TCCA-mediated oxidative rearrangement of tetrahydro-β-carbolines: facile access to spirooxindoles and the total synthesis of (±)-coerulescine and (±)-horsfiline

Multi-reactive centered reagents are beneficial in chemical synthesis due to their advantage of minimal material utilization and formation of less by-products. Trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA), a reagent with three reactive centers, was employed in the synthesis of spirooxindoles through the oxidative rearrangement of various N-protected tetrahydro-β-carbolines. In this protocol, low equivalents of TCCA were required to access spirooxindoles (up to 99% yield) with a wide substrate scope. Furthermore, the applicability and robustness of this protocol were proven for the gram-scale total synthesis of natural alkaloids such as (±)-coerulescine (1) and (±)-horsfiline (2) in excellent yields.

Three-reactive centered reagent (TCCA) mediated construction of spirooxindoles through an oxidative rearrangement of various N-protected tetrahydro-β-carbolines and total synthesis of natural alkaloids (±)-coerulescine and (±)-horsfiline.

Access to 1-indolyltetrahydro-β-carbolines via metal-free cross-dehydrogenative coupling: the total synthesis of eudistomin U, isoeudistomin U and 19-bromoisoeudistomin U

A highly selective and captivating metal-free cross-dehydrogenative coupling for the cross-coupling of two reactive nucleophiles such as tetrahydro-β-carboline and indoles is developed. A series of 1-indolyltetrahydro-β-carboline derivatives were synthesized in excellent to moderate yields. Temperature, time and concentration control resulted in mono indolylation selectively. Moreover, the total synthesis of eudistomin U and isoeudistomin U and the first total synthesis of 19-bromoisoeudistomin U were accomplished.

Selectivity-tunable oxidation of tetrahydro-β-carboline over an OMS-2 composite catalyst: preparation and catalytic performance

Controlling the reaction selectivity of organic transformations without losing high conversion is always a challenge in catalytic processes. In this work, a H3PO4·12WO3/OMS-2 nanocomposite catalyst ([PW]-OMS-2) was prepared through the oxidation of a Mn(ii) salt with sodium phosphotungstate by KMnO4. Comprehensive characterization indicates that different Mn2+ precursors significantly affected the crystalline phase and morphology of the as-synthesized catalysts and only MnSO4·H2O as the precursor could lead to a cryptomelane phase. Moreover, [PW]-OMS-2 demonstrated excellent catalytic activity toward aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation of tetrahydro-β-carbolines due to mixed crystalline phases, enhanced surface areas, rich surface oxygen vacancies and labile lattice oxygen species. In particular, β-carbolines and 3,4-dihydro-β-carbolines could be obtained from tetrahydro-β-carbolines with very high selectivity (up to 99%) over [PW]-OMS-2 via tuning the reaction solvent and temperature. Under the present catalytic system, scalable synthesis of a β-carboline was achieved and the composite catalyst showed good stability and recyclability. This work not only clarified the structure-activity relationship of the catalyst, but also provided a practical pathway to achieve flexible, controllable synthesis of functional N-heterocycles.

β-Carboline directed regioselective hydroxylation by employing Cu(OAc)2 and mechanistic investigation by ESI-MS

A β-carboline directed regioselective C-H activation protocol for hydroxylation has been developed by employing Cu(OAc)2, a cost-effective 3d metal. This fastidious reaction proceeds under microwave irradiation and furnishes exclusively ortho-hydroxylated products with moderate to good yields under greener reaction conditions. Gratifyingly, this approach retains considerable functional group tolerance and is feasible on both electron-rich and electron-deficient substrates. This protocol signifies monohydroxylation on β-carboline via C-H functionalization which leads into development of biologically relevant molecules. The reaction mechanism was confirmed by intercepting and characterizing all the proposed intermediates by ESI-QTOF-MS.

Ru(II)-Catalyzed Regioselective Hydroxymethylation of β-Carbolines and Isoquinolines via C-H Functionalization: Probing the Mechanism by Online ESI-MS/MS Screening

A Ru(II)-catalyzed regioselective C-H activation toward hydroxymethylation of β-carbolines and isoquinolines as effective directing groups has been developed, and the mechanism was probed by using online electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. The introduction of the hydroxymethyl group in the biologically relevant molecules routed via C-H functionalization remains an important task. Gratifyingly, this protocol draws attention to the regioselective formation of monohydroxymethylated β-carboline/isoquinoline products exclusively.

Access to 2-substituted 1-pyridin-3-yl-β-carboline derivatives by intramolecular radical cyclization-ring opening-SNAr substitution

A new method for the synthesis of 1-pyridin-3-yl-β-carboline derivatives involving an intramolecular radical reaction and S_NAr substitution, is described.