Chemoselective Double Annulation of Two Different Isocyanides: Rapid Access to Trifluoromethylated Indole-Fused Heterocycles

Silver-catalyzed P-centered anion nucleophilic addition to isocyanide: access to 2-phosphinoyl indoles/indol-3-ols

A silver-catalyzed chemoselective cascade nucleophilic addition of a P-centered anion to isocyanides and cyclization reaction was developed for the efficient and practical synthesis of a wide range of 2-phosphinoyl indole and indol-3-ol derivatives. Unlike the well-documented synthesis of phosphorus-functionalized heterocycles via a P-centered radical, an anionic reactivity profile of phosphine oxides is most likely involved in this domino transformation.

De Novo Synthesis of 2,2'-Bipyridines and Related Bis-azines via Cascade Coupling and Double Pyridannulation of Isocyanides

Herein, we present a new and general protocol for the assembly of 2,2'-bipyridyls from nonpyridine substrates without using any metal catalysts or organometallic reagents. The process starts from the coupling of two 1,3-dienyl isocyanides followed by a 6π-electrocyclization/aromatization cascade featuring the simultaneous formation of two pyridine rings in a single operation. Notably, this strategy is also applicable to the construction of nonsymmetrical 2-(2-pyridyl)-quinolines/-quinoxalines. Furthermore, the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics endow our approach with great potential in biorelevant fields.

Synthesis of 2,4-Dicyanoalkylated Benzoxazines through the Radical-Mediated Cascade Cyclization of Isocyanides with AIBN under Metal- and Additive-Free Conditions

A general and novel method for the radical cascade cyclization of aryl isocyanides with AIBN has been described. This strategy provides straightforward access to various 2,4-dicyanoalkylated benzoxazines in moderate to good yields under metal- and additive-free conditions. The reaction can apply to a gram scale and tolerate diverse functional groups. 2,4-Dicyanoalkylated benzoxazine derivatives feature a large Stokes shift and intramolecular charge transfer properties.

Regio- and Stereoselective Switchable Synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-N-Carbonylvinylated Pyrazoles

Regio- and stereoselective switchable synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-N-carbonylvinylated pyrazoles is first developed by using the Michael addition reaction of pyrazoles and conjugated carbonyl alkynes. Ag₂CO₃ plays a key role in the switchable synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-N-carbonylvinylated pyrazoles. Ag₂CO₃-free reactions lead to thermodynamically stable (E)-N-carbonylvinylated pyrazoles in excellent yields whereas reactions with Ag₂CO₃ give (Z)-N-carbonylvinylated pyrazoles in good yields. It is noteworthy that (E)- or (Z)-N¹-carbonylvinylated pyrazoles are obtained with high regioselectivity when asymmetrically substituted pyrazoles react with conjugated carbonyl alkynes. The method can also extend to the gram scale. A plausible mechanism is proposed on the basis of the detailed studies, wherein Ag⁺ acts as coordination guidance.

Copper-assisted Wittig-type olefination of aldehydes with p-toluenesulfonylmethyl isocyanide

A copper-assisted Wittig-type olefination of aldehydes and p-toluenesulfonyl isocyanide (TosMIC) is disclosed, providing an operationally simple approach to (E)-vinyl sulfone with various functional groups under mild reaction conditions.

Divergent Reaction of Isocyanides with o-Bromobenzaldehydes: Synthesis of Ketenimines and Lactams with Isoindolinone Cores

A divergent reaction of isocyanides with o-bromobenzaldehydes for the synthesis of isoindolinone-derived ketenimines and lactams was disclosed. The reaction features readily available reactants, relatively mild conditions, and high yields of products. Ketenimines could be applied in further transformations for access to other functional molecules. A mechanism study showed that the palladium-migration/imine-insertion process was the key step in this reaction.

Self-cyclization vs. dimerization of o-alkenyl arylisocyanides: chemodivergent synthesis of quinolines and pyrrolo-fused diindoles

Solvent-dependent chemoselective MBH-type self-cyclization and dimerization of o-alkenyl arylisocyanides were developed for the efficient and chemodivergent synthesis of various 3-acylquinoline and pyrrolo-fused diindole frameworks.

Silver-Assisted [3 + 2] Annulation of Nitrones with Isocyanides: Synthesis of 2,3,4-Trisubstituted 1,2,4-Oxadiazolidin-5-ones

A silver-assisted method for [3 + 2] annulation of nitrones with isocyanides has been developed. The developed protocol allows access to a variety of 2,3,4-trisubstituted 1,2,4-oxadiazolidin-5-one derivatives as single diastereomers in good to excellent yields using silver oxide as the catalyst and molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant. A plausible mechanism involving a nucleophilic addition/cyclization/protodeargentation/oxidation pathway is proposed on the basis of experimental results.

[3+1+1] type cyclization of ClCF2COONa for the assembly of imidazoles and tetrazoles via in situ generated isocyanides

A facile synthesis of imidazoles and tetrazoles via [3+1+1] type cyclization of ClCF₂COONa is developed.

A catalyst-free aqueous mediated multicomponent reaction of isocyanide: expeditious synthesis of polyfunctionalized cyclo[b]fused mono-, di- and tricarbazoles

A new multi-component reaction is developed for the synthesis of cyclo[b]fused mono-, di- and tricarbazoles from o-alkenyl arylisocyanides, aldehydes, and cyclic diketones in ethanol/water (1 : 1) as the solvent system.

Dimerization–cyclization reactions of isocyanoaryl-tethered alkylidenecyclobutanes via a triplet biradical mediated process

A triplet biradical mediated dimerization–cyclization reaction of isocyanoaryl-tethered alkylidenecyclobutanes to construct macrocyclic skeletons including dihydroquinoline and quinoline units has been reported.

Mn-mediated oxidative radical cyclization of 2-(azidomethyl)phenyl isocyanides with carbazate: access to quinazoline-2-carboxylates

Mn-TBHP mediated oxidative radical cyclization of 2-(azidomethyl)phenyl isocyanides using methyl carbazate has been described.

The enantioselective construction of trifluoromethylated quaternary stereocenters via the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric dehydrated arylation of unprotected hemiaminals

An effective Rh/chiral diene catalyst system for the highly enantioselective synthesis of chiral benzosultams bearing trifluoromethylated quaternary carbon stereocenters has been developed.

Domino synthesis of fully substituted pyridines by silver-catalyzed chemoselective hetero-dimerization of isocyanides

A silver-catalyzed hetero-dimerization of various vinyl isocyanides with isocyanoacetamides has been developed for the efficient and practical synthesis of fully substituted pyridines in a single operation.

[1 + 2 + 3] Annulation as a General Access to Indolo[3,2- b]carbazoles: Synthesis of Malasseziazole C

A formal [1 + 2 + 3] annulation of methyleneindolinones with o-alkenyl arylisocyanides has been developed for the general and efficient synthesis of both symmetrical and unsymmetrical indolo[3,2- b]carbazoles. The chemoselectivity of this domino reaction was tuned by a tethered alkenyl group, which enables successive formation of three new bonds and two rings from readily accessible starting materials in a single operation. Furthermore, this methodology was used as a key step in the synthesis of the alkaloid malasseziazole C.

Mechanistic insight into the silver-catalyzed cycloaddition synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles: the key role of silver

By using DFT calculations, we disclose the reason why silver(i) catalytically promotes the activity and regioselectivity of the cycloaddition of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles.

A formal (5+1) annulation reaction from heterodimerization of two different isocyanides: stereoselective synthesis of 2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-2-one

A novel (5+1) annulation reaction of functionalized 2-isocyanophenyloxyacrylate and aromatic, aliphatic isocyanides has been disclosed. This strategy allows for a quick access to many 2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-2-one derivatives.

Formal [1 + 2 + 3] Annulation: Domino Access to Carbazoles and Indolocarbazole Alkaloids

A new formal [1 + 2 + 3] annulation of o-alkenyl arylisocyanides with α, β-unsaturated ketones under metal-, base-, and acid-free conditions is disclosed. This domino reaction provides a general protocol for the efficient and practical synthesis of a wide range of carbazole derivatives from readily available starting materials in a single operation. Furthermore, this methodology was used as the key step in a protecting-group-free synthesis of indolocarbazole alkaloids arcyriaflavin A and racemosin B.

Atom-Economic Silver-Catalyzed Difunctionalization of the Isocyano Group with Cyclic Oximes: Towards Pyrimidinediones

An unprecedented silver-catalyzed difunctionalization of the isocyano group with cyclic oximes is described. This method allows efficient and atom-economic assembly of a vast array of structurally novel and interesting pyrimidinediones, and tolerates a range of functionalities. The resulting products can be easily converted into some useful compounds. Furthermore, the method can also be applied for the late-stage modification of a few biologically active molecules.

A domino reaction of 2-isocyanophenyloxyacrylate and aryne to synthesize arenes with vicinal olefin and benzoxazole

An unusual domino reaction of 2-isocyanophenyloxyacrylate and aryne has been disclosed. The present strategy experiences nucleophilic addition, Michael addition, carbon–oxygen cleavage, and cyclization, thus enabling the quick aryne vicinal difunctionalization by the installation of a benzoxazole and an olefin.

Ytterbium and silver co-catalyzed synthesis of pyrrole-fused bicyclic skeletons from enynones and isocyanides

A cascade reaction of isocyanide and enynone using Yb/Ag cooperative catalysis provided a quick access to structurally complex pyrrole-fused heterocycles.