Palladium-catalyzed oxidative arylation of chromones via a double C–H activation: an expedient approach to flavones

Advances in the site-selective C-5, C-3 and C-2 functionalization of chromones via sp2 C-H activation

In this work, site-selective C-H activation at C-5, C-3 and C-2 positions of chromones for the introduction of structural diversity to the chromone scaffold was studied. The keto group of the chromone moiety acts as the directing group for the selective functionalization of chromones at the C-5 position. Furthermore, the C-H functionalization at the electron-rich C-3 position of the chromone can be achieved using electrophilic coupling partners. The C-H functionalization at the C-2 position can be possible using nucleophilic coupling partners. The direct functionalization methods provide a better pathway for the generation of C-5, C-3 and C-2-substituted chromones with good atom economy than that of classical pre-functionalized reaction protocols.

In silico identification and validation of triarylchromones as potential inhibitor against main protease of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

The ongoing pandemic due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused COVID-19 has emerged as a severe threat to the life of human kind. The identification and designing of appropriate and reliable drug molecule for the treatment of COVID-19 patients is the pressing need of the present time. Among different drug targets, the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 is being considered as most effective target. In addition to the drug repurposing, different compounds of natural as well as synthetic origins are being investigated for their efficacy against different drug targets of SARS-CoV-2 virus. In that context, the chromone based natural flavonols have also exhibited significant antiviral properties against different targets of SARS-CoV-2. The in silico studies presented here discloses the efficacy of triarylchromones (TAC) as potential inhibitor against main protease of SARS-CoV-2. The molecular docking and ADMET study performed using 14 arylchromones which could easily be accessed through simple synthetic protocols, revealed best binding affinities in case of TAC-3 (-11.2 kcal/mol), TAC-4 (-10.5 kcal/mol), TAC-6 (-11.2 kcal/mol), TAC-7 (-10.0 kcal/mol). Additional validation studies including molecular dynamics simulation and binding energy calculation using MMGBSA for protein ligand complex for 100 ns revealed the best binding interaction of TAC-3, TAC-4, TAC-6, TAC-7 against main protease of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, the in vitro and preclinical validation of identified compounds will help us to understand the molecular mechanisms of regulation of TACs against SARS-CoV-2.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

A transition-metal-free fast track to flavones and 3-arylcoumarins

A highly regioselective and transition-metal free one-pot arylation of chromenones with arylboronic acids has been achieved employing K₂S₂O₈. The procedure consists of a sequence of some reactions including an arylation/decarboxylation cascade and proceeds well in aqueous media to afford biologically interesting flavones and 3-arylcoumarins. This method exhibited excellent selectivity and functional group tolerance under mild conditions. The reaction also showed perfect efficacy for the preparation of styryl coumarins.

Potential anti-proliferative agents from 1,4-benzoxazinone-quinazolin-4(3H)-one templates

A novel synthetic protocol has been developed for the synthesis of 1,4-benzoxazinone-acetylphenylallyl quinazolin-4(3H)-one hybrids 7a-n by employing Pd-catalyzed CH arylation in presence of 5-10% phosphine ligand in good to excellent yields and evaluated for their anti-proliferative activity against three cancer cell lines such as A549 (lung), HeLa (cervical), MDA-MB-231 (breast). Compounds 7d, 7f, 7l and 7n exhibited promising anti-proliferative activity with GI₅₀ values ranging from 0.37 to 2.73 µM respectively against A549, HeLa, and MDA-MB-231, while compound 7f showed significant activity against MDA-MB-231 with GI₅₀ value 0.58 µM, 7j showed significant activity against A549 with GI₅₀ value 0.32 µM and 7l showed significant activity against HeLa with GI₅₀ value 0.37 µM. This is the first report on the synthesis and in vitro anti-proliferative evaluation of 1,4-benzoxazinone-acetylphenylallyl quinazolin-4(3H)-one hybrids.

Synthesis of Dithienocyclohexanones (DTCHs) as a Family of Building Blocks for π-Conjugated Compounds in Organic Electronics

The development and widespread application of organic electronic devices require the availability of simple and cost-effective suitable materials. In this study, the preparation of a new class of conjugated compounds on the basis of a dithienocyclohexanone (DTCH) core is reported. Several synthetic strategies for the preparation of dialkyl DTCH derivatives are explored, with special emphasis on the establishment of a sustainable synthetic access. Two successful synthetic pathways, both consisting of five steps, are identified: the first one featuring readily available 3-thiophenecarboxaldeyde and the second one 3-ethynylthiophene as the starting materials. Both procedures are characterized by reasonably high overall yields (over 30%) and remarkably low E factors (<400). Preliminary evidences of the use of such building blocks in the micellar Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions leading to promising molecular semiconductors are also given. Moreover, on a small molecule containing DTCH moiety, solar cell performance was investigated.

Efficient synthesis of polymethoxyselenoflavones via regioselective direct C-H arylation of selenochromones

Substantial research has suggested that the configuration and the total number of functional groups on flavones influence their bioactivity. To investigate the changes in the biological activities of selenoflavones in relationship to structural changes, the development of a generally applicable synthetic method was a key. Until now, an efficient pathway for palladium-catalyzed direct arylation with the selenocyclic enone systems is not known in the literature. We herein introduce a simple direct C-H arylation of two difficult coupling partners, selenochromones and electron-rich aryl bromide, affording diverse polymethoxyselenoflavones with great efficiency and high selectivity.

A versatile approach to flavones via a one-pot Pd(ii)-catalyzed dehydrogenation/oxidative boron-Heck coupling sequence of chromanones

A variety of flavones were expediently synthesized from readily accessible chromanones via a one-pot sequence involving Pd(ii)-catalyzed dehydrogenation and oxidative boron-Heck coupling with arylboronic acid pinacol esters.

Pd(OAc)2/SPPh3 accelerated activation of gem-dichloroalkenes for the construction of 3-arylchromones

The Pd-catalyzed regioselective intramolecular nucleophilic substitution of gem-dichloroalkene derivatives with salicylaldehydes leading to the synthesis of 3-arylchromones has been developed.

Tandem oxidation-oxidative C-H/C-H cross-coupling: synthesis of arylquinones from hydroquinones

A concise and efficient approach to arylquinones from widely available hydroquinones has been developed through a tandem reaction involving the oxidation of hydroquinones and subsequent oxidative C-H/C-H cross-coupling of the resulting quinones with arenes.