Synthesis of Spiro- and Fused Heterocycles via (4+4) Annulation of Sulfonylphthalide with o-Hydroxystyrenyl Derivatives

Versatile photocatalytic activities of indenoquinoxalines for dye reduction, single-crystal nucleation, and MNP formation with iron scrap under sunlight

In this work, 11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one (IQ), 7-nitro-11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one (NIQ), and 7-chloro-11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one (CIQ) as indenoquinoxalines (IQPs) and 7-nitro-2'-(4-nitrophenyl)-5',6',7',7a'-tetrahydrospiro[indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline-11,3'-pyrrolizine]-1',1'(2'H)-dicarbonitrile (SIQPNO2) spiroheterocyclics were synthesized. These molecules photocatalytically reduced methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), brilliant blue R (BBR), and Rhodamine B (RhB) in aqueous acetonitrile (aq-ACN) under sunlight (SL) for the first time. The IQPs and SIQPNO2 with a lanthanide graphene oxide template (LGT) of lanthanide sulfide nanorods (Ln2S3, Ce2S3, Tb2S3, and Ho2S3) photocatalytically reduced the dyes. IQ alone reduced MB in ∼2 min, while with LaGT, CeGT, TbGT, and HoGT in 7, 10, 11, and 13 min, respectively. NIQ and CIQ alone photocatalytically reduced MB in 18 and 32 min, while with LaGT, CeGT, TbGT, and HoGT in 18, 31, 23, and 28 min and 33, 55, 45, and 51 min, respectively. IQ with CO2 photocatalytically reduced MB and QHIn in 90 s and 17 min unlike 2 and 24 min without CO2, respectively. SIQPNO2 alone reduced MB in 190 min, while with CeGT, TbGT, HoGT, and LaGT in 242, 225, 197, and 88 min, respectively. IQ with LaGT photocatalytically reduced MB in 7 min, while SIQPNO2 with LaGT in 88 min. IQ received maximum photon (hv) producing robust redox cycles (ROCs) compared to SIQPNO2. SIQPI, SIQPII, SIQPIII, and SIQPNO2 (SIQPs) individually reduced MB in 95, 43, 54, and 190 min, while SIQPs with NIQ in 63, 35, 47, and 64 min, respectively. IQ with Fe scrap in ACN developed a single crystal in 2 weeks, while in 2 : 8, 3 : 7, 5 : 5, 7 : 3, and 8 : 2 aq-ACN media, the magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) developed at normal temperature and pressure (NTP).

Hauser-Kraus Annulation Initiated Multi-Cascade Reactions for Facile Access to Functionalized and Fused Oxazepines, Carbazoles and Phenanthridinediones

The Hauser-Kraus (H-K) annulation of N-unsubstituted 3-olefinic oxindoles with 3-nucleophilic phthalides triggers a cascade of ring expansion and ring contraction reactions through several regioselective steps in one pot. While oxazepines were isolated in the presence of stoichiometric amounts of base at room temperature, carbazoles and phenanthridinediones were the products in the presence of excess base and microwave irradiation. Mechanistic studies guided by stepwise reactions and control experiments revealed that the isolable oxazepine intermediate, formed via ring expansion of the H-K adduct, is the key precursor to carbazole and phenanthridinedione via decarboxylative regioselective cyclizations.

Structure-Based Identification of Naphthoquinones and Derivatives as Novel Inhibitors of Main Protease Mpro and Papain-like Protease PLpro of SARS-CoV-2

The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 urgently demands novel direct antiviral treatments. The main protease (Mpro) and papain-like protease (PLpro) are attractive drug targets among coronaviruses due to their essential role in processing the polyproteins translated from the viral RNA. In this study, we virtually screened 688 naphthoquinoidal compounds and derivatives against Mpro of SARS-CoV-2. Twenty-four derivatives were selected and evaluated in biochemical assays against Mpro using a novel fluorogenic substrate. In parallel, these compounds were also assayed with SARS-CoV-2 PLpro. Four compounds inhibited Mpro with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values between 0.41 μM and 9.0 μM. In addition, three compounds inhibited PLpro with IC50 ranging from 1.9 μM to 3.3 μM. To verify the specificity of Mpro and PLpro inhibitors, our experiments included an assessment of common causes of false positives such as aggregation, high compound fluorescence, and inhibition by enzyme oxidation. Altogether, we confirmed novel classes of specific Mpro and PLpro inhibitors. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest stable binding modes for Mpro inhibitors with frequent interactions with residues in the S1 and S2 pockets of the active site. For two PLpro inhibitors, interactions occur in the S3 and S4 pockets. In summary, our structure-based computational and biochemical approach identified novel naphthoquinonal scaffolds that can be further explored as SARS-CoV-2 antivirals.

Reactions of Sulfonylphthalide with Diverse Activated Imines for the Synthesis of Enaminophthalides, Spiro-isoquinolinones, and Homalicine Natural Products

The reactivity of the Hauser-Kraus (H-K) donor, 3-sulfonylphthalide, with various activated imines under basic conditions is demonstrated. The reaction of 3-sulfonylphthalide with Boc-protected aldimine provides a rapid access to 1,2-imine adducts and alkylidenephthalides depending upon the stoichiometry of the base. The alkylidenephthalides could be transformed to ketophthalides, a new class of phthalides, on acid hydrolysis, which upon reductive cyclization using Zn/AcOH afforded the natural product homalicine. On the contrary, the Boc-protected isatinimines undergo an efficient H-K annulation to provide spiro-isoquinolinone-oxindoles in excellent yields. However, the corresponding conjugated ketimines afforded Michael adducts, which were converted to the corresponding alkylidenephthalides under TBAF conditions.

Structure-based identification of naphthoquinones and derivatives as novel inhibitors of main protease Mpro and papain-like protease PLpro of SARS-CoV-2

The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 urgently demands novel direct antiviral treatments. The main protease (Mpro) and papain-like protease (PLpro) are attractive drug targets among coronaviruses due to their essential role in processing the polyproteins translated from the viral RNA. In the present work, we virtually screened 688 naphthoquinoidal compounds and derivatives against Mpro of SARS-CoV-2. Twenty-four derivatives were selected and evaluated in biochemical assays against Mpro using a novel fluorogenic substrate. In parallel, these compounds were also assayed with SARS-CoV-2 PLpro. Four compounds inhibited Mpro with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC ₅₀ ) values between 0.41 µM and 66 µM. In addition, eight compounds inhibited PLpro with IC ₅₀ ranging from 1.7 µM to 46 µM. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest stable binding modes for Mpro inhibitors with frequent interactions with residues in the S1 and S2 pockets of the active site. For two PLpro inhibitors, interactions occur in the S3 and S4 pockets. In summary, our structure-based computational and biochemical approach identified novel naphthoquinonal scaffolds that can be further explored as SARS-CoV-2 antivirals.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Diastereoselective [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of Carbonyl Ylide: An Access to the Core Ring System of Cordigol and Lophirone H

This paper describes a new synthetic strategy for the construction of tricyclic chromeno/quinolino furan frameworks via creation of two new rings and three contiguous stereogenic centers with high diastereoselectivity through a rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular carbonyl ylide cycloaddition reaction for the first time. This protocol allows the synthesis of the core ring system of natural products such as cordigol and lophirone H.

Photocatalytic Reduction of Fluorescent Dyes in Sunlight by Newly Synthesized Spiroindenoquinoxaline Pyrrolizidines

Spiroindenoquinoxaline pyrrolizidines (SIQPs)-7-nitro-2'-phenyl-5',6',7',7a'-tetrahydrospiro[indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline-11,3'-pyrrolizine]-1',1'(2'H)-dicarbonitrile (SIQP I), 2'-(4-cyanophenyl)-7-nitro-5',6',7',7a'-tetrahydrospiro[indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline-11,3'-pyrrolizine]-1',1'(2'H)-dicarbonitrile (SIQP II), and 2'-(4-methoxyphenyl)-7-nitro-5',6',7',7a'-tetrahydrospiro[indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline-11,3'-pyrrolizine]-1',1'(2'H)-dicarbonitrile (SIQP III)-have been synthesized through a one-pot cascade Knoevenagel condensation reaction in acetonitrile (ACN) with 91, 98, and 87% yields, respectively. Structures are characterized by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and UV-vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), high-resolution mass spectroscopy (HRTEM), fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive analysis by X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. SIQPs in ACN photocatalyzed methylene blue (MB) but not phenolphthalein (HIn). SIQPs distinguished the quaternary atoms and dipoles of the fluorescent dye (MB) contrary to the quinonoid HIn structure. In sunlight, SIQPs without electricity input acted as a photonic sensor to detect fluorescent dyes in waste effluents of textile, paper, dyes, and other industries. Activation energy (E _a), enthalpy (ΔH), entropy (ΔS), and Gibbs free energy (ΔG) calculated from UV-vis absorption spectra show photocatalytic reduction (PCR) activities in the order SIQP II > III > I. The N-atom of pyrrolizidine and -NO₂ of nitro-indenoquinoxaline (NIQ) induced the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) electrodynamics to enable the SIQPs to catalyze biochemical activities.

Annulations with Butenolides and Phthalides: New Entries to Isocoumarins, 3,4-Dihydroisocoumarins, and Benzofurans

The reactions of the anions of butenolides and substituted phthalides with sorbate esters and mono-epoxy sorbate esters furnish isocoumarins, 3,4-dihydroisocoumarins, and benzofurans. The yields range from 41% to 71%.

Synthesis of indenofurans, benzofurans and spiro-lactones via Hauser–Kraus annulation involving 1,6-addition of phthalide to quinone methides

Base mediated 1,6-addition–Dieckmann cyclization of phthalide with quinone methide leads to oxygen heterocycles such as indenofurans, spiro-lactones and benzofurans through a cascade of rearrangements involving multiple ring opening and ring closure.