Rh(iii)-catalyzed sp3/sp2-C-H heteroarylations via cascade C-H activation and cyclization

The development of an efficient strategy for facile access to quinoline-based bis-heterocycles holds paramount importance in medicinal chemistry. Herein, we describe a unified approach for accessing 8-(indol-3-yl)methyl-quinolines by integrating Cp*Rh(iii)-catalyzed C(sp3)-H bond activation of 8-methylquinolines followed by nucleophilic cyclization with o-ethynylaniline derivatives. Remarkably, methoxybiaryl ynones under similar catalytic conditions delivered quinoline tethered spiro[5.5]enone scaffolds via a dearomative 6-endo-dig C-cyclization. Moreover, leveraging this method for C8(sp2)-H bond activation of quinoline-N-oxide furnished biologically relevant oxindolyl-quinolines. This reaction proceeds via C(sp2)-H bond activation, regioselective alkyne insertion, oxygen-atom-transfer (OAT) and intramolecular nucleophilic cyclization in a cascade manner. One C-C, one C-N and one C[double bond, length as m-dash]O bond were created with concomitant formation of a quaternary center.

Synthesis of Indenones via Persulfate Promoted Radical Alkylation/Cyclization of Biaryl Ynones with 1,4-Dihydropyridines

The oxidative radical cascade cyclization of alkynes has emerged as a versatile strategy for the efficient construction of diverse structural units and complex molecules in organic chemistry. This work reports an alkyl radical initiated 5-exo-trig cyclization of biaryl ynones with 1,4-dihydropyridines to selectively synthesize indenones.

Divergent Construction of Thiochromanes and N-Arylbutanamides via Arylthiodifluoromethyl Radical-Triggered Cascade of Alkenes

A strategy utilizing silver-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylation radical cascade cyclization of arylthiodifluoroacetic acids with alkenes for the simple and efficient preparation of difluoromethylated thiochromanes and 2,2-disubstituted-N-arylbutanamides derivatives has been developed. This approach includes good functional group tolerance, easily accessible starting materials, and operational simplicity.

Visible Light Promoted Brominative Dearomatization of Biaryl Ynones to Spirocycles

Bromine induced spiro cyclization of biaryl ynones facilitated the synthesis of spiro[5,5]trienones suitable for extended functionality at the C(3') position. Herein, a step-economic photo-oxidative brominative carbannulation of biaryl ynones employing ammonium bromide and riboflavin tetraacetate (RFTA) has been developed. The reactivity between distal phenyl C-H activated ortho-annulation and dearomative ipso-annulation is well exemplified. The eminent features of the methodology include metal-free, external additive free, low-loading photocatalyst (0.1 mol %), and use of a simple precursor.

Photoinduced Photocatalyst-Free Cascade Cyclization of Alkynes with Sodium Sulfinates for the Synthesis of Benzothiophenes and Thioflavones

The subject of this investigation is a new method for the construction of sulfonylated heterocycles which overcomes the limitations of classical approaches using a cheap feedstock sulfonylating agent, especially under photocatalyst- and metal-free conditions.

Nitro-Spirocyclization of Biaryl Ynones with tert-Butyl Nitrite: Access to NO2-Substituted Spiro[5,5]trienones

A metal/peroxide-free involved simple cascade 6-exo-trig spirocyclization of tert-butyl nitrite with biaryl ynones has been finished, which resulted in various NO₂-modified spiro[5,5]trienones with good regioselectivity/yields. A variety of scaled-up experiments, reduction/epoxidation operations, and mechanistic studies were performed to verify the merits and spirocyclization process of this radical system. Finally, the structure of the spirocycles was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Metal- and Base-Free Radical Cascade Cyclization/Hydrolysis of CN-Containing 1,6-Enynes with Ethers to Access Polyheterocycles

A convenient and straightforward approach for the radical cascade cyclization/hydrolysis of CN-containing 1,6-enynes with simple ethers under metal- and base-free conditions is described. This strategy provides a variety of valuable ethers-substituted polyheterocycles via the construction of three C-C bonds, one C=O bond, and two new six-membered rings within a single procedure. The resulting products can smoothly undergo follow-up conversions to various useful scaffolds. The methodology shows excellent functional group tolerance, high step- and atom- economy, and mild reaction conditions, which can be further scaled up to gram quantity in a satisfactory yield.

Dearomatization of Biaryls through Polarity Mismatched Radical Spirocyclization

Dearomatization reactions involving radical cyclizations can facilitate the synthesis of complex polycyclic systems that find applications in medicinal chemistry and natural product synthesis. Here we employ redox-neutral photocatalysis to affect a radical spirocyclization that transforms biaryls into spirocyclic cyclohexadienones under mild reaction conditions. In a departure from previously reported methods, our work demonstrates the polarity mismatched addition of a nucleophilic radical to an electron rich arene, and allows the regioselective synthesis of 2,4- or 2,5-cyclohexadienones with broad functional group tolerance. By transforming biaryls into spirocycles, our methodology accesses underexplored three-dimensional chemical space, and provides an efficient means of creating quaternary spirocenters that we apply to the first synthesis of the cytotoxic plant metabolite denobilone A.

Copper(II)-catalyzed oxidative ipso-annulation of N-arylpropiolamides and biaryl ynones with 1,3-diketones: construction of diketoalkyl spiro-trienones

An unprecedented copper-catalyzed ipso-annulation reaction of N-(p-methoxyaryl)propiolamides with 1,3-diketones has been developed, which enables the assembly of diketoalkylated spiro[4.5]trienones involving oxidative dearomatization in the presence of ammonium persulfate [(NH₄)₂S₂O₈] as the oxidant. This protocol was extended to biaryl ynones, efficiently affording the diketoalkylated spiro[5.5]trienones in good yields. The significance of the diketoalkyl functionality has been illustrated by further transformation into 3-pyrazoyl spiro-trienone, a structurally unique motif.

Trifluoromethylthiolative spirocyclization of biaryl ynones without leaving groups on the para-position of dearomatized aryl rings

A direct and efficient strategy for the oxidative spirocyclization of biaryl ynones has been developed, where nonsubstituted groups were on the para-position of the dearomatized aryl rings.

Selective polychloromethylation and halogenation of alkynes with polyhaloalkanes

We disclosed a selective polychloromethylation and halogenation reaction of alkynes via a radical addition/spirocyclization cascade sequence, in which applying polyhaloalkanes as the precursor of polyhalomethyl and halogen radical. Across this...

Radical spirocyclization of biaryl ynones for the construction of NO2-containing spiro[5.5]trienones

An efficient 6-exo-trig radical cascade reaction of biaryl ynones with NaNO2 was developed to afford nitro-functionalized spiro[5.5]trienones with yields of up to 88%.

C-centered radical-initiated cyclization by directed C(sp3)–H oxidative functionalization

C(sp3)–H functionalization is attracting constant attention. This review emphasizes C-centered radicals initiated cyclization strategies by directed C(sp3)–H oxidative functionalization since 2012.