Base-Promoted Cascade Reactions of 3-(1-Alkynyl)chromones with Pyridinium Ylides to Chromeno[2,3-d]azepine Derivatives

Seven-membered N-heterocycles as approved drugs and promising leads in medicinal chemistry as well as the metal-free domino access to their scaffolds

Azepanes or azepines are structural motifs of many drugs, drug candidates and evaluated lead compounds. Even though compounds having N-heterocyclic 7-membered rings are often found in nature (e.g. alkaloids), the natural compounds of this group are rather rare as approved therapeutics. Thus, recently studied and approved azepane or azepine-congeners predominantly consist of semi-synthetically or synthetically-obtained scaffolds. In this review a comparison of approved drugs and recently investigated leads was proposed taking into regard their structural aspects (stereochemistry), biological activities, pharmacokinetic properties and confirmed molecular targets. The 7-membered N-heterocycles reveal a wide range of biological activities, not only against CNS diseases, but also as e.g. antibacterial, anticancer, antiviral, antiparasitic and against allergy agents. As most of the approved or investigated potential drugs or lead structures, belonging to 7-membered N-heterocycles, are synthetic scaffolds, this report also reveals different and efficient metal-free cascade approaches useful to synthesize both simple azepane or azepine-containing congeners and those of oligocyclic structures. Stereochemistry of azepane/azepine fused systems, in view of biological data and binding with the targets, is discussed. Apart from the approved drugs, we compare advances in SAR studies of 7-membered N-heterocycles (mainly from 2018 to 2023), whereas the related synthetic part concerning various domino strategies is focused on the last ten years.

Recent Strategies in the Nucleophilic Dearomatization of Pyridines, Quinolines, and Isoquinolines

Dearomatization reactions have become fundamental chemical transformations in organic synthesis since they allow for the generation of three-dimensional complexity from two-dimensional precursors, bridging arene feedstocks with alicyclic structures. When those processes are applied to pyridines, quinolines, and isoquinolines, partially or fully saturated nitrogen heterocycles are formed, which are among the most significant structural components of pharmaceuticals and natural products. The inherent challenge of those transformations lies in the low reactivity of heteroaromatic substrates, which makes the dearomatization process thermodynamically unfavorable. Usually, connecting the dearomatization event to the irreversible formation of a strong C-C, C-H, or C-heteroatom bond compensates the energy required to disrupt the aromaticity. This aromaticity breakup normally results in a 1,2- or 1,4-functionalization of the heterocycle. Moreover, the combination of these dearomatization processes with subsequent transformations in tandem or stepwise protocols allows for multiple heterocycle functionalizations, giving access to complex molecular skeletons. The aim of this review, which covers the period from 2016 to 2022, is to update the state of the art of nucleophilic dearomatizations of pyridines, quinolines, and isoquinolines, showing the extraordinary ability of the dearomative methodology in organic synthesis and indicating their limitations and future trends.

Iron Catalyzed Dearomatization of Pyridines into Annelated Azepine Derivatives in a One-Step, Three-Component Reaction

Commercially available Fe(TTP)Cl catalyzes three-component dearomative formal cycloaddition reactions between pyridines, diazo compounds, and coumalates. Diversely substituted annelated seven-membered N-heterocycles could be generated in less than 10 min in one step at room temperature. The reaction is compatible to gram scale. The extension to benzimidazoles in place of pyridines has been successfully demonstrated. The mechanism of this reaction has been carefully examined by computational studies that corroborate the observed regioselectivities.

Production of benzazepine derivatives via four-component reaction of isatins: study of antioxidant activity

In current research, benzazepine derivative is synthesized via a new process of four-component reaction of isatin or its derivatives, α-haloketones, activated acetylenic compounds, isoquinoline and potassium fluoride/clinoptilolite nanoparticles (KF/CP NPs) in acidic solution of H2O2 in water at room temperature. Also, antioxidation property of some prepared benzazepines is investigated by employing trapping diphenyl-picrylhydrazine (DPPH) radical and ability of ferric reduction experiment. Among investigated compounds, compounds 5c have good results relative to BHT and TBHQ as standard antioxidant. Also, the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria disk diffusion research is used for the confirmation of antimicrobial power of some prepared benzazepines. The achieved outcomes of disk diffusion experiment showed that these compounds avoided the growth of bacteria. Our procedure has a few benefits relative to reported method such as good rate of reaction, product with high efficiency, simple removal of catalyst from mixture of reaction. In the yield of the product, KF/clinoptilolite nanoparticles show a satisfactory recyclable activity.

Synthesis and reactivity of 3-(1-alkynyl)chromones

For the first time, the literature data on the methods of synthesis and reactivity of 3-(1-alkynyl)chromones are summarized and systematized. The main method for obtaining these compounds is the Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction of 3-halochromones with terminal acetylenes, and their most important chemical properties include the transformation into furans, reactions with dinucleophiles, ambiphilic [4+2]- and [4+3]-cyclizations, and also dimerization and mixed condensation of 2-methyl-3-(1-alkynyl)chromones due to the vinylogous methyl group. Except for the oxacyclization to furans, chemical transformations of 3-(1-alkynyl)chromones are accompanied by pyrone ring transformation, in which not only the carbonyl group but also the triple bond can participate. This significantly increases the synthetic value of these compounds and ensures the production of more complex heterocyclic systems based on them. The mechanisms of the reactions are discussed, the conditions for their implementation and the yields of the resulting products are indicated.

The bibliography includes 80 references.

Efficient synthesis of tetra- and penta-substituted benzenes via a domino annulation reaction of a pyridinium ylide and chalcone o-enolate

A very simple and highly efficient protocol for synthesizing tetra- and penta-substituted benzene derivatives has been developed.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Fluorescent Pyrido[2,3-b]indolizines from Alkylpyridinium Salts and Enaminones

Pyridinium ylides are well recognized as dipoles for cycloaddition reactions. In its turn, the microwave-assisted interaction of N-(cyanomethyl)-2-alkylpyridinium salts with enaminones unexpectedly proceeds as a domino sequence of cycloisomerization and cyclocondensation reactions, instead of a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The reaction takes place in the presence of sodium acetate as base and employs benign solvents. The optical properties of the resulting pyrido[2,3-b]indolizines were studied, showing green light emission with high fluorescence quantum yields.

NaH Promoted One-Pot Tandem Reactions of 3-(1-Alkynyl) Chromones to Form 2-Nitrogen-Substituted Xanthones

A silver-catalyzed dimerization of ethyl isocyanoacetates could trigger the tandem reaction of 3-(1-alkynyl) chromones under the basic condition in a one-pot reaction to afford xanthone skeletons with 2-imidazolyl substitution in an efficient manner. With the control experiment in hand, a mechanism including dimerization of isocyanoacetate/deprotonation/Michael addition/ring-opening/cyclization 1,2-elimination was deduced. Further investigation for the base was carried out, resulting in NaH as an optimal base to avoid the dimerization of 3-(1-alkynyl) chromones. The scope of this methodology was extended on the different substituents of 3-(1-alkynyl)-chromones and the potential of other N-heterocycle glycine ester anions to give the novel functional 2-nitrogen-derived xanthones.

[4 + 1] annulation reaction of cyclic pyridinium ylides with in situ generated azoalkenes for the construction of spirocyclic skeletons

Two new types of cyclic pyridinium ylides were designed and further used in reactions with azoalkenes to access structurally diverse spirocyclic compounds. A range of spiropyrazoline oxindoles could be smoothly obtained in up to 99% yield via a [4 + 1] annulation process with oxindole 3-pyridinium ylides as C1 synthons. Similarly, a series of spiropyrazoline indanones could be prepared with indanone 2-pyridinium ylides as C1 synthons. This work represents the first example of cyclic pyridinium ylides as C1 synthons for the efficient construction of spirocyclic compounds.