Trifluoromethyl-β-dicarbonyls as Versatile Synthons in Synthesis of Heterocycles

Trifluoromethyl group relishes a privileged position in the realm of medicinal chemistry because its incorporation into organic molecules often enhances the bioactivity by altering pharmacological profile of molecule. Trifluoromethyl-β-dicarbonyls have emerged as pivotal building blocks in synthetic organic chemistry due to their facile accessibility, stability and remarkable versatility. Owing to presence of nucleophilic and electrophilic sites, they offer multifunctional sites for the reaction. This review covers a meticulous exploration of their multifaceted role, encompassing an in-depth analysis of mechanism, extensive scope, limitations and wide-ranging applications in diverse organic synthesis, covering the literature from the 21st century. This comprehensive review encapsulates the applications of trifluoromethyl-β-dicarbonyls and their synthetic equivalents as precursors of complex and diverse heterocyclic scaffolds, fused heterocycles and spirocyclic compounds having medicinal and material importance. Their potent synthetic utility in cyclocondensation reactions with binucleophiles, cycloaddition reactions, C-C bond formations, asymmetric multicomponent reactions using classical/solvent-free/catalytic synthesis have been presented. Influence of unsymmetrical trifluoromethyl-β-diketones on regioselectivity of transformation is also reviewed. This review will benefit the synthetic and pharmaceutical communities to explore trifluoromethyl-β-dicarbonyls as trifluoromethyl building blocks for fabrication of heterocyclic scaffolds having implementation into drug discovery programs in the imminent future.

Regiocontrolled Synthesis of 1-Substituted-3(5)-carboxyalkyl-1H-pyrazoles Using Trichloromethyl Enones

In this work, we present a regiocontrolled methodology to prepare 1-substituted-3(5)-carboxyalkyl-1H-pyrazoles using trichloromethyl enones as starting materials. It was found that the selectivity of the reaction depends on the nature of the hydrazine: when using arylhydrazine hydrochlorides, synthesis of the 1,3-regioisomer was achieved (22 examples, 37-97% yields), while the corresponding free hydrazine led exclusively to the 1,5-regioisomer (12 examples, 52-83% yields). The trichloromethyl group was used as a precursor for the carboxyalkyl moiety, furnishing a one-pot three-component regioselective protocol suitable for preparing both isomers at moderate to excellent yields. The selectivity of the reaction was investigated through NMR analyses and the structures of the products were unambiguously determined by SCXR analyses.

Synthesis of Methylene-Bridged Trifluoromethyl Azoles Using 5-(1,2,3-Triazol-1-yl)enones

A protocol for synthesizing triazole-containing pyrazolines and pyrazoles selectively using trifluoromethylated 5-(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)enones as starting materials, is reported. The selectivity of the reaction was controlled by the nature of the hydrazine or derivative used: free hydrazines furnished the 1,5-regiosiomer exclusively in yields up to 98%, whereas protected hydrazines provided the 1,3-regioisomer in yields up to 77%. To demonstrate the synthetic versatility of the triazole-based enone, reactions with other unsymmetrical dinucleophiles (hydroxylamine hydrochloride and S-methyl isothiourea sulfates) allowed the selective preparation of triazole-containing isoxazoline and pyrimidine rings.

Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of pyrimidines and their fused derivatives: A review

The pyrimidine scaffold is present in many bioactive drugs; therefore, efficient synthetic routes that provide shorter reaction times, higher yields, and site-selective reactions are constantly being sought. Ultrasound (US) irradiation has emerged as an alternative energy source in the synthesis of these heterocyclic scaffolds, and over the last ten years there has been a significant increase in the number of publications mentioning US in either the construction or derivatization of the pyrimidine core. This review presents a detailed summary (with 140 references) of the effects of US (synergic or not) on the construction and derivatization of the pyrimidine core through classical reactions (e.g., multicomponent, cyclocondensation, cycloaddition, and alkylation reactions). The main points that were taken into consideration are as follows: chemo- and regioselectivity issues, and the results of conventional heating methods compared to US and mechanistic insights that are also presented and discussed for key reactions.

A chemo- and regiocontrolled approach to bipyrazoles and pyridones via the reaction of ethyl 5-acyl-4-pyrone-2-carboxylates with hydrazines

Chemo- and regiocontrolled syntheses of pyrazoles and pyridones are presented on the basis of 4-pyrones. A novel approach towards highly functionalized 3,4'-bipyrazoles has been developed by using reactions of ethyl 5-acylcomanoates with hydrazines. The acid-promoted double cyclocondensation allows switching of the structure of the pyrazole rings easily through changing both the nature of hydrazine and the reaction conditions. The transformation of 4-pyrones with phenylhydrazine in EtOH at -20 °C leads to hydroxypyridones as monoaddition products which can be used as precursors for the preparation of pyridone and pyrazole derivatives. A novel rearrangement of 2-hydroxypyridone to pyrazolyl-1,3-diketones in DMSO was found. The structure and regiochemistry of bipyrazoles were confirmed by X-ray analysis and 2D NMR experiments.

Insights on the Similarity of Supramolecular Structures in Organic Crystals Using Quantitative Indexes

The quest for concepts of isostructurality in organic crystals has been long and mostly based on geometric data, even with the development of modern software. This field of study is of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry and for the prediction of crystal structures. Despite this, there is still no methodology that provides broad quantitative and comparable similarity data between two complete crystalline structures. The present study demonstrated that the similarity between two crystalline structures could be estimated from the similarity between the two "supramolecular clusters". Quantitative indexes for similarity comparisons of crystal structures were shown using nine 5-aryl-1-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1H-pyrazoles as a model. This proposal includes the quantitative data of a geometric parameter (I D), a contact area parameter (I C), and an energetic parameter (I G). The proposed indexes exhibited good perspective regarding the similarity data and distinct regions of similarity. The range of similarity was set at I X ≥ 0.80, 0.80 > I X > 0.60, and I X ≤ 0.60 (X = D, C, or G). Indexes with a value near 1.0 indicate systems with isostructural, isocontact, and isoenergetic behavior. The results indicated that supramolecular structures with high similarity must have high values for all three indexes (I D, I C, and I G).

Competition between the donor and acceptor hydrogen bonds of the threads in the formation of [2]rotaxanes by clipping reaction

The steric effect of thet-butyl group of 1′5′-thread prevents the formation of [2]rotaxane. On the other hand, the 1′3′-thread acts a template to obtain [2]rotaxanes.

Unsaturated polyfluoroalkyl ketones in the synthesis of nitrogen-bearing heterocycles

This review focuses on the recent achievements and new developments in the synthesis of polyfluorinated aza-heterocycles based on fluorine-bearing enones and ynones published in the last decade.

Ultrasound irradiation promotes the synthesis of new 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine

Ultrasonic irradiation was used in the synthesis of a series of novel 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines. The products were synthetized from the cyclocondensation reaction of 1,1,1-trifluoro-4-metoxy-3-alken-2-one [CF3C(O)CHC(R)OMe, where R=Ph, 4-F-C6H4, 4-Br-C6H4, 4-I-C6H4, 4-CH3-C6H4, 4-CH3O-C6H4, Thien-2-yl, Biphen-4-yl] or β-enaminones [RC(O)CHCHNMe2, where R=Ph, 4-F-C6H4, 4-Br-C6H4, 4-I-C6H4, 4-CH3-C6H4, 4-CH3O-C6H4, 4-NO2-C6H4, Thien-2-yl, Biphen-4-yl, Naphth-2-yl, Pyrrol-2-yl, CCl3] with 5-amino-1,2,4-triazole in acetic acid at 99°C with 5-17 min of ultrasound irradiation. This methodology has shown several advantages, such as shorter reaction times, mild conditions, high regioselectivity, and excellent yields, when compared with conventional thermal heating (oil bath).

Energetic and topological approach for characterization of supramolecular clusters in organic crystals

In this work, an approach is proposed for understanding the crystal arrangements of organic compounds.