PTSA-catalyzed Mannich-type–cyclization–oxidation tandem reactions: one-pot synthesis of 1,3,5-substituted pyrazoles from aldehydes, hydrazines and alkynes

Multicomponent syntheses of pyrazoles via (3 + 2)-cyclocondensation and (3 + 2)-cycloaddition key steps

Pyrazoles are rarely found in nature but are traditionally used in the agrochemical and pharmaceutical industries, while other areas of use are also actively developing. However, they have also found numerous other applications. The search for new and efficient syntheses of these heterocycles is therefore highly relevant. The modular concept of multicomponent reactions (MCR) has paved a broad alley to heteroaromatics. The advantages over traditional methods are the broader scope and increased efficiency of these reactions. In particular, traditional multistep syntheses of pyrazoles have considerably been extended by MCR. Progress has been made in the cyclocondensation of 1,3-dielectrophiles that are generated in situ. Limitations in the regioselectivity of cyclocondensation with 1,3-dicarbonyls were overcome by the addition-cyclocondensation of α,β-unsaturated ketones. Embedding 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions into a one-pot process has additionally been developed for concise syntheses of pyrazoles. The MCR strategy also allows for concatenating classical condensation-based methodology with modern cross-coupling and radical chemistry, as well as providing versatile synthetic approaches to pyrazoles. This overview summarizes the most important MCR syntheses of pyrazoles based on ring-forming sequences in a flashlight fashion.

p-Toluenesulfonic acid-promoted organic transformations for the generation of molecular complexity

Since the beginning of this century, p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA) catalysed organic transformations have been an active area of research for developing efficient synthetic methodologies. Often, catalysis using p-TSA is associated with many advantages, such as operational simplicity, high selectivity, excellent yields, and ease of product isolation, which make organic synthesis convenient and versatile. Notably, p-TSA is a non-toxic, commercially available, inexpensive solid organic compound that is soluble in water, alcohols, and other polar organic solvents. p-TSA is a strong acid compared to many protic or mineral acids and its high acidity helps activate different organic functional groups. p-TSA-promoted conversions are fast, have a high atom and pot economy, and feature a multiple bond-forming index. Therefore, the utilization of p-TSA enables the synthesis of many important structural scaffolds without any hazardous metals, making it desirable in numerous applications of sustainable and green chemistry. Recently, this emerging area of research has become one of the pillars of synthetic organic chemistry to synthesise biologically relevant, complex carbocycles and heterocycles. This study provides a comprehensive summary of methods, applications, and mechanistic insights into p-TSA-catalysed organic transformations, covering the literature reports that have appeared since 2012.

Copper-Promoted Aerobic Oxidative [3+2] Cycloaddition Reactions of N,N-Disubstituted Hydrazines with Alkynoates: Access to Substituted Pyrazoles

A copper-promoted aerobic oxidative [3+2] cycloaddition reaction for the synthesis of various substituted pyrazoles from N,N-disubstituted hydrazines with alkynoates in the presence of bases is developed. This work involves a direct C(sp³)-H functionalization and the formation of new C-C/C-N bonds. In this strategy, inexpensive and easily available Cu₂O serves as the promoter and air acts as the green oxidant. The reaction exhibits the advantages of high atom and step economy, high regioselectivity, and easy operation.

Construction of multi-substituted pyrazoles via potassium carbonate-mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition of in situ generated nitrile imines with cinnamic aldehydes

A highly efficient potassium carbonate-mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of hydrazonoyl chlorides with cinnamic aldehydes to furnish multi-substituted pyrazoles under nontoxic and mild conditions has been developed. A plausible stepwise cycloaddition reaction mechanism is proposed. This protocol featured broad substrate coverage, good functional group tolerance, wide scalability, and operational simplicity, as well as conveniently constructed pyrazole scaffolds.

DMSO as a C1 Source for [2 + 2 + 1] Pyrazole Ring Construction via Metal-Free Annulation with Enaminones and Hydrazines

A cascade reaction between enaminones, hydrazines, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for the synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted pyrazoles catalyzed by molecular iodine in the presence of Selectfluor has been realized. DMSO plays a dual role as the C₁ source and the reaction medium. In addition, the synthesis of 1,3,4-trisubstituted pyrazoles using aldehydes as alternative C₁ building blocks has also been achieved.

Development of New Thiazole Complexes as Powerful Catalysts for Synthesis of Pyrazole-4-Carbonitrile Derivatives under Ultrasonic Irradiation Condition Supported by DFT Studies

In this study, we are interested in preparing Fe(III), Pd(II), and Cu(II) complexes from new thiazole derivatives. All syntheses were elaborately elucidated to estimate their molecular and structural formulae, which agreed with those of mononuclear complexes. The square-planer geometry of Pd(II) complex (MATYPd) was the starting point for its use as a heterocatalyst in preparing pyrazole-4-carbonitrile derivatives 4a-o using ultrasonic irradiation through a facile one-pot reaction. The simple operation, short-time reaction (20 min), and high efficiency (97%) were the special advantages of this protocol. Furthermore, this green synthesis strategy was advanced by examination of the reusability of the catalyst in four consecutive cycles without significant loss of catalytic activity. The new synthesis strategy presented remarkable advantages in terms of safety, simplicity, stability, mild conditions, short reaction time, excellent yields, and use of a H₂O solvent. This catalytic protocol was confirmed by the density functional theory (DFT) study, which reflected the specific characteristics of such a complex. Logical mechanisms have been suggested for the successfully exerted essential physical parameters that confirmed the superiority of the Pd(II) complex in the catalytic role. Optical band gap, electrophilicity, and electronegativity features, which are essential parameters for the catalytic behavior of the Pd(II) complex, are based mainly on the unsaturated valence shell of Pd(II).

Metal-free cascade synthesis of unsymmetrical 2-aminopyrimidines from imidazolate enaminones

A convenient metal-free synthesis of unsymmetrical 2-aminopyrimidines from imidazolate enaminones has been developed. In this procedure, various structural 2-aminopyrimidines, as well as 4,5-dihydroisoxazol-5-ols and pyrazoles were synthesized in moderate to excellent yields. A plausible mechanism was also proposed for the cascade reaction. This method represents an effective strategy towards the synthesis of unsymmetrical 2-aminopyrimidines.

A convenient metal-free synthesis of unsymmetrical 2-aminopyrimidines from imidazolate enaminones has been developed.

Alkynes and Nitrogen Compounds: Useful Substrates for the Synthesis of Pyrazoles

The easy preparation and functionalization of pyrazoles associated with their innumerable biological properties have made this class of N-heterocycles very attractive for the development of new synthetic routes and applications. The cyclization reactions of alkynes and nitrogen compounds represent a powerful tool for the preparation of pyrazoles. This Review covers the recent advances in the preparation of pyrazoles by reacting alkynes and nitrogen compounds under transition-metal-catalyzed or metal-free conditions.

Direct N-heterocyclization of hydrazines to access styrylated pyrazoles: synthesis of 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles and dihydropyrazoles

A microwave-assisted method has been developed for the synthesis of tri-substituted pyrazoles via direct N-heterocyclization of hydrazines with metal-acetylacetonate and -dibenzylideneacetonate without using any base or additives. Most importantly, the synthesis of 1-aryl-5-phenyl-3-styryl-1H-pyrazoles was achieved in a single step using hydrochloride salt of various phenylhydrazines and this is the first report for direct construction of these molecules. The reaction medium and microwave conditions play a critical role for their selective product formation during the reaction. The present reaction explored the usage of metal-diketonic complexes as reaction substrates providing acetylacetone and dibenzylideneacetone moieties to directly participate in cyclization with hydrazines to form the corresponding pyrazoles in excellent yields. The present protocol introduces the important N-heterocyclic moieties in the final structures, giving the reaction great applications from a medicinal chemistry perspective, particularly in the late stage modification strategies in drug discovery.

The synthesis of tri-substituted pyrazoles was achieved via direct N-heterocyclization of hydrazines with metal-acetylacetonate and -dibenzylideneacetonate without using any base or additives under microwave irradiation in a single step.

Atom-Economic Synthesis of 4-Pyrones from Diynones and Water

Transition-metal-free synthesis of 4-pyrones via TfOH-promoted nucleophilic addition/cyclization of diynones and water has been developed. This transformation is simple, atom economical and environmentally benign, providing rapid and efficient access to substituted 4-pyrones.

Nucleophilic ring-opening reactions of trans-2-aroyl-3-aryl-cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylates with hydrazines

trans-2-Aroyl-3-aryl-cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylates gave dihydropyrazoles when treated with arylhydrazines in refluxing EtOH, whereas they afforded cyclopropane-fused pyridazinones upon treatment with hydrazines in refluxing AcOH.

Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of 5-Iminopyrrolones through Isocyanide Double Insertion Reaction with Terminal Alkynes and Water

With the combination of Pd(dppf)Cl₂ and Cu(OAc)₂, a variety of 5-iminopyrrolones were synthesized in moderate to good yields from terminal alkynes, isocyanide, and water via isocyanide double insertion and cycloaddition reaction. A plausible reaction mechanism for this process is depicted. Furthermore, selected compounds 3c, 3e, and 3h exhibited good activities against HepG2 (human liver cancer), NCI-H460 (human lung cancer), and SK-OV-3 (human ovarian cancer) cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the range of 10.63-22.63 μmol L^-1.

Radical Addition of Hydrazones by α-Bromo Ketones To Prepare 1,3,5-Trisubstituted Pyrazoles via Visible Light Catalysis

A novel efficient tandem reaction of hydrazones and α-bromo ketones is reported for the preparation of 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles by visible light catalysis. In this system, the monosubstituted hydrazones show wonderful reaction activity with alkyl radicals, generated from α-bromo ketones. A radical addition followed by intramolecular cyclization affords the important pyrazole skeleton in good to excellent yields. This efficient strategy under mild conditions with wide group tolerance provides a potential approach to the 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles.

Synthesis of pyridazinones through the copper(I)-catalyzed multicomponent reaction of aldehydes, hydrazines, and alkynylesters

The copper-catalyzed multicomponent cyclization reaction, which combined aldehydes, hydrazines, and alkynylesters, was applied in the synthesis of pyridazinones. The reaction was regioselective and gave only six-membered pyridazinones in the complete absence of five-membered pyrazoles or a regioisomeric mixture. During this investigation, the use of 2-halobenzaldehyde as the starting material, under identical reaction conditions, gave 6-(2-ethoxyphenyl)pyridazinones after sequential Michael addition/1,2-addition/Ullmann cross-coupling reactions.

Preparation of 3,5-disubstituted pyrazoles and isoxazoles from terminal alkynes, aldehydes, hydrazines, and hydroxylamine

The reaction of terminal alkynes with n-BuLi, and then with aldehydes, followed by the treatment with molecular iodine, and subsequently hydrazines or hydroxylamine provided the corresponding 3,5-disubstituted pyrazoles or isoxazoles in good yields with high regioselectivity, through the formations of propargyl secondary alkoxides and α-alkynyl ketones. The present reactions are one-pot preparation of 3,5-disubstituted pyrazoles from terminal alkynes, aldehydes, molecular iodine, and hydrazines, and 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles from terminal alkynes, aldehydes, molecular iodine, and hydroxylamine.

Amphiphile catalysed selective synthesis of 4-amino alkylated-1H-pyrazol-5-ol via Mannich aromatization preferred to the Knoevenagel–Michael type reaction in water

An economic and efficient amphiphile (SDS) catalysed one pot synthesis of aromatized 4-amino alkylated-1H-pyrazol-5-ol via a Mannich aromatization preffered to the Knoevenagel–Michael type reaction in water has been developed.