1,4-Dithiane-2,5-diol: An Attractive Platform for the Synthesis of Sulfur-Containing Functionalized Heterocycles

Supported-amine-catalyzed cascade synthesis of spiro-thiazolone-tetrahydrothiophenes: assessing HSA binding activity

We have devised a supported-amine-catalyzed efficient synthesis of spiro-thiazolone-tetrahydrothiophenes via a sulfa-Michael/aldol cascade approach. The catalyst demonstrated sustained efficacy over 21 cycles. These derivatives were found to exhibit excellent binding abilities with purified human serum albumin as indicated by both in silico and in vitro-based experiments.

Rediscovering Cyanogen Gas for Organic Synthesis: Formation of 2-Cyanothiazole Derivatives

The expeditious synthesis of an API building block, 2-cyanothiazole, from cyanogen gas and a readily available dithiane is reported. A previously undisclosed partially saturated intermediate is formed, which can be further functionalized and isolated by the acylation of the hydroxy group. Dehydration using trimethylsilyl chloride furnished 2-cyanothiazole, which could be further converted to the corresponding amidine. The sequence provided a 55% yield over 4 steps. We envision that this work will spark further interest in cyanogen gas as a reactive and cost-effective synthetic reagent.

Synthesis of diarylmethyl thioethers via a DABCO-catalyzed 1,6-conjugate addition reaction of p-quinone methides with organosulfur reagents

A rapid and simple method was developed for the synthesis of diarylmethyl thioethers via a DABCO-catalyzed 1,6-conjugate addition reaction of para-quinone methides (p-QMs) with organosulfur reagents. A series of diarylmethyl thioethers were synthesized at 13-85% yields by this method. After that, the antibacterial activities of synthesized diarylmethyl thioethers and their derivatives were evaluated. The MIC range (μg mL^-1) against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and clinically isolated methicillin-resistant S. aureus was 8-128 and 64-128, respectively.

1,4-Dithianes: attractive C2-building blocks for the synthesis of complex molecular architectures

This review covers the synthetic applications of 1,4-dithianes, as well as derivatives thereof at various oxidation states. The selected examples show how the specific heterocyclic reactivity can be harnessed for the controlled synthesis of carbon-carbon bonds. The reactivity is compared to and put into context with more common synthetic building blocks, such as 1,3-dithianes and (hetero)aromatic building blocks. 1,4-Dithianes have as yet not been investigated to the same extent as their well-known 1,3-dithiane counterparts, but they do offer attractive transformations that can find good use in the assembly of a wide array of complex molecular architectures, ranging from lipids and carbohydrates to various carbocyclic scaffolds. This versatility arises from the possibility to chemoselectively cleave or reduce the sulfur-heterocycle to reveal a versatile C2-synthon.

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Approach to γ,δ-Functionalization of 3-Cyano-4-styrylcoumarins via Bifunctional Catalysis

A novel organocatalytic reaction cascade between 3-cyano-4-styrylcoumarins and 2-mercaptoacetophenones is described. It is based on stereocontrolled functionalization of cyanocoumarins proceeding in a sequence of thia-Michael/aldol/annulation reactions. This highly diastereo- and enantioselective reaction is realized by employing enantioselective bifunctional catalysis and exhibits a broad substrate scope and excellent functional group tolerance. The synthetic application involves the transformation of the imidoester group, thus opening access to biologically relevant coumarin and δ-lactone-fused products.

Bi-Catalyzed 1,2-Reactivity of Spirocyclopropyl Oxindoles with Dithianediol: Access to Spiroheterocycles

The efficient Bi-catalyzed 1,2-reactivity of spirocyclopropyl oxindoles has been disclosed with dithianediols as the sulfur surrogate to furnish spiroheterocycles at moderate temperature. The procedure provides a potential approach for the construction of spirotetrahydrothiophene scaffolds with functional group diversity. The catalytic 1,2-reactivity of cyclopropanes, mechanistic studies using density functional theory studies, diastereoselectivity, and additive-free mild conditions are the important practical features.

Stereoselective synthesis of tri-substituted tetrahydrothiophenes and their in silico binding against mycobacterial protein tyrosine phosphatase B

A facile approach to tri-substituted tetrahydrothiophenes via thia-Michael/aldol has been developed. The cascade reaction was carried out in the presence of 5 mol% of DABCO in ethyl acetate to afford diversely functionalized tetrahydrothiophenes (THTs) with excellent diastereoselectivity. The present methodology has broad substrate tolerance. Gram-scale reaction proceeds with equal efficiency. Functional group transformations further highlight the synthetic potential of the THTs. An asymmetric version of the cascade reaction has also been investigated and a maximum of 72% ee was observed with cinchonidine derived squaramide. Moreover, in silico based molecular docking followed by deep learning based affinity prediction and molecular dynamics simulation analysis indicate the synthesized THT derivatives can act as potent competitive inhibitors of MptpB at low micromolar to nanomolar concentrations. In silico ADME analysis further suggests the plausibility of these compounds to act as future anti-mycobacterial therapeutic leads.

A copper-catalyzed three-component reaction of dithioacetals with diazo ketones and ketimines

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of various acyclic thioacetal derivatives and medium-size sulfur-containing heterocycles via copper-catalyzed three-component reaction of dithioacetals with diazo-ketones and ketimines was reported.

Asymmetric Synthesis of 3-Amine-tetrahydrothiophenes with a Quaternary Stereocenter via Nickel(II)/Trisoxazoline-Catalyzed Sulfa-Michael/Aldol Cascade Reaction: Divergent Access to Chiral Thionucleosides

A generally useful Ni(II)/trisoxazoline-catalyzed asymmetric sulfa-Michael/Aldol cascade reaction is introduced to access chiral 3-amine-tetrahydrothiophene derivatives containing a quaternary stereocenter (32 examples, up to 93% yield, > 20:1 dr and 92% ee). Moreover, the novel strategy offers an efficient and convenient approach to construct chiral thionucleoside analogues.

Organo-Halogens and their Possible Involvement in Prebiotic Chemistry

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In this review, we examined the possibility that some halogenated organic derivatives were used in the primitive ocean at the beginning of life on Earth. Firstly, we described the existence of extraterrestrial halogenated molecules, then we studied their nonbiological syntheses on the present Earth, especially in volcanic environments. In order to demonstrate the diversity of today’s halogenated biomolecules, representative examples are given and the biosynthesis of some of them is summarized. Finally, we proposed two aspects of the chemistry of halogenated compounds that may have been useful en route to biomolecules, firstly the use of methyl chloride as the first methylation reagent, secondly the synthesis and use of α-chloro-carbonyl derivatives.

Regioselective Reversal Cyclization To Access either Eight-Membered Sulfur-Containing Heterocycle-Fused γ-Pyrones or 2-(1,4-Dithianyl)-4-pyrones from the Same Precursors

A regioselective reverse strategy for the construction of eight-membered sulfur-containing heterocycle-fused γ-pyrones and 2-(1,4-dithianyl)-4-pyrones starting from 2-diazo-γ-pyrones and dithioacetals was achieved for the first time. The process combines C-S bond formation via sulfur ylides and C-C bond formation via electron transfer to afford the target molecules in a facile manner with 100% regioselectivity and in excellent isolated yields (up to 90%).

Synthesis of tetrasubstituted thiophenes via a [3+2] cascade cyclization reaction of pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates and activated allenes

A [3+2] cascade cyclization reaction of pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates and activated allenes was developed to access tetrasubstituted thiophenes.

Stereoselective functionalization of platensimycin and platencin by sulfa-Michael/aldol reactions

Bioinspired sulfa-Michael/aldol cascade reactions have been developed for the semisynthesis of sulfur-containing heterocyclic derivatives of platensimycin and platencin, with three newly formed contiguous stereogenic centers. Density functional theory calculations revealed the mechanism for the stereochemistry control. This method was used in a synthesis of a platensimycin thiophene analogue with potent antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus.

Chemo- and regioselective [3 + 2]-cyclo-additions of thio-carbonyl ylides: crystal structures of trans-8-benzoyl-1,1,3,3-tetra-methyl-7-tri-fluoro-methyl-5-thia-spiro-[3.4]octan-2-one and trans-3-benzoyl-2,2-diphenyl-4-(tri-fluoro-meth-yl)tetra-hydro-thio-phene

The title compounds, C19H21F3O2S and C24H19F3OS, were prepared via chemo- and regioselective [3 + 2]-cyclo-additions of the respective thio-carbonyl ylides (thio-carbonyl S-methanides), generated in situ, with (E)-4,4,4-tri-fluoro-1-phenyl-but-2-en-1-one. The thio-phene ring in the crystal structure of each compound has an envelope conformation. The largest differences between the two mol-ecular structures is in the bond lengths about the quaternary C atom of the thio-phene ring; in the spiro-cyclic structure, the C-C bonds to the spiro C atom in the cyclo-butane ring are around 1.60 Å, although this is also observed in related structures. In the same structure, weak inter-molecular C-H⋯X (X = S, O) inter-actions link the mol-ecules into extended ribbons running parallel to the [001] direction. In the other structure, weak C-H⋯π inter-actions link the mol-ecules into sheets parallel to the (010) plane.