Practical Synthesis of Benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinolines via Rh(III)-Catalyzed C-H Activation Cascade Reaction from Imidamides and Anthranils

Recent approaches for the synthesis of heterocycles from amidines via a metal catalyzed C-H functionalization reaction

Transition metal catalyzed C-H bond activation has become one of the most important tools for constructing new chemical bonds. Introducing directing groups to the substrates is the key to a successful reaction, these directing groups can also be further transformed in the reaction. Amidines with their unique structure and reactivity are ideal substrates for transition metal-catalyzed C-H transformations. This review describes the major advances and mechanistic investigations of the C-H activation/annulation tandem reactions of amidines until early 2024, focusing on metal-catalyzed C-H activation of amidines with unsaturated compounds, such as alkynes, ketone, vinylene carbonate, cyclopropanols and their derivatives. Meanwhile this manuscript also explores the reaction of amidines with different carbene precursors, for example diazo compounds, azide, triazoles, pyriodotriazoles, and sulfoxonium ylides as well as their own C-H bond activation/cyclization reactions. A bright outlook is provided at the end of the manuscript.

Synthesis of benzimidazole-fused 1,4-benzoxazepines and benzosultams spiro-connected to a 2-oxindole core via a tandem epoxide-opening/SNAr approach

While hundreds of literature reports describe the preparation of spirooxindole-based five- and six-membered heterocycles, the construction of seven-membered heterocyclic rings spiro-connected to a 2-oxindole core has so far been less developed. Herein, we disclose a base-mediated (4 + 3) annulation of spiro-epoxyoxindoles and 2-(2-fluoroaryl)-1H-benzoimidazoles or 2-fluoro-N-arylbenzenesulfonamides toward the synthesis of two new classes of spirooxindole-based polycyclic systems. Mechanistically, this conceptually simple and high atom-economical reaction proceeds via an SN2-like intermolecular epoxide ring-opening, accompanied by a concomitant intramolecular SNAr reaction. From a synthetic aspect, the notable features of the process are its full regioselectivity, operational simplicity using readily available substrates under transition-metal-free conditions, high yields, and broad substrate scope.

Advances in transition metal-catalyzed C-H amination strategies using anthranils

Modern times have witnessed an uprise in the synthesis and derivatization of nitrogen-containing fused heterocycles. Amination reactions involving nitrene chemistry have always been the most convenient choice for the incorporation of a nitrogen atom in a molecule. The utilization of an open nitrene species harnesses harsh conditions. Hence, transition metal-catalyzed C-H amination reactions using aminating agents have been an attractive choice. Electrophilic aminating agents for C-H amination reactions are well exploited due to their desirable reaction conditions. Out of all, anthranils have paved the way forward due to their utility in simultaneously forming two new functional groups (amine and carbonyl). Amination using anthranils follows a metal-nitrenoid pathway. Often, the amination has been followed by a Lewis acid or transition metal-mediated intramolecular cyclization to directly produce fused heterocycles. This review broadly demonstrates the utilization of anthranils as an aminating agent for transition metal-catalyzed C-H amination reactions. The focus has been given to the scope, limitations, and mechanistic understanding of using such an electrophilic aminating agent, anthranil, with transition metals.

TBAI-Catalysed Formal [4+4]-Cycloaddition: Easy Access to Oxa-Bridged Eight-Membered Heterocycles

TBAI-catalysed [4+4]-cyclization reaction of anthranils with hydrazones to deliver oxa-bridged eight-membered heterocycles in accepted yields was developed. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicated that the reaction involved the in situ generation of vinyldiazenes from readily available hydrazones followed by an aza-Michael addition of the anthranil substrates onto the vinyldiazenes and subsequent annulation. This transformation involved the formation of two new C-N bonds and C-O bond in one pot, overcoming the synthetic limitations of anthranils in organic chemistry. This strategy benefits from high efficiency and atomic economy with mild reaction conditions.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Tandem Reaction Access to (Quinazolin-2-yl)methanone Derivatives from 2,1-Benzisoxazoles and α-Azido Ketones

A Rh(III)-catalyzed tandem reaction for the synthesis of (quinazolin-2-yl)methanone derivatives has been explored from 2,1-benzisoxazoles and α-azido ketones. The transformation involves Rh(III)-catalyzed denitrogenation of α-azido ketones, aza-[4 + 2] cycloaddition, ring opening, and dehydration aromatization processes. Notably, the aza-[4 + 2] cycloaddition of an imine rhodium complex intermediate with 2,1-benzisoxazoles is the key to this reaction.

Rhodium-Catalysed Regioselective [4+2]-type Annulation of 1-H-Indazoles with Propargyl Alcohols: A direct entry to 6-alkenylindazolo[3,2-a]isoquinolines

An efficient method for the synthesis of 6-vinylindazolo[3,2-a]isoquinolines via rhodium(III)-catalysed C-H bond activation/subsequent [4+2] cyclization starting from easily available 3-aryl-1-H-indazoles and propargyl alcohols has been developed. A series of vinyl-annulated...

Cp*Co(III)-catalyzed C-H amination/annulation cascade of sulfoxonium ylides with anthranils for the synthesis of indoloindolones

Cp*Co(iii)-catalyzed [4+1] annulation of sulfoxonium ylides with anthranils has been developed for the synthesis of indole-indolone scaffolds. The dual functionality of anthranils was exploited, wherein the nitrogen has been used for C-H amination and the aldehyde group was utilized in the subsequent intramolecular aldol condensation to furnish the corresponding annulated products.

Visible-light-promoted nitrone synthesis from nitrosoarenes under catalyst- and additive-free conditions

A green and sustainable nitrone formation reaction via visible-light-promoted reaction of aryl diazoacetates with nitrosoarenes is described. This protocol exhibits good functional group tolerance and broad substrate scope for both aryl diazoacetates with nitrosoarenes. Comparing the reported methods for the synthesis of nitrones from nitrosoarenes, the reaction described herein occurs under sole visible-light irradiation without the need of any catalysts and additives.

TfOH-Promoted Decyanative Cyclization toward the Synthesis of 2,1-Benzisoxazoles

A novel solvent-free, TfOH-promoted decyanative cyclization approach for the synthesis of 2,1-benzisoxazoles has been developed. The reactions are complete instantly at room temperature and result in the formation of the desired 2,1-benzisoxazoles in a 34-97% isolated yield.

Rapid Access to Benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinoline-Fused Isoxazoles via Pd(II)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Cross Dehydrogenative Coupling: Synthetic Versatility and Photophysical Studies

An efficient and atom-economical palladium-catalyzed intramolecular cross dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reaction has been developed for the construction of highly π-conjugated benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinoline-fused isoxazole scaffolds using molecular oxygen as sole oxidant. The approach portrayed wide substrate scope with good functional group tolerance and depicted a useful tool for the generation of fluorescence active compounds with high quantum yield. Synthetic versatility of the method via Fe-catalyzed reductive isoxazole ring cleavage toward pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrazole fused heteropolycyclic compounds has been showcase.

Preparation of anthranils via chemoselective oxidative radical cyclization of 3-(2-azidoaryl) substituted propargyl alcohols

In the presence of K₂S₂O₈ and HOAc, 3-(2-azidoaryl) substituted propargyl alcohols can go through chemoselective oxidative radical cyclizations to give a pool of anthranils based on Meyer-Schuster rearrangement. It's proposed that the cyclizations were triggered exclusively by the direct attack of oxygen radicals on the azides. The weak N-O bonds in anthranils could be easily cleaved in the presence of transition metal catalysts and went through aminations with 2-oxo-2-phenylacetic acid and iodobenzene.

Synthesis of N-acylbenzimidazoles through [4 + 1] annulation of N-arylpivalimidamides with dioxazolones

Presented herein is a novel and efficient synthesis of N-acylbenzimidazoles through an unprecedented [4 + 1] annulation of N-arylpivalimidamides with dioxazolones.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Hexahydroimidazo[1,2-a]quinolines via SN2-Type Ring-Opening Hydroarylation-Hydroamination Cascade Cyclization of Activated Aziridines with N-Propargylanilines

A novel synthetic approach for the construction of 1,2,3,3a,4,5-hexahydroimidazo[1,2-a]quinolines in good yields (up to 75%) with excellent stereoselectivity (dr up to 94:6, ee up to >99%) under one-pot domino ring-opening cyclization (DROC) conditions has been developed. The DROC protocol proceeds through a Lewis acid catalyzed S_N2-type ring-opening of activated aziridines with N-propargylanilines followed by intramolecular cyclization comprising concomitant hydroarylation and hydroamination steps in a domino fashion.

Gold-Catalyzed Intermolecular Formal [4 + 2 + 2]-Cycloaddition of Anthranils with Allenamides

The construction of eight-membered rings is a challenging issue due to unfavorable transannular strain and entropic barriers. We report herein a gold-catalyzed formal [4 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of anthranils with allenamides to deliver oxa-bridged eight-membered heterocycles in accepted yields with unique E/Z configuration. Moreover, the asymmetric [4 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition by using chiral phosphoramidite gold catalyst has also been conducted.

Anthranils: versatile building blocks in the construction of C–N bonds and N-heterocycles

This review article provides an overview of the recent progress in the transformations of anthranils, which have emerged as versatile building blocks in the assembly of various C–N bonds and medicinally active heterocyclic systems.

Recent advances in the synthesis of bridgehead (or ring-junction) nitrogen heterocycles via transition metal-catalyzed C–H bond activation and functionalization

An update on recent advances in the synthesis of bridgehead nitrogen fused heterocycles via transition metal-catalyzed C–H activation and functionalization is reported.