Carbanionic Friedel−Crafts Equivalents. Regioselective Directed Ortho and Remote Metalation−C−N Cross Coupling Routes to Acridones and Dibenzo[b,f]azepinones

Seven-membered N-heterocycles as approved drugs and promising leads in medicinal chemistry as well as the metal-free domino access to their scaffolds

Azepanes or azepines are structural motifs of many drugs, drug candidates and evaluated lead compounds. Even though compounds having N-heterocyclic 7-membered rings are often found in nature (e.g. alkaloids), the natural compounds of this group are rather rare as approved therapeutics. Thus, recently studied and approved azepane or azepine-congeners predominantly consist of semi-synthetically or synthetically-obtained scaffolds. In this review a comparison of approved drugs and recently investigated leads was proposed taking into regard their structural aspects (stereochemistry), biological activities, pharmacokinetic properties and confirmed molecular targets. The 7-membered N-heterocycles reveal a wide range of biological activities, not only against CNS diseases, but also as e.g. antibacterial, anticancer, antiviral, antiparasitic and against allergy agents. As most of the approved or investigated potential drugs or lead structures, belonging to 7-membered N-heterocycles, are synthetic scaffolds, this report also reveals different and efficient metal-free cascade approaches useful to synthesize both simple azepane or azepine-containing congeners and those of oligocyclic structures. Stereochemistry of azepane/azepine fused systems, in view of biological data and binding with the targets, is discussed. Apart from the approved drugs, we compare advances in SAR studies of 7-membered N-heterocycles (mainly from 2018 to 2023), whereas the related synthetic part concerning various domino strategies is focused on the last ten years.

Access to acridones by tandem copper(I)-catalyzed electrophilic amination/Ag(I)-mediated oxidative annulation of anthranils with arylboronic acids

An efficient and practical approach for the synthesis of medicinally important acridones was developed from anthranils and commercially available arylboronic acids by a tandem copper(I)-catalyzed electrophilic amination/Ag(I)-mediated oxidative annulation strategy. This new and straightforward protocol displayed a broad substrate scope (25 examples) and high functional group tolerance. What's more, a possible mechanistic proposal was also presented.

Total Synthesis of Chalaniline B: An Antibiotic Aminoxanthone from Vorinostat-Treated Fungus Chalara sp. 6661

Chalaniline B [1-anilino-2,8-dihydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)xanthone], an antibiotic previously isolated from vorinostat-treated Chalara sp., was prepared in 7 steps from 2-hydroxyxanthone by a route incorporating regioselective oxidative transformations (bromination at C1/C3, ketone directed Pd(II)-catalyzed hydroxylation at C8), installation of the C1-anilino moiety by a regioselective Buchwald-Hartwig amination reaction from 1,3-dibromo-2,8-dimethoxyxanthone, and late-stage hydroxymethylation at C3 using a Stille cross-coupling. Biological evaluation of deshydroxymethylchalaniline B (1-anilino-2,8-dihydroxyxanthone) revealed MIC values of 8 μg mL^-1 (25 μM) against both methicillin resistant S. aureus and B. subtilis.

The Efficient Synthesis of Benzannulated Seven-Membered O-Heterocycles via the Intramolecular Ring-Opening Cyclization of Cyclopropanes

An efficient and practical approach for the synthesis of substituted benzannulated seven-membered O-heterocycles from cyclopropane derivatives is described. The transformation proceeds via Lewis acid mediated ring opening of cyclopropanes followed by a concomitant 7-endo-tet cyclization to furnish the 4-benzoyl-3,4-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepin-5(2H)-one derivatives in excellent yields (up to 92%). This potentially general method is featured by its high atom economy, broad substrate scope, and mild reaction conditions. Moreover, the representative products exhibited selective antifungal activity in vitro against the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Therefore, the present reaction will be useful for the development of novel antifungal therapeutic reagents.

Catalyst-controlled cascade synthesis of bridged bicyclic tetrahydrobenz[b]azepine-4-ones

A new cascade reaction provides convergent access to novel bridged bicyclic medium-sized N-heterocycles.

A novel approach to oxoisoaporphine alkaloids via regioselective metalation of alkoxy isoquinolines

Oxoisoaporphine alkaloids are conveniently prepared via direct ring metalation of alkoxy-substituted isoquinolines at C-1, followed by reaction with iodine. Subsequent Suzuki cross-coupling of the resulting 1-iodoisoquinolines to methyl 2-(isoquinolin-1-yl)benzoates and intramolecular acylation of the corresponding carboxylic acids with Eaton's reagent afforded five alkaloids of the oxoisoaporphine type. The yield of the cyclization step strongly depends on the electrophilic properties of ring B. An alternative cyclization protocol via directed remote metalation of ester and amide intermediates was investigated thoroughly, but found to be not feasible. Two of the alkaloids showed strong cytotoxicity against the HL-60 tumor cell line.

Applications of Palladium-Catalyzed C-N Cross-Coupling Reactions

Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions that form C–N bonds have become useful methods to synthesize anilines and aniline derivatives, an important class of compounds throughout chemical research. A key factor in the widespread adoption of these methods has been the continued development of reliable and versatile catalysts that function under operationally simple, user-friendly conditions. This review provides an overview of Pd-catalyzed N-arylation reactions found in both basic and applied chemical research from 2008 to the present. Selected examples of C–N cross-coupling reactions between nine classes of nitrogen-based coupling partners and (pseudo)aryl halides are described for the synthesis of heterocycles, medicinally relevant compounds, natural products, organic materials, and catalysts.

Directed Metalation-Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling Strategies: Regioselective Synthesis of Hydroxylated 1-Methyl-phenanthrenes

A general, efficient, and regioselective synthesis of a series of hydroxylated 1-methylphenanthrenes 9 by a combined directed ortho metalation (DoM)-Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling-directed remote metalation (DreM) sequence is reported. Diversity to this methodology was achieved by a regioselective DoM rather than DreM reaction, affording more highly substituted phenanthrols ( Table 2 ). Application of the turbo-Grignard reagent (i-PrMgCl·LiCl) in the Ni-catalyzed Corriu-Kumada reaction gave efficient decarbamoylation ( Tables 3 and 4 ). Additional features are the TMS protecting group and halo-induced ipso-desilylation tactics applied to the regioselective synthesis of phenanthrenes ( Scheme 2 ).

Synthesis and evaluation of the antitumor activity of polyhalo acridone derivatives

A series of polyhalo acridone heterocyclic compounds were synthesized and evaluated for theirin vitroantitumor activity. Compounds4d,4o,5jand5kshowed good antineoplastic selectivity.

PhI(OAc)2-mediated intramolecular oxidative aryl-aldehyde Csp(2)-Csp(2) bond formation: metal-free synthesis of acridone derivatives

A metal-free protocol for direct aryl-aldehyde Csp(2)-Csp(2) bond formation via a PhI(OAc)2-mediated intramolecular cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) of various 2-(N-arylamino)aldehydes was developed. The novel methodology requires no need of preactivation of the aldehyde group, is applicable to a large variety of functionalized substrates, and most of all provides a convenient approach to the construction of biologically important acridone derivatives.

Nickel or phenanthroline mediated intramolecular arylation of sp3 C-H bonds using aryl halides

The development of the intramolecular arylation of sp(3) C-H bonds adjacent to nitrogen using aryl halides is described. Arylation was accomplished using either Ni(COD)2 or 1,10-phenanthroline in substoichiometric amounts, and the reaction conditions were applied to a variety of electronically differentiated benzamide substrates. Preliminary studies suggest a mechanism involving aryl and alkyl radical intermediates.

Highly Regioselective Synthesis of Substituted Isoindolinones via Ruthenium-Catalyzed Alkyne Cyclotrimerizations

(Cyclooctadiene)(pentamethylcyclopentadiene)ruthenium chloride [Cp*RuCl(cod)] has been used to catalyze the regioselective cyclization of amide-tethered diynes with monosubstituted alkynes to give polysubstituted isoindolinones. Notably, the presence of a trimethylsilyl group on the diyne generally led to complete control over the regioselectivity of the alkyne cyclotrimerization. The cyclization reaction worked well in a sustainable non-chlorinated solvent and was tolerant of moisture. The optimized conditions were effective with a diverse range of alkynes and diynes. The 7-silylisoindolinone products could be halogenated, protodesilylated or ring opened to access a range of usefully functionalized products.

Friedel–Crafts Chemistry. Part 39. Unprecedented Facile Route to the Synthesis of Benzo[b][1]benzazepines via Intramolecular Friedel–Crafts Cyclialkylations

A series of six pharmaceutically promising 5,6-dihydro-11H-benzo[b][1]benzazepine derivatives (1c–h) were cleanly prepared by Friedel–Crafts cyclialkylations of nitrogen-containing alkanols in the presence of AlCl3, 85 % H2SO4 or polyphosphoric acid catalysts. The precursor alkanols (13a–f) were readily prepared by reaction of two synthesized carboxylic acid esters (12a, b) with different Grignard reagents. Also, two dibenzo[b,f]azepinones (15a, b) were prepared by Friedel–Crafts cycliacylation and reduced to the corresponding 5,6-dihydro-11H-benzo[b][1]benzazepines (1a, b). Overall, this approach allows easy and efficient access to polytricyclic amines from easily synthesized alkanols or cycloketones. A plausible carbocation mechanism is proposed to account for the results.

Synthesis of o-(dimethylamino)aryl ketones, acridones, acridinium salts, and 1H-indazoles by the reaction of hydrazones and arynes

A novel, efficient route to biologically and pharmaceutically important o-(dimethylamino)aryl ketones, acridones, acridinium salts, and 1H-indazoles has been developed starting from readily available hydrazones of aldehydes and o-(trimethylsilyl)aryl triflates. The reaction proceeds through arynes under mild conditions, tolerates a wide range of functional groups, and provides the final products in good to excellent yields.

Combined directed ortho-zincation and palladium-catalyzed strategies: Synthesis of 4,n-dimethoxy-substituted benzo[b]furans

A new route to regioselectively dialkoxy-functionalized benzo[b]furan derivatives has been developed from 3-halo-2-iodoanisoles bearing an additional methoxy group, which have been accessed through an ortho-zincation/iodination reaction. Two palladium-catalyzed processes, namely a Sonogashira coupling followed by a tandem hydroxylation/cyclization sequence, give rise to new and interesting dimethoxy-substituted benzo[b]furans.

Simple Synthesis of Amides and Weinreb Amides via Use of PPh3 or Polymer-Supported PPh3 and Iodine

The combination of PPh₃/I₂ has been shown to be effective for conversion of a range of carboxylic acids to 2°, 3°, and Weinreb amides. Simplification of the procedure was possible with the use of polymer-supported PPh₃/I₂. Weinreb amides produced via the use of polymer-supported PPh₃ could be filtered through a short silica gel plug and used in further transformations. Thus, use of polymer-supported PPh₃ offers potential applicability to diversity-oriented reactions. Formal total syntheses of apocynin and pratosine, as well as syntheses of anhydrolychorinone and hippadine, have been achieved via the use of this amide-forming method. An attempt has been made to gain insight into this reaction.