An efficient ZnO-catalyzed synthesis of novel indole-annulated thiopyrano-chromene derivatives via Domino Knoevenagel-hetero-Diels–Alder reaction

Synthesis of steroidal dihydropyrazole derivatives using green ZnO NPs and evaluation of their anticancer and antioxidant activity

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized by a green method using Azadirachta indica leaf extract. The structure of the prepared ZnO (NPs) were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM-EDX and TEM analyses. The biosynthesized ZnO (NPs) were then used as a catalyst for the synthesis of steroidal dihydropyrazole derivatives through a one-pot multicomponent reaction involving phenyl acetylene and hydrazine derivatives. The anticancer activity of newly synthesized compounds were evaluated against three cancer cell lines namely HeLa (human cervical carcinoma), Hep3B (human hepatocellular carcinoma) and MCF7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) by MTT assay. The tested compounds were found to be active against all cancer cell lines and less toxic towards normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Antioxidant activity have also been investigated via free radical scavenging ability using DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assay. The tested compounds were found to exhibit moderate to good antioxidant activity which increases with increase in the concentration of steroidal dihydropyrazoles. Among all the tested steroidal dihydropyrazoles, compound 17 is found to be most active.

Catalyst-free and additive-free reactions enabling C-C bond formation: a journey towards a sustainable future

This review focuses on the catalyst- and additive-free C-C bond forming reactions reported mostly from the year 2005 to date. C-C bond forming reactions are highly important as large and complex organic molecules can be derived from simpler ones via these reactions. On the other hand, catalyst- and additive-free reactions are economical, environmentally friendly and less sensitive to air/moisture, allow easy separation of products and are operationally simple. Hence, a large number of research articles have been published in this area. Though a few reviews are available on the catalyst-free organic reactions, most of them were published a few years ago. The current review excludes catalysts as well as additives and is specific to only C-C bond formation. Besides many organic name reactions, catalyst/additive-free C-H functionalizations, coupling reactions and UV-visible-light-promoted reactions are also discussed. Undoubtedly, the contents of this review will motivate readers to do more novel work in this area which will accelerate the journey towards a sustainable future.

Diastereoselective construction of 4-indole substituted chromans bearing a ketal motif through a three-component Friedel–Crafts alkylation/ketalization sequence

The first TfOH-catalyzed three-component Friedel–Crafts alkylation/ketalization sequence of indoles, alcohols and ortho-hydroxychalcones was developed to afford a wide range of 4-indole substituted chromans bearing a ketal motif in 77–99% yields. Notably, only a simple filtration was needed to purify them. By altering methanol to CHCl₃, 2,4-bisindole substituted chroman with the same indole substituent at the C2 and C4 positions was afforded. Moreover, 2,4-bisindole substituted chromans with different indole substituents could be obtained by treatment of 4-indole monosubstituted chromans with another indole molecule.

The first TfOH-catalyzed three-component Friedel–Crafts alkylation/ketalization sequence of indoles, alcohols and ortho-hydroxychalcones was developed to afford a wide range of 4-indole substituted chromans bearing a ketal motif in 77–99% yields.

Recent Advances in Inverse-Electron-Demand Hetero-Diels-Alder Reactions of 1-Oxa-1,3-Butadienes

This review is an endeavor to highlight the progress in the inverse-electron-demand hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of 1-oxa-1,3-butadienes in recent years. The huge number of examples of 1-oxadienes cycloadditions found in the literature clearly demonstrates the incessant importance of this transformation in pyran ring synthesis. This type of reaction is today one of the most important methods for the synthesis of dihydropyrans which are the key building blocks in structuring of carbohydrate and other natural products. Two different modes, inter- and intramolecular, of inverse-electron-demand hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of 1-oxadienes are discussed. The domino Knoevenagel hetero-Diels-Alder reactions are also described. In recent years the use of chiral Lewis acids, chiral organocatalysts, new optically active heterodienes or dienophiles have provided enormous progress in asymmetric synthesis. Solvent-free and aqueous hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of 1-oxabutadienes were also investigated. The reactivity of reactants, selectivity of cycloadditions, and chemical stability in aqueous solutions and under physiological conditions were taken into account to show the potential application of the described reactions in bioorthogonal chemistry. New bioorthogonal ligation by click inverse-electron-demand hetero-Diels-Alder cycloaddition of in situ-generated 1-oxa-1,3-butadienes and vinyl ethers was developed. It seems that some of the hetero-Diels-Alder reactions described in this review can be applied in bioorthogonal chemistry because they are selective, non-toxic, and can function in biological conditions taking into account pH, an aqueous environment, and temperature.

Synthesis of indole-annulated sulfur heterocycles using copper-catalysed C–N coupling and palladium-catalysed direct arylation

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of biologically relevant 5H-benzo[4,5][1,3]thiazino[3,2-a]indoles and 5,7-dihydroisothiochromeno[3,4-b]indoles has been developed via intramolecular copper catalysed Ullmann-type C–N coupling and palladium catalysed direct arylation.

A domino synthetic approach for new, angular pyrazol- and isoxazol-heterocycles using [DBU][Ac] as an effective reaction medium

Some new, angular pyrazol- and isoxazol-heterocycles have been synthesized by the reaction of pyrazolone/isoxazolone with typical ketone-based substrates—O-alkenyloxy/alkynyloxy-acetophenones.

Synthesis of functionalized 2-salicyloylfurans, furo[3,2-b]chromen-9-ones and 2-benzoyl-8H-thieno[2,3-b]indoles by one-pot cyclizations of 3-halochromones with β-ketoamides and 1,3-dihydroindole-2-thiones

Domino reactions of 3-halochromones with β-ketoamides and 1,3-dihydroindole-2-thiones provided a convenient approach to various heterocyclic systems.