Pyrrole versus quinoline formation in the palladium catalyzed reaction of 2-alkynyl-3-bromothiophenes and 2-alkynyl-3-bromofurans with anilines. A combined experimental and computational study

Hydrogen Dissociation Reaction on First-Row Transition Metal Doped Nanobelts

Zigzag molecular nanobelts have recently captured the interest of scientists because of their appealing aesthetic structures, intriguing chemical reactivities, and tantalizing features. In the current study, first-row transition metals supported on an H₆-N₃-belt[6]arene nanobelt are investigated for the electrocatalytic properties of these complexes for the hydrogen dissociation reaction (HDR). The interaction of the doped transition metal atom with the nanobelt is evaluated through interaction energy analysis, which reveals the significant thermodynamic stability of TM-doped nanobelt complexes. Electronic properties such as frontier molecular orbitals and natural bond orbitals analyses are also computed, to estimate the electronic perturbation upon doping. The highest reduction in the HOMO-LUMO energy gap compared to the bare nanobelt is seen in the case of the Zn@NB catalyst (4.76 eV). Furthermore, for the HDR reaction, the Sc@NB catalyst displays the best catalytic activity among the studied catalysts, with a hydrogen dissociation barrier of 0.13 eV, whereas the second-best catalytic activity is observed for the Zn@NB catalyst (0.36 eV). It is further found that multiple active sites, i.e., the presence of the metal atom and nitrogen atom moiety, help to facilitate the dissociation of the hydrogen molecule. These key findings of this study enhance the understanding of the relative stability, electronic features, and catalytic bindings of various TM@NB catalysts.

Quinoline Alkaloids from the Roots of Orixa japonica with the Anti-Pathogenic Fungi Activities

A new quinoline alkaloid, 5-hydroxy-6-methoxy-N-methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-one (1), and seventeen known quinoline alkaloids (2-18) were isolated from the roots of Orixa japonica. The structure of 1 was determined by analysis of spectroscopic data. Among them, compounds 2, 3, and 13 were isolated from this plant for the first time. All isolates were screened for the anti-pathogenic fungi activities, including Rhizoctonia solani, Magnaporthe oryzae, and Phomopsis sp. The results showed that five compounds (4, 8, 10, 11, and 12) exhibited significant anti-pathogenic fungi effects at 50.0 μg/mL. In special, compound 10 exhibited the best antifungal activities toward R. solani and M. oryzae with the IC₅₀ values of 37.86 and 44.72 μM, respectively, better than that of the positive control, hymexazol (IC₅₀ 121.21 and 1518.18 μM, respectively). Moreover, eleven new quinoline alkaloids derivatives (12a-12k) were designed and synthesized to investigate the structure-activity relationships (SARs). The SARs analysis indicated that the furo[2,3-b]quinoline skeleton and the methoxy at C-7 (compounds 8, 11, and 12) played a key role for improving the antifungal activities.

MnO2-Mediated Oxidative Cyclization of "Formal" Schiff's Bases: Easy Access to Diverse Naphthofuro-Annulated Triazines

A different type of MnO₂-induced oxidative cyclization of dihydrotriazines has been developed. These dihydrotriazines are considered as a "formal" Schiff's base. This method provided easy access to naphthofuro-fused triazine via the C-C/C-O oxidative coupling reaction. The reaction sequence comprised the nucleophilic addition of 2-naphthol or phenol to 1,2,4-triazine, followed by oxidative cyclization. The scope and limitations of this novel coupling reaction have been investigated. Further application of the synthesized compound has been demonstrated by synthesizing carbazole-substituted benzofuro-fused triazines. The scalability of the reaction was demonstrated at a 40 mmol load. The mechanistic study strongly suggests that this reaction proceeds through the formation of an O-coordinated manganese complex.

Synthesis of Nitrogen Heterocycles by Domino C–N Coupling/Hydroamination Reactions

The present article presents a personalized Account on the synthesis of nitrogen heterocycles by domino C–N coupling/hydroamination reactions and related processes. The starting materials, 2-alkynyl-1-halohetarenes, are regioselectively available by Sonogashira reactions of various 1,2-dihalogenated heterocycles, such as thiophenes, benzothiophenes, furans and benzofurans, pyridines, quinolines, pyrimidines, and other ring systems. More complex products are formed by domino C–N coupling/hydroamination/C–H arylation reactions of 2-alkynyl-1-halohetarenes with 2-bromoanilines. In these reactions, not only two, but three bonds are formed in one step. In many cases, the products constitute new heterocyclic core structures and show interesting pharmacological or fluorescence properties.

1 Introduction

2 Domino C–N Coupling/Hydroamination Reactions

3 Domino C–N Coupling/Hydroamination/C–H Arylation Reactions

4 Conclusions

Total synthesis of diptoindonesin G and its analogues as selective modulators of estrogen receptors

We have developed a versatile synthetic strategy for the synthesis of the natural product diptoindonesin G and its analogues as selective modulators of estrogen receptors. The strategy involves a regioselective dehydrative cyclization of arylacetals, a regioselective bromination of benzofurans, a sequential cross-coupling of bromo-benzofurans with aryl boronic acids, and a BBr₃-mediated tandem cyclization and demethylation. Preliminary biological studies uncovered the critical and dispensable phenolic hydroxyl groups in the natural product and also revealed unexpected selectivity for isoforms of estrogen receptor.

Mechanism of Zn(OTf)2catalyzed hydroamination–hydrogenation of alkynes with amines: insight from theory

Zn(OTf)₂catalyzed hydroamination of alkynes with amines proceeds through an outer sphere mechanism which is contrary to other late transition metals.

Dyotropic rearrangement of bridgehead substituents in closed dithienylethenes; conjugated verses non-conjugated analogues

Type I dyotropic rearrangement reactions of halogen and methyl substituents at the bridgehead position of diarylethenes and dihydroarylethenes have been studied through density functional theory at B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level. The calculations have been performed to explore the dyotropic rearrangement as a possible factor for the elusive nature of halogenated dithienylethenes (closed). The dyotropic rearrangement process in closed dithienylethenes is then compared with the dihydro analogues. Moreover, the effect of hetero atom and conjugation is also explored through quantum mechanical calculations.

Synthesis of quinoxalines or quinolin-8-amines from N-propargyl aniline derivatives employing tin and indium chlorides

The utility of stannous chloride dihydrate as well as indium/InCl₃ in combination with “ortho-nitrogen”-N-propargylanilines for the construction of either quinoxaline- or quinolin-8-amine-scaffolds is demonstrated. Depending on the nature of the alkyne, different bicyclic nitrogen heterocycles are formed under aerobic conditions.

Palladium(0)-catalyzed single and double isonitrile insertion: a facile synthesis of benzofurans, indoles, and isatins

A palladium(0)-catalyzed cascade process consisting of isonitrile insertion and α-Csp(3)-H cross-coupling can be achieved for the synthesis of benzofurans and indoles. The construction of isatins by a Pd-catalyzed cascade reaction incorporating double isonitrile insertion, amination, and hydrolysis has also been achieved. The key features of this work include diverse heterocycle synthesis, phosphine-ligand-free reaction conditions, a one-pot procedure, simple and commercially available starting materials, broad functional-group compatibility, and moderate to good reaction yields.

Aromaticity of azines through dyotropic double hydrogen transfer reaction

Density functional theory calculations have been performed at B3LYP/6-31+G (d) level to quantify the aromaticities of mono- to triazines through dyotropic double hydrogen transfer (DDHT) reaction. The reaction was chosen such that the azines are products of double hydrogen dyotropic rearrangement, and activation barriers and energies of the reactions were functions of the aromaticities of azines. Small activation barriers and high energies of reactions were characteristic of the reactions delivering highly aromatic azines. Synchronicity, reaction energies and energies of activation have been analyzed, and the aromaticity values obtained thereof were compared with the aromaticity values from other geometric and magnetic criteria. Energies of activation were found superior to the energies of reaction for the determination of the aromaticities. Aromaticities of most of the azines were comparable to the aromaticity of benzene. Activation barriers and reaction energies for the dyotropic reactions delivering contiguous or polynitrogeneous azines had thermodynamic contributions arising from the contiguous nature of azines, in addition to the aromaticity related thermodynamic contributions. Moreover, the aromaticity values of azines are also affected by the fusion of azine to the reaction center. When corrected for these factors, the aromaticities of azines using energies of activation for DDHT correlated nicely with the aromaticities of azines reported in the literature through NICS(0)πzz and some other energetic methods.

Palladium-catalyzed transformations of salvinorin A, a neoclerodane diterpene from Salvia divinorum

Transformations that selectively modify the furan ring present in a variety of naturals products would be useful in the synthesis of biological probes but remain largely underexplored. The neoclerodane diterpene salvinorin A, isolated from Salvia divinorum, is an example of a furan-containing natural product. Following selective bromination of salvinorin A, Suzuki-Miyaura and Sonogashira couplings were accomplished in moderate to good yields without hydrolyzing the labile C-2 acetate or altering the stereochemistry of the epimerizable centers.