Synthesis of 1′-methylspiro[3H-indole-3,n'-piperidines] from 1-methyl-n-piperidinecarbaldehydes

1,3-Migrative Ring Expansion of Spiroindolenines to Azepino[3,4-b]indoles

We serendipitously found an unprecedented 5-to-7-membered ring expansion of 2-alkylspiroindolenines to azepinoindoles mediated by n-tetrabutylammonium fluoride. The starting materials can be easily prepared by the hypoiodite-catalyzed oxidative dearomative spirocyclization of indole derivatives. Mildly basic conditions and electron-deficient protecting groups for the amines were found to be crucial to promoting chemoselective reactions. Moreover, the ring expansion of aniline-derived spiroindolenines proceeds smoothly under much milder conditions using only a catalytic amount of cesium carbonate.

Biomimetically Inspired, One-Step Synthesis of Exotine A and Exotine B

The one-step syntheses of exotine A and exotine B, which comprise the unusual coumarin-cyclohepta[b]indole ring system, have been achieved via the biomimetically inspired combination of indole, prenal, and either trans-dehydroosthol or gleinadiene. This facile three-component reaction delivered a mixture (17:1) of exotine A and 11'-epi-exotine A in a 43% yield from trans-dehydroosthol and a mixture (4:1) of exotine B and 11'-epi-exotine B in a 50% yield from gleinadiene. Some mechanistic aspects of this process were explored, and spectral evidence for 3,3'-spiroindolenine intermediates was obtained. Moreover, a skeletal isomer of exotine A that likely originates from a 1,2-alkyl rearrangement of a protonated 3,3'-spiroindolenine was isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography. These findings not only provide experimental support for Jiang's proposed biosynthesis of exotine A and exotine B but also foreshadow the existence of other exotine-derived natural products having isomeric frameworks. Exploratory attempts to induce an enantioselective 3CR using a chiral phosphoric acid were unsuccessful.

Stereoselective synthesis of 3-spiropiperidino indoleninesviaSN2-type ring opening of activated aziridines with 1H-indoles/Pd-catalyzed spirocyclization with propargyl carbonates

A novel synthetic route to 3-spiropiperidino indoleninesviaLewis acid catalyzed S_N2-type ring opening of activated aziridines with 1H-indoles followed by Pd-catalyzed spirocyclization with propargyl carbonates in high yields (up to 88%) with excellent diastereo- and enantiospecificity (dr >99 : 1; ee up to >99) is reported.

Rearrangement of 3,3-Disubstituted Indolenines and Synthesis of 2,3-Substituted Indoles

Synthesis of 2,3-substituted indoles from phenylhydrazine and alpha-branched aldehydes via rearrangement of 3,3-disubstituted indolenine intermediates is reported. [reaction: see text]

Novel derivatives of 2-pyridinemethylamine as selective, potent, and orally active agonists at 5-HT1A receptors

The aim of this work was to improve the oral bioavailability of a recently discovered, novel structural class of 5-HT1A receptor agonists: aryl-{[4-(6-R-pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-amino]-methyl}-piperidin-1 -yl-metha none. Incorporation of a fluorine atom in the beta-position to the amino function in the side chain led to analogues that exhibited, in general, enhanced and long-lasting 5-HT1A agonist activity in rats after oral administration. Location of the fluorine atom at the C-4 position of the piperidine ring was the most favorable, and among the various substituents tested, the ability of the fluorine was unique in improving the oral activity of this family of ligands. Thus, the derivatives 39, 46, and 61 bound with higher affinity and selectivity to 5-HT1A receptors (versus dopaminergic D2 and adrenergic alpha1 receptors) and displayed more potent 5-HT1A agonist activity in vitro and in vivo than their C-4 desfluoro analogues. To examine the relationship between the conformation of the pharmacophore and the level of agonistic activity of this type of ligand, we synthesized a series of 3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl-(4-fluoro-4{[(5-(H or CH3)-6-R-pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-amino]-methyl}-piperidin-1-yl-+ ++methanone derivatives and found that the combination of a 5-methyl and a 6-methylamino substituent on the pyridine ring synergistically affected their 5-HT1A agonist properties. Thus, the 3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl-(4-fluoro-4{[(5-methyl-6-methylamino-pyridin- 2-ylmethyl)-amino]-methyl}-piperidin-1-yl-methanone 40 behaved as a more potent 5-HT1A receptor agonist in vitro and in vivo than its 5-unsubstituted analogue 38. The antidepressant potential of the lead compounds 40, 45, and 54 was examined by means of the forced swimming test (FST) in rats. The results indicated that, after a single oral administration, these compounds inhibited immobility in the FST more potently and more extensively than the clinically used antidepressant imipramine. Thus, 40, 45, and 54 are potent, orally active 5-HT1A receptor agonists with marked antidepressant potential.