TBAI-Mediated Cyclization and Methylsulfonylation of Propargylic Amides with Dimethyl Sulfite

A tetramethylammonium iodide (TBAI)-mediated cyclization and methylsulfonylation of propargylic amides enabled by dimethyl sulfite as a SO₂ surrogate and methyl source have been developed. The transition metal-free and oxidant-free reaction provides a practical and efficient approach for the selective synthesis of methylsulfonyl oxazoles in moderate to excellent yields with good functional group compatibility.

Access to 5-fluoroalkylated trisubstituted oxazoles via copper-catalyzed cyclization of α-fluoroalkyl-α-diazoketones with amides

A novel copper-catalyzed cyclization of α-fluoroalkyl-α-diazoketones with (thio)amides has been developed. This mechanistically distinct protocol provides a robust and straightforward approach to construct 5-fluoroalkylated trisubstituted oxazoles and thiazoles with high efficiency and excellent functional group compatibility. Experimental studies suggest a mechanism involving imidate ligand migratory insertion of a copper carbenoid as the key step.

Anion-cation synergistic metal-free catalytic oxidative homocoupling of benzylamines by triazolium iodide salts

Triazolium iodide salts are excellent catalysts for the selective oxidative coupling of benzylamines to yield imines. This metal-free reaction proceeds in quantitative spectroscopic yields when run in refluxing 1,2-dichlorobenzene and open to the air. No catalytic activity was observed with related triazolium tetrafluoroborate salts. Variation of catalyst and reaction atmosphere provides mechanistic insights, and revealed dioxygen as the terminal oxidant and the iodine/iodide couple as key redox component in the catalytic dehydrogenation pathway. While molecular iodine is competent as a catalyst in its own right, the triazolium cation triples the reaction rate and reaches turnover frequencies up to 30 h-1, presumably through beneficial interactions of the electron-poor azolium π system and I2, which facilitate the electron transfer from the substrate to iodine and concomitant formation of I-. This acceleration is specific for triazolium cations and represents a hybrid anion/cation catalytic process as a simple and straightforward route towards imine products, with economic advantages over previously reported metal-based catalytic systems.

Polysubstituted Imidazoles as LysoTracker Molecules: Their Synthesis via Iodine/H2O and Cell-Imaging Studies

An iodine-catalyzed, environmentally benign one-pot methodology has been developed for the synthesis of diverse substituted imidazoles. This transition-metal-free, aerobic, water-mediated cyclization reaction is operationally simple and works well with different amines or aldehydes by multiple C-N bond formations with satisfactory yield. The methodology is regioselective as well as scalable. These imidazole derivatives show excellent fluorescence properties both in the solid and solution phase, which is further extended to live-cell imaging. Due to the suitable fluorescence properties of these scaffolds, lysosome-directing groups are incorporated in two of these derivatized imidazoles to track intracellular lysosomes. Successfully, those molecules show bright blue fluorescence while detecting lysosomes in human or murine cells and can be considered to be rapid lysosome-staining probes.

Microwave-Enhanced Coupling of Carboxylic Acids with Liquid Ketones and Cyclic Ethers Using Tetrabutylammonium Iodide/t-Butyl Hydroperoxide

The oxidative coupling of carboxylic acids with liquid ketones and cyclic ethers has been accomplished in minutes using t-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of tetrabutylammonium iodide under microwave irradiation in the absence of a solvent. In addition to drastically shortening the reaction times, the use of microwaves resulted, in general, in yields equal to or higher than those obtained by conventional heating.

Direct intramolecular double cross-dehydrogentive-coupling (CDC) cyclization of N-(2-pyridyl)amidines under metal-free conditions

A facile transition-metal-free protocol to form 2-iminoimidazo[1, 2-a]-pyridines bearing a -CHBr₂ group and an aza-quaternary carbon center at the 3 position from N-(2-pyridyl)amidines substrates, in which the new heterocyclic skeletons constructed from amidines via radical reactions or nucleophilic substitution reactions are promoted only by CBr₄ under mild conditions, is demonstrated. The reactions were realized by intramolecular CDC reaction involving C-N and C-C bond formation via the sequential C(sp³)-H bifunctionalization mode on the same carbon atom under mild conditions. Moreover, this work also provides an excellent and representative example for CBr₄ as an efficient reagent to initiate radical reactions under initiator-free conditions or to give rise to nucleophilic substitution reactions only by base.

Iodine-Catalyzed Functionalization of Primary Aliphatic Amines to Oxazoles, 1,4-Oxazines, and Oxazinones

Unprecedented I₂-catalyzed α,α-C(sp³)-H, decarboxylative α-C(sp³)-H, lactonized α-C(sp³)-H, and α,β-C(sp³)-H functionalized 5- and 6-annulation as well as α-C(sp³)-H activated 6-lactonization of primary aliphatic amines are devised under aerobic conditions. The metal-free sustainable strategy was employed for the diverse construction of valuable five-and six-membered polycyclic N,O-heteroaromatics such as oxazoles, 1,4-oxazines, and oxazin-2-one with a rapid reaction rate and high yield. The viability of this mild nonmetallic catalysis is successfully verified through syntheses of labile chiral heterocyclic analogues. In contrast to the common practice, this method is not limited to use of prefunctionalized amines, directing groups (DGs) and/or transient DGs, metal catalysts, and traditional oxidants. The possible mechanistic pathway of the annulation reaction is investigated by control experiments and ESI-MS data collected for a reaction mixture of the ongoing reaction. The synthesized new compounds are potent organic nanobuilding blocks to achieve valuable organic nanomaterials of different sizes, shapes, and dimensions, which are under investigation for the discovery of high-tech devices of innovative organic nanoelectronics and photophysical properties.

Copper-Catalyzed Three-Component Domino Cyclization for the Synthesis of 4-Aryl-5-(arythio)-2-(trifluoromethyl)oxazoles

A copper-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of oxime, arylthiol, and trifluoroacetic anhydride for the construction of trisubstituted oxazoles has been developed. This transformation combines N-O bond cleavage, C-H functionalization, and intramolecular annulation, providing a practical protocol for the introduction of a trifluoromethyl (-CF₃) group at oxazole rings.

CO2/Photoredox-Cocatalyzed Tandem Oxidative Cyclization of α-Bromo Ketones and Amines To Construct Substituted Oxazoles

CO₂/photoredox-cocatalyzed tandem oxidative cyclization of α-bromo ketones and amines for the preparation of substituted oxazoles has been achieved. The avoidance of using both transition-metal catalysts and peroxides makes this method more sustainable and renewable.

Synthesis of 2,4,5-Trisubstituted Oxazoles via Pd-Catalyzed C-H Addition to Nitriles/Cyclization Sequences

A practical and flexible intermolecular protocol for the diverse synthesis of trisubstituted oxazole derivatives via a Pd-catalyzed direct C-H addition of electronic-rich heteroarenes to O-acyl cyanohydrins bearing an α-hydrogen/cyclization sequence is described. A wide range of trisubstituted oxazoles can be prepared from readily available starting materials in good to high yields with high efficiency under redox neutral reaction conditions.

Iodine-promoted one-pot synthesis of 1,3,4-oxadiazole scaffolds via sp3 C–H functionalization of azaarenes

An efficient metal-free one-pot protocol has been developed for the construction of 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives via iodine-mediated oxidative amination of benzylic C–H bonds of azaarenes.

Oxidative C(sp3)–H functionalization of methyl-azaheteroarenes: a facile route to 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyridines

An oxidative [4 + 1] annulation for triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine–quinoline linked diheterocycle synthesis via functionalization of the sp³ C–H bonds of 2-methyl-azaheteroarenes has been developed.

One-step construction of unsymmetrical thioureas and oxazolidinethiones from amines and carbon disulfide via a cascade reaction sequence

A versatile and efficient route for the preparation of unsymmetrical thioureas and oxazolidinethiones from amines and carbon disulfide has been achieved via a cascade reaction sequence.

Iodine-catalyzed oxidative annulation of 3-cyanoacetylindoles with benzylamines: facile access to 5-(3-indolyl)oxazoles

An iodine-catalyzed oxidative annulation of 3-cyanoacetylindoles with benzylamines has been developed. This reaction enables the convenient synthesis of a variety of 5-(3-indolyl)oxazoles under mild conditions with broad functional group compatibility.

Metal-free iodine(iii)-promoted synthesis of 2,5-diaryloxazoles

A nonmetal-catalyzed oxidative cyclization to achieve 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles from inexpensive and readily available substituted chalcone, (diacetoxyiodo)benzene (PIDA) and ammonium acetate (NH4OAc) at room temperature is described. The reaction forms a variety of 2,5-diaryloxazoles in good to excellent yields with broad substrate scope under mild conditions without the requirement of ligands and additional bases.

Recent advances in iodine mediated electrochemical oxidative cross-coupling

This review article gives an overview of the recent development of iodine mediated electrochemical oxidative coupling reactions.

Reagent-controlled regiodivergent intermolecular cyclization of 2-aminobenzothiazoles with β-ketoesters and β-ketoamides

Two regiodivergent approaches to intermolecular cyclization of 2-aminobenzothiazoles with β-ketoesters and amides have been developed, controlled by the reagents employed. With the Brønsted base KOt-Bu and CBrCl3 as radical initiator, benzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles are synthesized via attack at the α-carbon and keto carbon of the β-ketoester moiety. In contrast, switching to the Lewis acid catalyst, In(OTf)3, results in the regioselective nucleophilic attack at both carbonyl groups forming benzo[4,5]thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones instead.