Straightforward Synthesis of Various 2,3-Diarylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in PEG400Medium through One-Pot Condensation and C-H Arylation

The Application of Microwaves, Ultrasounds, and Their Combination in the Synthesis of Nitrogen-Containing Bicyclic Heterocycles

The use of alternative energy sources, such as microwaves (MW) or ultrasounds (US), and their mutual cross-combination have been widely described in the literature in the development of new synthetic methodologies in organic and medicinal chemistry. In this review, our attention is focused on representative examples, reported in the literature in the year range 2013-2023 of selected N-containing bicyclic heterocycles, with the aim to highlight the advantages of microwave- and ultrasound-assisted organic synthesis.

Eucalyptol, an All-Purpose Product

Eucalyptus plants have attracted the attention of researchers and environmentalists worldwide because they are a rapidly growing source of wood and a source of oil used for multiple purposes. The main and the most important oil component is 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol: 60–85%). This review summarizes the literature reported to date involving the use of 1,8-cineole for the treatment of disorders. Additionally, we describe our efforts in the use of eucalyptol as a solvent for the synthesis of O,S,N-heterocycles. Solvents used in chemistry are a fundamental element of the environmental performance of processes in corporate and academic laboratories. Their influence on costs, safety and health cannot be neglected. Green solvents such as bio-based systems hold considerable additional promise to reduce the environmental impact of organic chemistry. The first section outlines the process leading to our discovery of an unprecedented solvent and its validation in the first coupling reactions. This section continues with the description of its properties and characteristics and its reuse as reported in the various studies conducted. The second section highlights the use of eucalyptol in a series of coupling reactions (i.e., Suzuki–Miyaura, Sonogashira–Hagihara, Buchwald–Hartwig, Migita–Kosugi–Stille, Hiyama and cyanation) that form O,S,N-heterocycles. We describe the optimization process applied to reach the ideal conditions. We also show that eucalyptol can be a good alternative to build heterocycles that contain oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen. These studies allowed us to demonstrate the viability and potential that bio solvents can have in synthesis laboratories.

Oxidation Potential-Guided Electrochemical Radical-Radical Cross-Coupling Approaches to 3-Sulfonylated Imidazopyridines and Indolizines

Oxidation potential-guided electrochemical radical-radical cross-coupling reactions between N-heteroarenes and sodium sulfinates have been established. Thus, simple cyclic voltammetry measurement of substrates predicts the likelihood of successful radical-radical coupling reactions, allowing the simple and direct synthetic access to 3-sulfonylated imidazopyridines and indolizines. The developed electrochemical radical-radical cross-coupling reactions to sulfonylated N-heteroarenes boast the green synthetic nature of the reactions that are oxidant- and metal-free.

Eucalyptol: A Bio-Based Solvent for the Synthesis of O,S,N-Heterocycles. Application to Hiyama Coupling, Cyanation, and Multicomponent Reactions

We report here the use of eucalyptol as a bio-based solvent for Hiyama coupling, cyanation, and multicomponent reactions on O,S,N-heterocycles. These heterocycles were chosen as targets or as starting materials given their biological potential; they play an important role in therapeutically active compounds. Once again, eucalyptol proved to be a credible and sustainable alternative to common solvents.

Green strategies for transition metal-catalyzed C–H activation in molecular syntheses

Sustainable strategies for the activation of inert C–H bonds towards improved resource-economy.

Laser synthesis: a solvent-free approach for the preparation of phenylthiazolo[5,4-b]pyridine derivatives

We describe here a rapid and straightforward solvent-free method to access phenylthiazolo[5,4-b]pyridines using a Nd-YAG laser NANO-NY81-10 (λ = 355 nm, 10 Hz pulse frequency; 8 ns pulse duration).

Diversity-Oriented Synthesis toward Aryl- and Phosphoryl-Functionalized Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

We report herein an efficient synthesis of diversely polysubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, a family of aza-heterocycles endowed with numerous biological properties, through a sequence involving two consecutive palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. First, we demonstrated that a Hirao coupling occurred straightforwardly in high yields at positions 3, 5, and 6 of imidazopyridine derivatives, giving access to a wide variety of substituted phosphonates, phosphinates, and phosphine oxides. In a second step, direct CH-arylation of phosphorylimidazopyridines with aryl halides was found to be effective and fully selective, leading to 3-aryl-substituted imidazopyridines in moderate to high yields depending on steric hindrance.

Greener Synthesis of Nitrogen-Containing Heterocycles in Water, PEG, and Bio-Based Solvents

The solvents used in chemistry are a fundamental element of the environmental performance of processes in corporate and academic laboratories. Their influence on costs, health safety, and nature cannot be neglected. Quantitatively, solvents are the most abundant constituents of chemical transformations; therefore, acting on solvents and replacing standard solvents with safer products can have a great ecological impact. However, not all green solvents are suitable for the wide scope of organic chemistry reactions. A second point to consider is that 50% of pharmaceutical drugs are nitrogen heterocycles compounds. It therefore appeared important to provide an overview of the more ecological methodologies for synthesizing this class of compounds. In this review, all publications since 2000 that describe green reactions leading to the formation of nitrogen heterocycles using safe solvents were considered. We chose water, PEG, and bio-based solvents for their negligible toxicity. The synthesis of five-, six-, and seven-membered aromatic nitrogen heterocycles using green reactions reported in the literature to date is described.

Facile synthesis of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines catalysed by DBU in aqueous ethanol

A facile protocol for the synthesis of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines was developed using two-component cyclization of substituted 2-aminopyridines and substituted phenacyl bromides in 65–94% yield. The reaction was DBU catalysed using green solvent, aqueous ethanol (1 : 1 v/v) at room temperature. The atom economy of the products was calculated to be 66.25–73.41%. The developed protocol successfully exhibits a broad substrate scope, less reaction time, high to moderate yield and multigram scale synthesis.

Eucalyptol as a Bio-Based Solvent for Buchwald-Hartwig Reaction on O,S,N-Heterocycles

We report here the use of eucalyptol as a bio-based solvent for the Buchwald–Hartwig reaction on O,S,N-heterocycles. These heterocycles containing oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen were chosen as targets or as starting materials. Once again, eucalyptol demonstrated to be a possible sustainable alternative to common solvents.

Transition-Metal-Free Three-Component Reaction: Additive Controlled Synthesis of Sulfonylated Imidazoles

Two efficient transition-metal-free highly regioselective pathways for constructing sulfonylated imidazoles via three-component reactions of amidines, ynals, and sodium sulfonates have been developed. The generations of different sulfonylated imidazoles were simply controlled by additives. In addition, this method features environmental friendliness, good functional group tolerance, and high atom economy, which makes it practical.

New Series of Thiazole Derivatives: Synthesis, Structural Elucidation, Antimicrobial Activity, Molecular Modeling and MOE Docking

Based on the extensive biological activities of thiazole derivatives against different types of diseases, we are interested in the effective part of many natural compounds, so we synthesized a new series of compounds containing di-, tri- and tetrathiazole moieties. The formation of such derivatives proceeded via reaction of 2-bromo-1-(4-methyl-2-(methylamino)thiazol-5-yl)ethan-1-one with heterocyclic amines, o-aminothiophenol and thiosemicarbazone derivatives. The structure and mechanistic pathways for all products were discussed and proved based on spectral results, in addition to conformational studies. Our aim after the synthesis is to investigate their antimicrobial activity against various types of bacteria and fungi species. Preceeding such an investigation, a molecular docking study was carried out with selected conformers, as representative examples, against three pathogen-proteins. This preliminary stage could support the biological application. The potency of these compounds as antimicrobial agents has been evaluated. The results showed that derivatives which have di- and trithiazole rings displayed high activity that exceeds the used standard antibiotic.

A Greener and Efficient Method for Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution of Nitrogen-Containing Fused Heterocycles

A simple and efficient methodology for the nucleophilic aromatic substitution of nitrogen-containing fused heterocycles with interesting biological activities has been developed in an environmentally sound manner using polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) as the solvent, leading to the expected compounds in excellent yields in only five minutes.

Solvent-Free Mizoroki-Heck Reaction Applied to the Synthesis of Abscisic Acid and Some Derivatives

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a natural product, which is a well-known phytohormone. However, this molecule has recently exhibited interesting biological activities, emphasizing the need for a simple and direct access to new analogues based on the ABA framework. Our strategy relies on a pallado-catalyzed Mizoroki-Heck cross-coupling as key reaction performed in solvent and ligand free conditions. After a careful optimization, we succeeded in accessing various (E/Z)-dienes and (E/E/Z)-trienes in moderate to good yields without isomerization and applied the same approach to the synthesis of ABA in an environmentally sound manner.

Combination of RuCl3·xH2O with PEG – a simple and recyclable catalytic system for direct arylation of heteroarenes via C–H bond activation

A simple and recyclable catalytic system for direct arylation of heteroarenes via C–H bond activation was developed with a relatively inexpensive RuCl₃·xH₂O as a catalyst and PEG-400 as a green medium without any additive or ligand.

Transition-metal-free C–C bond cleavage and formation: efficient synthesis of 2,3-diarylimidazo[1,2-α]pyridines from 2-aminopyridines and alkynoates

A highly efficient transition-metal-free cyclization reaction for the synthesis of 2,3-diarylimidazo[1,2-α]pyridines is described.

Iodine-catalyzed formation of substituted 2-aminobenzothiazole derivatives in PEG400

An iodine-catalyzed formation of substituted 2-aminobenzothiazole derivatives is herein described using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant in PEG₄₀₀.

Fe–Cu catalyzed synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical diaryl thioethers using 1,3-benzoxazole-2-thiol as a sulfur surrogate

An efficient Fe–Cu catalyzed approach is herein developed using 1,3-benzoxazole-2-thiol as a thiol surrogate for the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical diaryl thioethers.

I2–DMSO–PTSA: a simple and metal free oxidative cross coupling of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and methylketones

A simple, metal free and selective oxidative cross-coupling promoted by I₂–DMSO in presence of PTSA has been developed with the use of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines (1) and methyl ketones (2) to access 3 in a one pot reaction.

Metal free direct formation of various substituted pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]isoquinolin-5-amines and their further functionalization

Original substituted pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]isoquinolin-5-amines have been easily prepared via an Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé MCR, then an N-deprotection followed by a spontaneous final cyclization step.