Indolizinones as synthetic scaffolds: fundamental reactivity and the relay of stereochemical information

Skeletal editing of pyridines through atom-pair swap from CN to CC

Skeletal editing is a straightforward synthetic strategy for precise substitution or rearrangement of atoms in core ring structures of complex molecules; it enables quick diversification of compounds that is not possible by applying peripheral editing strategies. Previously reported skeletal editing of common arenes mainly relies on carbene- or nitrene-type insertion reactions or rearrangements. Although powerful, efficient and applicable to late-stage heteroarene core structure modification, these strategies cannot be used for skeletal editing of pyridines. Here we report the direct skeletal editing of pyridines through atom-pair swap from CN to CC to generate benzenes and naphthalenes in a modular fashion. Specifically, we use sequential dearomatization, cycloaddition and rearomatizing retrocycloaddition reactions in a one-pot sequence to transform the parent pyridines into benzenes and naphthalenes bearing diversified substituents at specific sites, as defined by the cycloaddition reaction components. Applications to late-stage skeletal diversification of pyridine cores in several drugs are demonstrated.

Dearomative cyclization of pyridines/isoquinolines with cyclopropenones: access to indolizinones and benzo-fused indolizinones

Dearomatization reactions provide a rapid approach to construct complicated molecules that are difficult to synthesize by traditional methods from simple aromatic compounds. Herein, we report an efficient dearomative [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of 2-alkynyl pyridines with diarylcyclopropenones, leading to the synthesis of densely functionalized indolizinones in moderate to good yields under metal-free conditions. In addition, this strategy can also be employed in dearomative cyclization of isoquinolines to access a variety of benzo-fused indolizinones. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that an appropriate substituent at the 2-position of pyridine is crucial to the dearomatization process.

Visible Light-Driven Decarboxylative Alkylation of Aldehydes via Electron Donor-Acceptor Complexes of Active Esters

There are some synthesis methods from widely available aldehydes to the corresponding ketones, however, they involved in multistep reactions with Grignard's reagents or transition metal catalysts. In this paper, we have developed photocatalyst-free and visible light-driven decarboxylative alkylation of pyridinaldehydes. The photochemical reactions are initiated via photoinduced single electron transfer from triethylamine to N-hydroxyphthalimide esters in electron donor-acceptor complexes. This photochemical method can achieve to translate 15 pyridinaldehydes and 11 2-quinolinaldehydes to the corresponding ketones. Furthermore, this strategy can also achieve two other transformations, disulfanes to aryl sulfides and a styrene sulfone to the alkyl-substituted alkene.

Palladium-Catalyzed Difunctionalization of Alkenes by Relay Coupling with Propargylic Pyridines: Synthesis of Indolizine and Indolizinone-Containing Bisheterocycles

Palladium-catalyzed arylation/heteroarylation of aryl halide-tethered alkenes with propargylic pyridines has been established, which provides direct and efficient access to various oxindole, azaoxindole, dihydrobenzopyran, indole, and benzofuran-linked indolizines in good yields with a broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance. This process enables the formation of one C-N and two C-C bonds in a single operation through an intramolecular carbopalladation and cycloisomerization sequence. Furthermore, an indolizinone-linked bisheterocyclic framework containing indole and benzofuran could be synthesized conveniently from tertiary propargylic alcohols involving methyl or phenyl migration.

Heteroarene-tethered Functionalized Alkyne Metamorphosis

Heteroarene-tethered functionalized alkynes are multipotent synthons in organic chemistry. This detailed Review described herein offers a thorough discussion of the metamorphosis of heteroarene-tethered functionalized alkynes, an area which has earned much attention over the past decade in the straightforward synthesis of architecturally complex heterocyclic scaffolds in atom and step economic manner. Depending upon the variety of functionalized alkynes, this Review is divided into multiple sections. Amongst the vast array of synthetic transformations covered, dearomatizing spirocyclizations and cascade spirocyclization/rearrangement are of great interest. Synthetic transformations involving the heteroarene-tethered functionalized alkynes with scope, challenges, limitations, mechanism, their application in the total synthesis of natural products and future perceptions are surveyed.

Selective recognition of DNA parallel G-quadruplexes by 3,8a-disubstituted indolizinones

Owing to its potential biological relevance, DNA G-quadruplex has been considered as a prospective anti-cancer target. Some known G-quadruplex-interactive N-containing compounds with low cytotoxicity have become prospective anticancer drugs. Here we reported a new type of N-containing alkaloids 3,8a-disubstituted indolizinones, and investigated their substituent effects at 3- and 8a-positions in targeting to DNA c-myc G-quadruplex. And then we used 3-naphtyl-8a-(pyridin-2-yl) substrate I8 as an example, and investigated its ability in targeting to DNA parallel G-quadruplexes in vitro.

Synthesis and sequential diastereoselective incorporation of hydroxyl groups into hexahydrofuro[3,2-f]indolizin-7(2H)-one to give mono-, di- and tetra-hydroxyfuroindolizidines

Dihydrofuro[2,3-f]indolizidinone obtained from biosourced reagents even at multigram-scale was used as an advanced building-block with up to five points of chemical diversification. This resulted in the sequential synthesis of a series of mono-, di- and tetra-hydroxyfuranoindolizidines belonging to a very scarce and elaborate tetrahydrofuran-fused indolizidine family with up to six controlled stereogenic centers. These sequences include, among others, diastereoselective olefin epoxidation, stereoselective epoxide ring opening into tetrahydrofuran trans-diols, their protection as an ester or acetonide, and lactam carbonyl reduction ultimately followed by acetate or acetonide deprotection.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Functionalized Indolizinones from Substituted Pyridine Homologated Ynones

An efficient two-component copper-catalyzed cyclization cascade approach toward highly functionalized indolizinone heterocycles has been developed from reactions of pyridine-, isoquinoline-, and quinoline ynones, via 5-exo-dig cyclization. The catalysis involves the activation by diorgano diselenide and diorgano disulfide and also their incorporation into the indolizinone core. In addition, the obtained substituted indolizinones were readily transformed into 1-(organochalcogenyl)indolizin-2-ols, which are important building blocks in organic synthesis.

Synthesis of new cyclazines and 4,5-diaryl-1H-pyrrol-3(2H)-one units in discoipyrroles from indolizinone-DMAD cycloadducts

The reaction of indolizinones with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate gave direct access to 3',8a-dihydrocyclopenta[hi]indolizin-8a-ol and 1H-pyrrol-3(2H)-one in good yields. The former skeleton is a precursor to cyclazines with nitrogen on the periphery, a hitherto un-accessed 10-π system. Their formation involves initial [4 + 2] or [8 + 2] modes of cycloadditions; the retro-Diels Alder reaction of the [4 + 2] cycloadduct leads to 1H-pyrrol-3(2H)-one, whereas [8 + 2] addition followed by π-reorganization leads to the azatricyle. Analysis of substituent effects on product distribution showed that electron donating groups on the C₃-aryl ring promote the formation of the azatricycle preponderantly. Treatment of one of these azatricycles (3c) with HBF₄ led to the formation of the corresponding 10e-aromatic species which was detected by NMR spectroscopy. In addition, formation of the 1H-pyrrol-3(2H)-one skeleton through the normal retro-Diels Alder pathway was employed in the total synthesis of Discoipyrrole C, which is a new lead against lung cancer.

Copper-Catalyzed [4+2] Cycloaddition of 9 H-Cyclohepta[ b]pyridine-9-one and Electron-Rich Alkenes

9 H-Cyclohepta[ b]pyridin-9-one was used as a diene cycloaddition partner to construct [3.2.2] bicycles in a copper-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition. Oxygen- and nitrogen-substituted terminal, disubstituted, trisubstituted, and cyclic alkenes reacted to afford the cycloadducts as single constitutional isomers in 48-80% yields and diastereomeric ratios up to 5.6:1.

Selective recognition of c-myc promoter G-quadruplex and down-regulation of oncogene c-myc transcription in human cancer cells by 3,8a-disubstituted indolizinone

Indolizinone could selectively recognize c-myc promoter G-quadruplex.

Synthesis of substituted indolizines via radical oxidative decarboxylative annulation of 2-(pyridin-2-yl)acetate derivatives with α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids

A copper mediated radical oxidative annulation of 2-(pyridin-2-yl)acetate derivatives with α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids is developed.

Synthesis and characterization of N-glucosylated dithiadiazepine derivatives through carbon-sulfur bond formation

New 4,7-bis(arylamino)-2-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosylimino-1,3,5,6-dithiadiazepines were synthesized via reaction of N-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl isocyanodichloride with 1,6-diaryl-2,5-dithio-bis-ureas without using any catalyst. Thus, the synthesis of 7-membered heterocycles containing two sulfur and two nitrogen atoms through carbon-sulfur bond formation was explored. The chemical structures of these new compounds were elucidated by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass spectral, and elemental analyses.

An I2-catalyzed oxidative cyclization for the synthesis of indolizines from aromatic/aliphatic olefins and α-picoline derivatives

A novel I₂-catalyzed intermolecular oxidative tandem cyclization reaction of aromatic/aliphatic olefins and α-picoline derivatives has been achieved for the synthesis of indolizines under metal-free conditions.

A copper-catalyzed domino reaction to construct functionalized indolizinones

An efficient one-step copper-catalyzed domino reaction to 3,8α-disubstituted indolizinone derivatives has been developed for the first time, in which cheap and readily available pyridine ketones and terminal alkynes are the starting materials.

Catalytic asymmetric α-Iminol rearrangement: new chiral platforms

A series of 19 different asymmetric catalysts were screened in an effort to identify the first chiral catalyst for the rearrangement of α-hydroxy imines to α-amino ketones involving a 1,2-carbon shift. Although aluminate complexes of VAPOL, VANOL, and 7,7'-(t)Bu2VANOL were quite effective catalysts giving up to 88% ee, the ne plus ultra catalyst for this reaction was found to be a zirconium complex of VANOL which gives 97 to >99% ee for the majority of the substrates examined. An X-ray diffraction study of the catalyst reveals that the zirconium exists as a homoleptic complex with three VANOL ligands and two protonated N-methyl imidazoles.

Protic-solvent-mediated cycloisomerization of quinoline and isoquinoline propargylic alcohols: syntheses of (±)-3-demethoxyerythratidinone and (±)-cocculidine

Putting the "benz" in indolizinones: A cycloisomerization approach to benz[g]indolizinones and benz[e]indolizinones provides the first general route to these unique azacycles (see example). The utility of the benzindolizinone products was demonstrated by the application of this method to the total synthesis of the Erythrina alkaloids 3-demethoxyerythratidinone and cocculidine.

Catalytic, asymmetric indolizidinone aza-quaternary stereocenter synthesis: expedient synthesis of the cylindricine alkaloid core

The Rh(I)•CKphos catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of 1,1-disubstituted alkenyl isocyanates and alkyl alkynes selectively forms previously inaccessible vinylogous amide indolizidinone cycloadducts, establishing an aza-quaternery stereocenter with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee). This advance enables a seven step catalytic, asymmetric synthesis of the tricyclic core of the cylindricine alkaloids with excellent control of product selectivity as well as regio- and enantioselectivity.

Synthesis of isoquinuclidines from highly substituted dihydropyridines via the Diels-Alder reaction

A stereo- and regioselective Diels-Alder reaction for the synthesis of highly substituted isoquinuclidines from dihydropyridines and electron-deficient alkenes has been developed. While reactions with activated dienophiles proceed readily under thermal conditions, the use of Lewis acid additives is necessary to facilitate cycloadditions for less reactive alkenes. This procedure affords the target compounds in high yields and diastereoselectivities.

Chichibabin-type direct alkylation of pyridyl alcohols with alkyl lithium reagents

Direct C(6) alkylation of pyridyl alcohols can be achieved following an initial deprotonation of the hydroxy group. This transformation, which is believed to occur by a Chichibabin-type alkylation, avoids lateral deprotonation prior to pyridine ring alkylation and gives increased regioselectivity for C(6) over C(4) alkylation.