Copper-Catalyzed Domino Annulation Approaches to the Synthesis of Benzoxazoles under Microwave-Accelerated and Conventional Thermal Conditions

Synthesis and characterisation of copper(I) complexes with relevance to intramolecular Ullmann O,S-arylation

Copper-catalysed intramolecular Ullman arylation has been frequently used to synthesise benzoxazoles and benzothiazoles. Despite widespread use, investigations into the mechanism and speciation of copper-containing complexes relevant to the catalytic pathway have remained relatively limited. Accordingly, this study aims to elucidate the structural details of potential copper(I) intermediates through the analysis of their solid-state structures using X-ray crystallography, while also investigating the reactivities of these complexes. Five novel copper complexes are reported which are formed prior to the aryl halide activation step and feature distinct aggregation modes based on either Cu4N4O4C4 or Cu4N4S4C4 clusters.

Cascade Transformation of the Ansamycin Benzoquinone Core into Benzoxazole Influencing Anticancer Activity and Selectivity

The metal-free cascade transformation of geldanamycin benzoquinone core is proposed at relatively mild conditions. This approach yields new benzoxazole ansamycin antibiotics and enables their functionalization in an atom-economic manner, irrespective of the type of amine used. The analysis of the heterocyclization course reveals the dependence of its rate on the nature of the para-substituent within the benzylamine moiety (EDG/EWG) and the strength of the base. The reduction of the ansamycin core enables an increase in anticancer potency and selectivity.

Alternative Benzoxazole Assembly Discovered in Anaerobic Bacteria Provides Access to Privileged Heterocyclic Scaffold

Benzoxazole scaffolds feature prominently in diverse synthetic and natural product-derived pharmaceuticals. Our understanding of their bacterial biosynthesis is, however, limited to ortho-substituted heterocycles from actinomycetes. We report an overlooked biosynthetic pathway in anaerobic bacteria (typified in Clostridium cavendishii) that expands the benzoxazole chemical space to meta-substituted heterocycles and heralds a distribution beyond Actinobacteria. The first benzoxazoles from the anaerobic realm (closoxazole A and B) were elucidated by NMR and chemical synthesis. By genome editing in the native producer, heterologous expression in Escherichia coli, and systematic pathway dissection we show that closoxazole biosynthesis invokes an unprecedented precursor usage (3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoate) and manner of assembly. Synthetic utility was demonstrated by the precursor-directed biosynthesis of a tafamidis analogue. A bioinformatic survey reveals the pervasiveness of related gene clusters in diverse bacterial phyla.

Metal-Free Oxidative Annulation of Phenols and Amines: A General Synthesis of Benzoxazoles

The ubiquity of benzoxazoles in natural products, drugs, and functional materials has stimulated numerous efforts toward their synthesis; however, the developed methods rely on prefunctionalized substrates and lack generality. Under metal-free conditions, a highly general synthesis of benzoxazoles direct from abundant and easily available phenols and amines is developed via a modular phenol functionalization controlled by TEMPO. In the reaction, various phenols and primary amines with a broad range of functional groups are compatible, producing structurally and functionally diverse benzoxazoles (64 examples) without or with trace observation of the byproducts of phenol transformation with amines. The practical synthesis, especially for drug tafamidis, demonstrates decisive advantages in generality, selectivity, efficiency, and atom- and step-economies over traditional methods, even in the cases of low yields. Mechanistically, the radical adducts of TEMPO with ortho-cyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-one radicals rather than the well-recognized cyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-diones may serve as intermediates.

One-pot synthesis of phosphorylnaphth[2,1-d]oxazoles and products as P,N-ligands in C-N and C-C formation

Phosphanylnaphtho[2,1-d]oxazoles were synthesized successfully through one-pot phosphonation of naphthoquinone with diaryl(alkyl)phosphine oxides and Cu-catalyzed oxidative condensation with imines, followed by methylation and reduction. Upon applying 4-phosphanylnaphtho[2,1-d]oxazole as a P,N-chelating ligand, Pd-catalyzed C-N formation of amines or nitrobenzene as well as Ni-catalyzed C-C formation and the synthesis of quinoline proceeded successfully. The reaction was facilely scaled up to give N-benzylaniline 15a in a gram scale synthesis. This research provided a facile and convenient protocol to synthesize phosphanylnaphtho[2,1-d]oxazoles, which could be applied as an efficient P,N-ligand in transition-metal-catalyzed C-N and C-C formation to produce the desired products in high yields with wide functional group tolerance under small catalyst loading, solvent-free conditions in many reactions.

Recent Advances in the Tandem Copper-Catalyzed Ullmann-Goldberg N-Arylation–Cyclization Strategies

N‒Aryl bond formation under copper catalysis has been playing a pivotal role and has been extensively used as a key step in the total syntheses of several therapeutic molecules. The...

Cu-Catalyzed Synthesis of Benzoxazole with Phenol and Cyclic Oxime

A Cu-catalyzed straightforward synthesis of benzoxazoles from free phenols and cyclic oxime esters is reported. The mild reaction conditions tolerate various electron-withdrawing and electron-donating functional groups on both substrates, affording benzoxazoles in moderate to good yields. With this protocol, large-scale syntheses of Ezutromid and Flunoxaprofe in one or two steps are demonstrated. A catalytic mechanism, which includes Cu-catalyzed amination via inner-sphere electron transfer and consequent annulation, is proposed.

Copper(i)-catalyzed regioselective Ullmann-type coupling of primary carbamates and 5-substituted-1,2,3-triiodobenzenes: facile synthesis of 2,3-diiodinated N-aryl carbamates

Mild, efficient, and unprecedented synthesis of 2,3-diiodinated N-aryl carbamates via highly regioselective Ullmann-type cross-coupling of 5-substituted-1,2,3-triiodobenzene and carbamate.

Base-promoted Lewis acid catalyzed synthesis of quinazoline derivatives

A one-pot protocol has been developed for the synthesis of quinazolinones from amide-oxazolines with TsCl via a cyclic 1,3-azaoxonium intermediate and 6π electron cyclization in the presence of a Lewis acid and base. The process is operationally simple and has a broad substrate scope. This method provides a unique strategy for the construction of quinazolinones.

Cyanide Boosting Copper Catalysis: A Mild Approach to Fluorescent Benzazole Derivatives from Nonemissive Schiff Bases in Biological Media

An application of nucleophilic cyclization and oxidation of nonemissive Schiff bases via cyanide boosting copper catalysis to synthesize fluorescent benzazole derivatives in high conversion yield is disclosed. This approach is highlighted by broad substrate scope, fast reaction time, and mild conditions and can efficiently proceed in living cells or Arabidopsis root tissues. Furthermore, this methodology can be applied for selective detection of Cu²⁺ and CN^-.

Efficient Cu-catalyzed intramolecular O-arylation for synthesis of benzoxazoles in water

An efficient method was developed for synthesis of benzoxazoles by Cu-catalyzed intramolecular O-arylation of o-halobenzanilides in water. This strategy provides several advantages, such as high yields, water as a green solvent and functional groups tolerance.

An efficient method was developed for synthesis of benzoxazoles by Cu-catalyzed intramolecular O-arylation of o-halobenzanilides in water.

Synthesis of Benz-Fused Azoles via C-Heteroatom Coupling Reactions Catalyzed by Cu(I) in the Presence of Glycosyltriazole Ligands

Glycosyl triazoles are conveniently accessible and contain multiple metal-binding units that may assist in metal-mediated catalysis. Azide derivatives of d-glucose have been converted to their respective aryltriazoles and screened as ligands for the synthesis of 2-substituted benz-fused azoles and benzimidazoquinazolinones by Cu-catalyzed intramolecular Ullmann type C-heteroatom coupling. Good to excellent yields for a variety of benz-fused heterocyles were obtained for this readily accessible catalytic system.

Eco-Friendly Syntheses of 2-Substituted Benzoxazoles and 2-Substituted Benzothiazoles from 2-Aminophenols, 2-Aminothiophenols and DMF Derivatives in the Presence of Imidazolium Chloride

A simple, economical and metal-free approach to the synthesis of 2-substituted benzoxazoles and 2-substituted benzothiazoles from 2-aminophenols, 2-aminothiophenols and DMF derivatives, only using imidazolium chloride (50% mmol) as promoter without any other additive, was reported. Various 2-substituted benzoxazoles and 2-substituted benzothiazoles were thus prepared in moderate to excellent yields.

Synthesis of benzoxazoles via the copper-catalyzed hydroamination of alkynones with 2-aminophenols

We describe herein the synthetic method to benzoxazole derivatives via the copper-catalyzed hydroamination of alkynones with 2-aminophenols.