Regioselective Synthesis of Functionalized Pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-3,6(2H,4H)-diones via Tandem Post-Ugi Cyclization and Gold(I)-Catalyzed Annulation

A convenient synthesis of less explored pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-3,6(2H,4H)-diones is described in two steps from Ugi adducts. The method involves acid-mediated cyclization of Ugi adducts to form dihydropyrazinones followed by gold(I)-catalyzed regioselective annulation. The generality of the transformation was established by reacting a variety of substituted dihydropyrazinones under the optimized reaction conditions to form densely functionalized pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-3,6(2H,4H)-diones in good-to-excellent yields. It was also observed some of the acetone-derived Ugi adducts furnish 7-acyl-pyrroloimidazolones as a byproduct during TFA-mediated cyclization via alkyne-carbonyl metathesis and condensation.

A DFT Study on Gold-Catalyzed Domino Cyclization for Post-Ugi Synthesis of Spiroindolines: Insights on the Origin of Remarkable Diastereoselectivity

We report a comprehensive DFT study on gold-catalyzed domino cyclization to spiroindolines. The diastereoselectivity was analyzed based on the established coordination spheres. These computational results not only explain the origin...

The synthesis of seven- and eight-membered rings by radical strategies

Radical strategies for preparation of seven- or eight-membered rings.

Gold-Catalyzed Hydroarylation Reactions: A Comprehensive Overview

The hydroarylation of alkynes, alkene, and, allene is a cost-effective and efficient way to incorporate unsaturated moieties into aromatic substrates. This review focuses on gold-catalyzed hydroarylation, which produces aromatic alkenes,...

Access to Polycyclic Indole-3,4-Fused Nine-Membered Ring via Cascade 1,6-Hydride Transfer/Cyclization

A cascade aldimine condensation/1,6-hydride transfer/Mannich-type cyclization of indole-derived phenylenediamine with aldehydes was developed for one-step construction of a polycyclic indole-3,4-fused skeleton. Aldehyde serves as a key to start the whole process, including 1,6-hydride transfer enabled δ-C(sp³)-H activation of the secondary amine. The challenges of construction of medium-sized rings are addressed via hydride transfer chemistry.

Catalytic Gold Chemistry: From Simple Salts to Complexes for Regioselective C-H Bond Functionalization

Gold coordinated to neutral phosphines (R₃ P), N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) or anionic ligands is catalytically active in functionalizing various C-H bonds with high selectivity. The sterics/electronic nature of the studied C-H bond, oxidation state of gold and stereoelectronic capacity of the coordinated auxiliary ligand are some of the associated selectivity factors in gold-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization reactions. Hence, in this review a comprehensive update about the action of different types of gold catalysts, from simple to sophisticated ones, on C-H bond reactions and their regiochemical outcome is disclosed. This review also highlights the catalytic applications of Au(I)- and Au(III)-species in creating new opportunities for the regio- and site-selective activation of challenging C-H bonds. Finally, it also intends to stress the potential applications in selective C-H bond activation associated with a variety of heterocycles recently described in the literature.

Indium(III)-Catalyzed Stereoselective Synthesis of Tricyclic Frameworks by Cascade Cycloisomerization Reactions of Aryl 1,5-Enynes

The indium(III)-catalyzed cascade cycloisomerization reaction of 1,5-enynes with pendant aryl nucleophiles is reported. The reaction proceeds in cascade under mild reaction conditions, using InI₃ (5 mol %) as a catalyst with a range of 1,5-enynes furnished with aryl groups (phenyl and phenol) at alkene (E and Z isomers) and with terminal and internal alkynes. Using 1-bromo-1,5-enynes, a one-pot sequential indium-catalyzed cycloisomerization and palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling with triorganoindium reagents were developed. The double cyclization is stereospecific and operates via a biomimetic cascade cation-olefin through 1,5-enyne cyclization (6-endo-dig) and subsequent C-C hydroarylation or C-O phenoxycyclization. Density functional theory (DFT) computational studies on 1,5-enynyl aryl ethers support a two-step mechanism where the first stereoselective 1,5-enyne cyclization produces a nonclassical carbocation intermediate that evolves to the tricyclic reaction product through a S_EAr mechanism. Using this approach, a variety of tricyclic heterocycles such as benzo[b]chromenes, phenanthridines, xanthenes, and spiroheterocyclic compounds are efficiently synthesized with high atom economy.

Divergent Gold Catalysis: Unlocking Molecular Diversity through Catalyst Control

The catalyst-directed divergent synthesis, commonly termed as "divergent catalysis", has emerged as a promising technique as it allows chartering of structurally distinct products from common substrates simply by modulating the catalyst system. In this regard, gold complexes emerged as powerful catalysts as they offer unique reactivity profiles as compared to various other transition metal catalysts, primarily due to their salient electronic and geometrical features. Owing to the tunable soft π-acidic nature, gold catalysts not only evolved as superior contenders for catalyzing the reactions of alkynes, alkenes, and allenes but also, more intriguingly, have been found to provide divergent reaction pathways over other π-acid catalysts such as Ag, Pt, Pd, Rh, Cu, In, Sc, Hg, Zn, etc. The recent past has witnessed a renaissance in such examples wherein, by choosing gold catalysts over other transition metal catalysts or by fine-tuning the ligands, counteranions or oxidation states of the gold catalyst itself, a complete reactivity switch was observed. However, reviews documenting such examples are sporadic; as a result, most of the reports of this kind remained scattered in the literature, thereby hampering further development of this burgeoning field. By conceptualizing the idea of "Divergent Gold Catalysis (DGC)", this review aims to consolidate all such reports and provide a unified approach necessary to pave the way for further advancement of this exciting area. Based on the factors governing the divergence in product formation, an explicit classification of DGC has been provided. To gain a fundamental understanding of the divergence in observed reactivities and selectivities, the review is accompanied by mechanistic insights at appropriate places.

Syntheses and medicinal chemistry of azepinoindolones: a look back to leap forward

Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic scaffolds constitute nearly 75% of small molecules which favorably act as drug candidates. For the past few decades, numerous natural and synthetic indole-based scaffolds have been reported for their diverse pharmacological profiles. In particular, indole-fused azepines, termed azepinoindolones, have come under the radar of medicinal chemists owing to their synthetic and pharmacological importance. A plethora of literature reports has been generated thereof, which calls for the need for the compilation of information to understand their current status in drug discovery. Accumulating reports of evidence suggest that compounds containing this privileged scaffold display their cytotoxic effects via inhibition of kinase, topoisomerase I, mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (mMDH), and tubulin polymerization and as DNA minor groove binding agents. Herein, we endeavor to present a closer look at the advancements of various synthetic and derivatization methods of azepinoindolone-based compounds. We have further extended our efforts to discuss the pharmacological effects of azepinoindolones in the whole range of medicinal chemistry as anti-Alzheimer, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antileishmanial, and antipyranosomal agents and as drug delivery vectors. Our analysis of recent advances reveals that azepinoindolones will continue to serve as potential pharmaceutical modalities in the years to come and their substantial pool of synthetic methods will be ever expanding.

Heteroarene-tethered Functionalized Alkyne Metamorphosis

Heteroarene-tethered functionalized alkynes are multipotent synthons in organic chemistry. This detailed Review described herein offers a thorough discussion of the metamorphosis of heteroarene-tethered functionalized alkynes, an area which has earned much attention over the past decade in the straightforward synthesis of architecturally complex heterocyclic scaffolds in atom and step economic manner. Depending upon the variety of functionalized alkynes, this Review is divided into multiple sections. Amongst the vast array of synthetic transformations covered, dearomatizing spirocyclizations and cascade spirocyclization/rearrangement are of great interest. Synthetic transformations involving the heteroarene-tethered functionalized alkynes with scope, challenges, limitations, mechanism, their application in the total synthesis of natural products and future perceptions are surveyed.

Intramolecular 6-exo-dig Post-Ugi Cyclization of N-Substituted 2-Alkynamides: Direct Access to Functionalized Morpholinone Glycoconjugates

We herein report a chemo- and regioselective 6-exo-dig catalytic cyclization of Ugi adducts N-substituted 2-alkynamides to access functionalized morpholinone glycoconjugates in the presence of triphenylphosphine. This array allows an interesting multicomponent access to a library of functionalized morpholinone glycoconjugates under mild reaction conditions with regeneration of catalyst triphenylphosphine, supported by ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance studies. Density functional theory shows the 6-exo-dig oxocyclization pathway is preferred, which supports our experimental observation.

Highly Substituted Medium-Sized Ring-Fused Azocinoquinoline Scaffolds by Post-Ugi-4CR Reductive Carbopalladation Cyclization

A concise synthesis of quinoline-fused eight-membered rings from simple starting materials is described. Reductive cyclo-carbopalladation of suitable Ugi-4CR substrates as a key step leads to the regio- and diastereoselective formation of 1,2-dihydroazocino[4,3-b]quinolin-3-ones under mild reaction conditions with good yields in short reaction time.

Metal-catalyzed regiodivergent organic reactions

This review discusses metal-catalysed regiodivergent additions, allylic substitutions, CH-activation, cross-couplings and intra- or intermolecular cyclisations.

Gold-catalyzed post-MCR transformations towards complex (poly)heterocycles

Post multicomponent reaction (MCR) transformations are one of the most successful methods leading to high structural diversity and molecular complexity. A well-known MCR, the Ugi reaction typically affords a linear peptide backbone, enabling post-Ugi transformations as an elegant solution to rigidify the Ugi adduct into more drug-like species. Not surprisingly, the development of such transformations leading to new structural frameworks has expanded rapidly over the last few years. These reactions have reached an impressive level of performance and versatility, particularly in amalgamation with gold catalysis. This review outlines the developments achieved in the past decade, highlighting the modifications that are performed in a sequential or domino fashion with emphasis on major concepts, synthetic applications of the derived products as well as mechanistic aspects.

Gold-catalyzed post-Ugi alkyne hydroarylation for the synthesis of 2-quinolones

A series of propargylamides containing an electron-rich benzene ring was prepared through the Ugi reaction of 3,5-dimethoxyaniline with various propiolic acids, aldehydes and isocyanides. Subjecting these adducts to a gold-catalyzed intramolecular alkyne hydroarylation process allowed to efficiently construct the 2-quinolone core bearing a branched substituent on the nitrogen atom.

Indium(iii) as π-acid catalyst for the electrophilic activation of carbon–carbon unsaturated systems

This review focuses on indium(iii) as a π-acid for the activation of C–C unsaturated systems (alkynes, alkenes, and allenes) in organic synthesis.

Gold-catalyzed diastereoselective domino dearomatization/ipso-cyclization/aza-Michael sequence: a facile access to diverse fused azaspiro tetracyclic scaffolds

A facile and diversity-oriented access to complex tetracyclic benzo[e]pyrrolo[2,3-c]indole-2,4,7(5H)-triones through a post-Ugi gold(i)-catalyzed domino dearomatization/ipso-cyclization/aza-Michael sequence is elaborated.

Synthesis of novel imidazole-based triheterocycles via a domino Ugi/Michael reaction and silver-catalyzed heteroannulation

An efficient and diversity-oriented synthetic strategy for novel triheterocyclic imidazo-pyrrolo-pyrazine/diazepine/diazocine derivatives is elaborated.

Highly stereoselective synthesis of natural-product-like hybrids by an organocatalytic/multicomponent reaction sequence

In an endeavor to provide an efficient route to natural product hybrids, described herein is an efficient, highly stereoselective, one-pot process comprising an organocatalytic conjugate addition of 1,3-dicarbonyls to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes followed by an intramolecular isocyanide-based multicomponent reaction. This approach enables the rapid assembly of complex natural product hybrids including up to four different molecular fragments, such as hydroquinolinone, chromene, piperidine, peptide, lipid, and glycoside moieties. The strategy combines the stereocontrol of organocatalysis with the diversity-generating character of multicomponent reactions, thus leading to structurally unique peptidomimetics integrating heterocyclic, lipidic, and sugar moieties.