From Simple Ugi Adducts to Indanes and δ-Amidomalonates: New Manganese(III)-Induced Radical Cascades

First-row transition metal for isocyanide-involving multicomponent reactions (IMCR)

First-row transition metal catalyzed transformations that are able to construct complex molecules from simple, readily obtainable feedstocks have become a keystone of modern synthetic organic chemistry. Particularly, the multicomponent reaction (MCR) involving carbon-carbon (C-C) as well as carbon-heteroatom (C-X) bond formation plays an essential role in many chemical conversions, and insurgencies in these reactions powerfully improve the overall synthetic efficiency. Recently, MCRs emerges rapidly because of its greener sides like eco-friendly nature, swift and straightforward execution, high atom/step economy, and construction of aimed product with lowest or no by-product, usually in quantitative yield. Curiously, the exceptional divalent carbon atoms of isocyanides make them predominantly useful components in multicomponent reactions. As a result of widespread research over the past few decades, numerous well-designed and effective procedures for the first-row TM-catalyzed MCR to afford the various entities have been reported. These aspects are summarized in this review article. A particular focus on comparative discussion of various first-row transition-metal catalyzed isocyanide-based multicomponent reactions through mechanistic details included in the review article.

Metal-free aerobic C–H oxidation of cyclic enones

A metal-free procedure is described for the aerobic and complete C–H methylene oxidation of Hajos–Parrish enones to versatile dihydroindenediones.

Ugi post-condensation copper-triggered oxidative cascade towards pyrazoles

Pyrazolidinones were prepared in a two-step sequence starting from α-hydrazonocarboxylic acids. After a four-component Ugi coupling, the resulting hydrazone was engaged in a copper triggered [3 + 2] cycloaddition/aerobic oxidation cascade.

Straightforward four-component access to spiroindolines

Spiroindolines could be synthesized via a very convenient one-pot procedure combining a Ugi coupling and a new copper-catalyzed oxidative process at a peptidyl position. Due to the nature of the first step, this method offers a straightforward access to complex alkaloids with four points of molecular diversity.

Xanthate based radical cascade toward multicomponent formation of pyrrolopyrimidines

A short sequential synthesis of pyrrolidino- pyridines and pyrimidines illustrates the potential of combining Ugi-Smiles couplings with radical tin-free processes.

Novel approach to 1,5-benzodiazepine-2-ones containing peptoid backbone via one-pot diketene-based Ugi-4CR

An efficient and simple route for preparation of substituted 1,5-benzodiazepine-2-one containing peptoid backbone is presented. The classical Ugi reaction is considerably extended by application of o-phenylenediamine and diketene as amine and oxo component. 1,3-Dihydro-1,5-benzodiazepine-2-one is generated in situ from these two building blocks combined with isocyanide and aromatic or aliphatic carboxylic acid to assemble the multifunctionalized titled scaffold in high yields. The reaction is performed in the mixture of toluene/CH(2)Cl(2) under reflux condition without catalyst. Conformational isomerism is seen in the solution phase because of restricted free rotation around amide and C-CO bands due to steric bulk of substitutions. In single crystal state, the product is found to possess dimeric structure arising from intermolecular hydrogen bonding.

Radical and radical-ionic multicomponent processes

All in one pot! Radical, radical-ionic, and radical-organometallic MCR are highly convergent processes, representing a useful pathway to molecular and structural diversity (see scheme). This concept article highlights recent developments in the field and shows the potential of the strategy for the economical elaboration of various kinds of organic substrates.Progress in multicomponent reactions (MCRs) based on ionic and organometallic processes has recently allowed the synthesis, with high efficiency, of large collections of drug-like molecules. In contrast, MCRs based on cascade radical reactions appear to have attracted, so far, much less interest. This concept article highlights the latest progress in the field and underlines the potential of such an approach. The collected examples demonstrate that radical and radical-ionic MCRs are highly convergent processes leading to useful structural diversity.