Copper-Catalyzed Cascade 1,4-Addition/Annulation/Hydrolysis of Propargylamines with 2-Hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-diones: Direct Formation of 12-Phenacyl-11H-benzo[b]xanthenes

Synthesis of arene-functionalized fused heterocyclic scaffolds via a regioselective cascade 1,4-conjugate addition/5-exo-dig annulation strategy

Facile access to furan fused heterocyclic scaffolds through a regioselective cascade reaction of propargylamines with 4-hydroxy-2H-pyran-2-ones and 4-hydroxy-6-methylpyridin-2(1H)-one has been achieved. This cascade reaction presumably involves the formation of ortho-alkynyl quinone methide (o-AQM), 1,4-conjugate addition, followed by regioselective 5-exo-dig annulation, and a 1,3-H shift process. Moreover, the reaction provides a new and efficient method for the synthesis of highly sterically congested 3-phenolic furo[3,2-c]pyran-4-ones and furo[3,2-c]pyridin-4(5H)-ones by the formation of a furan ring from readily available starting materials in good to high yields (50-82%) with broad functional group compatibility in a single step. Significantly, the strategy described here is easily scalable and several useful synthetic transformations of the prepared arene-functionalized 4H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-4-ones were also performed.

Lewis Acid-Catalyzed 1,4-Addition and Annulation of 4-Hydroxy-coumarins with o-Hydroxyphenyl Propargyl Amines: Entry to Regio-Selective Synthesis of Furano[3,2-c]coumarins and Pyrano[3,2-c]coumarins

A facile and regioselective Lewis acid-catalyzed cascade annulation of o-hydroxyphenyl propargyl amines with 4-hydroxycoumarin to afford furano[3,2-c]coumarin and pyrano[3,2-c]coumarin derivatives is reported. The reaction presumably proceeds by the conjugate addition of 4-hydroxycoumarin to the in situ-generated alkynyl o-quinone methide and is followed by intramolecular 5-exo-dig and 6-endo-dig annulation to form furano[3,2-c]coumarins and pyrano[3,2-c]coumarins, respectively. The prepared o-hydroxyl substituted pyrano[3,2-c]coumarins could be readily transformed into the corresponding coumarin-derived dioxabicycles by acid-mediated cyclization.

Copper-Catalyzed Cascade Annulation of o-Hydroxyphenyl Propargylamines with Pyrazolin-5-ones to Access Pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles

An efficient copper-catalyzed cascade annulation of o-hydroxyphenyl propargylamines and pyrazolin-5-ones is described. This methodology leads to the rapid assembly of a series of valuable pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles with good yields across a wide range of substrates in a simple fashion. This novel reaction involves the formation of alkynyl ortho-quinone methides, a 1,4-conjugate addition, and a subsequent 6-endo cyclization process. The mechanistic elucidation is well supported by control experiment and literature precedents.

Oxidation of BINOLs by Hypervalent Iodine Reagents: Facile Synthesis of Xanthenes and Lactones

Xanthene derivatives have broad applications in medicines, fluorescent probes, dyes, food additives, etc. Therefore, much attention was focused on developing the synthetic methods to prepare these compounds. Binaphthyl‐based xanthene derivatives were prepared through the oxidation of BINOLs promoted by the hypervalent iodine reagent iodosylbenzene (PhIO). Nine‐membered lactones were obtained through a similar oxidative reaction when iodoxybenzene (PhIO₂) was used. Additionally, one‐pot reactions of BINOLs, PhIO and nucleophiles such as alcohols and amines were also investigated to provide alkoxylated products and amides in good to excellent yields.