Generation ofN-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl)indole-2,3-quinodimethane and Its [4+2]-Type Cycloaddition

Copper-catalyzed multicomponent reactions for the efficient synthesis of diverse spirotetrahydrocarbazoles

In the presence of copper sulfate, three- or four-component reactions of 2-methylindole, aromatic aldehydes and various cyclic dienophiles in refluxing toluene afforded diverse spirotetrahydrocarbazoles. This reaction is an important development of the Levy reaction by using 2-methylindole to replace ethyl indole-2-acetate and successfully provides facile access to important polysubstituted spiro[carbazole-3,3'-indolines], spiro[carbazole-2,3'-indolines], spiro[carbazole-3,5'-pyrimidines] and spiro[carbazole-3,1'-cycloalkanes] in satisfactory yields and with high diastereoselectivity.

Lithium-Promoted Cycloaddition of Indole-2,3-dienolates and Carbon Disulfide as a One-Pot Route to Thiopyrano[4,3-b]indole-3(5H)-thiones

A new approach for the annulation of a thiopyrane ring to an indole core under mild conditions was developed. Treating 2-methyl-3-acylindoles with lithium diisopropyl amide leads to the elimination of a proton from the 2-methyl group. The lithium indole-2,3-dienolates obtained were found to react with CS₂ to give the corresponding thiopyrano[4,3-b]indole-3(5H)-thiones. The mechanism represents a stepwise addition through ion-pair formation, according to PCM/B3LYP/6-311++G**, PBE1PBE/6-311++G**, and MP2//HF/6-311++G** quantum chemical calculations. AIM calculations revealed the essential role of the Li atom at all stages of the process.

Multicomponent Reaction for Diastereoselective Synthesis of Spiro[carbazole-3,4'-pyrazoles] and Spiro[carbazole-3,4'-thiazoles]

In the presence of copper sulfate, the three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, ethylindole-3-acetate and 4-arylidene-5-methyl-2-phenylpyrazol-3-ones, in refluxing toluene afforded spiro[carbazole-3,4'-pyrazoles] in good yields with high diastereoselectivity. More importantly, the similar CuSO₄ promoted the four-component reaction of two molecular aromatic aldehydes with ethylindole-3-acetate and 5-methyl-2-phenyl-pyrazol-3-one resulted in 2,4-diarylspiro[carbazole-3,4'-pyrazoles] in satisfactory yields. Additionally, CuSO₄ promoted the four-component reaction of two molecular aromatic aldehydes, ethylindole-3-acetate and 2-phenylthiazol-4-one, in refluxing toluene gave 2,4-diarylspiro[carbazole-3,4'-thiazoles] with diastereomeric ratios in the range of 3:1 to 20:1.

Synthesis of exo-Imidazolidin-2-one Dienes, Their Isomerization, and Selectivity in Diels-Alder Cycloadditions

An efficient and alternative synthesis of exo-imidazolidin-2-one dienes is described. A condensation reaction was carried out with bis-imino derivatives, diacetyl, and triphosgene, affording symmetrically N, N-disubstituted dienes. The use of alkyl methyl α-diketones led to the formation of nonsymmetrical dienes, which underwent isomerization to provide more stable inner-outer-ring dienes under Lewis acid conditions. Evaluation was made of the reactivity as well as regio- and stereoselectivity of these dienes in Diels-Alder reactions. They proved to be highly reactive and selective. DFT calculations of the transition states accounted for their behavior.

Creation of Novel Cyclization Methods Using sp-Hybridized Carbon Units and Syntheses of Bioactive Compounds

Some recent results on the development of new and reliable procedures for the construction of diverse ring systems based on the chemistry of sp-hybridized species, especially allene functionality, are described. This review includes: (i) synthesis of the multi-cyclic skeletons by combination of the π-component of allene with suitable other π-components such as alkyne, alkene, or additional allene under Rh-catalyzed conditions; (ii) synthesis of heterocycles as well as carbocycles by reaction of the sp-hybridized center of allene with some nucleophiles in an endo-mode manner; and (iii) total syntheses of natural products and related compounds from the sp-hybridized starting materials.

Enantioselective Formal [4+2] Cycloadditions to 3-Nitroindoles by Trienamine Catalysis: Synthesis of Chiral Dihydrocarbazoles

The first enantioselective formal [4+2] cycloadditions of 3-nitroindoles are presented. By using 3-nitroindoles in combination with an organocatalyst, chiral dihydrocarbazole scaffolds are formed in moderate to good yields (up to 87%) and enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee). The reaction was extended to include enantioselective [4+2] cycloadditions of 3-nitrobenzothiophene. The reaction proceeds through a [4+2] cycloaddition/elimination cascade under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, a diastereoselective reduction of an enantioenriched cycloadduct is presented. The mechanism of the reaction is discussed based on experimental and computational studies.

Access to polysubstituted indoles or benzothiophenes via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of furfural tosylhydrazones with 2-iodoanilines or 2-iodothiophenols

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of furfural tosylhydrazones with 2-iodoanilines or 2-iodothiophenols produces polysubstituted indoles or benzothiophenes, respectively.