Synthesis of Polysubstituted 3-Methylisoquinolines through the 6π-Electron Cyclization/Elimination of 1-Azatrienes derived from 1,1-Dimethylhydrazine: Synthesis of Polysubstituted 3-Methylisoquinolines through the 6π-Electron Cyclization/Elimination of 1-Azatrienes derived from 1,1-Dimethylhydrazine

Isolation, biological activity, and synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids

Covering: 2019 to 2023Isoquinoline alkaloids, an important class of N-based heterocyclic compounds, have attracted considerable attention from researchers worldwide. To follow up on our prior review (covering 2014-2018) and present the progress of this class of compounds, this review summarizes and provides updated literature on novel isoquinoline alkaloids isolated during the period of 2019-2023, together with their biological activity and underlying mechanisms of action. Moreover, with the rapid development of synthetic modification strategies, the synthesis strategies of isoquinoline alkaloids have been continuously optimized, and the total synthesis of these classes of natural products is reviewed critically herein. Over 250 molecules with a broad range of bioactivities, including antitumor, antibacterial, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and other activities, are isolated and discussed. The total synthesis of more than nine classes of isoquinoline alkaloids is presented, and thirteen compounds constitute the first total synthesis. This survey provides new indications or possibilities for the discovery of new drugs from the original naturally occurring isoquinoline alkaloids.

Electrocyclizations of Conjugated Azapolyenes Produced in Reactions of Azaheterocycles with Metal Carbenes

Conjugated azapolyenes (azabuta-1,3-dienes, aza-/diaza-/oxaza-/oxadiazahexa-1,3,5-trienes) are highly reactive in electrocyclization reactions, which makes them convenient precursors for the synthesis of a wide range of four-, five-, and six-membered nitrogen heterocycles that are of relevance for medicinal chemistry. Ring opening reactions of 2H-azirines and azoles containing an N–N or N–O bond, initiated by a transition metal carbene, have become increasingly important in recent years, since they easily allow the generation of azapolyenes with different numbers of double bonds and heteroatoms in various positions. This review summarizes the literature, published mainly in the last decade, on the synthetic and mechanistic aspects of electrocyclizations of azapolyenes generated by the carbene method.

First total synthesis of ampullosine, a unique isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Sepedonium ampullosporum, and of the related permethylampullosine

A straightforward and convenient approach toward the first total synthesis of ampullosine, a structurally unique 3-methylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Sepedonium ampullosporum, is reported. Access to the related O-methyl ampullosine methyl ester from a common intermediate is also disclosed. The synthetic sequence toward the natural product comprised a Kolbe-type carboxylation of 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and further esterification of the diacid, followed by masking of one of the phenols through selective ester reduction and subsequent acetonide formation. Installation of the three-carbon atom required for the 3-methylpyridine ring was performed by triflation of the remaining free phenol and a Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura reaction with potassium E-propenyltrifluoroborate. Deprotection of the acetonide, followed by partial oxidation of the benzylic alcohol to the salicylaldehyde, O-methylation of the free phenol and hydrazonation of the resulting ortho-anisaldehyde derivative gave a hydrazone-based 1-azatriene. This was further subjected to 6π-azaelectrocyclization to afford permethylampullosine (11 steps, 14% overall yield), whereas exhaustive demethylation with AlI3 generated in situ gave ampullosine (12 steps, 3.2% global yield).

Intramolecular azavinyl carbene-triggered rearrangement of furans

An intramolecular rhodium-catalyzed reaction of 1-tosyl-1,2,3-triazoles with furans has been explored. The tosylimino functionality was found to play a significant chemical role participating in the subsequent domino-transformations of a key reaction intermediate. One of the reaction pathways leads to valuable 2-formyl- and 2-acetylpyridine building blocks, which could be obtained in one-pot starting from easily accessible (furan-2-ylmethyl)propargyl amines. An original method for the synthesis of highly functionalized indolizines from the obtained pyridines has been proposed.