Synthesis of (E)-3-(Isobenzofuran-3(1H)-ylidene)indolin-2-ones by the Palladium-Catalyzed Intramolecular C−H Functionalization Process

Palladium-Catalyzed Chemo- and Regiocontrolled Tandem Cyclization/Cross-Coupling of 2-Benzyl-3-alkynyl Chromones with Aryl Iodides for the Synthesis of 4H-Furo[3,2-c]chromenes and Xanthones

A novel Pd-catalyzed chemo- and regiocontrolled tandem cyclization/cross-coupling reaction of 3-alkynyl chromone with aryl iodide was developed for the synthesis of 4H-furo[3,2-c]chromenes and xanthones. The difunctionalization of alkynes through O-attack/5-exo-dig and C-attack/6-endo-dig cyclization was reported by this rare approach, which was selectively controlled by the addition of KF or a bidentate phosphine ligand. A one-pot tandem process was demonstrated directly from γ-alkynyl-1,3-diketone for this method.

Transient Chelating Group-Controlled Stereoselective Rh(I)-Catalyzed Silylative Aminocarbonylation of 2-Alkynylanilines: Entry to (Z)-3-(Silylmethylene)indolin-2-ones

A new, mild acryl transient chelating group-controlled stereoselective Rh(I)-catalyzed silylative aminocarbonylation of 2-alkynylanilines with CO and silanes for producing (Z)-3-(silylmethylene)indolin-2-ones is presented. By using an acryl transient chelating group 2-alkynylanilines...

Time and Temperature Dependent Palladium-Catalyzed Stereo- and Regioselective Alkoxy-arylation of Triple Bonds: Synthesis of (E)/(Z)-1,1-Disubstituted-3-(1-Phenylalkylidene)-1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans

The development of synthetic strategies enabling the stereo- and regio-selective synthesis of organic molecules is indispensable in the pharmaceutical industry. This work describes a stereo- and regioselective synthesis of (E)/(Z)-1,1-disubstituted-3-(1-arylalkylidene)-1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans catalyzed by palladium. The DHIBFs are achieved from readily available aryl bromides and ortho-alkyne tertiary alcohols via intermolecular aryl Heck coupling and intramolecular oxo-cyclization of the suitably situated hydroxyl group. Significantly, it was demonstrated that a Z-isomer was formed as a substantial isomer at 80 °C for 6 h, whereas the stable E-isomer was the predominant one at slightly vigorous conditions (100 °C for 12 h). In addition, careful observation has also led to the realization that this double isomerization from Z- to E-isomer was triggered in the NMR tube itself in CDCl₃ at room temperature. Significantly, this protocol, for the first time, enabled the synthesis of heavily substituted dihydroisobenzofurans, especially, bearing a tetra-substituted double bond.

Synthesis of (Z)-3-[amino(phenyl)methylidene]-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-ones using an Eschenmoser coupling reaction

A highly modular method for the synthesis of (Z)-3-[amino(phenyl/methyl)methylidene]-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-ones starting from easily available 3-bromooxindoles or (2-oxoindolin-3-yl)triflate and thioacetamides or thiobenzamides is described. A series of 49 compounds, several of which have previously been shown to possess significant tyrosin kinase inhibiting activity, was prepared in yields varying mostly from 70 to 97% and always surpassing those obtained by other published methods. The method includes an Eschenmoser coupling reaction, which is very feasible (even without using a thiophile except tertiary amides) and scalable. The (Z)-configuration of all products was confirmed by NMR techniques.

One-Pot Synthesis of Spiro-isobenzofuran Compounds via the Sequential Condensation/Oxidation Reaction of Ninhydrin with 4-Amino-1,2-naphthoquinones/2-Amino-1,4-naphthoquinones under Mild Conditions

A one-pot route for the synthesis of spiro-isobenzofuran compounds was developed via the condensation reaction of ninhydrin with 4-amino-1,2-naphthoquinones or 2-amino-1,4-naphthoquinones in acetic acid followed by the oxidative cleavage of the corresponding vicinal diols at room temperature. Various derivatives of spiro[benzo[g]indole-2,1'-isobenzofuran]-3,3',4,5(1H) tetraones and spiro[benzo[f]pyrrolo[2,3-h]quinoxaline-2,1'-isobenzofuran]-3,3'(1H)-diones were synthesized in good to high yields. Moreover, further condensation of spiro[benzo[g]indole-2,1'-isobenzofuran]-3,3',4,5(1H)-tetraones with 1,2-diamines resulted in the new spiro-isobenzofuran compounds having phenazine rings in high yields.

Recent developments in palladium-catalyzed C–S bond formation

This review summarized the recent developments in palladium-catalyzed C–S bond formation involving sulfenylation and sulfonylation reactions.

N-Heterocyclic carbene palladium-catalyzed cascade annulation/alkynylation of 2-alkynylanilines with terminal alkynes

A straightforward and highly effective N-heterocyclic carbene-palladium catalyzed cascade annulation/alkynylation of 2-alkynylanilines with terminal alkynes has been enabled to afford free (NH)-3-alkynylindole derivatives in moderate to good yields. This protocol features mild conditions, broad substrate scope, and high atom- and step-economy. Notably, the resultant 3-alkynylindoles could be conveniently transformed into a variety of functionalized indole scaffolds, thus illustrating their potential applications in synthetic and pharmaceutical chemistry.

A ligand-directed divergent catalytic approach to establish structural and functional scaffold diversity

The selective transformation of different starting materials by different metal catalysts under individually optimized reaction conditions to structurally different intermediates and products is a powerful approach to generate diverse molecular scaffolds. In a more unified albeit synthetically challenging strategy, common starting materials would be exposed to a common metal catalysis, leading to a common intermediate and giving rise to different scaffolds by tuning the reactivity of the metal catalyst through different ligands. Herein we present a ligand-directed synthesis approach for the gold(I)-catalysed cycloisomerization of oxindole-derived 1,6-enynes that affords distinct molecular scaffolds following different catalytic reaction pathways. Varying electronic properties and the steric demand of the gold(I) ligands steers the fate of a common intermediary gold carbene to selectively form spirooxindoles, quinolones or df-oxindoles. Investigation of a synthesized compound collection in cell-based assays delivers structurally novel, selective modulators of the Hedgehog and Wnt signalling pathways, autophagy and of cellular proliferation.

Synthetic methods that efficiently construct structurally diverse molecular scaffolds are attractive routes to diversely bioactive molecules. Here the authors report a method whereby common starting materials are converted to structurally and functionally diverse products by changing the catalyst ligand.

Domino carbometalation/coupling reactions of N-arylpropiolamides: a novel and promising synthetic strategy toward stereocontrolled preparation of highly substituted 3-methyleneindolinones

3-Methyleneindolinone derivatives are important structural motifs found in many compounds of natural occurrence and pharmacological significance.

Phosphine/palladium-catalyzed syntheses of alkylidene phthalans, 3-deoxyisoochracinic acid, isoochracinic acid, and isoochracinol

In this study we used sequential catalysis-PPh(3)--catalyzed nucleophilic addition followed by Pd(0)-catalyzed Heck cyclization--to construct complex functionalized alkylidene phthalans rapidly, in high yields, and with good stereoselectivities (E/Z ratios of up to 1:22). The scope of this Michael-Heck reaction includes substrates bearing various substituents around the alkylidene phthalan backbone. Applying this efficient sequential catalysis, we accomplished concise total syntheses of 3-deoxyisoochacinic acid, isoochracinic acid, and isoochracinol.

Catalytic thia-Sommelet-Hauser rearrangement: application to the synthesis of oxindoles

A series of 3-arylthio-1,3-disubstituted-oxindoles were prepared in good yields by the reaction of α-diazocarbonyl compounds and sulfenamides. The reaction involves a Rh-catalyzed thia-Sommelet-Hauser-type rearrangement.

Palladium-catalyzed carbo-heterofunctionalization of alkenes for the synthesis of oxindoles and spirooxindoles

A palladium-catalyzed oxidative carbo-heterofunctionalization of aniline derivatives involving concomitant direct C-H functionalization and C-X bond formation was developed. By simply changing the reaction conditions (solvent and catalyst), either 3,3'-disubstituted oxindole or spirooxindole was accessible from the same starting material.