Construction of 2-Arylbenzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-d]thiazole Skeleton via CuCl/S-Mediated Three-Component Reaction

Synthesis of Densely Substituted Pyridine Derivatives from 1-Methyl-1,3-(ar)enynes and Nitriles by a Formal [4+2] Cycloaddition Reaction

An attractive method for assembling densely substituted pyridine derivatives from 1-methyl-1,3-(ar)enynes and nitriles via a formal [4+2] cycloaddition has been established. The well-balanced affinities of two alkali metal salts enable C(sp³)-H bond activation and excellent chemo- and regioselectivities. Experimental studies revealed that nitrile functions only as a partial nitrogen source for pyridine synthesis, and the addition of a metalated imine intermediate to an intramolecular alkyne is the rate-limiting step.

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.

Chemoselective Ullmann Reaction of α-Trisubstituted Thioamides: Synthesis of Novel 2-Iminobenzothiolanes

New classes of unexplored benzo[b]thiolanes are synthesized from trisubstituted thioamides through copper-catalyzed intramolecular S-arylation of thioamides for the first time. This method provides good to excellent yields with fully controlled chemoselectivity. Unusually, iminobenzo[b]thiolanes are very stable under mild acidic conditions. A plausible mechanism is proposed for the chemoselective S-arylation process.

Single-Pot Preparation of 4-Amino-2-(het)aryl-5-Substituted Thiazoles Employing Functionalized Dithioesters as Thiocarbonyl Precursors

An effective, diversity oriented, one-pot reaction of 4-amino-2-(het)aryl/alkyl-5-functionalized thiazoles has been disclosed, utilizing aryl/heteroaryl/alkyl dithioesters as thiocarbonyl coupling partners in a modified Thorpe-Ziegler type cyclization. The reaction proceeds at room temperature, under mild conditions, in excellent yields, displaying broad functional group compatibility at 2 and 5 positions of thiazoles. This synthetic strategy has been further expanded for the one-pot construction of two highly potent tubulin polymerization inhibitors, i.e., 2-(het)aryl-4-amino-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyaroyl) thiazoles, in high yields.

Metal-catalyzed C-S bond formation using sulfur surrogates

Sulfur-containing compounds are present in a wide range of biologically important natural products, drugs, catalysts, and ligands and they have wide applications in material chemistry. Transition metal-catalyzed C-S bond-forming reactions have successfully overcome the obstacles associated with traditional organosulfur compound syntheses such as stoichiometric use of metal-catalysts, catalyst-poisoning and harsh reaction conditions. One of the key demands in metal-catalyzed C-S bond-forming reactions is the use of an appropriate sulfur source due to its odor and availability. The unpleasant odor of many organic sulfur sources might be one of the reasons for the metal-catalyzed C-S bond-forming reactions being less explored compared to other metal-catalyzed C-heteroatom bond-forming reactions. Hence, employing an appropriate sulfur surrogate in the synthesis of organosulfur compounds in metal-catalyzed reactions is still of prime interest for chemists. This review explores the recent advances in C-S bond formation using transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions and C-H bond functionalization using diverse and commercially available sulfur surrogates. Based on the different transition metal-catalysts, this review has been divided into three major classes namely (1) palladium-catalyzed C-S bond formation, (2) copper-catalyzed C-S bond formation, and (3) other metal-catalyzed C-S bond formation. This review is further arranged based on the different sulfur surrogates. Also, this review provides an insight into the growing opportunities in the construction of complex organosulfur scaffolds covering natural product synthesis and functional materials.

Recent Advances in Sulfur-Containing Heterocycle Formation via Direct C–H Sulfuration with Elemental Sulfur

The synthesis of sulfur heterocycles via the construction of C–S bonds has received considerable attention due to their biological value and extensive pharmaceutical application. While diverse sulfurating agents have been developed over the past few decades, in this regard, elemental sulfur, with advantages of low toxicity, odorless nature and chemical stability, has great potential for the construction of diverse sulfur heterocycles through its direct incorporation into the target molecules in a concise way. Direct functionalization of inert C–H bonds can shorten the number of reaction steps and minimize the amount of waste formed. Hence, heteroannulations via direct C–H sulfuration is considered to be an attractive strategy for the synthesis of sulfur heterocycles. In the last few years, a vast array of concise systems have been reported for the synthesis of some valuable sulfur heterocycles such as thiophenes, thienoindoles, thienothiazoles, thiazoles, benzothiazoles, and thiadiazoles through direct C–H sulfuration/annulations with elemental sulfur. These are discussed in detail in this review.

1 Introduction

2 Thiophenes

3 Thienoindoles

4 Thienothiazoles

5 Other Fused Thiophenes

6 Thiazoles

7 Benzothiazoles

8 Thiadiazoles

9 Others

10 Summary and Outlook

Switchable Copper-Catalyzed Approach to Benzodithiole, Benzothiaselenole, and Dibenzodithiocine Skeletons

A copper-catalyzed reaction between 2-bromo-benzothioamides and S8 or Se involving sulfur rearrangement is reported, enabling access to benzodithioles 2 and benzothiaselenoles 6 in the presence of Cs2CO3. In the absence of S8 or Se, the reaction affords dibenzodithiocines 7 via two consecutive C(sp2)-S Ullmann couplings.

Cascade cyclization versus chemoselective reduction: a solvent-controlled product divergence

A convenient controllable cascade cyclization and partial reduction of enones for the divergent construction of two types of valuable compounds including polysubstituted thiophenes and saturated ketones are developed.

Cu-Catalyzed one-pot synthesis of thiochromeno-quinolinone and thiochromeno-thioflavone via oxidative double hetero Michael addition using in situ generated nucleophiles

A copper catalyzed three-component synthesis of π-conjugated tetracyclic thiochromeno-quinolinone and thiochromeno-thioflavone was established via oxidative double hetero Michael addition using in situ generated nucleophiles.