Asymmetric synthesis of pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles via a cascade reaction between Morita–Baylis–Hillman acetates of nitroalkenes and pyrazolones

Recent advances in the synthetic applications of Morita-Baylis-Hillman and Rauhut-Currier adducts of nitroalkenes

The Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) and Rauhut-Currier (RC) adducts of nitroalkenes are important synthetic intermediates in organic synthesis. This review discusses the applications of different MBH and RC adducts of nitroalkenes such as MBH alcohols, acetates, bromides and hydrazinonitroalkenes as well as ketoalkylnitroalkenes in the synthesis of complex molecules including carbocycles and heterocycles. It also covers the mechanistic aspects, including the key intermediates and the reaction pathways. Early reports on MBH and RC reactions of nitroalkenes and applications of the products were covered in previous reviews. The present review covers the reports that appeared in the timeline of 2015-2023.

Synthesis of tetrahydrochromenes and dihydronaphthofurans via a cascade process of [3 + 3] and [3 + 2] annulation reactions: mechanistic insight for 6-endo-trig and 5-exo-trig cyclisation

Substituted tetrahydrochromenes and dihydronaphthofurans are easily accessible by the treatment of β-tetralone with trans-β-nitro styrene derived Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) acetates through a formal [3 + 3]/[3 + 2] annulation. The reaction proceeds through a cascade Michael/oxa-Michael pathway with moderate to good yields. A DFT study was carried out to account for the formation of the corresponding six and five-membered heterocycles via 6-endo-trig and 5-exo-trig cyclization.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Structurally Sophisticated Spirocyclic Pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole Derivatives Bearing a Chiral Quaternary Carbon Center

A carbene-catalyzed enantio- and diastereoselective [2 + 4] cycloaddition reaction is developed for quick and efficient access to structurally complex multicyclic pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole molecules. The reaction tolerates a broad scope of substrates bearing various substitution patterns, with the multicyclic pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole products afforded in generally good to excellent yields and optical purities. The chiral molecules obtained from this approach has found promising applications in the development of novel bacteriacides for plant protection.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of tetrahydro-αcarbolines as Akt1 inhibitors that inhibit colorectal cancer cells proliferation

A series of densely functionalized THαCs were designed and synthesized as Akt1 inhibitors. Organocatalytic [3+3] annulation between indolin-2-imines 1 and nitroallylic acetates 2 provided rapid access to this pharmacologically interesting framework. In vitro kinase inhibitory abilities and cytotoxicity assays revealed that compound 3af was the most potent Akt1 inhibitor, and mechanistic study indicated that compound 3af suppressed the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells via inducing apoptosis and autophagy. Molecular docking suggested that the indole fragment of 3af was inserted into the hydrophobic pocket of Akt1 protein, and the H-bond between 3af and residue Lys179 also contributed to the stable binding. This article provides an efficient strategy to design and synthesize biologically important compounds as novel Akt1 inhibitors.

One-pot Synthesis of Pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole Derivatives via Multicomponent Reactions (MCRs) and their Applications in Medicinal Chemistry

Background:

Many pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives display diverse biological activities and some of them are known as anticancer, analgesic, anticonvulsant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-malarial agents. In recent years, easy convergent, multicomponent reactions (MCRs) have been adopted to make highly functionalizedpyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives of biological interest. The synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole (1,4-DHPP, 2), 2,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole (2,4-DHPP, 3), 4-hydroxypyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole (4-HPP, 4) derivatives, 1,4,4-substitied pyranopyrazole (SPP, 5) were reported via two-, three-, four- and five-component reactions (MCRs).

Methods:

This review article compiles the preparation of pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives, and it highlights the applications of various pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives in medicinal chemistry.

Results:

Varieties of pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives were achieved via “One-pot” multicomponent reactions (MCRs). Different reaction conditions in the presence of a catalyst or without catalysts were adapted to prepare the pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives.

Conclusion:

Biologically active pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives were prepared and used in drug discovery research.

2-Nitroallyl carbonate-based green bifunctional reagents for catalytic asymmetric annulation reactions

2-Nitroallylic carbonates, a new class of "green" 1,3-bielectrophilic reagents for organic synthesis and catalysis, have been prepared. The bifunctional tertiary amine-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 3] annulations of cyclic enols with these reagents occur much faster than corresponding reactions with 2-nitroallylic esters and produce no acidic by-products poisoning the catalyst. Furthermore, 2-nitroallylic carbonates enable highly enantioselective one-pot synthesis of a variety of fused dihydropyrane derivatives from available precursors bearing pharmacophoric fragments.

Synthesis of tetrahydrothiopyrano[2,3-b]indoles via [3+3] annulation of nitroallylic acetates with indoline-2-thiones

[3+3] annulation of 1,3-binucleophilic indolin-2-thione with 1,3-bielectrophilic nitroallylic acetate via an S_N2-reaction-6-endo-trig cyclization takes place with high regio- and stereoselectivity to afford tetrahydrothiopyranoindoles.

Cascade annulation reaction (CAR): highly diastereoselective synthesis of pyranopyrazole scaffolds

An unprecedented domino protocol for the novel synthesis of highly diverse and functionalized tetrahydro pyranopyrazole scaffolds using chalcone epoxide has been reported for the first time. This synthetic protocol generates three consecutive stereogenic centres in a highly diastereoselective manner with the formation of vicinal diol and a quaternary carbon centre. A wide range of substrates were utilized for the scope of this methodology and provided very good yields of pyranopyrazoles. The pyranopyrazoles were also transformed into densely functionalized tetrasubstituted olefins.

An unprecedented domino protocol for the novel synthesis of highly diverse and functionalized tetrahydro pyranopyrazole scaffolds using chalcone epoxide has been reported.

Lewis base catalyzed regioselective cyclization of allene ketones or α-methyl allene ketones with unsaturated pyrazolones

A nitrogen-containing Lewis base catalyzed highly regioselective [4 + 2] cycloaddition of allene ketones or α-methyl allene ketones with unsaturated pyrazolones has been disclosed to give the corresponding tetrahydropyrano [2,3-c] pyrazoles in moderate to good yields under mild conditions. High regioselectivity, 100% atom-economy, broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance are attractive features of this process and make it a practical and versatile transformation.

Pyrazolone: a powerful synthon for asymmetric diverse derivatizations

This feature article reports recent advances in the asymmetric diverse derivatizations of the pyrazolone scaffold.

Organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of compounds bearing both isoxazole and pyrazole moieties via 1,6-addition of pyrazol-5-ones to 3-methyl-4-nitro-5-alkenylisoxazoles

Bifunctional thiourea catalyzed 1,6-addition of pyrazol-5-ones to 3-methyl-4-nitro-5-alkenylisoxazoles to provide the desired products in 72–90% yield and 83–94% ee.

Catalytic asymmetric Tamura cycloaddition of homophthalic anhydrides with 2-arylidene-1,3-diones

2-Arylidene-1,3-diones have been firstly employed in enantioselective Tamura cycloaddition to construct chiral spiro-1,3-indanedione derivatives.

Enantioselective aminocatalytic synthesis of tetrahydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles via a domino Michael-hemiacetalization reaction with alkylidene pyrazolones

An enantioselective organocatalytic synthesis of fused tetrahydropyranopyrazole products has been achieved via a domino Michael-hemiacetalization reaction between alkylidene pyrazolones and cyclic ketones/pentanal.

Enantioselective synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,4′-pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole] derivatives via an organocatalytic asymmetric Michael/cyclization cascade reaction

Pyrazolones have been firstly employed to react with isatylidene malononitriles, and chiral multicyclic spirooxindoles have been constructed with a low loading of commercially available catalysts.