Construction of Linked Nitrogen Heterocycles by Palladium(0)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Domino Cyclization of 2-Alkynylaziridines Bearing a 2-Aminoethyl Group via Ring Expansion with Isocyanate

Recent Advances in the Catalytic Synthesis of Imidazolidin-2-ones and Benzimidazolidin-2-ones

2-Imidazolidinone and its analogues are omnipresent structural motifs of pharmaceuticals, natural products, chiral auxiliaries, and intermediates in organic syntheses. Over the years, continuous efforts have been addressed to the development of sustainable and more efficient protocols for the synthesis of these heterocycles. This review gives a summary of the catalytic strategies to access imidazolidin-2-ones and benzimidazolidin-2-ones that have appeared in the literature from 2010 to 2018. Particularly important contributions beyond the timespan will be mentioned. The review is organized in four main chapters that identify the most common approaches to imidazolidin-2-one derivatives: (1) the direct incorporation of the carbonyl group into 1,2-diamines, (2) the diamination of olefins, (3) the intramolecular hydroamination of linear urea derivatives and (4) aziridine ring expansion. Methods not included in this classification will be addressed in the miscellaneous section.

Nucleophile-Mediated Ring Expansion of 5-Acyl-substituted 4-Mesyloxymethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ones in the Synthesis of 7-Membered Analogues of Biginelli Compounds and Related Heterocycles

A general six-step approach to alkyl 2-oxo-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-1,3-diazepine-5-carboxylates and 5-acyl-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-1,3-diazepin-2-ones based on the nucleophile-mediated ring expansion reaction of 5-functionalized 4-mesyloxymethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ones has been developed. Synthesis of the latter involved nucleophilic substitution of tosyl group in readily available N-[(2-benzoyloxy-1-tosyl)ethyl]urea with sodium enolates of β-oxoesters or 1,3-diketones, followed by dehydration or heterocyclization-dehydration of resulting products, removal of benzoyl protection, and conversion of hydroxymethyl group into mesyloxymethyl group. Conformations of the obtained tetrahydro-1H-1,3-diazepin-2-ones in solid state and solutions were established using X-ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopy. A plausible mechanism of tetrahydropyrimidine ring expansion based on DFT calculation at B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level and NMR monitoring experiments was discussed. The ring contraction reaction of methoxy- or phenylthio-diazepinones under acidic conditions resulted in the corresponding 3-functionalized 1-carbamoyl-1H-pyrroles.

Efficient pyrrolidine catalyzed cycloaddition of aziridines with isothiocyanates, isoselenocyanates and carbon disulfide “on water”

The cycloaddition of aziridines with isothiocyanates, isoselenocyanates and carbon disulfide is described using pyrrolidine on water. This protocol affords a potential route for the construction of the five membered heterocycles with high yields.