An efficient approach to H-pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinolines via a silver triflate-catalyzed reaction of N′-(2-alkynylbenzylidene)hydrazide with allenoate

Base-mediated [3 + 2]-cycloannulation strategy for the synthesis of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine derivatives using (E)-β-iodovinyl sulfones

Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines continue to occupy a special place in medicinal chemistry, but the direct construction of 3-sulfonyl analogues remains unexplored. Under basic conditions, pyridinium-N-amine and the corresponding dipolar aminide played a vibrant role in [3 + 2]-cycloaddition using (E)-β-iodovinyl sulfones. K₂CO₃-mediated tandem cycloannulative-desulfonylation of (E)-β-iodovinyl sulfones with 1-aminopyridinium iodide is realized to access 2-substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines in good to high yields. An essential modification of the dipolar N-tosylpyridinium imide allows the first preparative synthesis of 3-sulfonyl-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines in moderate to high yields. Of note, the metal-free protocol features a broad substrate scope with good functional group tolerance and compatibility. The efficacy of the process was proved with gram-scale reactions, and a plausible mechanism is also presented based on concrete results.

Copper-mediated oxidative [3 + 2]-annulation of nitroalkenes and pyridinium imines: efficient synthesis of 3-fluoro- and 3-nitro-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines

An efficient route to pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines by Cu(OAc)2-promoted oxidative [3 + 2]-annulation of nitroalkenes with in situ generated pyridinium imines is developed. The reaction with α-fluoronitroalkenes enables the first preparative synthesis of 3-fluoro-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines. Cycloaddition with α-unsubstituted nitroalkenes provides access to 3-nitro-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines in excellent yields. A broad transformation scope was demonstrated. Both electron-rich and electron-deficient nitroalkenes as well as different aminopyridinium salts can be used for the assembly of the target pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines. The related aza-heterocycles, namely, pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazines and pyrazolo[1,5-b]pyridazines, were successfully prepared via the present methodology. The possible mechanism of the reaction is discussed.

Synthesis of tetrasubstituted thiophenes via a [3+2] cascade cyclization reaction of pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates and activated allenes

A [3+2] cascade cyclization reaction of pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates and activated allenes was developed to access tetrasubstituted thiophenes.

Hetero-bimetallic cooperative catalysis for the synthesis of heteroarenes

Review covering the synthesis of 5- and 6-membered as well as condensed heteroarenes, focussing on the combinations in cooperative catalytic systems in strategies used to achieve selectivity and also highlights the mode of action for the cooperative catalysis leading to the synthesis of commercially and biologically relevant heteroarenes.

A diversity-oriented synthesis of polyheterocycles via the cyclocondensation of azomethine imine

Pd-Catalyzed sequential reactions to afford skeletally diverse molecules are described.

Phosphine Organocatalysis

The hallmark of nucleophilic phosphine catalysis is the initial nucleophilic addition of a phosphine to an electrophilic starting material, producing a reactive zwitterionic intermediate, generally under mild conditions. In this Review, we classify nucleophilic phosphine catalysis reactions in terms of their electrophilic components. In the majority of cases, these electrophiles possess carbon-carbon multiple bonds: alkenes (section 2), allenes (section 3), alkynes (section 4), and Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) alcohol derivatives (MBHADs; section 5). Within each of these sections, the reactions are compiled based on the nature of the second starting material-nucleophiles, dinucleophiles, electrophiles, and electrophile-nucleophiles. Nucleophilic phosphine catalysis reactions that occur via the initial addition to starting materials that do not possess carbon-carbon multiple bonds are collated in section 6. Although not catalytic in the phosphine, the formation of ylides through the nucleophilic addition of phosphines to carbon-carbon multiple bond-containing compounds is intimately related to the catalysis and is discussed in section 7. Finally, section 8 compiles miscellaneous topics, including annulations of the Hüisgen zwitterion, phosphine-mediated reductions, iminophosphorane organocatalysis, and catalytic variants of classical phosphine oxide-generating reactions.

Silver-catalysed reactions of alkynes: recent advances

Silver is a less expensive noble metal. Superior alkynophilicity due to π-coordination with the carbon-carbon triple bond makes silver salts ideal catalysts for alkyne-based organic reactions. This review highlights the progress in alkyne chemistry via silver catalysis primarily over the past five years (ca. 2010-2014). The discussion is developed in terms of the bond type formed with the acetylenic carbon (i.e., C-C, C-N, C-O, C-Halo, C-P and C-B). Compared with other coinage metals such as Au and Cu, silver catalysis is frequently observed to be unique. This critical review clearly indicates that silver catalysis provides a significant impetus to the rapid evolution of alkyne-based organic reactions, such as alkynylation, hydrofunctionalization, cycloaddition, cycloisomerization, and cascade reactions.

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of azomethine imines

Azomethine imines are considered 1,3-dipoles of the aza-allyl type which are transient intermediates and should be generated in situ but can also be stable and isolable compounds. They react with electron-rich and electron-poor olefins as well as with acetylenic compounds and allenoates mainly by a [3 + 2] cycloaddition but they can also take part in [3 + 3], [4 + 3], [3 + 2 + 2] and [5 + 3] with different dipolarophiles. These 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions (1,3-DC) can be performed not only under thermal or microwave conditions but also using metallo- and organocatalytic systems. In recent years enantiocatalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions have been extensively considered and applied to the synthesis of a great variety of dinitrogenated heterocycles with biological activity. Acyclic azomethine imines derived from mono and disubstituted hydrazones could be generated by prototropy under heating or by using Lewis or Brønsted acids to give, after [3 + 2] cycloadditions, pyrazolidines and pyrazolines. Cyclic azomethine imines, incorporating a C-N bond in a ring, such as isoquinolinium imides are the most widely used dipoles in normal and inverse-electron demand 1,3-DC allowing the synthesis of tetrahydro-, dihydro- and unsaturated pyrazolo[1,5-a]isoquinolines in racemic and enantioenriched forms with interesting biological activity. Pyridinium and quinolinium imides give the corresponding pyrazolopyridines and indazolo[3,2-a]isoquinolines, respectively. In the case of cyclic azomethine imines with an N-N bond incorporated into a ring, N-alkylidene-3-oxo-pyrazolidinium ylides are the most popular stable and isolated dipoles able to form dinitrogen-fused saturated and unsaturated pyrazolopyrazolones as racemic or enantiomerically enriched compounds present in many pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and other useful chemicals.

Progress of the synthesis of condensed pyrazole derivatives (from 2010 to mid-2013)

Condensed pyrazole derivatives are important heterocyclic compounds due to their excellent biological activities and have been widely applied in pharmaceutical and agromedical fields. In recent years, numerous condensed pyrazole derivatives have been synthesized and advanced to clinic studies with various biological activities. In this review, we summarized the reported synthesis methods of condensed pyrazole derivatives from 2010 until now. All compounds are divided into three parts according to the rings connected to pyrazole-ring, i.e. [5, 5], [5,F 6], and [5, 7]-condensed pyrazole derivatives. The biological activities and applications in pharmaceutical fields are briefly introduced to offer an orientation for the design and synthesis of condensed pyrazole derivatives with good biological activities.