Domino rhodium(I)-catalysed reactions for the efficient synthesis of substituted benzofurans and indoles

Reductive 3-Silylation of Benzofuran Derivatives via Coupling Reaction with Chlorotrialkylsilane

Reductive silylation of benzofurans with an electron-withdrawing group by a magnesium metal and the subsequent oxidative rearomatization by DDQ gave the selective formation of less reported 3-silylated benzofurans in moderate to good yields under mild reaction conditions with wide substituent scope. The silyl group introduced on the five-membered ring by the reductive coupling could survive with no elimination throughout the oxidation process. The silylated heteroaromatic skeleton is useful as an intermediate in organic synthesis, and its practical utility was also demonstrated by several transformation reactions.

Last Decade of Unconventional Methodologies for the Synthesis of Substituted Benzofurans

This review describes the progress of the last decade on the synthesis of substituted benzofurans, which are useful scaffolds for the synthesis of numerous natural products and pharmaceuticals. In particular, new intramolecular and intermolecular C-C and/or C-O bond-forming processes, with transition-metal catalysis or metal-free are summarized. (1) Introduction. (2) Ring generation via intramolecular cyclization. (2.1) C7a-O bond formation: (route a). (2.2) O-C2 bond formation: (route b). (2.3) C2-C3 bond formation: (route c). (2.4) C3-C3a bond formation: (route d). (3) Ring generation via intermolecular cyclization. (3.1) C7a-O and C3-C3a bond formation (route a + d). (3.2) O-C2 and C2-C3 bond formation: (route b + c). (3.3) O-C2 and C3-C3a bond formation: (route b + d). (4) Benzannulation. (5) Conclusion.

Synthesis of Furan-Annelated BINOL Derivatives: Acid-Catalyzed Cyclization Induces Partial Racemization

In this account, we describe the synthesis of a series of BINOL-based bis- and trisphosphoric acids 11d/e/f, which commonly feature an unusual phosphoric acid monoester motif. This motif is generated by an acid-catalyzed 5- endo- dig cyclization of the 3-alkynyl-substituted BINOL precursors to give the corresponding Furan-annelated derivatives, followed by phosphorylation of the remaining phenolic alcohols. In the cyclization reaction, we observed an unexpected partial racemization in the bis- and tris-BINOL scaffolds, leading to mixtures of diastereomers that were separated and characterized spectroscopically and by X-ray crystal structure analyses. The cyclization and racemization processes were investigated both experimentally and by DFT-calculations, showing that although the cyclization proceeds faster, the barrier for the acid-catalyzed binaphthyl-racemization is only slightly higher.

Indium(III)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Benzo[ b]furans by Intramolecular Hydroalkoxylation of ortho-Alkynylphenols: Scope and Mechanistic Insights

Indium(III) halides catalyze the hydroalkoxylation reaction of ortho-alkynylphenols to afford benzo[ b]furans in good yields. The reaction proceeds with 5- endo- dig regioselectivity with a variety of phenols functionalized at the arene and alkyne moieties in high yields using InI₃ (5 mol %) in DCE. Experimental and computational studies support a mechanism based on the indium(III) π-Lewis acid activation of the alkyne followed by nucleophilic addition of the phenol and final protodemetalation to afford the corresponding benzo[ b]furan. DFT calculations suggest that dimer In₂I₆ is the catalytic species through a novel double coordination with the alkyne and the hydroxyl group.

One-Pot Tandem Hiyama Alkynylation/Cyclizations by Palladium(II) Acyclic Diaminocarbene (ADC) Complexes Yielding Biologically Relevant Benzofuran Scaffolds

A series of palladium acyclic diaminocarbene (ADC) complexes of the type cis-[(R¹NH)(R²)methylidene]PdCl₂(CNR¹) [R¹ = 2,4,6-(CH₃)₃C₆H₂: R² = NC₅H₁₀ (2); NC₄H₈ (3); NC₄H₈O (4)] were used not only to perform the C_sp² -C_sp Hiyama coupling between aryl iodide and triethoxysilylalkynes but also to subsequently carry out the one-pot tandem Hiyama alkynylation/cyclization reaction between 2-iodophenol and triethoxysilylalkynes, giving a convenient time-efficient access to the biologically relevant benzofuran compounds. The palladium ADC complexes (2-4) were conveniently synthesized by the nucleophilic addition of secondary amines, namely, piperidine, pyrrolidine, and morpholine on the cis-{(2,4,6-(CH₃)₃C₆H₂)NC}₂PdCl₂ in moderate yields (ca. 61-66%).

Transition-metal-free base catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of 2-ynylphenols for efficient and facile synthesis of 2-substituted benzo[b]furans

An efficient and practical transition-metal-free synthesis of 2-substituted benzo[b]furans catalyzed by readily accessible base was developed with broad substrates scope.

Synthesis of indoles from aroyloxycarbamates with alkynes via decarboxylation/cyclization

Palladium-catalyzed decarboxylation/cyclization of aroyloxycarbamates with alkynes to construct C–N bonds.

Electrochemical synthesis of some 2-aminobenzofuran-3-carbonitrile and 2-aminobenzofuran-3-carboxylate derivatives: product diversity by changing the applied current density

Green syntheses of two different series of new benzofuran derivatives were carried out by anodic oxidation of 4,4′-biphenol (4BP) in the presence of some CH-acid compounds (malononitrile, methyl cyanoacetate and ethyl cyanoacetate) as nucleophiles by controlling the potential during electrolysis.

Interrupting Base-Mediated Benzofuran Ring Transformation with Michael Acceptors

A simple two-stage approach for the synthesis of 3-(2-arylbenzofuran-3-yl)propanoates and propanamides has been developed employing simple acrylates and acrylamides and readily available 3-aroylbenzofurans. The key step of this process involves a base-mediated ring opening of the 3-aroylbenzofurans and subsequent Michael addition of the resulting 1,3-dicarbonyl intermediate with acrylate/acrylamide, followed by the deformylation in one-pot. The resulting products undergo an acid-mediated dehydrative cyclization to arrive at these targets.

A one-pot synthesis of 2,2'-disubstituted diindolylmethanes (DIMs) via a sequential Sonogashira coupling and cycloisomerization/C3-functionalization of 2-iodoanilines

A Pd(ii)-Ag(i) catalyzed highly efficient synthesis of diindolylmethane has been developed. This transformation consists of a one-pot sequential Sonogashira coupling (and desilylation) followed by cycloisomerization/C3-functionalization of 2-iodoanilines. Six new bonds (four C-C and two C-N) are formed in a one-pot fashion. A variety of diindolylmethanes were obtained in excellent yields (up to 94%) under mild reaction conditions and this strategy is amenable to gram scale synthesis also. The products were transformed into various synthetically useful compounds.

Hydrazone–palladium catalyzed annulation of 1-cinnamyloxy-2-ethynylbenzene derivatives

The annulation of 1-cinnamyloxy-2-ethynylbenzene derivatives using a hydrazone–palladium catalyst system proceeded smoothly and gave the corresponding 2-substituted-3-cinnamylbenzofurans in good-to-excellent yields.

Homogeneous rhodium(i)-catalysis in de novo heterocycle syntheses

Rh(i)-catalysed reactions often employ mild reaction conditions and offer excellent functional group tolerance, making them ideal transformations for the preparation of complex molecules. This review surveys examples of these synthetically useful transformations as applied to the synthesis of various heterocycles.

Mono- and binuclear copper(I) complexes of thionucleotide analogues and their catalytic activity on the synthesis of dihydrofurans

The reaction of copper(I) halides with 2-thiouracil (TUC), 6-methyl-2-thiouacil (MTUC), and 4-methyl-2-mercaptopyrimidine (MPMTH) in the presence of triphenylphosphine (tpp) in a 1:1:2 molar ratio results in a mixed-ligand copper(I) complex with the formulas [Cu2(tpp)4(TUC)Cl] (1), [Cu2(tpp)4(MTUC)Cl] (2), [Cu(tpp)2(MPMTH)Cl]·(1)/2CH3OH (3), [Cu(tpp)2(MTUC)Br] (4), and [Cu(tpp)2(MTUC)I]·(1)/2CH3CN (5). The complexes have been characterized by FT-IR, (1)H NMR, and UV-vis spectroscopic techniques and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Complexes 1 and 2 are binuclear copper(I) complexes. Two phosphorus atoms from tpp ligands are coordinated to the copper(I) ions, forming two units that are linked to each other by a deprotonated TUC or MTUC chelating ligand through a sulfur bridge. A linear Cu-S-Cu moiety is formed. The tetrahedral geometry around the metal centers is completed by the nitrogen-donor atom from the TUC or MTUC ligand for the one unit, while for the other one, it is completed by the chloride anion. Two phosphorus atoms from two tpp ligands, one sulfur atom from MPMTH or MTUC ligand, and one halide anion (Cl, Br, and I) form a tetrahedron around the copper ion in 3-5 and two polymorphic forms of 4 (4a and 4b). In all of the complexes, either mono- or binuclear intramolecular O-H···X hydrogen bonds enhance the stability of the structures. On the other hand, in almost all cases of mononuclear complexes (with the exception of a symmetry-independent molecule in 4a), intermolecular NH···O hydrogen-bonding interactions lead to dimerization. Complexes 1-5 were studied for their catalytic activity for the intermolecular cycloaddition of iodonium ylides toward dihydrofuran formation by HPLC, (1)H NMR, and LC-HRMS spectroscopic techniques. The results show that the geometry and halogen and ligand types have a strong effect on the catalytic properties of the complexes. The highest yield of dihydrofurans was obtained when "linear" complexes 1 and 2 were used as the catalysts. The activity of the metal complexes on the copper(I)-catalyzed and uncatalyzed intramolecular cycloaddition of iodonium ylide is rationalized through electronic structure calculation methods, and the results are compared with the experimental ones.

Efficient Microwave-assisted One-pot Three-component Synthesis of 2,3-Disubstituted Benzofurans under Sonogashira Conditions

An efficient one-pot method for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted benzo[b]furans from commercially available 2-iodophenols, terminal acetylenes and aryl iodides has been developed utilizing Sonogashira reaction conditions. After an initial Sonogashira coupling of the 2-iodophenol with the terminal alkyne, cyclization involving the aryl iodide provides the 2,3-disubstituted benzo[b]furan in good to excellent yields. The use of microwave irradiation shortens the reaction times and minimizes the side products. This methodology is especially useful for the construction of libraries of highly substituted benzo[b]furans and their analogues.

Chemoselective cross-coupling reactions with differentiation between two nucleophilic sites on a single aromatic substrate

A new thiophene building block, containing both a stannyl group and a boronic ester, was prepared. From this starting material, a general, nucleophile-selective one-pot reaction was developed, exploiting the different reactivities of the Stille and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. A series of aromatic electrophiles were used to demonstrate the high functional group tolerance.