Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative [3 + 2]-Annulation of Quinoxalin-2(1H)-one with Oxime Esters toward Functionalized Pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinoxalin-4(5H)-ones as Opioid Receptor Modulators

Regioselective Synthesis of Phenanthridines via Pd(II)-Catalyzed Annulative C(sp2)-H Activation

A robust synthesis of phenanthridines has been described via Pd(II)-catalyzed domino C(sp2)-H activation/N-arylation using oxime esters with aryl acyl peroxides in a highly regioselective manner. This protocol is compatible with acetophenone as well as benzophenone-derived oxime esters and allows modular construction of functionalized phenanthridines with wide tolerance of electronic functionality. Further transformations were conducted to synthesize key building blocks, and control experiments were performed to understand the plausible reaction mechanism.

Direct Access to Strained Fused Dihalo-Aziridino Quinoxalinones via C3-Alkylation Followed by Tandem Cyclization

Quinoxalinones are a privileged class of compounds, and their structural framework is found in many bioactive compounds, natural compounds, and pharmaceuticals. Quinoxalinone is a promising scaffold for different types of functionalization, and the slight modification of the quinoxalinone skeleton is known to offer a wide range of compounds for drug discovery. Owing to the importance of the quinoxalinone scaffold, we have developed a base-mediated protocol for the C3-alkylation of quinoxalinone followed by tandem cyclization to access novel types of strenuous and fused dihalo-aziridino-quinoxalinone heterocycles via the construction of C-C and C-N bonds. The protocol proved to be simple and practical to access desired fused quinoxalinone heterocycles in excellent yields (up to 98% yield). As an application, the highly functionalized fused dihalo-aziridino-quinoxalinone molecule has been further utilized for mono-dehalogenation under visible light irradiation and selective amide reduction. Moreover, the protocol has also been demonstrated on a gram scale.

Oxime Esters: Flexible Building Blocks for Heterocycle Formation

Oxime esters as the applicable building blocks, internal oxidizing agents, and directing groups in the synthesis of -, S-, and O-containing heterocycle scaffolds have gained great attention in the last decade. This review provides an overview of recent advances in the cyclization of oxime esters with various functional group reagents under transition metal and transition metal-free catalyzed conditions. Moreover, the mechanistic aspects of these protocols are explained in detail.

Swapping Copper-Catalytic Process: Selective Access to Pyrazoles and Conjugated Ketimines from Oxime Acetates and Cyclic Sulfamidate Imines

A powerful CuCl-catalyzed sequential one-pot reaction of aryl methyl ketoxime acetates with cyclic N-sulfonyl imines followed by elimination in the presence of base is reported. This hydrazine-free method conveniently makes C-C and N-N bonds via a radical cleavage of the N-O bond, delivering a special class of C3-hydroxyarylated pyrazoles in good yields. Surprisingly, while employing CuI as a catalyst instead of CuCl, the reaction proceeds through a non-radical pathway which embodies a new tactic for the high-yielding access to value-added conjugated N-unsubstituted ketimines. Moreover, additive-free approach to sulfamidate-fused-pyrazoles was achieved by successfully catalyzing addition and oxidative N-N bond-making reactions by CuI and CuCl, respectively. Significantly, our novel technique could convert the prepared ketimines into the pharmacologically recognized 6H-benzo[c]chromene frameworks.

Annulation Reaction of Quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones Initiated by Electrochemical Decarboxylation of N-Arylglycines

A new methodology for the synthesis of tetrahydroimidazo[1,5-a]quinoxalin-4(5H)-ones has been accomplished through annulation of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones initiated by electrochemical decarboxylation of N-arylglycines catalyzed by ferrocene. With a pair of oxidative and reductive processes occurring among the substrates and intermediates instead of on the electrodes, the electricity consumption was decreased.