One-Pot Facile Synthesis of Substituted Isoindolinones via an Ugi Four-Component Condensation/Diels−Alder Cycloaddition/ Deselenization−Aromatization Sequence

Ultrasound-assisted diastereoselective green synthesis of spiro-fused-γ-lactams functionalized with an amide bond heterocyclic bioisostere via the Ugi azide/domino process coupled strategy

A series of linked-type 1,5-disubstituted tetrazoles (1,5-DS-Ts) were synthesised via an isocyanide-based multicomponent reaction (IMCR) and used as synthetic platforms to access bound-type polyheterocycles containing an epoxyisoindol-1(6H)-one scaffold under green conditions. This rapid sonochemical synthetic strategy includes a double domino process using an orthogonal heterocyclic input in the Ugi-azide (UA) reaction. DFT calculations and NBO analysis were performed to understand the pseudopericyclic reaction involved in the 1,5-electrocyclization of the UA mechanism.

Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydroboration Reaction of Novel Methylene Isoindolinone Compounds through Microwave Irradiation and Their Antileishmanial and Antitoxoplasma Activities

The aim of this study was devoted into molecular docking calculations to discover the potential antileishmania and antitoxoplasma activities of newly synthesized compounds obtained by applying a practical and simple method under microwave irradiation. All these compounds were tested in vitro for their biological activity against Leishmania major promastigotes, amastigotes, and Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites. Compounds 2a, 5a, and 5e were the most active against both L. major promastigotes and amastigotes, with IC₅₀ values of less than 0.4 μM mL^-1. Compounds 2c, 2e, 2h, and 5d had a strong antitoxoplasma activity of less than 2.1 μM mL^-1 against T. gondii. We can conclude that aromatic methyleneisoindolinones are potently active against both L. major and T. gondii. Further studies for mode of action evaluation are recommended. Compounds 5c and 5b are the best drug candidates for antileishmania and antitoxoplasma due to their SI values being over 13. The docking studies of compounds 2a-h and 5a-e against pteridine reductase 1 and T. gondii enoyl acyl carrier protein reductase reveal that compound 5e may be an effective antileishmanial and antitoxoplasma drug discovery initiative.

Electroselective and Controlled Reduction of Cyclic Imides to Hydroxylactams and Lactams

An efficient and practical electrochemical method for selective reduction of cyclic imides has been developed using a simple undivided cell with carbon electrodes at room temperature. The reaction provides a useful strategy for the rapid synthesis of hydroxylactams and lactams in a controllable manner, which is tuned by electric current and reaction time, and exhibits broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance even to reduction-sensitive moieties. Initial mechanistic studies suggest that the approach heavily relies on the utilization of amines (e.g., i-Pr₂NH), which are able to generate α-aminoalkyl radicals. This protocol provides an efficient route for the cleavage of C-O bonds under mild conditions with high chemoselectivity.

Unprecedented selective homogeneous cobalt-catalysed reductive alkoxylation of cyclic imides under mild conditions

The first general and efficient non-noble metal-catalysed reductive C2-alkoxylation of cyclic imides (phthalimides and succinimides) is presented. Crucial for the success is the use of [Co(BF₄)₂·6H₂O/triphos (L1)] combination and no external additives are required.

The first general and efficient non-noble metal-catalysed reductive C2-alkoxylation of cyclic imides (phthalimides and succinimides) is presented. Crucial for the success is the use of [Co(BF₄)₂·6H₂O/triphos (L1)] combination and no external additives are required. Using the optimal cobalt-system, the hydrogenation of the aromatic ring of the parent phthalimide is avoided and only one of the carbonyl groups is selectively functionalized. The resulting products, N- and aryl-ring substituted 3-alkoxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindolin-1-one and N-substituted 3-alkoxy-pyrrolidin-2-one derivatives, are prepared under mild conditions in good to excellent isolated yields. Intramolecular reductive couplings can also be performed affording tricyclic compounds in a one-step process. The present protocol opens the way to the development of new base-metal processes for the straightforward synthesis of functionalized N-heterocyclic compounds of pharmaceutical and biological interest.

Synthesis of 2-Tetrazolylmethyl-isoindolin-1-ones via a One-Pot Ugi-Azide/(N-Acylation/exo-Diels-Alder)/Dehydration Process

A series of fifteen 2-tetrazolylmethyl-isoindolin-1-one linked-type bis-heterocycles were synthesized in 10-76% yields under mild conditions via a one-pot Ugi-azide/(N-acylation/exo-Diels-Alder)/dehydration process from furan-2-ylmethanamine, aldehydes, isocyanides, azidotrimethylsilane, and maleic anhydride. Density functional theory calculations were performed using the polarizable continuum model (toluene)-M06-2X-D3/6-311+G(d)//M06-2X-D3/6-31G(d) level of theory to obtain the full energy profile when investigating over eight possible pathways. An anthracene-containing analogue displayed a distribution of its highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital throughout both cyclic moieties.

One-pot synthesis of spiropyrroloquinoline-isoindolinone and their aza-analogs via the Ugi-4CR/metal-free intramolecular bis-annulation process

This presentation discloses a one-pot synthesis of a series of spiropyrroloquinoline isoindolinone and spiropyrroloquinoline aza-isoindolinone scaffolds.

Isoselenazolones as catalysts for the activation of bromine: bromolactonization of alkenoic acids and oxidation of alcohols

Isoselenazolones were synthesized by a copper-catalyzed Se-N bond forming reaction between 2-halobenzamides and selenium powder. The catalytic activity of the various isoselenazolones was studied in the bromolactonization of pent-4-enoic acid. Isoselenazolone 9 was studied as a catalyst in several reactions: the bromolactonization of a series of alkenoic acids with bromine or N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in the presence of potassium carbonate as base, the bromoesterification of a series of alkenes using NBS and a variety of carboxylic acids, and the oxidation of secondary alcohols to ketones using bromine as an oxidizing reagent. Mechanistic details of the isoselenazolone-catalyzed bromination reaction were revealed by (77)Se NMR spectroscopic and ES-MS studies. The oxidative addition of bromine to the isoselenazolone gives the isoselenazolone(IV) dibromide, which could be responsible for the activation of bromine under the reaction conditions. Steric effects from an N-phenylethyl group on the amide of the isoselenazolone and electron-withdrawing fluoro substituents on the benzo fused-ring of the isoselenazolone appear to enhance the stability of the isoselenazolone as a catalyst for the bromination reaction.