Metal-free arylation of ethyl acetoacetate with hypervalent diaryliodonium salts: an immediate access to diverse 3-aryl-4(1H)-quinolones

Low-Cost, Safe, and Anion-Flexible Method for the Electrosynthesis of Diaryliodonium Salts

An electrochemical approach toward the synthesis of diaryliodonium salts based on anodic C-I coupling between aryl iodides and arenes is presented. In contrast to previous protocols, our method requires no chemical oxidants, strong acids, or fluorinated solvents. A further advantage is that by use of the appropriate supporting electrolyte, the counterion of choice can be introduced, which is time- and cost-saving as compared to postsynthesis ion exchange. This "anion-flexibility" is particularly interesting when considering the pronounced effect of the counterion on the reactivity of diaryliodonium species in aryl transfer reactions. The scope of our method comprises 24 examples with isolated yields of up to 99%. Scalability was demonstrated by the synthesis on a gram scale. Furthermore, it was shown that the diaryliodonium-containing post-electrolysis solution can be used without further workup as a reactive medium for O-arylation reactions. Finally, a series of para-substituted diaryliodonium compounds was studied using linear sweep voltammetry on a microelectrode and analyzed with respect to the influence of the electronic structure on the redox behavior.

Transition-Metal-Free C-Diarylations to Reach All-Carbon Quaternary Centers

Herein, we disclose a convenient protocol for the α-diarylation of carbon nucleophiles to yield heavily functionalized quaternary products. Diaryliodonium salts are utilized to transfer both aryl groups under transition-metal-free conditions, which enables an atom-efficient and high-yielding method with broad functional group tolerance. The methodology is amenable to a wide variety of carbon nucleophiles and can be utilized in late-stage functionalization of complex arenes. Furthermore, it is compatible with a new class of zwitterionic iodonium reagents, which gives access to phenols with an ortho-quaternary center. The diarylated products bear an ortho-iodo substituent that can be utilized in further transformations, including the formation of novel, functionalized six-membered cyclic iodonium salts.

Quinolone: a versatile therapeutic compound class

The discovery of nalidixic acid is one pinnacle in medicinal chemistry, which opened a new area of research that has led to the discovery of several life-saving antimicrobial agents (generally referred to as fluoroquinolones) for over decades. Although fluoroquinolones are frequently encountered in the literature, the utility of quinolone compounds extends far beyond the applications of fluoroquinolones. Quinolone-based compounds have been reported for activity against malaria, tuberculosis, fungal and helminth infections, etc. Hence, the quinolone scaffold is of great interest to several researchers in diverse disciplines. This article highlights the versatility of the quinolone pharmacophore as a therapeutic agent beyond the fluoroquinolone profile.

Synthesis of quinolines via sequential addition and I2-mediated desulfurative cyclization

An efficient one-pot approach for the synthesis of quinolines from o-aminothiophenol and 1,3-ynone under mild conditions is disclosed. With the aid of ESI-MS analysis and parallel experiments, a three-step mechanism is proposed-a two-step Michael addition-cyclization condensation step leading to intermediate 1,5-benzothiazepine catalyzed by zirconocene amino acid complex Cp2Zr(η1-C9H10NO2)2, followed by I2-mediated desulfurative step.

A New Scalable Synthesis of ELQ-300, ELQ-316, and other Antiparasitic Quinolones

The Endochin-Like Quinolone (ELQ) compound class may yield effective, safe treatments for a range of important human and animal afflictions. However, to access the public health potential of this compound series, a synthetic route needed to be devised that lowers costs and is amenable to large scale production. In the new synthetic route described here, a substituted β-keto ester, formed by an Ullmann reaction and subsequent acylation, is reacted with an aniline via a Conrad-Limpach reaction to produce 3-substituted 4(1H)-quinolones such as ELQ-300 and ELQ-316. This synthetic route, the first described to be truly amenable to industrial scale production, is relatively short (5 reaction steps), does not require palladium, chromatographic separation or protecting group chemistry, and may be performed without high vacuum distillation.

Aminoalkoxycarbonyloxymethyl Ether Prodrugs with a pH-Triggered Release Mechanism: A Case Study Improving the Solubility, Bioavailability, and Efficacy of Antimalarial 4(1H)-Quinolones with Single Dose Cures

Preclinical and clinical development of numerous small molecules is prevented by their poor aqueous solubility, limited absorption, and oral bioavailability. Herein, we disclose a general prodrug approach that converts promising lead compounds into aminoalkoxycarbonyloxymethyl (amino AOCOM) ether-substituted analogues that display significantly improved aqueous solubility and enhanced oral bioavailability, restoring key requirements typical for drug candidate profiles. The prodrug is completely independent of biotransformations and animal-independent because it becomes an active compound via a pH-triggered intramolecular cyclization-elimination reaction. As a proof-of-concept, the utility of this novel amino AOCOM ether prodrug approach was demonstrated on an antimalarial compound series representing a variety of antimalarial 4(1H)-quinolones, which entered and failed preclinical development over the last decade. With the amino AOCOM ether prodrug moiety, the 3-aryl-4(1H)-quinolone preclinical candidate was shown to provide single-dose cures in a rodent malaria model at an oral dose of 3 mg/kg, without the use of an advanced formulation technique.

Synthetic Scope of Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Reactions of Carbonyl Compounds and Ethyl Diazoacetate

The comprehensive study of the reactions of carbonyl compounds and ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of a Brønsted acid catalyst is described. In result, a broad range of 3-oxo-esters were synthesized from a variety of ketones and aliphatic aldehydes by 1,2-aryl/alkyl/hydride shift. Aryl-methyl ketones produced only aryl-migrated products, whereas other ketones yielded a mixture of products. For diaryl ketones, the identity of two inseparable migrated products was confirmed by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy.

Utilization of Unsymmetric Diaryliodonium Salts in α-Arylation of α-Fluoroacetoacetamides

The use of unsymmetric diaryliodonium salts as a versatile class of arylating agents has been demonstrated by developing a novel strategy to quickly access α-arylated α-fluoroacetoacetamides. The protocol provides a convenient metal-free method for the α-arylation of a diverse class of fluorinated acetoacetamides, and the products are obtained in good yields. The strategy, upon use of electron-deficient diaryliodonium salts as an arylating agent, provides α-fluoroacetamides through a spontaneous arylation/deacylation cascade.

Metal-free α-arylation of α-fluoro-α-nitroacetamides employing diaryliodonium salts

Herein, we present a mild and efficient metal-free arylation of α-fluoro-α-nitroacetamides employing diaryliodonium salts. A broad range of diaryliodonium salts and α-fluoro-α-nitroacetamides containing sensitive functional groups was successfully employed in this protocol to yield the arylated products in good yields. The synthetic value of this novel protocol was further highlighted by extending the α-arylation to α-cyano-α-fluoroacetamides.

Transition metal-free base-promoted arylation of sulfenate anions with diaryliodonium salts

A base-promoted formal arylation of general sulfenate anions with diaryliodonium salts under transition-metal-free conditions has been described.

Structural assignment of the enol–keto tautomers of one-pot synthesized 4-hydroxyquinolines/4-quinolones

The one-pot preparation of 2,3-disubstituted 4-quinolones and the structural assignment of their tautomers are described.

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular modelling studies of potent human neutrophil elastase (HNE) inhibitors

We report the synthesis and biological evaluation of a new series of 3- or 4-(substituted)phenylisoxazolones as HNE inhibitors. Due to tautomerism of the isoxazolone nucleus, two isomers were obtained as final compounds (2-NCO and 5-OCO) and the 2-NCO derivatives were the most potent with IC₅₀ values in the nanomolar range (20–70 nM). Kinetic experiments indicated that 2-NCO 7d and 5-OCO 8d are both competitive HNE inhibitors. Molecular modelling on 7d and 8d suggests for the latter a more crowded region about the site of the nucleophilic attack, which could explain its lowered activity. In addition molecular dynamics (MD) simulations showed that the isomer 8d appears more prone to form H-bond interactions which, however, keep the reactive sites quite distant for the attack by Ser195. By contrast the amide 7d appears more mobile within the active pocket, since it makes single H-bond interactions affording a favourable orientation for the nucleophilic attack.

Additive-Free Pd-Catalysed C-2 Arylation of Tryptophan Derivatives with Diaryliodonium Salts

An efficient, mild and Pd-catalysed C-2 arylation of Fmoc-L-tryptophan with diaryliodonium salts has been developed, giving easy access to C-2 arylated tryptophan derivatives. This protocol tolerates a variety of functional groups and proceeds smoothly in high yields without any additives. In addition, the chemoseletive C–H arylation with unsymmetrical salts is described.

SF5-Pyridylaryl-λ3-iodonium salts and their utility as electrophilic reagents to access SF5-pyridine derivatives in the late-stage of synthesis

Electrophilic pentafluorosulfanyl (SF₅) heteroarylation of target molecules using novel reagents is described. Unsymmetrical diaryliodonium reagents 1 having 2-SF₅-pyridine have been synthesized in good yields. They are efficient electrophilic reagents for carbon and heterocentered nucleophiles, producing the corresponding SF₅-pyridine derivatives in good to excellent yields.

Electrophilic Triflyl-arylation and Triflyl-pyridylation by Unsymmetrical Aryl/Pyridyl-λ3-iodonium Salts: Synthesis of Aryl and Pyridyl Triflones

Unsymmetrical diaryl-λ³-iodonium salts containing aryl triflone (Ar-SO₂CF₃) were designed and synthesized. X-ray crystal structure analysis of the salt indicated a T-shaped geometry at the iodine atom. The salts were found to be powerful electrophilic reagents for triflyl-arylation of C-, N-, and O-centered nucleophiles under mild conditions. Electrophilic transfer of pyridine triflone (Py-SO₂CF₃) to nucleophiles was also realized by the use of corresponding triflylpyridyl-aryl-λ³-iodonium salts. Selection of auxiliaries (dummy ligands) of unsymmetrical diaryl-λ³-iodonium salts is crucial for this transformation.

Aryl Transfer Selectivity in Metal-Free Reactions of Unsymmetrical Diaryliodonium Salts

Aromatic rings are found in a wide variety of products, including pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and functional materials. Diaryliodonium salts are new reagents used to transfer aryl groups under both metal-free and metal-catalyzed reactions and thereby synthesize arene-containing compounds. This minireview focuses on recent studies in selective aryl transfer reactions from unsymmetrical diaryliodonium salts under metal-free conditions. Reactions reported from 2007 to 2017, which represents a period of significant growth in diaryliodonium salt chemistry, are presented and organized by the type of reactive intermediate formed in the reaction. Specifically, reactions involving λ³ -iodane, λ³ -iodane radical anions, aryl radicals, and arynes are discussed. Chemoselectivity trends in aryl transfer are compared and contrasted across reaction intermediates and translation to potential auxiliaries are posited.

Progress in the Optimization of 4(1H)-Quinolone Derivatives as Antimalarials Targeting the Erythrocytic, the Exoerythrocytic and the Transmitting Stages of the Malaria Parasite

Malaria is one of the leading infectious diseases occurring mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. Although available antimalarial tools have reduced the number of fatalities, there is still an urgent need for the development of new and more efficacious treatments to cure and eradicate malaria especially due to emerging resistance to all antimalarial drugs. Research was initiated to revisit antimalarial compounds which were deemed unsuitable as a result of poor understanding of physicochemical properties and the optimization thereof. The 4(1H)-quinolones are a class of compounds with demonstrated activity against malaria parasites. Recent optimization of the long-known core led to two highly promising compounds, i.e. P4Q-391 and ELQ-300, with great selective activity against all stages of the parasite's life cycle and good physicochemical properties. In this paper, we discuss the key steps on the way to these compounds, which fuel hope to find a suitable treatment for the prevention, cure and eradication of malaria.

Copper-Catalyzed N-Arylation of 2-Pyridones Employing Diaryliodonium Salts at Room Temperature

A new and mild synthetic approach for the N-arylation of 2-pyridones with diaryliodonium salts has been developed. Most reactions proceed readily at room temperature in the presence of 10 mol % of copper chloride. As a result, a wide range of N-arylpyridine-2-ones were synthesized in yields of 23% to 99%. With this method, an antifibrotic drug, Pirfenidone, was successfully synthesized in 99% yield within 30 min at room temperature.

The Current Case of Quinolones: Synthetic Approaches and Antibacterial Activity

Quinolones are broad-spectrum synthetic antibacterial drugs first obtained during the synthesis of chloroquine. Nalidixic acid, the prototype of quinolones, first became available for clinical consumption in 1962 and was used mainly for urinary tract infections caused by Escherichia coli and other pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. Recently, significant work has been carried out to synthesize novel quinolone analogues with enhanced activity and potential usage for the treatment of different bacterial diseases. These novel analogues are made by substitution at different sites--the variation at the C-6 and C-8 positions gives more effective drugs. Substitution of a fluorine atom at the C-6 position produces fluroquinolones, which account for a large proportion of the quinolones in clinical use. Among others, substitution of piperazine or methylpiperazine, pyrrolidinyl and piperidinyl rings also yields effective analogues. A total of twenty six analogues are reported in this review. The targets of quinolones are two bacterial enzymes of the class II topoisomerase family, namely gyrase and topoisomerase IV. Quinolones increase the concentration of drug-enzyme-DNA cleavage complexes and convert them into cellular toxins; as a result they are bactericidal. High bioavailability, relative low toxicity and favorable pharmacokinetics have resulted in the clinical success of fluoroquinolones and quinolones. Due to these superior properties, quinolones have been extensively utilized and this increased usage has resulted in some quinolone-resistant bacterial strains. Bacteria become resistant to quinolones by three mechanisms: (1) mutation in the target site (gyrase and/or topoisomerase IV) of quinolones; (2) plasmid-mediated resistance; and (3) chromosome-mediated quinolone resistance. In plasmid-mediated resistance, the efflux of quinolones is increased along with a decrease in the interaction of the drug with gyrase (topoisomerase IV). In the case of chromosome-mediated quinolone resistance, there is a decrease in the influx of the drug into the cell.

Unsymmetrical Aryl(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)iodonium Salts: One-Pot Synthesis, Scope, Stability, and Synthetic Studies

Diaryliodonium salts have recently attracted significant attention as metal-free-arylation reagents in organic synthesis, and efficient access to these salts is critical for advancement of their use in reaction discovery and development. The trimethoxybenzene-derived auxiliary is a promising component of unsymmetrical variants, yet access remains limited. Here, a one-pot synthesis of aryl(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)iodonium salts from aryl iodides, m-CPBA, p-toluenesulfonic acid, and trimethoxybenzene is described. Optimization of the reaction conditions for this one-pot synthesis was enabled by the method of multivariate analysis. The reaction is fast (<1 h), provides a high yield of product (>85% average), and has broad substrate scope (>25 examples) including elaborate aryl iodides. The utility of these reagents is demonstrated in moderate to high yielding arylation reactions with C-, N-, O-, and S-nucleophiles including the synthesis of a liquid crystal molecule.

Advances in Synthetic Applications of Hypervalent Iodine Compounds

The preparation, structure, and chemistry of hypervalent iodine compounds are reviewed with emphasis on their synthetic application. Compounds of iodine possess reactivity similar to that of transition metals, but have the advantage of environmental sustainability and efficient utilization of natural resources. These compounds are widely used in organic synthesis as selective oxidants and environmentally friendly reagents. Synthetic uses of hypervalent iodine reagents in halogenation reactions, various oxidations, rearrangements, aminations, C-C bond-forming reactions, and transition metal-catalyzed reactions are summarized and discussed. Recent discovery of hypervalent catalytic systems and recyclable reagents, and the development of new enantioselective reactions using chiral hypervalent iodine compounds represent a particularly important achievement in the field of hypervalent iodine chemistry. One of the goals of this Review is to attract the attention of the scientific community as to the benefits of using hypervalent iodine compounds as an environmentally sustainable alternative to heavy metals.

Double heteroannulation of S,N-acetals: a facile access to quinolone derivatives

A library of 3-aryl-4-quinolones and their benzo-fused heterocycles was synthesized from single S,N-acetal precursors.

Arylation with Diaryliodonium Salts

This chapter focuses on recent developments in metal-free and metal-catalyzed arylations with diaryliodonium salts (diaryl-λ3-iodanes). Synthetic routes to diaryliodonium salts are briefly described, and chemoselectivity trends with unsymmetric iodonium salts are discussed.

A Mild and General One-Pot Synthesis of Densely Functionalized Diaryliodonium Salts

Diaryliodonium salts are powerful and widely used arylating agents in organic chemistry. Here we report a scalable, synthesis of densely functionalized diaryliodonium salts from aryl iodides under mild conditions. This two-step, one-pot process has remarkable functional group tolerance, is compatible with commonly employed acid-labile protective group strategies, avoids heavy metal and transition metal reagents, and provides a direct route to stable precursors to PET imaging agents.

Synthesis of Diaryliodonium Salts Having Pentafluorosulfanylarenes and Their Application to Electrophilic Pentafluorosulfanylarylation of C-, O-, N-, and S-Nucleophiles

Novel reagents for the electrophilic introduction of pentafluorosulfanyl (SF5) arenes into target molecules are disclosed. Unsymmetrical diaryliodonium salts 1 having SF5-arenes were synthesized by a one-pot process from iodo-SF5-benzenes 2 in good yields. The SF5-aryliodonium salts 1 were found to be efficient for the electrophilic SF5-arylation of carbon and heterocentered nucleophiles to furnish the corresponding substituted SF5-arenes in good to high yields.

Metal-free one-pot sequential direct diarylation of pyrazolin-5-ones with diaryliodonium salts

A novel and efficient one-pot sequential C4-diarylation of pyrazolin-5-ones with diaryliodonium salts at room temperature in the absence of a metal catalyst was reported.