RCM in indoles. A new entry to the mitosene skeleton

Radical annulation of a designed diene system: access to nitro-benzo[b]azepines

Herein, we describe a novel O₂N˙-triggered ordered addition 7-endo cyclization reaction with excellent chemo- and regioselectivity. With such a strategy, structurally diverse nitro-benzo[b]azepines were prepared with 28 examples. Large-scale operation and handy N-Ts and N-Cbz deprotection reveal the promising utility of this methodology. Mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction proceeds through a radical pathway.

Ring closing metathesis for the construction of carbazole and indole-fused natural products

The synthesis and functionalization of carbazole ring systems have received considerable attention in organic synthesis due to their widespread occurrence in biologically active compounds. One of the classical methods for the synthesis of carbazoles involves C-C bond formation of a biaryl amine moiety by oxidizing agents. Over the last few years, various new strategies have evolved for the synthesis of carbazole ring systems. During the past two decades, ring-closing metathesis (RCM) based approaches have been efficiently employed for the synthesis of nitrogen containing heteroaromatic systems including carbazoles. Herein, we discuss the construction of carbazole ring systems using RCM and the application of RCM based methods in the preparation of other indole-fused heterocycles. The application of these methods in the synthesis of carbazole alkaloids and bioactive indole-fused natural products has been discussed to highlight the importance of RCM in total synthesis.

Asymmetric construction of pyrido[1,2-a]-1H-indole derivatives via a gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization

Pyrido[1,2-a]-1H-indoles are important scaffolds found in many biologically active compounds. Herein, we first developed an IPrAuCl/AgSbF₆-catalyzed cycloisomerization of N-1,3-disubstituted allenyl indoles affording pyrido[1,2-a]-1H-indoles. Then the axial-to-central chirality transfer starting from enantio-enriched N-1,3-disubstituted allenylindoles affording optically active pyrido[1,2-a]-1H-indoles has been realized in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. A mechanism has been proposed based on mechanistic studies. Synthetic applications have also been demonstrated.

Metal-free aza-Claisen type ring expansion of vinyl aziridines: an expeditious synthesis of seven membered N-heterocycles

A metal-free approach for the synthesis of 7-membered aza-heterocycles has been developed by the intermolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition of non-activated vinylaziridines and alkynes. This method has a broad substrate scope under mild reaction conditions to afford structurally diverse 7-membered N-heterocycles in high yield up to 92%.

Highly enantioselective synthesis of functionalized azepino[1,2-a]indolesviaNHC-catalyzed [3+4] annulation

The enantioselective [3+4] annulation of 3-formylindol-2-methylmalonates with 2-bromoenals catalyzed by NHCs is described to efficiently synthesise functionalized azepino[1,2-a]indoles.

Construction of 9H-Pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles by a Copper-Catalyzed Friedel-Crafts Alkylation/Annulation Cascade Reaction

An efficient and concise Cu(OTf)₂-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation/annulation cascade reaction of substituted indoles with 1,2-dicarbonyl-3-enes has been established. This reaction uses readily available starting materials and is operationally simple, thus representing a practical method for the construction of diverse 9H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles bearing a carbonyl group.

A catalytic diastereoselective formal [5+2] cycloaddition approach to azepino[1,2-a]indoles: putative donor-acceptor cyclobutanes as reactive intermediates

A catalytic formal [5+2] cycloaddition approach to the diastereoselective synthesis of azepino[1,2-a]indoles is reported. The reaction presumably proceeds through a Lewis acid catalyzed formal [2+2] cycloaddition of an alkene with an N-indolyl alkylidene β-amide ester to form a donor-acceptor cyclobutane intermediate, which subsequently undergoes an intramolecular ring-opening cyclization. Azepine products are formed in up to 92% yield with high degrees of diastereoselectivity (up to 34:1 d.r.).

Mitomycins syntheses: a recent update

Mitomycins are a class of very potent antibacterial and anti-cancer compounds having a broad activity against a range of tumours. They have been used in clinics since the 1960's, and the challenges represented by their total synthesis have challenged generations of chemists. Despite these chemical and medicinal features, these compounds, in racemic form, have succumbed to total synthesis only four times over the last 30 years.

Ring-closing metathesis: novel routes to aromatic heterocycles

Olefin metathesis has been established as an important and general reaction in synthetic organic chemistry. Recently, it has attracted interest as a powerful tool for the construction of aromatic heterocycles. The importance of heteroaromatic motifs in medicinal chemistry and biology, as well as the efficiency and wealth of metathesis transformations, have resulted in significant success in this rapidly developing area.

TiCl4/t-BuNH2-Promoted Hydroamination/Annulation of δ-Keto-acetylenes: Synthesis of Novel Pyrrolo[1,2-a]indol-2-carbaldehydes

[reaction: see text] An original TiCl(4)/t-BuNH(2)-mediated hydroamination/annulation domino reaction of delta-keto-acetylenes is described. The synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole-2-carbaldehydes, starting from 2-carbonyl-1-propargyl-1H-indoles runs under mild reaction conditions. A conceivable mechanism is also discussed. TiCl(4) has proved to be an effective multiactivity reagent: catalyst/Lewis acid/water scavenger. Some unpublished 2-carbonyl-1-propargyl-1H-indoles are prepared by means of Suzuki- and Negishi-type reactions.