Task-specific ionic liquid incorporating anionic heteropolyacid-catalyzed Hantzsch and Mannich multicomponent reactions. Ionic liquid effect probed by ESI-MS(/MS)

Construction of 1,4-Dihydropyridines: The Evolution of C4 Source

The field of cascade cyclization for the construction of 1,4-dihydropyridines (1,4-DHPs) has been continuously expanding during the last decades because of their broad-spectrum biological and synthetic importance. To date, many methods have been developed, mainly including the Hantzsch reaction, Hantzsch-like reaction and newly developed cascade cyclization, in which various synthons have been successively developed as C4 sources of 1,4-DHPs. This review presents the cascade cyclization synthesis strategy for the construction of 1,4-DHPs according to various C4 sources from carbonyl compounds, alkenyl fragments, alcohols, aliphatic amines, glycines and other C4 sources.

Catalytic Approaches to Multicomponent Reactions: A Critical Review and Perspectives on the Roles of Catalysis

In this review, we comprehensively describe catalyzed multicomponent reactions (MCRs) and the multiple roles of catalysis combined with key parameters to perform these transformations. Besides improving yields and shortening reaction times, catalysis is vital to achieving greener protocols and to furthering the MCR field of research. Considering that MCRs typically have two or more possible reaction pathways to explain the transformation, catalysis is essential for selecting a reaction route and avoiding byproduct formation. Key parameters, such as temperature, catalyst amounts and reagent quantities, were analyzed. Solvent effects, which are likely the most neglected topic in MCRs, as well as their combined roles with catalysis, are critically discussed. Stereocontrolled MCRs, rarely observed without the presence of a catalytic system, are also presented and discussed in this review. Perspectives on the use of catalytic systems for improved and greener MCRs are finally presented.

Cesium salt of 2-molybdo-10-tungstophosphoric acid as an efficient and reusable catalyst for the synthesis of uracil derivatives via a green route

A solid catalyst, cesium salt of 2-molybdo-10-tungstophosphoric acid (Cs_2.3H_0.7PW₁₀Mo₂O₄₀) named as Cs-3, was synthesized by a simple, cheap, clean, and eco-friendly method. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized catalyst were studied via FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, EDX, ICP-AES, SEM-TEM, and BET techniques. The precursor 2-molybdo-10-tungstophosphoric acid (H₃PW₁₀Mo₂O₄₀) was easily soluble in water and other polar solvents. Moreover, their cesium salts Cs _x H_3-x PW₁₀Mo₂ with Cs content in the range x = 2.0-2.5 were insoluble in water and other polar solvents. The surface area of the precursor (5.483 m² g^-1) increased after partial proton exchange by Cs⁺ ions (111.732 m² g^-1), and all samples with x > 1 were resistant to leaching of active components and can be recycled without obvious loss of activity. This catalyst used for the synthesis of uracil derivatives via a green route under solvent free conditions at 70 °C gives higher yield within a shorter reaction time. The catalyst was found to be more active and reusable over nine runs with a negligible loss of activity.

How and Why to Investigate Multicomponent Reactions Mechanisms? A Critical Review

We review the most innovative efforts and greatest challenges faced when elucidating multicomponent reactions (MCRs) mechanisms. When compared to traditional reactions, the often two or more concurrent reactions pathways and the greater number of possible intermediates in MCRs turn their mechanistic investigation both a harder and trickier task. The common approaches used to investigate reaction mechanisms are often unable to clarify MCRs mechanisms; hence few but clever approaches are currently used to determine these mechanisms and to depict their key transformations. Their complexity has required most innovative approaches and the use of a number of unique techniques that have shed light over the favored pathway selected from the myriad of alternatives theoretically available for MCRs. This review focuses on the most successful efforts applied by a few leading groups to perform these puzzlingly investigations.

Recycling Old Antibiotics with Ionic Liquids

Antibiotics are considered one of the great “miracles” of the 20th century. Now in the 21st century in the post-antibiotic era, the miracle is turning into a nightmare, due to the growing problem of the resistance of microorganisms to classic antimicrobials and the non-investment by the pharmaceutical industry in new antimicrobial agents. Unfortunately, the current COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the global risks associated with uncontrolled infections and the various forms of impact that such a pandemic may have on the economy and on social habits besides the associated morbidity and mortality. Therefore, there is an urgent need to recycle classic antibiotics, as is the case in the use of ionic liquids (ILs) based on antibiotics. Thus, the aim of the present review is to summarize the data on ILs, mainly those with antimicrobial action and especially against resistant strains. The main conclusions of this article are that ILs are flexible due to their ability to modulate cations and anions as a salt, making it possible to combine the properties of both and multiplying the activity of separate cations and anions. Also, these compounds have low cost methods of production, which makes it highly attractive to explore them, especially as antimicrobial agents and against resistant strains. ILs may further be combined with other therapeutic strategies, such as phage or lysine therapy, enhancing the therapeutic arsenal needed to fight this worldwide problem of antibacterial resistance. Thus, the use of ILs as antibiotics by themselves or together with phage therapy and lysine therapy are promising alternatives against pathogenic microorganisms, and may have the possibility to be used in new ways in order to restrain uncontrolled infections.

Niobium Oxides as Heterogeneous Catalysts for Biginelli Multicomponent Reaction

This study reports a simple, reusable, and recoverable niobium-based heterogeneous catalysts for Biginelli multicomponent reactions. Different methods of catalysts preparation were investigated. For this purpose, HY-340 (Nb₂O₅·nH₂O) and Nb₂O₅ were chemically and/or thermally treated and investigated as catalysts for dihydropyrimidinones (DHPMs) production. The catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed desorption of NH₃, adsorption/desorption of N₂ at -196 °C, and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis. The characterization results showed that niobium oxides have the potential to be used as catalysts because of high crystallinity and large surface area. Among the tested catalysts, Nb₂O₅ chemically treated (Nb₂O₅/T) showed the best catalytic performance. In the absence of solvents, 94% yield of DHPMs was achieved. Also, Nb₂O₅/T can be reused three times without a significant yield decrease. Additionally, a feasible reaction pathway was suggested based on the Knoevenagel mechanism for DHPM synthesis using niobium-based catalysts.

Hf(OTf)4 as a Highly Potent Catalyst for the Synthesis of Mannich Bases under Solvent-Free Conditions

Hf(OTf)4 was identified as a highly potent catalyst (0.1-0.5 mol%) for three-component Mannich reaction under solvent-free conditions. Hf(OTf)4-catalyzed Mannich reaction exhibited excellent regioselectivity and diastereoselectivity when alkyl ketones were employed as substrates. 1H NMR tracing of the H/D exchange reaction of ketones in MeOH-d4 indicated that Hf(OTf)4 could significantly promote the keto-enol tautomerization, thereby contributing to the acceleration of reaction rate.

Mechanism of the Oxidation of Heptafulvenes to Tropones Studied by Online Mass Spectrometry and Density Functional Theory Calculations

We have identified the most likely reaction mechanism for oxidizing heptafulvenes to the corresponding tropones by experimental and theoretical investigations. The experimental studies were done by coupling a three-dimensional printed miniaturized reactor with an integrated electrospray ionization needle to a mass spectrometer. Using the experimentally observed ions as a basis, nine alternative reaction pathways were investigated with density functional theory calculations. The lowest energy reaction pathway starts with the formation of an epoxide that is opened upon the addition of a second equivalent of the oxidizing species meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid. The adduct formed then undergoes a Criegee-like rearrangement to yield a positively charged hemiketal, which on deprotonation dissociates into acetone and tropone. Overall, the reaction mechanism resembles a Hock-like rearrangement.

Tuning the Biginelli reaction mechanism by the ionic liquid effect: the combined role of supported heteropolyacid derivatives and acidic strength

Herein, a combination of heteropolyacids and ionic liquids as a catalytic system was studied for the Biginelli multicomponent reaction; the positive ionic liquid effect associated with the acidic strength of zeolite-supported heteropolyacids made this combination an efficient catalytic system for the multicomponent synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one/thione derivatives. The acidic strength effect was evaluated, and a range was determined in which the reaction provided better results. The mechanism of the reaction was also investigated in the presence and absence of ionic liquids, and two features of paramount importance were revealed: the mechanism could be tuned to proceed through only one reaction path among three possibilities and the kinetics of the reaction was significantly faster in the presence of an ionic liquid.

Heteropolyacids and ionic liquid effect allowed tuning of the Biginelli reaction mechanism and synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one/thione derivatives in an efficient, recyclable fashion. The role of acidic strength and supported heteropolyacid is disclosed.

MIL-101-SO3H metal–organic framework as a Brønsted acid catalyst in Hantzsch reaction: an efficient and sustainable methodology for one-pot synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridine

A straightforward and efficient methodology for the synthesis of the medicinally important 1,4-dihydropyridines has been demonstrated using MIL-101-SO₃H metal–organic framework as a sustainable Brønsted acid catalyst.

Mechanistic knowledge and noncovalent interactions as the key features for enantioselective catalysed multicomponent reactions: a critical review

This critical short review focuses on some key features which determine successful enantioselective catalysed multicomponent reactions (MCRs) and are typically underappreciated in the literature.

Tartaric Acid–Zinc Nitrate as an Efficient Brønsted Acid-Assisted Lewis Acid Catalyst for the Mannich Reaction

Tartaric acid–zinc nitrate has been found to be an efficient Brønsted acid-assisted Lewis acid catalytic system for the facile synthesis of β-amino carbonyl compounds through the one-pot Mannich reaction of aldehydes, aromatic amines and ketones in ethanol at room temperature. Remarkable enhancement of reactivity by tartaric acid (Brønsted acid) was observed in these reactions in the presence of anhydrous zinc nitrate (Lewis acid), due to coordination of the tartaric acid ligand to zinc ions increasing the acidity of the system. This procedure shows some advantages such as mild reaction conditions, short reaction times and high yields.

Organic Reactions in Microdroplets: Reaction Acceleration Revealed by Mass Spectrometry

The striking finding that reaction acceleration occurs in confined-volume solutions sets up an apparent conundrum: Microdroplets formed by spray ionization can be used to monitor the course of bulk-phase reactions and also to accelerate reactions between the reagents in such a reaction. This Minireview introduces droplet and thin-film acceleration phenomena and summarizes recent methods applied to study accelerated reactions in confined-volume, high-surface-area solutions. Conditions that dictate either simple monitoring or acceleration are reconciled in the occurrence of discontinuous and complete desolvation as the endpoint of droplet evolution. The contrasting features of microdroplet and bulk-solution reactions are described together with possible mechanisms that drive reaction acceleration in microdroplets. Current applications of droplet microreactors are noted as is reaction acceleration in confined volumes and possible future scale-up.

Synthesis of environmentally friendly, efficient and highly recyclable Lewis acid-type calix[4]arene catalysts containing flexible or bulky groups for the Mannich reaction

Two new calix[4]arene-based Lewis acid-type catalysts containing flexible and bulky groups (2 and 3) were successfully synthesized.

Betainium-based ionic liquids catalyzed multicomponent Hantzsch reactions for the efficient synthesis of acridinediones

Betainium lactate was found to be an efficient catalyst for the Hantzsch reactions under mild conditions.

Brønsted–Lewis dual acidic ionic liquid immobilized on mesoporous silica materials as an efficient cooperative catalyst for Mannich reactions

Novel mesoporous silica supported ILs have been prepared and successfully applied as a heterogeneous catalyst in Mannich reactions.

An efficient one-pot synthesis of thiochromeno[3,4-d]pyrimidines derivatives: Inducing ROS dependent antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities

An efficient synthesis of thiochromeno[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives has been achieved successfully via a one-pot three-component reaction of thiochrome-4-one, aromatic aldehyde and thiourea in the presence of 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hydrogen sulphate [Bmim]HSO4. This new protocol has the advantages of environmental friendliness, high yields, short reaction times, and convenient operation. Furthermore, among all the tested derivatives, compounds 4b and 4c exhibited promising antibacterial, minimum bactericidal concentration and anti-biofilm activities against Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 96, Staphylococcus aureus MLS16 MTCC 2940 and Bacillus subtilis MTCC 121. The compound 4c also showed promising intracellular ROS accumulation in Staphylococcus aureus MLS16 MTCC 2940 comparable to that of ciprofloxacin resulting in apoptotic cell death of the bacterium.

Polymer-supported benzimidazolium based ionic liquid: an efficient and reusable Brønsted acid catalyst for Biginelli reaction

A polymer-supported benzimidazolium based ionic liquid (PSBIL) was synthesized by reaction of poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) and benzimidazole followed by ring opening of 1,4-butane sultone and acidification with sulphuric acid.

An efficient green protocol for the preparation of acetoacetamides and application of the methodology to a one-pot synthesis of Biginelli dihydropyrimidines. Expansion of dihydropyrimidine topological chemical space

A one pot synthesis of Biginelli dihydropyrimidines. The novel use of the amino acids allows topological diversification of the chemical space.

Insights on the Petasis Borono–Mannich multicomponent reaction mechanism

The Petasis Borono–Mannich reaction: a joint theoretical and experimental.