aza-Wittig Reaction with Nitriles: How Carbonyl Function Switches from Reacting to Activating

Reactivity and Stability of (Hetero)Benzylic Alkenes via the Wittig Olefination Reaction

Wittig olefination at hetero-benzylic positions for electron-deficient and electron-rich heterocycles has been studied. The electronic effects of some commonly used protective groups associated with the N-heterocycles were also investigated for alkenes obtained in the context of the widely employed Wittig olefination reaction. It was observed that hetero-benzylic positions of the pyridine, thiophene and furan derivatives were stable after Wittig olefination. Similarly, electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs) attached to N-heterocycles (indole and pyrrole derivatives) directly enhanced the stability of the benzylic position during and after Wittig olefination, resulting in the formation of stable alkenes. Conversely, electron-donating group (EDG)-associated N-heterocycles boosted the reactivity of benzylic alkene, leading to lower yields or decomposition of the olefination products.

Catalytic Enantioselective Construction of Chiral γ-Azido Nitriles through Nitrile Group-Promoted Electrophilic Reaction of Alkenes

An efficient approach for the construction of enantioenriched γ-azido nitriles through the chiral sulfide-catalyzed asymmetric electrophilic thioazidation of allylic nitriles is disclosed. A wide range of electron-deficient and -rich aryl, heterocyclic aryl, and alkyl substituents are suitable on the substrates of allylic nitriles. The regio-, enantio-, and diastereoselectivities of the reactions are excellent. As versatile platform molecules, the obtained chiral γ-azido nitriles can be easily converted into high-value-added chiral molecules that are not easily accessed by other methods. Control experiments revealed that the allylic nitrile group is important for control of the reactivity and enantioselectivity of the reaction leading to a broad substrate scope.

One-Pot Synthesis of Core Structure of Shewanelline C Using an Azidoindoline

The unprecedented synthesis of the indolines bearing N3-quinazolin-2,4-dione moiety using an AZIN is reported. The concise synthesis features the tandem Staudinger/chemo-selective aza-Wittig/cyclization sequence of AZINs with isatoic anhydride by a one-pot protocol.

Palbociclib and Michael-acceptor hybrid compounds as CDK4/6 covalent inhibitors: improved potency, broad anticancer spectrum and overcoming drug resistance

To search for potent CDK4/6 covalent inhibitors, total 14 compounds have been designed and synthesized by connecting different Michael-acceptor to the piperazine moiety of palbociclib. All the compounds displayed good antiproliferative activity against human hepatoma cell (HepG2), non-small cell lung cancer (A549), and breast cancer (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) cell lines. In particular, compound A4 showed the highest inhibitory activity to MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 0.51 μM and 0.48 μM, respectively. More importantly, A4 also showed strong inhibition against MDA-MB-231/palbociclib cells, indicating that A4 could effectively avoid the resistance of palbociclib. In the enzyme test, A4 showed selective inhibitory activity against CDK4/6, with the IC₅₀ value of 18 nM and 13 nM, respectively. It was also found that A4 could efficiently induce apoptosis and arrest the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase. Moreover, A4 could significantly decrease the phosphorylation level of CDK4 and CDK6. HPLC and molecular modeling studies suggested that A4 could form a covalent bond with the target protein.

Di-, tetra-, and perhydropyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazoles: The Methods of Synthesis and Some Aspects of Application

The review summarizes and systematizes the literature data on the synthesis and some aspects of application of pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazoles. Synthetic approaches are grouped according to the degree of saturation of the product pyrroloimidazole ring. The bibliography of the review includes 110 sources over the last 15 years.

High Nitrile Yields of Aerobic Ammoxidation of Alcohols Achieved by Generating •O2- and Br• Radicals over Iron-Modified TiO2 Photocatalysts

Catalytic ammoxidation of alcohols into nitriles is an essential reaction in organic synthesis. While highly desirable, conducting the synthesis at room temperature is challenging, using NH₃ as the nitrogen source, O₂ as the oxidant, and a catalyst without noble metals. Herein, we report robust photocatalysts consisting of Fe(III)-modified titanium dioxide (Fe/TiO₂) for ammoxidation reactions at room temperature utilizing oxygen at atmospheric pressure, NH₃ as the nitrogen source, and NH₄Br as an additive. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of catalytic ammoxidation of alcohols over a photocatalyst using such cheap and benign materials. Various (hetero) aromatic nitriles were synthesized at high yields, and aliphatic alcohols could also be transformed into corresponding nitriles at considerable yields. The modification of TiO₂ with Fe(III) facilitates the formation of active ^•O₂^- radicals and increases the adsorption of NH₃ and amino intermediates on the catalyst, accelerating the ammoxidation to yield nitriles. The additive NH₄Br impressively improves the catalytic efficiency via the formation of bromine radicals (Br^•) from Br^-, which works synergistically with ^•O₂^- to capture H^• from C_α-H, which is present in benzyl alcohol and the intermediate aldimine (RCH═NH), to generate the active carbon-centered radicals. Further, the generation of Br^• from the Br^- additive consumes the photogenerated holes and OH^• radicals to prevent over-oxidation, significantly improving the selectivity toward nitriles. This amalgamation of function and synergy of the Fe(III)-doped TiO₂ and NH₄Br reveals new opportunities for developing semiconductor-based photocatalytic systems for fine chemical synthesis.

Synthesis and Characterization of Multiple Functionalized Cyclohexanone Using Diels–Alder Reaction of α-Nitrocinnamate

A systematic study of the Diels–Alder reaction of α-nitrocinnamate was performed. The reaction of p-substituted α-nitrocinnamate with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadienes smoothly proceeded regardless of the p-substituent, which was either an electron-donating or -withdrawing group. A control reaction revealed that α-nitrocinnamate isomerized during the reaction. Danishefsly’s diene (1-methoxy-3-trimethylsiloxy-1,3-butadiene) facilitated cycloaddition under mild conditions to afford a cycloadduct without the alternation of the diastereomeric ratio. Moreover, the desilylation of the cycloadduct furnished multiple functionalized cyclohexanones.

Inherent Reactivity of Spiro-Activated Electrophilic Cyclopropanes

The kinetics of the ring‐opening reactions of thiophenolates with geminal bis(acceptor)‐substituted cyclopropanes in DMSO at 20 °C was monitored by photometric methods. The determined second‐order rate constants of the S_N2 reactions followed linear relationships with Mayr nucleophilicity parameters (N/s_N) and Brønsted basicities (pK_aH) of the thiophenolates as well as with Hammett substituent parameters (σ) for groups attached to the thiophenolates. Phenyl‐substituted cyclopropanes reacted by up to a factor of 15 faster than their unsubstituted analogues, in accord with the known activating effect of adjacent π‐systems in S_N2 reactions. Variation of the electronic properties of substituents at the phenyl groups of the cyclopropanes gave rise to parabolic Hammett relationships. Thus, the inherent S_N2 reactivity of electrophilic cyclopropanes is activated by electron‐rich π‐systems because of the more advanced C1−C2 bond polarization in the transition state. On the other hand, electron‐poor π‐systems also lower the energetic barriers for the attack of anionic nucleophiles owing to attractive electrostatic interactions.

Simultaneous Formation and Functionalization of Aryliminophosphoranes Using 1,3-Dihydro-1H-benzimidazol-2-ones as Precursors

An atom- and step-economic synthesis of aryliminophosphoranes bearing ortho urea was achieved via unprecedented Ph₃P-I₂ mediated ring-opening of 1,3-dihydro-1H-benzimidazol-2-ones with secondary amines. Tandem aza-Wittig/heterocyclization of the functionalized aryliminophosphoranes upon treatment with isothiocyanates enables a facile access to a single regioisomer of N¹-substituted 2-aminobenzimidazoles as well as fused tetracyclic quinazolinone derivatives in one-pot. ³¹P{¹H} NMR studies suggested that the urea C-N bond of benzimidazolone is weakened by N-phosphorylation, leading to aminolysis rather than the expected deoxygenative amination.

Expansion of diazepine heterocyclic chemical space via sequential Knoevenagel condensation-intramolecular aza-Wittig reaction: 2-acyl-4-aryl-5H-pyrrolo[1,2-d][1,4]diazepines

Strategic combination of Knoevenagel condensation and intramolecular aza-Wittig reaction enabled facile access to pyrrole-fused 1,4-diazepines in excellent yields under mild conditions.

Multicomponent Cascade Reaction by Metal-Free Aerobic Oxidation for Synthesis of Highly Functionalized 2-Amino-4-coumarinyl-5-arylpyrroles

A novel approach has been constructed for the synthesis of two types of 2-amino-4-coumarinyl-5-arylpyrroles (ACAPs, 5 and 6) through a cascade reaction and a metal-free catalyzed aerobic oxidation reaction of arylglyoxal monohydrates 1, 1,1-enediamines (EDAMs) 2 and 3, and 4-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-ones 4 via multicomponent reactions to produce the target compounds with good to excellent yields. Specifically, hydroxyl-substituted 2-amino-4-coumarinyl-5-arylpyrroles, that is, 2-amino-4-coumarinyl-5-aryl-6-hydroxylpyrroles (ACAHPs) 6, were obtained by metal-free aerobic oxidation in 1,4-dioxane at simple reflux for approximately 10 h. As a result, ACAHPs 6 have been produced without metal catalysts or traditional oxidizing agents. This method represents a route to obtain the novel ACAPs in an environmentally friendly, concise, rapid, and practical manner with potential biological activity of the product.

Transition metal-free one-pot synthesis of substituted pyrroles by employing aza-Wittig reaction

A mild and metal-free one-pot synthetic strategy has been developed for the construction of substituted pyrroles by employing aza-Wittig reaction from a unique and unexplored combination of chromones and phenacyl azides. This method does not compromise the diverse substitutions on both the phenacyl azides and chromones. The merits of this method are wide substrate scope, easy functionalization, short reaction time, operationally simple, and higher yields. Moreover, this method is amenable for the generation of a library of key pyrrole building blocks.

A mild and metal-free one-pot synthetic strategy has been developed for the construction of substituted pyrroles by employing aza-Wittig reaction from a unique and unexplored combination of chromones and phenacyl azides.

Phosphazenomalonates as Catalysts and Reactants in (4+3) Annulation to Acrolein

The concept of combining a catalyst and an activated center in one molecule was implemented in Michael donors functionalized with phosphazene units. First, the phosphazene group catalyzes Michael addition and then acts as a reactant in an intramolecular aza-Wittig reaction. The viability of this strategy was demonstrated by our development of a one-pot method for azepane core construction starting from functionalized azides, triphenylphosphine and acrolein.