Sustainable tandem acylation/Diels-Alder reaction toward versatile tricyclic epoxyisoindole-7-carboxylic acids in renewable green solvents

Tandem Diels-Alder reactions are often used for the straightforward formation of complex natural compounds and the fused polycyclic systems contained in their precursors. In the second step of this reaction, regio- and stereochemically controlled intramolecular cyclization leads to the formation of versatile nitrogen-containing tricyclic systems. However, these useful organic transformations are usually carried out in highly toxic organic solvents such as benzene, toluene, chloroform, etc. Despite recent efforts by 'green chemists', synthetic chemists still use these traditional toxic organic solvents in many of their reactions, even though safer alternatives are available. However, in addition to the harmful effects of these petrochemical solvents on the environment, the prediction that their resources will run out in the near future has led 'green chemists' to explore solvents that can be derived from renewable resources and used effectively in various organic transformations. In this context, we have shown for the first time that the 100% atom-economical tandem Diels-Alder reaction between aminofuranes and maleic anhydride can be carried out successfully in vegetable oils and waxes. The reaction was successfully carried out in sunflower seed oil, olive oil, oleic acid and lauryl myristate under mild reaction conditions. A series of epoxyisoindole-7-carboxylic acid and bisepoxyisoindole-7-carboxylic acids were obtained in good yields after a practical isolation procedure. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the potential of vegetable oils and their renewable materials to provide a reaction medium that is more sustainable than conventional organic solvents in cascade Diels-Alder reactions and can be used repeatedly without significant degradation. These materials also allow the reaction to be completed in less time, with less energy consumption and higher yields.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of dimethyl 4-hy-droxy-5,4'-dimethyl-2'-(toluene-4-sulfonyl-amino)-biphenyl-2,3-di-carboxyl-ate

In the title compound, C25H25NO7S, the mol-ecular conformation is stabilized by intra-molecular O-H⋯O and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which form S(6) and S(8) ring motifs, respectively. The mol-ecules are bent at the S atom with a C-SO2-NH-C torsion angle of -70.86 (11)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯O and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming mol-ecular layers parallel to the (100) plane. C-H⋯π inter-actions are observed between these layers.

The Interplay between Kinetics and Thermodynamics in Furan Diels-Alder Chemistry for Sustainable Chemicals Production

Biomass‐derived furanic platform molecules have emerged as promising building blocks for renewable chemicals and functional materials. To this aim, the Diels–Alder (DA) cycloaddition stands out as a versatile strategy to convert these renewable resources in highly atom‐efficient ways. Despite nearly a century worth of examples of furan DA chemistry, clear structure–reactivity–stability relationships are still to be established. Detailed understanding of the intricate interplay between kinetics and thermodynamics in these very particular [4+2] cycloadditions is essential to push further development and truly expand the scope beyond the ubiquitous addend combinations of electron‐rich furans and electron‐deficient olefins. Herein, we provide pertinent examples of DA chemistry, taken from various fields, to highlight trends, establish correlations and answer open questions in the field with the aim to support future efforts in the sustainable chemicals and materials production.

Straightforward Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Indanes and Tetralines through Ene-Cyclopropene Rearrangement Mediated by Ruthenium

Ene-cyclopropenes give functionalized indanes and tetralines in the presence of ruthenium dimeric catalysts. This reaction involves the cyclopropene opening by the metal catalysts with a different regioselectivity respective to gold chlorides and produces totally different products than when using semisandwich ruthenium complexes. Here, the process leads to a bridged 7-oxanorbornene-type intermediate that is converted into a functionalized aromatic ring through deoxygenative aromatization. Alternative reaction pathways occur with substrates with no possible aromatization.

Advances in Diels-Alder/aromatization of biomass furan derivatives towards renewable aromatic hydrocarbons

The effective upgrading of renewable resources into high value-added chemicals is of great significance to achieve the sustainable economic development, as well as the implementation of carbon neutral technologies practically....

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (3aSR,6RS,6aSR,7RS,11bSR,11cRS)-2,2-dibenzyl-2,3,6a,11c-tetra-hydro-1H,6H,7H-3a,6:7,11b-di-epoxy-dibenzo[de,h]isoquinolin-2-ium tri-fluoro-methane-sulfonate

In the cation of the title salt, C30H28NO2 +·CF3O3S-, the four tetra-hydro-furan rings adopt envelope conformations. In the crystal, pairs of cations are linked by dimeric C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming two R 2 2(6) ring motifs parallel to the (001) plane. The cations and anions are connected by further C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network structure. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H⋯H (47.6%), C⋯H/H⋯C (20.6%), O⋯H/H⋯O (18.0%) and F⋯H/H⋯F (9.9%) inter-actions.

A Combined Experimental-Theoretical Study on Diels-Alder Reaction with Bio-Based Furfural: Towards Renewable Aromatics

The synthesis of relevant renewable aromatics from bio-based furfural derivatives and cheap alkenes is carried out by using a Diels-Alder/aromatization sequence. The prediction and the control of the ortho/meta selectivity in the Diels-Alder step is an important issue to pave the way to a wide range of renewable aromatics, but it remains a challenging task. A combined experimental-theoretical approach reveals that, as a general trend, ortho and meta cycloadducts are the kinetic and thermodynamic products, respectively. The nature of substituents, both on the dienes and dienophiles, significantly impacts the feasibility of the reaction, through a modulation on the nucleo- and electrophilicity of the reagents, as well as the ortho/meta ratio. We show that the ortho/meta selectivity at the reaction equilibrium stems from a subtle interplay between charge interactions, favoring the ortho products, and steric interactions, favoring the meta isomers. This work also points towards a path to optimize the aromatization step.

Synthesis of d-(+)-camphor-based N-acylhydrazones and their antiviral activity

The design and synthesis of a series of novel d-(+)-camphor N-acylhydrazones exhibiting inhibitory activity against vaccinia and influenza viruses are presented. An easy pathway to camphor-based N-acylhydrazones containing in their structure aliphatic, aromatic, and heterocyclic pharmacophore scaffolds has been developed. The conformation and configuration of the synthesized hydrazones were thoroughly characterized by a complete set of spectral characterization techniques, including 2D NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction analysis. In vitro screening for activity against vaccinia virus (VV) and influenza H1N1 virus was carried out for the obtained compounds. It was revealed that the derived N-acylhydrazones exhibited significant antiviral activity with a selectivity index >280 against VV for the most promising compound.

Synthesis of 2-Tetrazolylmethyl-isoindolin-1-ones via a One-Pot Ugi-Azide/(N-Acylation/exo-Diels-Alder)/Dehydration Process

A series of fifteen 2-tetrazolylmethyl-isoindolin-1-one linked-type bis-heterocycles were synthesized in 10-76% yields under mild conditions via a one-pot Ugi-azide/(N-acylation/exo-Diels-Alder)/dehydration process from furan-2-ylmethanamine, aldehydes, isocyanides, azidotrimethylsilane, and maleic anhydride. Density functional theory calculations were performed using the polarizable continuum model (toluene)-M06-2X-D3/6-311+G(d)//M06-2X-D3/6-31G(d) level of theory to obtain the full energy profile when investigating over eight possible pathways. An anthracene-containing analogue displayed a distribution of its highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital throughout both cyclic moieties.

Crystal structures of the two epimers from the unusual thermal C6-epimerization of 5-oxo-1,2,3,5,5a,6,7,9b-octa-hydro-7,9a-ep-oxy-pyrrolo-[2,1-a]iso-indole-6-carb-oxy-lic acid, 5a(RS),6(SR),7(RS),9a(SR),9b(SR) and 5a(RS),6(RS),7(RS),9a(SR),9b(SR)

The isomeric title compounds, C12H13NO4 (Ia) and C12H13NO4 (IIa), the products of an usual thermal C6-epimerization of 5-oxo-1,2,3,5,5a,6,7,9b-octa-hydro-7,9a-ep-oxy-pyrrolo-[2,1-a]iso-indole-6-carb-oxy-lic acid, represent the two different diastereomers and have very similar mol-ecular geometries. The mol-ecules of both compounds comprise a fused tetra-cyclic system containing four five-membered rings (pyrrolidine, pyrrolidinone, di-hydro-furan and tetra-hydro-furan), all of which adopt the usual envelope conformations. The dihedral angle between the basal planes of the pyrrolidine and pyrrolidinone rings are 14.3 (2) and 16.50 (11)°, respectively, for (Ia) and (IIa). The nitro-gen atom has a slightly pyramidalized geometry [bond-angle sum = 355.9 and 355.3°, for (Ia) and (IIa)], respectively. In the crystal of (Ia), mol-ecules form zigzag-like hydrogen-bonded chains along [010] through strong O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and are further linked by weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into complex two-tier layers parallel to (100). Unlike (Ia), the crystal of (IIa) contains centrosymmetric cyclic hydrogen-bonded dimers [graph set R22(14)], formed through strong O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and are further linked by weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into ribbons extending across [101].

Conversion of oxazolidinediones to isoindoloisoquinolinones via intramolecular Friedel–Crafts reaction

Treatment of oxazolidinediones with TiCl4 in CH2Cl2 resulted in conversion to isoindoloisoquinolinones via intramolecular Friedel–Crafts reaction with extrusion of CO2 in the transformation. The alkaloid nuevamine has been synthesized under these conditions in a regiospecific manner.

Brönsted acid-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of indoles from o-aminobenzyl alcohols and furans

Brönsted acid-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of indoles from o-aminobenzyl alcohols and furans has been developed. This method operates via the in situ formation of aminobenzylfuran, followed by its recyclization into the indole core. The method proved to be efficient for substrates possessing different functional groups, including -OMe, -CO2Cy, and -Br. The resulting indoles can easily be transformed into diverse scaffolds, including 2,3- and 1,2-fused indoles, and indoles possessing an α,β-unsaturated ketone moiety at the C-2 position.