Cascade C═O/C═C/C–N Bond Formation: Metal-Free Reactions of 1,4-Diynes and 1-En-4-yn-3-ones with Isoquinoline and Quinoline N-Oxides

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.

A General Synthesis of Cross-Conjugated Enynones through Pd Catalyzed Sonogashira Coupling with Triazine Esters

The palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling of α, β-unsaturated acid derivatives offers a diversity-oriented synthetic strategy for cross-conjugated enynones. However, the susceptibility of the unsaturated C-C bonds adjacent to the carbonyl group toward Pd catalysts makes the direct conversion of α, β-unsaturated derivatives as acyl electrophiles to cross-conjugated ketones rare. This work presents a highly selective C-O activation approach to prepare cross-conjugated enynones using α, β-unsaturated triazine esters as acyl electrophiles. Under base and phosphine ligand-free conditions, NHC-Pd(II)-Allyl precatalyst alone catalyzed the cross-coupling of α, β-unsaturated triazine esters with terminal alkynes efficiently, yielding 31 cross-conjugated enynones with diverse functional groups. This method demonstrates the potential of triazine-mediated C-O activation for preparing highly functionalized ketones.

Synthesis of Isoquinoline-Derived Diene Esters and Quinolin-2(1H)-ylidene-Substituted 1,5-Diones from Enynones and (Iso) Quinoline N-Oxides

An efficient synthetic method was developed to access isoquinoline-derived diene esters from enynones and isoquinoline-N-oxides in an atom-economic manner. The isoquinoline-substituted diene esters were obtained in moderate to excellent yields via [3 + 2]-cycloaddition and isoxazole ring opening followed by a [1,5]-sigmatropic rearrangement reaction, which resulted in one C-C and two C-O bond formations. Further, quinolin-2(1H)-ylidene-substituted 1,5-diones were achieved by reaction of enynones with quinoline-N-oxides in very good to high yields.

Recent applications of quinolinium salts in the synthesis of annulated heterocycles

Quinoline derivatives are frequently found in natural products and biologically active compounds, however, construction of quinoline fused polyheterocycles is the challenging goal in synthetic organic chemistry. In this regard, quinolinium salts meet the demand to a great level, as they can be synthesized readily and employed effectively for the rapid construction of condensed heterocyclic core. The present review focuses on recent (2015-2021) applications of different quinolinium salts that react with suitable partners to access diverse annulated products. Most of the reactions discussed here involve easily available starting materials, operationally simple, high atom efficiency and environmentally benign. Mechanistic aspects of representative transformations have also been highlighted for better understanding of reaction pathway.

Efficient access to 1,3,4-trisubstituted pyrroles via gold-catalysed cycloisomerization of 1,5-diynes

A gold-catalysed cycloisomerization of 1,5-diynes is described, which offers a selective approach to access 1,3,4-trisubstituted pyrroles. In this reaction, the cationic gold catalyst activates the ynamide moiety, initiating the cycloisomerization to produce the pyrrole core, and H₂O acts as an external nucleophile to trap the vinyl cationic species, thus leading to the formation of 1,3,4-trisubstituted pyrroles with high selectivity.

Stereoselective synthesis of fused-, spiro- and bridged heterocycles via cyclization of isoquinolinium salts: A recent update

Isoquinoline and its derivatives are ubiquitous in natural alkaloids, synthetic materials and pharmaceuticals with broad spectrum of biological activities. In particular, isoquinolinium salts are important in organic synthesis because they...

Catalyst- and Additive-Free Approach to Constructing Benzo-oxazine, Benzo-oxazepine, and Benzo-oxazocine: O Atom Transfer and C═O, C-N, and C-O Bond Formation at Room Temperature

An exclusive synthesis of benzo-oxazine, benzo-oxazepine, and benzo-oxazocine from aryl propanal and 2-(hydroxyamino)phenyl alcohol under metal-free conditions is described. O atom transfer and formation of new C═O, C-N, and C-O bonds occur at room temperature to form six-, seven-, and eight-membered heterocycles under one-pot reaction conditions without using an external oxidant and base. The photophysical properties are studied using ultraviolet-visible absorption and photoluminescence. The mechanistic elucidation is well supported by control experiment and literature precedents.

Recent Progress in Enolonium Chemistry under Metal-Free Conditions

Umpolung approach through inversion of the polarity of conventional enolates, has opened up an unprecedented opportunity in the cross-coupling via alkylation. The enolonium equivalents can be accessed either by hypervalent iodine reagents, activation/oxidation of amides, or the oxidation of alkynes. Under umpolung conditions, highly basic conditions required for classical enolate chemistry can be avoided, and they can couple with unmodified nucleophiles such as heteroatom donors and electron-rich arenes.

Catalyst- and Additive-Free Annulation of Ynediones and (Iso)Quinoline N-Oxides: An Approach to Synthesis of Pyrrolo[2,1-a]Isoquinolines and Pyrrolo[1,2-a]Quinolines

A simple and effective annulation of ynediones and (iso)quinoline N-oxides was developed to afford various functionalized pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinolines in moderate to excellent yields. This protocol underwent a tandem [3 + 2] cycloaddition/ring-opening/N-nucleophilic addition, which exhibited high regioselectivity, broad substrate tolerance, and atom economy under catalyst-, additive-free, and air conditions. Moreover, indolizine was also successfully prepared using pyridine N-oxide.

Copper-Catalyzed Selective 1,2-Difunctionalization of N-Heteroaromatics through Cascade C-N/C═C/C═O Bond Formation

This study presents an efficient strategy for constructing 1,2-difunctionalized quinoline derivatives via the multicomponent cascade coupling of N-heteroaromatics with alkyl halides and different terminal alkynes. This reaction was achieved through sequential functionalization at the one- and two-positions of quinolines, which displayed a broad substrate scope, environmental friendliness, excellent functional group tolerance, high atom efficiency, and chemoselectivity. The multicomponent coupling involved the abnormal construction of new C-N, C═C, and C═O bonds in one pot. The applicability of this method was further demonstrated by the late-stage functionalization of complex drug molecules under the established conditions.

Solvent-controlled divergent annulation of ynones and (iso)quinoline N-oxides: of 3-((iso)quinolin-1-yl)-4H-chromen-4-ones and 13H-isoquinolino[2,1-a]quinolin-13-ones

An effective annulation of ynones and (iso)quinoline N-oxides was developed to deliver various functionalized 3-((iso)quinolin-1-yl)-4H-chromen-4-ones and 13H-isoquinolino[2,1-a]quinolin-13-ones in moderate to excellent yields, respectively. This protocol exhibits high regioselectivity and broad substrate scope under transition-metal-free conditions. Moreover, the key reaction intermediate was successfully isolated and determined unambiguously by single crystal X-ray crystallography.

Synthesis of 3-(2-quinolyl) chromones from ynones and quinoline N-oxides via tandem reactions under transition metal- and additive-free conditions

The synthesis of 3-(2-quinolyl) chromones from ynones and quinoline N-oxides via a sequential [3+2] cycloaddition/ring-opening/O-arylation reaction under transition metal- and additive-free conditions is reported.

Gold-Catalyzed Oxidation of Thioalkynes To Form Phenylthio Ketene Derivatives via a Noncarbene Route

Gold-catalyzed oxidations of thioalkynes with 8-methylquinoline oxides afford 2-phenylthioketenes that can be trapped efficiently with alcohols. The synthetic utility is manifested by terminal and internal thioalkynes over a wide scope, bearing esters, ketones, alkyl, and oxime substituents. Our density functional theory calculations suggest that gold-catalyzed oxidations of terminal and internal thioalkynes with 8-methylquinoline oxides generate gold-bound ketene intermediates without the intermediacy of α-oxo gold carbene.

Gold-catalyzed oxidative cycloalkenations of alkynes with quinoline N-oxides

This work reports gold-catalyzed oxidative cycloalkenations of phenyl propargyl ethers and phenoxyalkynes with quinoline N-oxides to afford 4-alkylidenechroman-2-ones and 3-alkylidenebenzofuran-2-ones respectively.

Synthesis of Isothiochroman-3-ones via Metal-Free Oxidative Cyclization of Alkynyl Thioethers

A novel Brønsted acid-catalyzed oxidative C-H functionalization of alkynyl thioethers has been developed. This method allows the practical synthesis of valuable isothiochroman-3-ones in mostly moderate to good yields under mild reaction conditions and features a broad substrate scope and wide functional group tolerance. Moreover, this metal-free oxidation can also be used to promote formal N-H insertion involving an unexpected 1,2-sulfur migration, affording useful 1,4-benzothiazin-3-ones.

Copper-Catalyzed Benign and Efficient Oxidation of Tetrahydroisoquinolines and Dihydroisoquinolines Using Air as a Clean Oxidant

A green chemical method for mild oxidation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQs) and 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines (DHIQs) has been developed using air (O₂) as a clean oxidant. DHIQs and THIQs could be efficiently oxidized to isoquinolines in dimethyl sulfoxide at 25 °C under an open air atmosphere with CuBr₂ (20 mol %) as the catalyst; different bases [NaOEt and/or 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene] were used for the reaction according to the patterns of substituents (R¹, R²).