Access toward Fluorenone Derivatives through Solvent-Free Ruthenium Trichloride Mediated [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloadditions

Dehydrogenative [4 + 2] Annulation of 1-Indanones with Alkynes Enabled by In-Situ-Generated Nickel Hydride

A practical and effective nickel-catalyzed dehydrogenative [4 + 2] annulation of 1-indanones with alkynes was reported. In this protocol, nickel-catalyzed desaturation of 1-indanones and nickel hydride catalyzed coupling with alkynes were first incorporated. A cyclopentadiene-type nickel hydride species was generated in situ via β-H elimination, and they subsequently reacted with a wide variety of alkynes to afford various benzo[a]fluorenone derivatives in good yields and regioselectivity.

Synthesis of 5H-chromeno[3,4-c]pyridine derivatives through ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition

Efficient access to 5H-chromeno[3,4-c]pyridines using Ru-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes with cyanamides was developed, providing valuable tricyclic pyridine building blocks and enabling access to a biologically relevant intermediate.

Ag(I)-Promoted homo-dimerization of 2-(alk-2-yn-1-onyl)-1-alkynylbenzenes via a [4 + 2] cycloaddition of benzopyrylium ions: access to structurally unique naphthalenes

Herein we report a Ag(I)-promoted homo-dimerization of 2-(alk-2-yn-1-onyl)-1-alkynylbenzenes for the synthesis of structurally novel and functionalized naphthalene derivatives. This transformation exhibits a broad scope for the alkyl as well as aryl groups present on alkynes. Observations made from control experiments suggest the possible mechanism as (i) the homo-dimerization of the in situ generated benzopyrylium ion intermediates through a head-tail [4 + 2] cycloaddition, followed by (ii) the competitive ring-opening vs. decarbonylative aromatization of the adduct to give formylated and deformylated naphthalenes, respectively.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Cycloadditions to Form Five-, Six-, and Seven-Membered Rings

Ruthenium-catalyzed cycloadditions to form five-, six-, and seven-membered rings are summarized, including applications in natural product total synthesis. Content is organized by ring size and reaction type. Coverage is limited to processes that involve formation of at least one C-C bond. Processes that are stoichiometric in ruthenium or exploit ruthenium as a Lewis acid (without intervention of organometallic intermediates), ring formations that occur through dehydrogenative condensation-reduction, σ-bond activation-initiated annulations that do not result in net reduction of bond multiplicity, and photochemically promoted ruthenium-catalyzed cycloadditions are not covered.

Fluorene-Based Multicomponent Reactions

Fluorene and fluorenone are privileged structures with extensive utility in both materials science and drug discovery. Here, we describe syntheses of those moieties through isocyanide-based multicomponent reactions (IMCRs) and the incorporation of the products in diverse and complex derivatives that can be further utilized. We performed six different IMCRs, based on the dual functionality of 9-isocyano-9H-fluorene, and we describe 23 unprecedented adducts.

Heteroarene-tethered Functionalized Alkyne Metamorphosis

Heteroarene-tethered functionalized alkynes are multipotent synthons in organic chemistry. This detailed Review described herein offers a thorough discussion of the metamorphosis of heteroarene-tethered functionalized alkynes, an area which has earned much attention over the past decade in the straightforward synthesis of architecturally complex heterocyclic scaffolds in atom and step economic manner. Depending upon the variety of functionalized alkynes, this Review is divided into multiple sections. Amongst the vast array of synthetic transformations covered, dearomatizing spirocyclizations and cascade spirocyclization/rearrangement are of great interest. Synthetic transformations involving the heteroarene-tethered functionalized alkynes with scope, challenges, limitations, mechanism, their application in the total synthesis of natural products and future perceptions are surveyed.

Access to Fluorenones Using Benzocyclopentynone Surrogate as Partner for the [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition Reaction

A convenient and versatile procedure for the straightforward synthesis of substituted fluorenones as valuable scaffolds is described under rhodium catalysis. The present [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of diynes with 3-acetoxy or-3-alkoxyindenones as surrogates of the highly reactive benzocyclopentynone 2π partner allows the preparation of various fluorenone-type derivatives in good yields and provides an additional and tunable process for the generation of more challenging molecules with application in pharmaceutical, polymer, and material sciences.

Synthesis of Anthraquinones by Iridium-Catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition of a 1,2-Bis(propiolyl)benzene Derivative with Alkynes

[2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of a 1,2-bis(propiolyl)benzene derivative with terminal and internal alkynes takes place in the presence of [Ir(cod)Cl]2 (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) combined with bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE) to give anthraquinones in 42% to 93% yields with a simple experimental procedure. A fluorenone derivative can also be synthesized by iridium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of a benzene-linked ketodiyne with an internal alkyne to give a 94% yield.

Benzene construction via Pd-catalyzed cyclization of 2,7-alkadiynylic carbonates in the presence of alkynes

A palladium-catalyzed highly regio- and chemo-selective cyclization of 2,7-alkadiynylic carbonates with functionalized alkynes to construct 1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran and isoindoline derivatives under mild conditions has been developed. Functional groups such as alcohol, sulfonamide, and indoles could be well tolerated. After careful mechanistic studies, a mechanism involving oxidative addition and regioselectivity-defined double alkyne insertions has been proposed.

Synthesis of Fluorescent Azafluorenones and Derivatives via a Ruthenium-Catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition

An original and mild synthetic route for the preparation of novel azafluorenones and derivatives via a ruthenium-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes and cyanamides has been developed. This atom-economical catalytic process demonstrated remarkable regioselectivities to access fluorescent azafluorenone derivatives. The photophysical properties of azafluorenone derivatives have been evaluated, and photoluminescence phenomena at solid and liquid states have been highlighted.

Synthesis of 2-aminopyridines via ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,6- and 1,7-diynes with cyanamides: scope and limitations

A direct route to access 2-aminopyridines using Ru-catalyzed-[2+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,n-diynes with cyanamides is described in excellent yields and regioselectivities.

Atom-Economic Route to Cyanoarenes and 2,2'-Dicyanobiarenes via Iron-Catalyzed Chemoselective [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition Reactions of Diynes and Tetraynes with Alkynylnitriles

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of cyanoarenes has been developed via an iron-catalyzed chemoselective [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of diynes with alkynylnitriles under mild reaction conditions with good to excellent yields. The reaction is catalyzed by the combination of FeCl₂·4H₂O as a metal source, 2-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)iminomethylpyridine (dipimp) as a ligand, and Zn as a reducing agent in DME solvent. The protocol was further extended to the synthesis of 2,2'-dicyanobiarene skeletons from the reaction of tetraynes with alkynylnitriles.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition Reaction Forming 2-Aminopyridine Derivatives from α,ω-Diynes and Cyanamides

A novel, efficient, and mild synthetic route for the preparation of 2-aminopyridines via ruthenium-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes and cyanamides has been developed. This atom-economical catalytic process demonstrated remarkable regioselectivities to access pyridine derivatives of high synthetic utility.

Solvent-free ruthenium trichloride-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes and cyanamides: a convenient access to 2-aminopyridines

A convenient access to functionalized 2-aminopyridinesviaa solventless Ru-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of α,ω-diynes and cyanamides is described.