Nickel(II)-Catalyzed [5 + 1] Annulation of 2-Carbonyl-1-propargylindoles with Hydroxylamine To Synthesize Pyrazino[1,2-a]indole-2-oxides in Water

Synthesis of Indole-Fused Pyrazino[1,2-a]quinazolinones by Copper(I)-Catalyzed Selective Hydroamination-Cyclization of Alkynyl-tethered Quinazolinones

We described a copper(I)-catalyzed atom economic and selective hydroamination-cyclization of alkynyl-tethered quinazolinones to prepare a variety of indole-fused pyrazino[1,2-a]quinazolinones in good to excellent yields ranging from 39 %-99 % under mild reaction conditions. Control experiments revealed that coordination-directed method of quinazolinone moiety with copper(I) was important for the selective hydroamination-cyclization of alkynes at the N1-atom instead of N3-atom of quinazolinone. The reaction could be easily performed at gram scales and some prepared indole-fused pyrazino[1,2-a]quinazolinones with donating groups on the indole moiety showed a distinct fluorescence emission wavelength with blue shift under the acid conditions.

Recent Advances on Direct Functionalization of Indoles in Aqueous Media

Indoles and their derivatives have dominated a significant proportion of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds and play an essential role in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, pesticides, and advanced materials. Compared with conventional synthetic strategies, direct functionalization of indoles provides straightforward access to construct diverse indole scaffolds. As we enter an era emphasizing green and sustainable chemistry, utilizing environment-friendly solvents represented by water demonstrates great potential in synthesizing valuable indole derivatives. This review aims to depict the critical aspects of aqueous-mediated indoles functionalization over the past decade and discusses the future challenges and prospects in this fast-growing field. For the convenience of readers, this review is classified into three parts according to the bonding modes (C-C, C-N, and C-S bonds), which focus on the diversity of indole derivatives, the prominent role of water in the chemical process, and the types of catalyst systems and mechanisms. We hope this review can promote the sustainable development of the direct functionalization of indoles and their derivatives and the discovery of novel and practical organic methods in aqueous phase.

Applications of Nickel(II) Compounds in Organic Synthesis

This review article summarizes the applications of nickel(II) compounds in organic synthesis since 2016. In recent years, the field of nickel(II) catalysis is gaining considerable interest due to readily available, low-cost nickel(II)-compounds and several key properties of nickel. This review article is organized by the reaction type, although some reactions can be placed in multiple sections.

Synthesis and Biological Activities of Pyrazino[1,2-a]indole and Pyrazino[1,2-a]indol-1-one Derivatives

This review concerns the synthesis and biological activities of pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles and pyrazino[1,2-a]indol-1-ones reported since 1997 and the discovery of biological activity of pyrazinoindole derivatives. In the first part, we first presented the synthetic routes that have been reported from a methodological point of view to access the pyrazinoindole unit according to cyclization reactions using or not using metal catalysts. Then, syntheses and neuropsychiatric, auto-immune, anti-infectious and anti-cancer properties of pyrazinoindoles were detailed. In the second part, we first reported the main accesses to pyrazinoindol-1-one substrates according to Michael reactions, metal-catalyzed and metal-free cyclization reactions. The syntheses and anti-cancer, anti-infectious, anti-allergenic and neuropsychiatric properties of pyrazinoindolones were next described and discussed.

A convenient one-pot approach to the synthesis of novel pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles fused to heterocyclic systems and evaluation of their biological activity as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles fused with various heterocycles, such as oxazolidine, oxazinane, imidazolidine, hexahydropyrimidine and benzimidazole, were synthesized transition metal-free by domino reactions which involved the condensation of 1-(2-bromoethyl)-3-chloro-1H-indole-2-carbaldehydes 28–31 with various nucleophilic amines, resulting in the formation of two new interesting fused heterocycles. The anticholinesterase, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the compounds were evaluated. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities were tested by Ellman’s assay, antioxidant activities were detected using the 2,2-azinobis[3-ethylbenzthiazoline]-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•+) free-radical scavenging method and antibacterial activities were determined by agar diffusion tests. The oxazolo-pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles (8, 10), the oxazino-pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles (16, 18, 19), the pyrimido-pyrazino[1,2-a]indole (22), and the benzoimidazo-pyrazino[1,2-a]indole (27) possessed the highest inhibitory activity against AChE with IC50 values in the range 20–40 μg mL−1. The oxazolo-pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles (8, 9), the imidazo-pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles (12, 13), and the benzoimidazo-pyrazino[1,2-a]indole (24) revealed the highest antioxidant values with IC50 values less than 300 μg mL−1. However, the oxazolo-pyrazino[1,2-a]indole (11) and imidazo-pyrazino[1,2-a]indoles (12, 13) exhibited weak to moderate bioactivities against all tested Gram-positive bacteria, namely Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus.

Visible-Light-Induced Metal-Free Synthesis of 2-Phosphorylated Thioflavones in Water

The introduction of phosphorus functional groups into the skeleton of thioflavones is an attractive task and of great significance. Herein, a metal-free visible-light-induced radical cascade cyclization was developed for the preparation of 2-phosphorylated thioflavones from methylthiolated alkynones and phosphine oxides. In water as a green reaction medium, a large number of such 2-phosphorylated thioflavones were prepared, catalyzed by 4CzIPN [1,2,3,5-tetrakis(carbazol-9-yl)-4,6-dicyanobenzene] under visible-light irradiation. These reactions could be performed at ambient temperature and feature simple operation, wide reaction scope, and recyclability of aqueous media.

Ambient access to a new family of pyrrole-fused pyrazine nitrones via 2-carbonyl-N-allenylpyrroles

The chemo-, regio- and stereoselective synthesis of pyrrole-fused pyrazine nitrones via the direct reaction of 2-carbonyl-N-allenylpyrroles (readily accessible from the corresponding NH-pyrroles) with hydroxyl amine hydrochloride has been developed.