A Cascade Approach to Pyridines from 2-Azido-2,4-dienoates and α-Diazocarbonyl Compounds

Zn(II)-Catalyzed Multicomponent Sustainable Synthesis of Pyridines in Air

Herein, we report a Zn(II)-catalyzed solvent-free sustainable synthesis of tri- and tetra-substituted pyridines using alcohols as the primary feedstock and NH₄OAc as the nitrogen source. Using a well-defined air-stable Zn(II)-catalyst, 1a, featuring a redox-active tridentate azo-aromatic pincer, 2-((4-chlorophenyl)diazenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (L^a), a wide variety of unsymmetrical 2,4,6-substituted pyridines were prepared by three-component coupling of primary and secondary alcohols with NH₄OAc. Catalyst 1a is equally compatible with the four-component coupling. Unsymmetrical 2,4,6-substituted pyridines were also prepared via a four-component coupling of a primary alcohol with two different secondary alcohols and NH₄OAc. A series of tetra-substituted pyridines were prepared up to 67% yield by coupling primary and secondary alcohols with 1-phenylpropan-1-one or 1,2-diphenylethan-1-one and NH₄OAc. The 1a-catalyzed reactions also proceeded efficiently upon replacing the secondary alcohols with the corresponding ketones, producing the desired tri- and tetra-substituted pyridines in higher yields in a shorter reaction time. A few control experiments were performed to unveil the mechanistic aspects, which indicates that the active participation of the aryl-azo ligand during catalysis enables the Zn(II)-complex to act as an efficient catalyst for the present multicomponent reactions. Aerial oxygen acts as an oxidant during the Zn(II)-catalyzed dehydrogenation of alcohols, producing H₂O and H₂O₂ as byproducts.

Vinylazides: versatile synthons and magical precursors for the construction of N-heterocycles

Nowadays, application of vinylazides as precursors is a key method for the construction of N-heterocycles in organic synthesis. These versatile three-atom synthons can be converted into intermediates such as 2H-azirines, iminyl radicals, iminyl metal complexes, iminyl inions and nitrilium ions that subsequently afford a wide range of polyfunctional cyclic nitrogen-containing compounds. In this review, the reactions of vinylazides leading to these products (in the last decade) are categorized based on the types of the resulting N-heterocyclic rings and a brief and concise description of the reaction mechanisms is presented.

Exploiting Continuous Processing for Challenging Diazo Transfer and Telescoped Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Transformations

Generation and use of triflyl azide in flow enables efficient synthesis of a range of α-diazocarbonyl compounds, including α-diazoketones, α-diazoamides, and an α-diazosulfonyl ester, via both Regitz-type diazo transfer and deacylative/debenzoylative diazo-transfer processes with excellent yields and offers versatility in the solvent employed, in addition to addressing the hazards associated with handling of this highly reactive sulfonyl azide. Telescoping the generation of triflyl azide and diazo-transfer process with highly enantioselective copper-mediated intramolecular aromatic addition and C–H insertion processes demonstrates that the reaction stream containing the α-diazocarbonyl compound can be obtained in sufficient purity to pass directly over the immobilized copper bis(oxazoline) catalyst without detrimentally impacting the catalyst enantioselectivity.

An aryl thiol-vinyl azide coupling reaction and a thiol-vinyl azide coupling/cyclization cascade: efficient synthesis of β-ketosulfides and arene-fused 5-methylene-2-pyrrolidinone derivatives

The addition reaction of thiol to vinyl azide has been extensively studied. Variously substituted aryl thiols are all viable for this coupling process. The scope of the other partner is successfully expanded from α-aryl vinyl azide to α-alkyl vinyl azide. A thiol-vinyl azide coupling/cyclization cascade is realized with substituted aryl vinyl azides carrying a 2-methoxycarbonyl group. The value of β-ketosulfide products was demonstrated by its application in S-heterocycle synthesis.

Regioselective Synthesis of 2,4-Diaryl-6-trifluoromethylated Pyridines through Copper-Catalyzed Cyclization of CF3-Ynones and Vinyl Azides

A novel copper-catalyzed cyclization of readily available vinyl azides with CF₃-ynones is steadily achieved under mild conditions to furnish the versatile 2,4-diaryl-6-trifluoromethylated pyridine products, which are of great interest in medicinal chemistry. The generation of the vinyl iminophosphorane intermediates from vinyl azides through the Staudinger-Meyer reaction ensures the subsequent 1,4-addition process with CF₃-ynones in this transformation.

Three-Component Approach to Pyridine-Stabilized Ketenimines for the Synthesis of Diverse Heterocycles

Ketenimines are versatile synthetic intermediates capable of performing novel transformations in organic synthesis. They are normally generated in situ due to their inherent instability and high level of reactivity. Herein, we report pyridine-stabilized ketenimine zwitterionic salts, which are prepared through click chemistry from readily accessible alkynes and sulfonyl azides. To demonstrate their synonymous reactivity to ketenimines, these salts have been utilized in a cascade sequence to access highly functionalized quinolines including the core structures of an antiprotozoal agent and the potent topoisomerase inhibitor Tas-103.

Copper-catalyzed regioselective cyclization of vinyl azides by gem-difluoromethylene for trisubstituted pyridines

A novel copper-catalyzed cyclization of readily available vinyl azides with gem-difluoromethylene is described.

Design, synthesis andin vitroα-glucosidase inhibition of novel coumarin-pyridines as potent antidiabetic agents

Herein, novel coumarin-pyridine derivatives4a–pas potent α-glucosidase inhibitors were synthesized by a one-pot and three-component synthesis method.

Reactivities of vinyl azides and their recent applications in nitrogen heterocycle synthesis

Nitrogen heterocycles are abundant in natural products and pharmaceuticals. An emerging interest among synthetic chemists is to apply vinyl azides as a pivotal three-atom synthon for the construction of structurally complex and diverse N-heterocyclic skeletons. The unique features of the azide group connected to an alkene moiety permit vinyl azides to function as electrophiles, nucleophiles, or radical acceptors; their access to diverse reaction pathways provides great opportunities to generate highly reactive intermediates with often unusual or unconventional reactivities. This tutorial review will systematically illustrate the reactivities of vinyl azides and describe recent breakthroughs in the development of new transformations that create N-heterocycles.

A new approach to pyridines through the reactions of methyl ketones with 1,2,4-triazines

A new route to prepare pyridine derivatives based on inverse electron demand Diels–Alder/retro-Diels–Alder reactions of ketones with 1,2,4-triazines is reported, which is complementary to the classical Boger reaction.

Enantioselective synthesis of pactamycin, a complex antitumor antibiotic

Medicinal application of many complex natural products is precluded by the impracticality of their chemical synthesis. Pactamycin, the most structurally intricate aminocyclopentitol antibiotic, displays potent antiproliferative properties across multiple phylogenetic domains, but it is highly cytotoxic. A limited number of analogs produced by genetic engineering technologies show reduced cytotoxicity against mammalian cells, renewing promise for therapeutic applications. For decades, an efficient synthesis of pactamycin amenable to analog derivatizations has eluded researchers. Here, we present a short asymmetric total synthesis of pactamycin. An enantioselective Mannich reaction and symmetry-breaking reduction sequence was designed to enable assembly of the entire carbon core skeleton in under five steps and control critical three-dimensional (stereochemical) functional group relationships. This modular route totals 15 steps and is immediately amenable for structural analog synthesis.

Synthesis of 1,2,4-triazines and the triazinoisoquinolinedione DEF ring system of noelaquinone

The intramolecular Staudinger-aza-Wittig reaction is used for a general synthesis of 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1,2,4-triazines, a structural motif reported for the natural product noelaquinone. The DEF moiety of noelaquinone was obtained in 13 steps and 2% overall yield, and the structure of the synthetic product was confirmed by X-ray analysis.

Catalyst-free preparation of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles from a novel unexpected domino reaction of 2-azido acrylates and nitrones

A highly efficient and convenient method for the synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles from readily accessible 2-azido acrylates and nitrones has been developed. This reaction proceeded under mild conditions without the assistance of any metal, acid, or base.

Three-component synthesis of polysubstituted pyrroles from α-diazoketones, nitroalkenes, and amines

Polysubstituted pyrroles are regiospecifically synthesized via the copper-catalyzed three-component reaction of α-diazoketones, nitroalkenes, and amines under aerobic conditions. The cascade process involves an N-H insertion of carbene, a copper-catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenation of amine, and a [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylide.