Intramolecular Nicholas reactions in the synthesis of dibenzocycloheptanes. Synthesis of allocolchicine NSC 51046 and analogues and the formal synthesis of (-)-allocolchicine

Electrooxidative tricyclic 6-7-6 fused-system domino assembly to allocolchicines by a removable radical strategy

Natural allocolchicine and analogues derived thereof a tricyclic 6-7-6-system have been found as key scaffold of various biologically relevant molecules. However, the direct preparation of the allocolchicine motif remains difficult to date. Herein, we report on an electrooxidative radical cyclization of biarylynones with various carbon- and heteroatom-centered radical precursors via a sequential radical addition/7-endo-trig/radical cyclization domino reaction. This approach provides a step-economical and strategically novel disconnection for the facile assembly of a wide range of carbocyclic 6-7-6 fused ring systems. Remarkably, the sulfonyl group on the products could be easily removed by photocatalysis at room temperature with high yields.

Synthesis of Seleno-Dibenzocycloheptenones/Spiro[5.5]Trienones by Radical Cyclization of Biaryl Ynones

We report herein an alternative method for the synthesis of seleno-dibenzocycloheptenones and seleno-spiro[5.5]trienones through the radical cyclization of biaryl ynones in the presence of diorganyl diselenides, using Oxone as a green oxidizing agent. The reactions were conducted using acetonitrile as the solvent in a sealed tube at 100 °C. The protocol is operationally simple and scalable, exhibits high regioselectivity, and allows the synthesis of 24 dibenzocycloheptenones/spiro[5.5]trienones in yields of up to 99%, 17 of which are unpublished compounds. Additionally, synthetic transformations of the prepared compounds, such as oxidation and reduction reactions, are demonstrated.

Reaction of Alkynyl- and Alkenyltrifluoroborates with Propargyldicobalt Cations: Alkynylation, Alkenylation, and Cyclopropanation Product Pathways

The Lewis acid-mediated Nicholas reactions of propargyl acetate-Co₂(CO)₆ complexes with a series of potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates and potassium alkenyltrifluoroborates are described. Alkynyltrifluoroborates directly alkynylate the intermediate propargyldicobalt cations. In contrast, alkenyltrifluoroborates proceed through one of the three modes of dominant reactivity: C-2-substituted alkenyltrifluorobrates directly alkenylate, predominantly with the retention of stereochemistry. C-1-substituted alkenyltrifluoroborates alkenylate at C-2. Potassium vinyltrifluoroborate incorporates a cyclopropane at the site propargyl to alkynedicobalt. Computational analysis of these systems explains the differential modes of reactivity of alkenyltrifluoroborates and outlines the probable mechanisms for the formation of each product.

Dibenzocycloheptanones construction through a removable P-centered radical: synthesis of allocolchicine analogues

Dibenzocycloheptanones containing a tricyclic 6-7-6-system are present in numerous biologically active natural molecules. However, the simple and efficient preparation of derivatives containing a dibenzocycloheptanone scaffold remains difficult to date. Herein, we report a versatile strategy for the construction of these challenging seven-membered rings using a 7-endo-trig cyclization which is initiated by a phosphorus-centered radical. This approach provides a step-economical regime for the facile assembly of a wide range of phosphorylated dibenzocycloheptanones. Remarkably, we also have devised a traceless addition/exchange strategy for the preparation of dephosphorylated products at room temperature with excellent yields. Therefore, this protocol allows for the concise synthesis of biorelevant allocochicine derivatives.

Electrochemical Selenylative Carbannulation of Biaryl Ynones to Seleno-Dibenzocycloheptenones/Spiro[5.5]Trienones

Electrooxidative-induced synthesis of structurally diverse seleno-dibenzocyclohepten-5-ones and seleno-spiro[5.5]trienones by selenylative carbannulation of biaryl ynones with diaryl diselenide has been developed. The switchable reactivity, intramolecular ortho-annulation or dearomative ipso-annulation, is directed by the substituent present on the ortho-aryl group of aryl-ynone. The prominent features of this method include metal-free, external chemical oxidant-free conditions, and readily accessible substrates.

Generation and Reactions of a Benzodehydrotropylium Ion-Co2(CO)6 Complex

A series of 7-methylenedehydrobenzo[7]annulen-5-ol hexacarbonyldicobalt complexes were generated by Hosomi-Sakurai reactions of allylsilanes containing o-alkynylarylaldehyde-Co₂(CO)₆ complexes. One of the cyclization products was converted into its corresponding dihydrobenzo[7]annulen-7-ol hexacarbonyldicobalt complex, an immediate precursor to a benzodehydrotropylium-Co₂(CO)₆. The cation was generated in situ and reacted with four nucleophiles, and its aromatic stabilization was determined by computational methods.

N-Acetylcolchinol Methyl Ether (a Natural Product); Suhailamine (a Phantom Natural Product)

The reported characterization data for the allocolchicinoid alkaloid suhailamine, isolated from Colchicum decaisnei and known to have an erroneous structure, have been reanalyzed. This analysis has led to the current proposal that suhailamine has the same structure as N-acetylcolchinol methyl ether (NCME), an assertion that is supported by comparison with previously reported data for NCME. Suhailamine is therefore a phantom natural product, while NCME represents a naturally occurring allocolchicinoid rather than a purely synthetic entity.

Total Synthesis of Pentacyclic (-)-Ambiguine P Using Sequential Indole Functionalizations

The first synthesis of a pentacyclic ambiguine (ambiguine P) is reported. The synthesis takes advantage of sequential alkylations of an indole core to rapidly construct the pentacyclic framework of the natural product. Key to the success of the synthesis was the use of a Nicholas reaction to alkylate at C2, crafting a fused seven-membered ring that is characteristic of the pentacyclic ambiguines, as well as the use of an amide-directed functionalization at C12 to set a requisite quaternary center. A versatile late-stage intermediate was prepared that may be applicable to the synthesis of the other pentacyclic ambiguines.

Gold(i)-catalyzed Nicholas reaction with aromatic molecules utilizing a bifunctional propargyl dicobalt hexacarbonyl complex

A benchtop-stable reagent for the catalytic Nicholas reaction with aromatic molecules was developed.

Expedient synthesis of a symmetric cycloheptyne-Co2(CO)6 complex for orthogonal Huisgen cycloadditions

A cycloheptyne dicobalt-carbonyl complex with a terminal alkyne was synthesized by a short procedure, and was able to react selectively in Strain Promoted Alkyne Azide Cycloaddition (SPAAC) or Copper Catalysed Alkyne Azide Cycloaddition (CuAAC) depending on the conditions.

Total Synthesis of (±)-Allocolchicine and Its Analogues Using Co-Catalyzed Alkyne [2 + 2 + 2]-Cyclotrimerization

The total synthesis of (±)-allocolchicine has been completed by employing cobalt-catalyzed alkyne [2 + 2 + 2]-cyclotrimerization as the key reaction. The essential diyne has been synthesized from easily available 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde following simple chemical transformations. In general, the cycloaddition gave a mixture of C(9) and C(10) isomers thus allowing the synthesis of both allocolchicine and its C(10)-carboxylate. Because this cycloaddition was employed at the penultimate stage, it allowed the synthesis of various analogues having the diverse functionality at C(9) and/or C(10) of ring C.

Formal Synthesis of (±)-Allocolchicine Via Gold-Catalysed Direct Arylation: Implication of Aryl Iodine(III) Oxidant in Catalyst Deactivation Pathways

Abstract

A concise formal synthesis of racemic allocolchicine has been developed, centred on three principal transformations: a retro-Brook alkylation reaction to generate an arylsilane, a gold-catalysed arylative cyclisation to generate the B-ring via biaryl linkage, and a palladium-catalysed carbonylation of an aryl chloride to generate an ester. ¹H NMR monitoring of the key gold-catalysed cyclisation step reveals that a powerful catalyst deactivation process progressively attenuates the rate of catalyst turnover. The origins of the catalyst deactivation have been investigated, with an uncatalysed side-reaction, involving the substrate and the iodine(III) oxidant, identified as the source of a potent catalyst poison. The side reaction generates 1–4% of a diaryliodonium salt, and whilst this moiety is shown not to be an innate catalyst deactivator, when it is tethered to the arylsilane reactant, the inhibition becomes powerful. Kinetic modelling of processes run at two different catalyst concentrations allows extraction of the partitioning of the gold catalyst between the substrate and its diaryliodonium salt, with a rate of diaryliodonium salt generation consistent with that independently determined in the absence of catalyst. The high partition ratio between substrate and diaryliodonium salt (5/1) results in very efficient, and ultimately complete, diversion of the catalyst off-cycle.

Graphical Abstract

1,3-Dien-5-ynes: Versatile Building Blocks for the Synthesis of Carbo- and Heterocycles

1,3-Dien-5-ynes have been extensively used as starting materials for the synthesis of a wide number of different carbo- and heterocycles. The aim of this review is to give an overview of their utility in organic synthesis, highlighting the variety of compounds that can be directly accessed from single reactions over these systems. Thus, cycloaromatization processes are initially commented, followed by reactions directed toward the syntheses of five-membered rings, other carbocycles and, finally, heterocycles. The diverse methodologies that have been developed for the synthesis of each of these types of compounds from 1,3-dien-5-ynes are presented, emphasizing the influence of the reaction conditions and the use of additional reagents in the outcome of the transformations.

Vinylogous Nicholas reactions in the synthesis of bi- and tricyclic cycloheptynedicobalt complexes

The Lewis acid mediated intramolecular Nicholas reactions of allylic acetate enyne-Co₂(CO)₆ complexes afford bicyclic- and tricyclic cycloheptenyne-Co₂(CO)₆ complexes.

Synthesis of indole-derived allocolchicine congeners exhibiting pronounced anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing properties

The synthesis and biological assessment of indole-based allocolchicine congeners with potent anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing activity are reported.

Lewis acid catalyzed intramolecular [3 + 2] cross cycloadditions of cobalt-alkynylcyclopropane 1,1-diesters with carbonyls for construction of medium-sized and polycyclic skeletons

A Lewis acid catalyzed intramolecular [3 + 2] cross cycloaddition of cobalt-alkynylcyclopropane 1,1-diesters with carbonyls has been successfully developed. Together with simple and efficient postcycloadditions of the cobalt-alkyne moiety, a general and efficient strategy for construction of structurally complex and diverse medium-sized skeletons and related polycycles was supplied successfully.

Novel analogue of colchicine induces selective pro-death autophagy and necrosis in human cancer cells

Colchicine, a natural product of Colchicum autumnae currently used for gout treatment, is a tubulin targeting compound which inhibits microtubule formation by targeting fast dividing cells. This tubulin-targeting property has lead researchers to investigate the potential of colchicine and analogs as possible cancer therapies. One major study conducted on an analogue of allocolchicine, ZD 6126, was halted in phase 2 clinical trials due to severe cardio-toxicity associated with treatment. This study involves the development and testing of novel allocolchicine analogues that hold non-toxic anti-cancer properties. Currently we have synthesized and evaluated the anti-cancer activities of two analogues; N-acetyl-O-methylcolchinol (NSC 51046 or NCME), which is structurally similar to ZD 6126, and (S)-3,8,9,10-tetramethoxyallocolchicine (Green 1), which is a novel derivative of allocolchicine that is isomeric in the A ring. NSC 51046 was found to be non-selective as it induced apoptosis in both BxPC-3 and PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells and in normal human fibroblasts. Interestingly, we found that Green 1 was able to modestly induce pro-death autophagy in these pancreatic cancer cells and E6-1 leukemia cells but not in normal human fibroblasts. Unlike colchicine and NSC 51046, Green 1 does not appear to affect tubulin polymerization indicating that it has a different molecular target. Green 1 also caused increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in mitochondria isolated from pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, in vivo studies revealed that Green 1 was well tolerated in mice. Our findings suggest that a small change in the structure of colchicine has apparently changed the mechanism of action and lead to improved selectivity. This may lead to better selective treatments in cancer therapy.

Propargylic cation-induced intermolecular electrophilic addition–semipinacol rearrangement

A novel propargylic electrophile-induced tandem intermolecular addition–semipinacol rearrangement was developed for the synthesis of a series of synthetically useful β-propargyl spirocyclic ketones. Its synthetic application was demonstrated by efficient construction of the key tricyclic moiety of daphlongamine E.