Intramolecular [3 + 2]-cycloadditions of azomethine ylides derived from secondary amines via redox-neutral C-H functionalization

Decarboxylative 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of amino acids for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds

The [3 + 2] cycloadditions of stabilized azomethine ylides (AMYs) derived from amino esters are well-established. However, the reactions of semi-stabilized AMYs generated from decarboxylative condensation of α-amino acids with arylaldehydes are much less explored. The [3 + 2] adducts of α-amino acids could be used for a second [3 + 2] cycloaddition as well as for other post-condensation modifications. This article highlights our recent work on the development of α-amino acid-based [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of N-H-type AMYs in multicomponent, one-pot, and stepwise reactions for the synthesis of diverse heterocycles related to some bioactive compounds and natural products.

Enantioselective, Decarboxylative (3+2)-Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides and Chromone-3-Carboxylic Acids

Herein, we describe the synthesis of a variety of chiral hybrid pyrrolidine-chromanone polycyclic derivatives. A convenient (3+2)-annulation of azomethine ylides with chromone-3-carboxylic acid realized under Brønsted base catalysis produced highly functionalized products in high yields with good stereoselectivities through asymmetric, intermolecular, and decarboxylative (3+2)-cyclization.

Three-Component [3+2] Cycloaddition for Regio- and Diastereoselective Synthesis of Spirooxindole-Pyrrolidines

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of nonstabilized azomethine ylides derived from α-C-H functionalization of tetrahydroisoquinoline for regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of spirooxindole-pyrrolidines is developed. A three-component reaction of readily available cyclic amine, aryl aldehydes, and olefinic oxindoles provides a pot, atom and step economy (PASE) approach for making spiro-heterocyclic compounds with biological interest.

Azomethine ylide cycloaddition of 1,3-dienyl esters: highly regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized pyrrolidinochromenes

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of tricyclic pyrrolidinochromenes has been developed via an intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides generated in situ from 1,3-dienyl ester tethered O-hydroxyarylaldehyde and glycine esters. The reaction is highly regio- and diastereoselective in nature and provided the potentially bioactive pyrrolidine fused tricyclic cycloadducts in excellent yields with wide substrate scope. Interestingly this reaction constructs two rings and four contiguous stereogenic centers in which one of them is an all carbon quaternary center in a unique fashion.

Stereoselective synthesis of fused-, spiro- and bridged heterocycles via cyclization of isoquinolinium salts: A recent update

Isoquinoline and its derivatives are ubiquitous in natural alkaloids, synthetic materials and pharmaceuticals with broad spectrum of biological activities. In particular, isoquinolinium salts are important in organic synthesis because they...

Pseudo-Five-Component Reaction for Diastereoselective Synthesis of Butterfly Shaped Bispiro[Oxindole-Pyrrolidine]s

A pseudo-five-component reaction involving double decarboxylative 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with olefinic oxindoles for the diastereoselective synthesis of bispiro[oxindole-pyrrolidine]s is developed. The major diastereomers are unique butterfly shaped compounds with a plane of symmetry. Recyclable zeolite HY acid catalyst is used to promote the reaction, and only CO₂ and H₂O are generated as byproducts.

Construction of hybrid polycyclic quinolinobenzo[a]phenazinone architectures using solid-state melt reaction (SSMR)

An efficient and versatile protocol for the synthesis of hybrid polycyclic quinolinobenzo[a]phenazinones has been developed under SSMR condition via intramolecular domino Knoevenagel-hetero-Diels-Alder reaction involving the generation of two new six membered fused rings and three contiguous stereogenic centers.

Condensation-Based Methods for the C-H Bond Functionalization of Amines

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of condensation-based methods for the C-H bond functionalization of amines that feature azomethine ylides as key intermediates. These transformations are typically redox-neutral and share common attributes with classic name reactions such as the Strecker, Mannich, Friedel-Crafts, Pictet-Spengler, and Kabachnik-Fields reaction, while incorporating a redox-isomerization step. This approach provides an ideal platform to rapidly transform simple starting materials into complex amines.

Phosphine-catalyzed sequential (2+3)/(2+4) annulation of γ-vinyl allenoates: access to the synthesis of chromeno[4,3-b]pyrroles

A phosphine-catalyzed cascade (2+3)/(2+4) cyclization reaction of γ-vinyl allenoates with aldimine esters has been developed to provide a series of chromeno[4,3-b]pyrrole derivatives that contain three contiguous stereogenic centers. The method gives a good yield, excellent chemoselectivity and diastereoselectivity under mild conditions.

C-H Bond Functionalization of Amines: A Graphical Overview of Diverse Methods

This Graphical Review provides a concise overview of the manifold and mechanistically diverse methods that enable the functionalization of sp3 C-H bonds in amines and their derivatives.

Co2(CO)8 as a Solid CO (g) Source for the Amino Carbonylation of (Hetero)aryl Halides with Highly Deactivated (Hetero)arylamines

Carbonylation of (hetero)aryl iodides/bromides with highly deactivated 2-aminopyridines using Pd-Co(CO)₄ bimetallic catalysis is accomplished. The use of Co₂(CO)₈ as a solid CO(g) source enhanced reaction rates observed when compared to CO(g), and excellent yields highlight the versatility of the developed protocol. A wide range of electronically and sterically demanding heterocyclic amines and (hetero)aryl iodides/bromides employed for this study resulted in excellent yields of amino carbonylated products. The developed methodology was further extended to synthesize Trypanosome brucie and luciferase inhibitors.

Divergent Strategy for Diastereocontrolled Synthesis of Small- and Medium-Ring Architectures

Nitrogen and oxygen medium rings, in particular nine-membered rings, epitomize a unique area of chemical space that occurs in many natural products and biologically appealing compounds. The scarcity of 8- to 12-membered rings among clinically approved drugs is indicative of the difficulties associated with their synthesis, principally owing to the unfavorable entropy and transannular strain. We report here a scandium triflate-catalyzed reaction that allows for a modular access to a diverse collection of nine-membered ring heterocycles in a one-pot cascade and with complete diastereocontrol. This cascade features an intramolecular addition of an acyl group-derived enol to a α,β-unsaturated carbonyl moiety, leading to N- and O-derived medium-ring systems. Computational studies using the density functional theory support the proposed mechanism. Additionally, a one-pot cascade leading to hexacyclic chromeno[3',4':2,3]indolizino[8,7-b]indole architectures, with six fused rings and four contiguous chiral centers, is reported. This novel cascade features many concerted events, including the formation of two azomethine ylides, [3 + 2]-cycloaddition, 1,3-sigmatropic rearrangement, Michael addition, and Pictet-Spengler reaction among others. Phenotypic screening of the resulting oxazonine collection identified chemical probes that regulate mitochondrial membrane potential, adenosine 5'-triphosphate contents, and reactive oxygen species levels in hepatoma cells (Hepa1-6), a promising approach for targeting cancer and metabolic disorders.

I2-Catalyzed transformation of o-aminobenzamide to o-ureidobenzonitrile using isothiocyanates

The present work describes an unexpected and unique protocol for the iodine catalysed synthesis of o-ureidobenzonitriles using o-aminobenzamides and isothiocyanates via intramolecular rearrangement. The metal-free route achieved here is insensitive to moisture and applicable to the synthesis of a wide variety of o-ureidobenzonitriles with excellent yields even in a scalable fashion.

Domino Transformations of Ene/Yne Tethered Salicylaldehyde Derivatives: Pluripotent Platforms for the Construction of High sp3 Content and Privileged Architectures

Diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) has become a powerful synthetic tool that facilitates the construction of nature-inspired and privileged chemical space, particularly for sp³ -rich non-flat scaffolds, which are needed for phenotypic screening campaigns. These diverse compound collections led to the discovery of novel chemotypes that can modulate the protein function in underrepresented biological space. In this context, starting material-driven DOS is one of the most important tools used to build diverse compound libraries with rich stereochemical and scaffold diversity. To this end, ene/yne tethered salicylaldehyde derivatives have emerged as a pluripotent chemical platform, the products of which led to the construction of a privileged chemical space with significant biological activities. In this review, various domino transformations employing o-alkene/alkyne tethered aryl aldehyde/ketone platforms are described and discussed, with emphasis on the period from 2011 to date.

Synthesis of 7'-Arylidenespiro[indoline-3,1'-pyrrolizines] and 7'-Arylidenespiro[indene-2,1'-pyrrolizines] via [3 + 2] Cycloaddition and β-C-H Functionalized Pyrrolidine

The acetic acid catalyzed three-component reaction of pyrrolidine, aromatic aldehydes, and 3-arylideneoxindolin-2-ones in refluxing toluene afforded functionalized 7'-arylidenespiro[indoline-3,1'-pyrrolizines] in good yields and with high diastereoselectivity. The similar three-component reaction with 2-arylidene-1,3-indanediones also gave 7'-arylidenespiro[indene-2,1'-pyrrolizines] in good yields. However, the reaction with 3-phenacylideneoxindoles resulted in a mixture of spiro[indoline-3,1'-pyrrolizines] and 7'-arylidene-substituted spirooxindoles in moderate yields. The reaction mechanism included generation of azomethine ylides, β-C-H functionalization of pyrrolidine, and sequential [3 + 2] cycloaddition. The obtained spirooxindole derivatives were investigated by in vitro evaluation against mouse colon cancer cells CT26 and human liver cancer cells HepG2 by MTT assay.

Benzoazepine-Fused Isoindolines via Intramolecular (3 + 2)-Cycloadditions of Azomethine Ylides with Dinitroarenes

Aminobenzaldehydes bearing a pendant 3,5-dinitrophenyl group react thermally with N-substituted α-amino acids to form unprecedented benzoazepine-fused isoindolines. The reaction proceeds via a dearomatization/rearomatization sequence involving an intramolecular (3 + 2)-cycloaddition between the in situ formed azomethine ylide and the dinitroarene. Various glycine derivatives are tolerated as well as branched substrates based on cyclic, α-mono-, and α,α-disubstituted amino acids, giving single diastereomers in many cases. The method is scalable and gives products with a nitro group ready for further manipulation.

Acid Catalyzed Formation of C⁻C and C⁻S Bonds via Excited State Proton Transfer

The behavior of 2-naphthol and 7-bromo-2-naphthol as organic photoacids are exploited in organic synthesis for the preparation of benzyl sulfides (using a trichloroacetimidate derivative as the starting substrate) and polycyclic amines via acid catalyzed condensation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline with aldehydes.

Double 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions of Two Nonstabilized Azomethine Ylides for Polycyclic Pyrrolidines

Nonstabilized azomethine ylides derived from decarboxylation of oxazolidin-5-ones were used for double 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions in diastereoselective synthesis of pyrrolidine-containing tetracyclic compounds. This is the first example of one-pot and five-component reactions involving two nonstabilized azomethine ylides. Only CO₂ and water were generated as byproducts.

2-Azaallyl Anions, 2-Azaallyl Cations, 2-Azaallyl Radicals, and Azomethine Ylides

This review covers the use of 2-azaallyl anions, 2-azaallyl cations, and 2-azaallyl radicals in organic synthesis up through June 2018. Particular attention is paid to both foundational studies and recent advances over the past decade involving semistabilized and nonstabilized 2-azaallyl anions as key intermediates in various carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond-forming processes. Both transition-metal-catalyzed and transition-metal-free transformations are covered. Azomethine ylides, which have received significant attention elsewhere, are discussed briefly with the primary focus on critical comparisons with 2-azaallyl anions in regard to generation and use.

Redox-Annulations of Cyclic Amines with 2-(2-Oxoethyl)malonates

Amines such as 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline undergo redox-neutral annulations with 2-(2-oxoethyl)malonates in the presence of catalytic amounts of benzoic acid. These reactions install a fully saturated five-membered ring and provide access to structures closely related to the natural products crispine A and harmicine.

Synthesis of Polycyclic Imidazolidinones via Amine Redox-Annulation

α-Ketoamides undergo redox-annulations with cyclic secondary amines, such as 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, pyrrolidine, piperidine, and morpholine. Catalytic amounts of benzoic acid significantly accelerate these transformations. This approach provides polycyclic imidazolidinone derivatives in typically good yields.

Direct N–H/α,α,β,β-C(sp3)–H functionalization of piperidine via an azomethine ylide route: synthesis of spirooxindoles bearing 3-substituted oxindoles

A protocol for the direct functionalization of N–H/α,α,β,β-C(sp³)–H of piperidine without any metal or external oxidants is reported.

Redox-Neutral Aromatization of Cyclic Amines: Mechanistic Insights and Harnessing of Reactive Intermediates for Amine α- and β-C-H Functionalization

Cyclic amines such as pyrrolidine and piperidine are known to undergo condensations with aldehydes to furnish pyrrole and pyridine derivatives, respectively. A combined experimental and computational study provides detailed insights into the mechanism of pyrrole formation. A number of reactive intermediates (e.g., azomethine ylides, conjugated azomethine ylides, enamines) were intercepted, outlining strategies for circumventing aromatization as a valuable pathway for amine C-H functionalization.

New Regio- and Stereoselective Cascades via Unstabilized Azomethine Ylide Cycloadditions for the Synthesis of Highly Substituted Tropane and Indolizidine Frameworks

Multisubstituted tropanes and indolizidines have been prepared with high regio- and stereoselectivity by the [3+2] cycloaddition of unstabilized azomethine ylides generated from readily prepared trimethylsilyl-substituted 1,2-dihydropyridines via protonation or alkylation followed by desilylation. Starting from 1,2-dihydropyridines bearing a ring trimethylsilyl substituent at the 6-position, an intermolecular alkylation/desilylation provides endocyclic unstabilized ylides that successfully undergo cycloaddition with a range of symmetrical and unsymmetrical alkyne and alkene dipolarophiles to afford densely substituted tropanes incorporating quaternary carbons in good yields and with high regio- and stereoselectivity. Additionally, an intramolecular alkylation/desilylation/cycloaddition sequence provides convenient and rapid entry to bridged tricyclic tropane skeletons, allowing for five contiguous carbon stereocenters to be set in a single experimental operation and under mild conditions. Starting from 1,2-dihydropyridines with trimethylsilylmethyl groups on nitrogen, protonation followed by desilylation generates exocyclic unstabilized ylides that undergo cycloaddition with unsymmetrical alkynes to give indolizidines with good regio- and stereoselectivity. N-Trimethylsilylmethyl-1,2-dihydropyridines can also be alkylated and subsequently desilylated to give endocyclic unstabilized ylides that undergo intermolecular cycloadditions with carbonyl compounds to give bicyclic oxazolidine products in good overall yields. Moreover, an intramolecular alkylation/desilylation/cycloaddition sequence with the N-trimethylsilylmethyl-1,2-dihydropyridines affords tricyclic indolizidines that incorporate quaternary carbons and up to five stereocenters with good to excellent regio- and diastereoselectivity.

C-H functionalization of cyclic amines: redox-annulations with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

Cyclic amines such as pyrrolidine and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline undergo redox-annulations with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones. Carboxylic acid promoted generation of a conjugated azomethine ylide is followed by 6π-electrocylization, and, in some cases, tautomerization. The resulting ring-fused pyrrolines are readily oxidized to the corresponding pyrroles or reduced to pyrrolidines.

A novel approach for the synthesis of imidazo and triazolopyridines from dithioesters

Various imidazo- and triazolo-pyridines were synthesised by the intramolecular cyclization of pyridine 2-methylamine and dithioesters under mild conditions.