Route to Pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinolines via a Copper-Catalyzed Tandem Reaction of 2-Alkynylbromobenzene with Pyrazole

Synthesis of pyrimidine-fused skeletons through copper-catalyzed consecutive Sonogashira coupling and aminocyclization

A copper-catalyzed sequence involving a Sonogashira coupling reaction and 5-exo-dig aminocyclization between a terminal alkyne and a 2-(2-bromophenyl)pyrimidine analog based on six-membered rings is presented. This protocol provides a controlled and modular approach to access a variety of synthetically useful pyrimidine-fused skeletons with high efficiency, broad substrate scope, and excellent functional group compatibility. Under acidic conditions, the (Z)-configuration of products spontaneously converts into (E)-9-benzylidene-1,9-dihydro-11H-pyrazolo[4',3':4,5]pyrimido[2,1-a]isoindol-11-ones.

Ruthenium-catalyzed α-carbonyl sulfoxonium ylide annulations with aryl substituted pyrazoles via C–H/N–H bond functionalizations

An efficient method for the construction of various pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinolines has been achieved via Ru(ii)-catalyzed α-carbonyl sulfoxonium ylide annulations with aryl substituted pyrazoles.

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinoline derivatives from 2-gem-dipyrazolylvinylbromobenzenes

An efficient copper-catalyzed synthesis of pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinolines from 2-gem-dipyrazolylvinylbromobenzenes under mild conditions has been developed.

Base-Mediated Hydroamination of Alkynes

Inter- or intramolecular hydroamination reactions are a paradigmatic example of modern sustainable organic chemistry, as they are a catalytic, 100% atom-economical, and waste-free process of fundamental simplicity in which an amine is added to an alkyne substrate. Many enamines are found in many natural and synthetic compounds possessing interesting physiological and biological activities. The development of synthetic protocols for such molecules and their transformation is a persistent research topic in pharmaceutical and organic chemistry. Hydroamination is conspicuously superior to the other accessible methods, such as the imination of ketones or the aminomercuration/demercuration of alkynes, that involve the stoichiometric use of toxic reagents. Additionally, the hydroamination of alkyne substrates has been successfully employed as a key step in synthesizing target molecules through total syntheses containing substituted indoles, pyrroles, imidazoles, and other heterocycles as core moieties. Many research groups have explored inter- or intramolecular hydroamination of alkynes for the synthesis of diversely substituted nitrogen heterocycles using expensive metal catalysts. However, in contrast to metal-catalyzed hydroamination, the base-mediated hydroamination of alkynes has not been extensively studied. Various inorganic (such as hydroxides, phosphates, and carbonates) and organic bases have been proven to be valuable reagents for achieving the hydroamination process. This method represents an attractive strategy for the construction of a broad range of nitrogen-containing compounds that prevents the formation of byproducts in the creation of a C-N linkage. The presence of a base is thought to facilitate the attack of nitrogen nucleophiles, such as indoles, pyrroles, and imidazoles, on unsaturated carbon substrates through the activation of the triple bond and thus transforming the electron-rich alkyne into an electrophile. In the past few years, we have been involved in the development of methods for the nucleophilic addition of N-heterocycles onto terminal and internal alkynes using alkali base catalysts to achieve new carbon-nitrogen bond-forming reactions. During our study, we discovered the regioselective preferential nucleophilic addition of N-heterocycles onto the haloarylalkyne over N-arylation of the aryl halide. In this Account, we summarize our latest achievements in regio-, stereo-, and chemoselective hydroamination chemistry of N-nucleophiles with alkynes using a superbasic medium to produce a broad range of highly functionalized vinyl and styryl enamines, which are valuable and versatile synthetic intermediates for the synthesis of bioactive compounds. Interestingly, the stereoselectivity of the addition products (kinetically stable Z and thermodynamically stable E isomers) was found to be dependent upon time. It is worthwhile to note that hydroaminated products formed by the addition reaction can further be utilized for the synthesis of indolo-/pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines, naphthyridines, and bisindolo/pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolinesvia tandem cyclization. This chemistry is expected to find application in organic synthesis for constructing a diverse variety of fused π-conjugated compounds, enaminones, and C-C coupled products.

Substrate-driven selective mono- and bis-couplings of ortho-(OTf/I/Br) substituted gem-dibromovinylarenes

A one-pot approach with the substrate-driven selective and competitive reactivity of ortho-trifloxy, iodo or bromo functionalized gem-dibromovinylarenes was studied under Pd-catalyzed conditions.

Synthesis of pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinolines through copper-catalyzed regioselective bicyclization of N-propargylic sulfonylhydrazones

An expeditious strategy for the synthesis of pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinolines through copper(ii)-catalyzed regioselective bicyclization of N-propargylic sulfonylhydrazones has been developed.

Acid-Catalyzed Multicomponent Tandem Double Cyclization: A One-pot, Metal-free Route to Synthesize Polyfunctional 4,9-Dihydropyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazolines

An acid-catalyzed multicomponent tandem double cyclization protocol has been developed for the synthesis of polyfunctional 4,9-dihydropyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazolines from simple and readily available arylglyoxal monohydrates, 2-aminobenzylamine, and trans-β-nitrostyrenes. This practical and metal-free reaction proceeds through an imine formation/cyclization/Michael addition/Henry cyclization protocol, resulting in the construction of four new bonds and two ring moieties directly in one pot.

Tandem copper (Cu) catalysed N-arylation–vinylogous nitroaldol condensation of 3,5-disubstituted 4-nitropyrazoles

A tandem process involving copper catalysed N-arylation and vinylogous nitroaldol condensation is described.

Synthesis of 2-trifluoromethylpyrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinolines via silver triflate-catalyzed or electrophile-mediated one-pot tandem reaction

An efficient one-pot tandem cyclization/[3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of N’-(2-alkynylbenzylidene)hydrazides with ethyl 4,4,4-trifluorobut-2-ynoate under silver triflate-catalyzed or electrophile-mediated conditions is described. Various trifluoromethylated pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinolines were afforded in moderate to excellent yield by this developed method.