Aryl glyoxal: a prime synthetic equivalent for multicomponent reactions in the designing of oxygen heterocycles

The category of bifunctional building blocks overrides many others because of their fascinating wide applicability in synthetic chemistry. Aryl glyoxal is one of the key molecules that has been extensively used in heterocyclic chemistry to afford nearly all types of five- and six-membered heterocycles, which are the structural constituents of many natural products. The multicomponent reaction is a practical strategy to utilize this wonderful moiety with different types of starting materials to obtain numerous diverse oxygen heterocycles. This review covers the advancement of aryl glyoxal as a prime synthetic equivalent in recent years for the synthesis of oxygen heterocycles.

Recent Advances in DMSO-Based Direct Synthesis of Heterocycles

Besides serving as a low-toxicity, inexpensive and easily accessible solvent, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has also been extensively used as a versatile reagent for the synthesis of functionalized molecules. Dimethyl sulfoxide can not only be utilized as a carbon source, a sulfur source and an oxygen source, but also be employed as a crucial oxidant enabling various transformations. The past decade has witnessed a large number of impressive achievements on the direct synthesis of heterocycles as well as modifications of heterocyclic compounds by applying DMSO as a reagent. This review summarized the DMSO-based direct heterocycle constructions from 2012 to 2022.

Recent Advances of Green Catalytic System I2/DMSO in C–C and C–Heteroatom Bonds Formation

Developing a green, practical and efficient method for the formation of C–C and C–Heteroatom bonds is an important topic in modern organic synthetic chemistry. In recent years, the I2/DMSO catalytic system has attracted wide attention because of its green, high efficiency, atomic economy, low cost, mild reaction conditions and it is environment-friendly, which is more in line with the requirements of sustainable chemistry. Heteroatom-containing compounds have shown lots of important applications in pharmaceutical synthesis, agrochemicals, material chemistry and organic dyes. At present, the I2/DMSO catalytic system has been successfully applied to the synthesis of various heteroatom-containing compounds. The C–C and C–Heteroatom bonds have been formed efficiently, which has been proved to be a green and mild catalytic system. In this review, the research achievements of the I2/DMSO catalytic system in the formation of C–C and C–Heteroatom bonds from 2015 to date are described, and the research area is prospected. This review attempts to reveal the general law of iodine catalysis and lay a foundation for the design of new reactions.

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.

Modification of Pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and Pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinolines with Ammonium Acetate and Dimethyl Sulfoxide via Methylthiomethylation

An efficient methylthiomethylation of pyrroloisoquinolines and pyrroloquinolines has been reached by the use of ammonium acetate and dimethyl sulfoxide. Methylthiomethylated heterocycles can be obtained in moderate to good yields in most cases, while trace amounts to good yields of methylene-bridged products can be observed. Choice of DMSO activator and its amount have a great influence on the chemoselectivity of this process. It is worth noting that this process can also be scalable. Another feature of this process is that the product can be transformed to sulfone and sulfoxide easily.

One-step synthesis of azepino[3,4-b]indoles by cooperative aza-[4 + 3] cycloaddition from readily available feedstocks

We demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining azepino[3,4-b]indoles by one-step synthesis from a four-component reaction system comprising readily available starting materials. This transformation affords a diverse range of azepino[3,4-b]indoles in a highly efficient manner.

Diversity-oriented synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a][1,3,5]triazine derivatives from 2-amine-[1,3,5]triazines with ketones

An I₂-mediated annulation of 2-amino[1,3,5]triazines and ketones for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a][1,3,5]triazines is presented. Electron rich, or electron poor acetophenone and heterocycle ketones, as well as propiophenone, are functionalized with 2-amino-[1,3,5]triazines. Another class of imidazo[1,2-a][1,3,5]triazines tethered with an additional 1,2-dicarbonyl motif through the combination of annulation and C-H functionalization were obtained instead by changing the reaction conditions. The new methods are practically straightforward and applicable on a gram scale.

Reactions involving aryl methyl ketone and molecular iodine: a powerful tool in the one-pot synthesis of heterocycles

The preparation of heterocyclic compounds has attracted great attention in organic chemistry because of their extensive application in the field of bioactive molecules, materials science, and natural products.

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.

Iodine-Promoted Domino Oxidative Cyclization for the One-Pot Synthesis of Novel Fused Four-Ring Quinoxaline Fluorophores by sp3 C-H Functionalization

A method for the synthesis of novel fused four-ring quinoxaline skeleton has been described by an I₂ promoted sp³ C-H functionalization between 1,2,3,3-tetramethyl-3H-indolium iodides and 1,2-diamines. This transformation proceeds smoothly under metal- and peroxide-free conditions through a sequential iodination, oxidation, annulation and rearrangement. Moreover, 8,9-dichloro-5,12,12-trimethyl-2-(trifluoromethyl)-5,12-dihydroquinolino[2,3-b]quinoxaline showed good photophysical properties and was used in live cell imaging, indicating the potential value of this skeleton as a fluorophore in probes.

Bond-Forming and -Breaking Reactions at Sulfur(IV): Sulfoxides, Sulfonium Salts, Sulfur Ylides, and Sulfinate Salts

Organosulfur compounds have long played a vital role in organic chemistry and in the development of novel chemical structures and architectures. Prominent among these organosulfur compounds are those involving a sulfur(IV) center, which have been the subject of countless investigations over more than a hundred years. In addition to a long list of textbook sulfur-based reactions, there has been a sustained interest in the chemistry of organosulfur(IV) compounds in recent years. Of particular interest within organosulfur chemistry is the ease with which the synthetic chemist can effect a wide range of transformations through either bond formation or bond cleavage at sulfur. This review aims to cover the developments of the past decade in the chemistry of organic sulfur(IV) molecules and provide insight into both the wide range of reactions which critically rely on this versatile element and the diverse scaffolds that can thereby be synthesized.

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 mediated oxidative cross-coupling of unprotected anilines and heteroarylation of benzothiazoles with 2-methylquinoline

Iodine-promoted oxidative C-H/C-H cross-coupling of unprotected anilines and 2-methylquinoline to furnish C4-carbonylated aniline (4-aminophenyl)(quinoline-2-yl) methanones in moderate to good yields has been demonstrated. This work provides the first site-selective approach for the synthesis of free amino groups containing methanones including unprecedented C-H functionalization rather than the N-H functionalization of unprotected anilines via the Kornblum oxidation of 2-methylquinoline. Furthermore, we noticed that the incorporation of KOH under standard conditions provides 2-heteroarylbenzothiazoles from benzothiazoles and 2-methylquinoline in good to excellent yields. These transformations do not require any transition metals or peroxides and tolerate various functional groups such as methoxy, hydroxy, bromo, chloro and nitro groups. Moreover, a plausible mechanistic pathway is proposed.

I2/TBHP-Mediated tandem cyclization and oxidation reaction: Facile access to 2-substituted thiazoles and benzothiazoles

The efficient synthesis of 2-substituted thiazoles and benzothiazoles has been accomplished employing readily available cysteine esters and 2-aminobenzenethiols as N and S sources.

Employing thiocyanate salts as a nitrogen source via CN bond cleavage: divergent synthesis of α-ketoamides and 2-acyloxazoles

A switchable procedure for the synthesis of α-ketoamides and 2-acyloxazoles from aryl methyl ketones and thiocyanate salts is reported.

Copper catalyzed photoredox synthesis of α-keto esters, quinoxaline, and naphthoquinone: controlled oxidation of terminal alkynes to glyoxals

Controlled oxidation of the terminal C Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> C triple bond using O₂ (1 atm) as an oxidant and reagent.

Herein, we report a facile visible light induced copper catalyzed controlled oxidation of terminal C Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> C alkynes to α-keto esters and quinoxalines via formation of phenylglyoxals as stable intermediates, under mild conditions by using molecular O₂ as a sustainable oxidant. The current copper catalysed photoredox method is simple, highly functional group compatible with a broad range of electron rich and electron poor aromatic alkynes as well as aliphatic alcohols (1°, 2° and 3° alcohols), providing an efficient route for the preparation of α-keto esters (43 examples), quinoxaline and naphthoquinone with higher yields than those in the literature reported thermal processes. Furthermore, the synthetic utility of the products has been demonstrated in the synthesis of two biologically active molecules, an E. coli DHPS inhibitor and CFTR activator, using the current photoredox process. In addition, we applied this methodology to the one-pot synthesis of a heterocyclic compound (quinoxaline, an FLT3 inhibitor) by trapping the intermediate phenylglyoxal with O-phenylenediamine. The intermediate phenylglyoxal can also be isolated and further reacted with an internal alkyne to form naphthoquinone. This process can be readily scaled up to the gram scale.

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.

Selective access to dipyrazolo-fused pyridines via formal [3 + 2 + 1] heteroannulation of methyl ketones with pyrazol-5-amines

A fascinating new form of the Hantzsch reaction with methyl ketones and pyrazol-5-amines for the selective synthesis of dipyrazolo-fused pyridines has been discovered.

Multifunctional odorless isocyano(triphenylphosphoranylidene)-acetates: synthesis and direct one-pot four-component Ugi/Wittig cyclization to multisubstituted oxazoles

A new one-step four-component synthesis of multisubstituted oxazoles has been developed.

Transition-metal-free synthesis of oxazoles: valuable structural fragments in drug discovery

This review article encapsulates the recent developments in the metal-free approaches used to construct oxazole moiety.