N,N-Diacylaminals as Emerging Tools in Synthesis: From Peptidomimetics to Asymmetric Catalysis

N,N-Diacylaminals are flexible molecular scaffolds that have commonly been utilized as amide surrogates in peptidomimetics. The singularities of this motif as an N-acyl imine equivalent and as hydrogen-bond donor have recently opened new synthetic opportunities, especially in the field of asymmetric catalysis. This concept article highlights this diverse synthetic potential and provides the elements necessary for further developments.

Urea Derivatives in Modern Drug Discovery and Medicinal Chemistry

The urea functionality is inherent to numerous bioactive compounds, including a variety of clinically approved therapies. Urea containing compounds are increasingly used in medicinal chemistry and drug design in order to establish key drug-target interactions and fine-tune crucial drug-like properties. In this perspective, we highlight physicochemical and conformational properties of urea derivatives. We provide outlines of traditional reagents and chemical procedures for the preparation of ureas. Also, we discuss newly developed methodologies mainly aimed at overcoming safety issues associated with traditional synthesis. Finally, we provide a broad overview of urea-based medicinally relevant compounds, ranging from approved drugs to recent medicinal chemistry developments.

The Lossen rearrangement from free hydroxamic acids

During more than a century, the Lossen rearrangement was supposed to occur exclusively in the presence of stochiometric amount of activating reagents. Very recently, it was demonstrated that the Lossen rearrangement can take place directly from free hydroxamic acids offering a renewal of interest for this reaction.

A practically simple, catalyst free and scalable synthesis of N-substituted ureas in water

A practically simple, mild and efficient method is developed for the synthesis of N-substituted ureas by nucleophilic addition of amines to potassium isocyanate in water without organic co-solvent. Using this methodology, a variety of N-substituted ureas (mono-, di- and cyclic-) were synthesized in good to excellent yields with high chemical purity by applying simple filtration or routine extraction procedures avoiding silica gel purification. The developed methodology was also found to be suitable for gram scale synthesis of molecules having commercial application in large volumes. The identified reaction conditions were found to promote a unique substrate selectivity from a mixture of two amines.

Cr2(NCN)3, a ferromagnetic carbodiimide with an unusual two-step magnetic transition

Crystallographic and magnetic characterization of a ferromagnetic transition-metal carbodiimide with an unusual two-step magnetic phase transition.

One-pot synthesis of trisubstituted ureas from α-chloroaldoxime O-methanesulfonates and secondary amines

Trisubstituted ureas can be synthesized in a one-pot fashion from bench-stable α-chloroaldoxime O-methanesulfonates and secondary amines under mild reaction conditions.