Synthesis of Benzazoles from Alcohols and o -Substituted Anilines with a Catalytic Amount of CoII Salt

Eelectrosynthesis of benzothiazole derivatives via C–H thiolation

Benzothiazole derivatives are essential intermediates in synthesizing a wide variety of medical and pharmaceutical compounds, and there is a great demand for a simple and efficient method to synthesize benzothiazoles under mild reaction conditions. Organic electrosynthesis as an energy-efficient process represents an environmentally benign and safer method than traditional methods for organic synthesis. Herein, we present bromine-free and straightforward synthesis of 2-amino benzothiazole derivatives via the reaction of aniline derivatives and ammonium thiocyanate using electrosynthesis in the presence of sodium bromide both as an electrolyte and as a brominating agent at room temperature in isopropyl alcohol (i-PrOH) as a solvent. The reaction of ammonium thiocyanate via C–H thiolation routes, using various aniline derivatives, resulted in a simple, green, and bromine-free synthesis of 2-amino benzothiazole in moderate to good yields under mild reaction conditions. Riluzole drug can be produced using the same procedure in moderate yields.

Non-metal-mediated N-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-induced acceptorless dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles via electrocatalysis

The development of protocols for direct catalytic acceptorless dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles with metal-free catalysts holds the key to difficulties in green and sustainable chemistry. Herein, an N-oxyl radical (TEMPO) acting as an oxidant in combination with electrochemistry is used as a synthesis system under neutral conditions to produce N-heterocycles such as benzimidazole and quinazolinone. The key feature of this protocol is the utilization of the TEMPO system as an inexpensive and easy to handle radical surrogate that can effectively promote the dehydrogenation reaction. Mechanistic studies also suggest that oxidative TEMPOs redox catalytic cycle participates in the dehydrogenation of 2,3-dihydro heteroarenes.

The development of protocols for direct catalytic acceptorless dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles with metal-free catalysts holds the key to difficulties in green and sustainable chemistry.

Recent Developments Towards Synthesis of (Het)arylbenzimidazoles

Benzimidazole is an important heterocycle that is widely researched and utilized by the pharmaceutical industry and is one of the five most commonly used five-membered aromatic heterocyclic compounds approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. In view of their wide-ranging bioactivities, systems containing benzimidazole as one of the moieties occupy a special place among other benzimidazole derivatives. Since 2010, many improved synthetic strategies have been developed for the construction of hetaryl- and arylbenzimidazole molecular scaffolds under environmentally benign conditions. This review emphasizes the recent trends and modifications frequently used in the synthesis of derivatives of benzimidazole such as the Phillips–Ladenburg and Weidenhagen reactions, as well as entirely new methods of synthesis, involving oxidative cyclization, cross-coupling, ring distortion strategy, and rearrangements carried out under environmentally benign conditions.

1 Introduction

2 From 1,2-Diaminobenzenes with Various One-Carbon Unit Suppliers

2.1 Phillips–Ladenburg Reaction

2.1.1 With (Het)arenecarboxylic Acids

2.2.2 With (Het)arenecarboxylic Acid Derivatives

2.2 Weidenhagen Reaction

2.2.1 With (Het)arenecarbaldehydes or (Het)aryl Methyl Ketones

2.2.2 With Primary Alcohols

2.2.3 With Primary Alkylamines

2.2.4 With 2-Methylazaarenes

2.2.5 With Other One-Carbon Fragment Suppliers

3 From 2-Haloacetanilides and Amines

4 From Amidines

5 From Tetrahydroquinazolines

6 Mamedov Rearrangement

7 Conclusions and Outlook

Electrochemically induced synthesis of quinazolinones via cathode hydration of o-aminobenzonitriles in aqueous solutions

An efficient and practical electrochemically catalyzed transition metal-free process for the synthesis of substituted quinazolinones from simple and readily available o-aminobenzonitriles and aldehydes in water has been accomplished. I₂/base and water play an unprecedented and vital role in the reaction. By electrochemically catalysed hydrolysis of o-aminobenzonitriles, the synthesis of quinazolinones with benzaldehyde was first proposed. The synthetic utility of this method was demonstrated by gram-scale operation, as well as the preparation of bioactive N-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-6-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy) pteridin-4-amine, which enables straightforward, practical and environmentally benign quinazolinone formation.

Iodonium Cation-Pool Electrolysis for the Three-Component Synthesis of 1,3-Oxazoles

The synthesis of 1,3-oxazoles from symmetrical and unsymmetrical alkynes was realized by an iodonium cation-pool electrolysis of I2 in acetonitrile with a well-defined water content. Mechanistic investigations suggest that the alkyne reacts with the acetonitrile-stabilized I+ ions, followed by a Ritter-type reaction of the solvent to a nitrilium ion, which is then attacked by water. The ring closure to the 1,3-oxazoles released molecular iodine, which was visible by the naked eye. Also, some unsymmetrical internal alkynes were tested and a regioselective formation of a single isomer was determined by two-dimensional NMR experiments.

Enzymatic electrochemical continuous flow cascade synthesis of substituted benzimidazoles

An industrially practical method for the synthesis of substituted benzimidazoles was developed from an enzymatic electrochemical cascade method.

A one-pot synthesis of benzimidazoles via aerobic oxidative condensation of benzyl alcohols with o-phenylenediamines catalyzed by [MIMPs]+Cl-/NaNO2/TEMPO

The ionic liquid 1-methyl-3-(3-sulfopropyl)imidazolium chloride ([MIMPs]+Cl-) in combination with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) as a catalytic system demonstrates high efficiency in the one-pot two-step aerobic oxidative condensation of benzyl alcohols with 1,2-phenylenediamines to give benzimidazoles. Various benzimidazoles are obtained in good to excellent yields by this strategy.

Electrochemical sulfonylation of alkenes with sulfonyl hydrazides: a metal- and oxidant-free protocol for the synthesis of (E)-vinyl sulfones in water

An electrochemical sulfonylation of alkenes with sulfonyl hydrazides for the synthesis of (E)-vinyl sulfones in water is reported.

Electrochemical strategies for C-H functionalization and C-N bond formation

Conventional methods for carrying out carbon-hydrogen functionalization and carbon-nitrogen bond formation are typically conducted at elevated temperatures, and rely on expensive catalysts as well as the use of stoichiometric, and perhaps toxic, oxidants. In this regard, electrochemical synthesis has recently been recognized as a sustainable and scalable strategy for the construction of challenging carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. Here, electrosynthesis has proven to be an environmentally benign, highly effective and versatile platform for achieving a wide range of nonclassical bond disconnections via generation of radical intermediates under mild reaction conditions. This review provides an overview on the use of anodic electrochemical methods for expediting the development of carbon-hydrogen functionalization and carbon-nitrogen bond formation strategies. Emphasis is placed on methodology development and mechanistic insight and aims to provide inspiration for future synthetic applications in the field of electrosynthesis.

Electrifying Organic Synthesis

The direct synthetic organic use of electricity is currently experiencing a renaissance. More synthetically oriented laboratories working in this area are exploiting both novel and more traditional concepts, paving the way to broader applications of this niche technology. As only electrons serve as reagents, the generation of reagent waste is efficiently avoided. Moreover, stoichiometric reagents can be regenerated and allow a transformation to be conducted in an electrocatalytic fashion. However, the application of electroorganic transformations is more than minimizing the waste footprint, it rather gives rise to inherently safe processes, reduces the number of steps of many syntheses, allows for milder reaction conditions, provides alternative means to access desired structural entities, and creates intellectual property (IP) space. When the electricity originates from renewable resources, this surplus might be directly employed as a terminal oxidizing or reducing agent, providing an ultra-sustainable and therefore highly attractive technique. This Review surveys recent developments in electrochemical synthesis that will influence the future of this area.

Cobalt-catalyzed electrooxidative C-H/N-H [4+2] annulation with ethylene or ethyne

Ethylene and ethyne are among the simplest two-carbon building blocks. However, quite limited methods can be applied to incorporate ethylene or ethyne into fine chemicals. Here we demonstrate a cobalt-catalyzed dehydrogenative C–H/N–H [4+2] annulation of aryl/vinyl amides with ethylene or ethyne by using an electrochemical reaction protocol. Significantly, this work shows an example of electrochemical recycling of cobalt catalyst in oxidative C–H functionalization reactions, avoiding the use of external chemical oxidants and co-oxidants. The electrochemical method provides a reliable and safe way for incorporating gas-phase ethylene or ethyne into fine chemicals. High reaction efficiency and good functional group tolerance are observed under divided electrolytic conditions.

Catalytic methodologies that incorporate commodity chemicals ethylene and ethyne into fine chemicals are quite limited. Here, the authors show a cobalt-catalyzed electrochemical C-H/N–H [4+2] annulation of aryl/vinyl amides with ethylene or ethyne to produce N-heterocycles in absence of oxidants.

The synthesis of benzimidazoles via a recycled palladium catalysed hydrogen transfer under mild conditions

An efficient synthesis of benzimidazoles was developed by virtue of a recycled palladium catalyzed hydrogen transfer.

Use of Electrochemistry in the Synthesis of Heterocyclic Structures

The preparation and transformation of heterocyclic structures have always been of great interest in organic chemistry. Electrochemical technique provides a versatile and powerful approach to the assembly of various heterocyclic structures. In this review, we examine the advance in relation to the electrochemical construction of heterocyclic compounds published since 2000 via intra- and intermolecular cyclization reactions.

Atmospheric CO2 promoted synthesis of N-containing heterocycles over B(C6F5)3 catalyst

CO₂ gas greatly promoted the cyclization of various o-substituted anilines with N,N-dimethylformamide, producing N-containing heterocycles in high yields.

Silver-promoted decarboxylative amidation of α-keto acids with amines

A general and effective method for the synthesis of amides through decarboxylative amidation of α-keto acids with amines has been developed.