Intramolecular [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] Cycloaddition Reactions of Cinnamylamides of Ethenetricarboxylate in Sequential Processes

Competing Domino Knoevenagel-Cyclization Sequences with N-Arylcinnamylamines

Domino Knoevenagel-cyclization reactions of N-arylcinnamylamines were carried out with active methylene reagents, which took place with five competing cyclization mechanisms: intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction, stepwise polar [2 + 2] cycloaddition, styryl or aza-Diels-Alder reactions followed by rearomatization, and [1,5]-hydride shift-6-endo cyclization. In the stepwise aza-Diels-Alder reaction, the N-vinylpyridinium moiety acted as an azadiene, producing a condensed heterocycle with tetrahydroquinolizinium and tetrahydroquiniline subunits. Antiproliferative activity with low micromolar IC50 values was identified for some of the novel scaffolds.

IntraMolecular Diels–Alder Reactions of Vinylarenes and Alkynyl Arenes (the IMDAV Reaction)

This comprehensive review summarizes the published literature data concerning the intramolecular Diels–Alder reactions of vinylarenes (the IMDAV reaction) and alkynyl arenes from 1970 to 2019, and covers mainly intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition reactions of vinyl- or acetylene-substituted furans, thiophenes, pyrroles, indoles, imidazoles, benzenes, and naphthalenes, in which the unsaturated substituent is linked directly to an arene moiety. The selected area of the Diels–Alder reaction differs from other forms of [4+2] cycloadditions due to the uniqueness of the diene fragment, which, along with an exocyclic multiple bond, includes the double bond of an aromatic or heteroaromatic nucleus in its system. Thus, during the formation of the [4+2] cycloaddition intermediate, the aromaticity of furan, thiophene and even benzene rings is broken, leading, as a rule, to the formation of heterocyclic structures rarely accessible by other methods, in contrast to the majority of intermolecular Diels–Alder reactions, with the highest degree of chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselectivity. Therefore, the IMDAV approach is often used for the synthesis of naturally occurring and bioactive molecules, which are also discussed in this review alongside other applications of this reaction. Whenever possible, we have tried to avoid examples of radical, photochemical, oxidative, precious-metal-complex-catalyzed cyclizations and other types of formal [4+2] cycloadditions, focusing on thermal Diels–Alder reactions in the first step, according to the classical mechanism. The second stage of the process, aromatization, is unique for many initial substrates, and hence considerable attention in this overview is given to the detailed description of the reaction mechanisms.

1 Introduction

2 IMDAV Reactions of Vinylfurans

2.1 Alkenes as Internal Dienophiles

2.2 Alkynes and Allenes as Internal Dienophiles

3 IMDAV Reactions of Vinylthiophenes

3.1 Alkenes as Internal Dienophiles

3.2 Alkynes as Internal Dienophiles

4 IMDAV Reactions of Vinylbenzothiophenes

5 IMDAV Reactions of Vinylpyrroles

6 IMDAV Reactions of Vinylindoles

6.1 Alkenes as Internal Dienophiles

6.2 Alkynes as Internal Dienophiles

7 IMDAV Reactions of Styrenes and Vinylnaphthalenes

7.1 Alkenes as Internal Dienophiles

7.2 Alkynes as Internal Dienophiles

7.3 Alkynes as Internal Dienophiles in Aryl Acetylenes (the Intramolecular Dehydro Diels–Alder Reaction)

8 IMDAV Reactions of Vinylimidazoles, Vinylisoxazoles and Vinylpyridines

9 Conclusion

10 Abbreviations

NIR Light-Induced ATRP for Synthesis of Block Copolymers Comprising UV-Absorbing Moieties

NIR exposure at 790 nm activated photopolymerization of monomers comprising UV-absorbing moieties by using [CuII /(TPMA)]Br2 (TPMA=tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) in the ppm range and an alkyl bromide as initiator. Some of them comprised structural elements selected either from those showing proton transfer or photocycloaddition upon UV excitation. Polymers obtained comprise living end groups serving as macroinitiator for controlled synthesis of block copolymers with relatively narrow molecular weight distributions. Chromatographic results indicated formation of block copolymers produced by this synthetic approach. Free-radical polymerization of monomers pursued for comparison exhibited the expected broader dispersity of molecular weight compared to photo-ATRP. Polymerization of these monomers by UV photo-ATRP failed on the contrary to NIR photo-ATRP demonstrating the UV-filter function of the monomers. This work conclusively provides a new approach for the polymerization of monomers comprising UV-absorbing moieties through photo-ATRP in the NIR region. This occurred in a simple and efficient pathway. However, studies also showed that not all monomers chosen successfully proceeded in the NIR photo-ATRP protocol.

Three-component reaction between isatoic anhydride, amine and meth-yl-subs-tituted furyl-acryl-alde-hydes: crystal structures of 3-benzyl-2-[(E)-2-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)vin-yl]-2,3-di-hydro-quinazolin-4(1H)-one, 3-benzyl-2-[(E)-2-(furan-2-yl)-1-methyl-vin-yl]-2,3-di-hydro-quinazolin-4(1H)-one and 3-(furan-2-ylmeth-yl)-2-[(E)-2-(furan-2-yl)-1-methyl-vin-yl]-2,3-di-hydro-quinazolin-4(1H)-one

Compounds (I), C22H20N2O2, (II), C22H20N2O2 and (III), C20H18N2O3 are the products of three-component reactions between isatoic anhydride, the corresponding amine and 3-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)- or (furan-2-yl)-2-methyl-acryl-aldehyde. Compound (I) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n, while compounds (II) and (III) are isostructural and crystallize in the ortho-rhom-bic space group Pbca. The tetra-hydro-pyrimidine ring in (I)-(III) adopts a sofa conformation. The NH nitro-gen atom has a trigonal-pyramidal geometry, whereas the N(R) nitro-gen atom is flattened. The furyl-vinyl substituents in (I)-(III) are practically planar and have an E configuration at the C=C double bond. In (I), this bulky fragment occupies the axial position at the quaternary carbon atom of the tetra-hydro-pyrimidine ring, whereas in (II) and (III) it is equatorially disposed. In the crystal of (I), mol-ecules form hydrogen-bonded chains propagating along [001] by strong inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The chains are packed in stacks along the a-axis direction. In the crystals of (II) and (III), mol-ecules also form hydrogen-bonded chains propagating along [100] by strong inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. However, despite the fact that compounds (II) and (III) are isostructural, steric differences between the phenyl and furyl substituents result in chains with different geometries. Thus in the crystal of (II) the chains have a zigzag-like structure, whereas in the crystal of (III), they are almost linear. In both (II) and (III), the hydrogen-bonded chains are further packed in stacks along the b-axis direction.