I2/DMSO-mediated oxidative C-C and C-heteroatom bond formation: a sustainable approach to chemical synthesis

The I2/DMSO pair has emerged as a versatile, efficient, practical, and eco-friendly catalyst system, playing a significant role as a mild oxidative system, and thus employed as a good alternative to metal catalysts in synthetic chemistry. Presently, I2/DMSO is a thriving catalytic system that is used in preparing C-C and C-X (X = O/S/N/Se/Cl/Br) bonds, resulting in the formation of various bioactive molecules. Many processes utilize this system, including in situ glyoxal synthesis by diverse sp, sp2, and sp3 functionalities via iodination and subsequent Kornblum oxidation. Focusing on oxidation processes, this study examines the synergistic effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and molecular iodine in improving synthetic techniques. We provide a comprehensive overview of the research progress on the I2/DMSO catalytic system for the formation of C-C and C-heteroatom bonds from 2018 to the present. Additionally, the future prospects of this research field are discussed.

Synthesis of Luminescent Indolo[2,1-b]quinazolin-6(12H)-ones via a Sequential Ugi/Iodine-Promoted Cyclization/Staudinger/Aza-Wittig Reaction

A new efficient synthesis of indolo[2,1-b]quinazolin-6(12H)-ones via a sequential Ugi/iodine-promoted cyclization/Staudinger/aza-Wittig reaction was developed. The acid catalyzed three-component reactions of 2-azidobenzaldehydes, 2-[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]benzenamines (or o-aminoacetophenones), and isocyanides gave Ugi-3CR intermediates, which reacted subsequently with I2/DMSO and triphenylphosphine to produce indolo[2,1-b]quinazolin-6(12H)-ones in good overall yields. The obtained indolo[2,1-b]quinazolin-6(12H)-ones were all colored in bright red or orange. Their luminescent property was studied preliminarily and some of them showed high molar absorption coefficients, strong fluorescence emission intensity, and good absolute light quantum yields.

Iodine-Catalyzed Synthesis of Benzo-β-carbolines through Desulfurative Cyclization of 2-(1H-Indol-3-ylsulfanyl)-phenylamines with Aryl Methyl Ketones

A novel transition metal-free strategy for the synthesis of benzene-fused β-carboline scaffolds has been developed. This protocol offers a rapid and direct pathway to access the benzene fused β-carboline from 2-(1H-indol-3-ylsulfanyl)-phenylamines and aryl methyl ketones using an efficient catalytic system of I2/DMSO. The present mild protocol proceeds through the sequential reactions of Kornblum oxidation, Pictet-Spengler cyclization, and desulfurization to afford the desired products in excellent yields up to 99%. Moreover, this method has a wide range of substrate tolerance and is operationally simple and applicable in gram-scale synthesis.

Palladium-catalyzed benzylic C(sp3)-H carbonylative arylation of azaarylmethyl amines with aryl bromides

A highly selective palladium-catalyzed carbonylative arylation of weakly acidic benzylic C(sp3)-H bonds of azaarylmethylamines with aryl bromides under 1 atm of CO gas has been achieved. This work represents the first examples of use of such weakly acidic pronucleophiles in this class of transformations. In the presence of a NIXANTPHOS-based palladium catalyst, this one-pot cascade process allows a range of azaarylmethylamines containing pyridyl, quinolinyl and pyrimidyl moieties and acyclic and cyclic amines to undergo efficient reactions with aryl bromides and CO to provide α-amino aryl-azaarylmethyl ketones in moderate to high yields with a broad substrate scope and good tolerance of functional groups. This reaction proceeds via in situ reversible deprotonation of the benzylic C-H bonds to give the active carbanions, thereby avoiding prefunctionalized organometallic reagents and generation of additional waste. Importantly, the operational simplicity, scalability and diversity of the products highlight the potential applicability of this protocol.

Catalyst- and Solvent-Free Coupling of 2-Methyl Quinazolinones and Isatins: An Environmentally Benign Access of Diastereoselective Schizocommunin Analogues

An environmentally benign highly atom-economic protocol for the construction of the C-C bond has been developed under catalyst- and solvent-free conditions. This protocol involves the efficient coupling of 2-methyl quinazolinones with isatin for the highly diastereoselective access of schizocommunin derivatives in excellent yields (up to 97%). Furthermore, the preliminary cytotoxicity screening of selected schizocommunin analogues displayed promising anticancer activity against human cancer cell lines, and the cytotoxic potential of active compound 12ac was also validated by in silico molecular docking simulation studies.

NaI-mediated divergent synthesis of isatins and isoindigoes: a new protocol enabled by an oxidation relay strategy

A new approach for the synthesis of isatins and isoindigoes by an inexpensive and environmentally friendly NaI-mediated transformation is disclosed. The selectivity could be switched by simply varying the solvent, and isatins (using THF) and isoindigoes (using DMSO) could be obtained in moderate to excellent yields.

Iodine/DMSO oxidations: a contemporary paradigm in C–N bond chemistry

A new era in the organic synthetic world is demanding greener protocols for the execution of reactions.

NIS Mediated Cross-Coupling of C(sp2)-H and N-H Bonds: A Transition-Metal-Free Approach toward Indolo[1,2-a]quinazolinones

A metal- and base-free protocol for intramolecular cross-coupling of C(sp²)-H and N-H bonds using N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) has been demonstrated. This environmentally benign approach furnishes a series of substituted indolo[1,2-a]quinazolinones from the suitably fabricated indoles via C-N bond forming cyclization in 28-82% yield. A plausible mechanism is proposed for this cyclization based on the results of a control experiment. This methodology requires no additional metal catalyst, oxidant, or base. Furthermore, the synthetic utility of the protocol is demonstrated by performing a gram scale reaction.

Iodine-catalyzed oxidative multiple C–H bond functionalization of isoquinolines with methylarenes: an efficient synthesis of isoquinoline-1,3,4(2H)-triones

An iodine-catalyzed multiple C–H bond functionalization of isoquinolines with methylarenes via a successive benzylic sp³ C–H iodination/N-benzylation/amidation/double sp² C–H oxidation sequence to yield isoquinoline-1,3,4(2H)-triones is developed for the first time.

Copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative intramolecular amidation of 2-aminophenylacetylenes: a domino process for the synthesis of isatin

A novel CuI-catalyzed oxidative amidation of 2-aminophenylacetylenes leading to the formation of isatins by using open air as an oxygen source has been developed. The reaction proceeded smoothly and provided a variety of isatin derivatives in good yields.

An efficient synthesis of iminoquinones by a chemoselective domino ortho-hydroxylation/oxidation/imidation sequence of 2-aminoaryl ketones

An efficient chemoselective domino oxidative homocoupling of 2-aminoaryl ketones in the presence of 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) for the synthesis of iminoquinone has been developed. The domino reaction proceeds via three consecutive steps, such as domino ortho-hydroxylation of 2-aminoaryl ketones, oxidation of a phenol derivative to benzoquinone and dimerization through imine formation to yield iminoquinone. Importantly, this reaction allows the recycling of the oxidant IBX by recovering the by-product iodosobenzoic acid (IBA) and oxidizing it back to IBX. A four step domino strategy for the synthesis of iminoquinone through in situ generation of 2-amino benzophenone from (2-amino phenyl)(phenyl)methanol was also developed.

Iodine mediated intramolecular C2-amidative cyclization of indoles: a facile access to indole fused tetracycles

A novel and metal-free I₂-mediated intramolecular C2 amidation of indoles under mild reaction conditions is developed for synthesis of indole fused tetracycles.

An Efficient Synthesis of Ceritinib (LDK378) Using a Sandmeyer Reaction

A convenient route for the synthesis of Novartis's second-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitor Ceritinib (LDK378) involving starting materials that are commercially available has been achieved. The procedure employed mild reaction conditions and avoided the use of expensive reagents compared to the original synthetic route reported by Novartis. More importantly, gram scale synthesis was accomplished and this protocol could be valid in drug discovery synthesis.

Metal free one-pot synthesis of α-ketoamides from terminal alkenes

A practical approach towards the synthesis of α-ketoamides from terminal alkenes has been developed using I₂/IBX under one-pot reaction conditions.

An efficient synthesis of pyrido[1,2-a]indoles through aza-Nazarov type cyclization

Transition metal free Brønsted acid mediated synthesis of pyrido[1,2-a]indole scaffolds has been developed through aza-Nazarov type cyclization of readily available diaryl(2-pyridyl)methanol using formic acid for the synthesis of biologically and medicinally important pyrido[1,2-a]indole, indolo[1,2-a]quinoline and pyrimido[1,2-a]indole derivatives.

Formamidine hydrochloride as an amino surrogate: I2-catalyzed oxidative amidation of aryl methyl ketones leading to free (N–H) α-ketoamides

A highly efficient molecular iodine catalyzed oxidative amidation of aryl methyl ketones has been developed. This reaction represents a novel strategy for the synthesis of free (N–H) α-ketoamides.

An efficient and metal free synthesis of benzylpyridines using HI through the deoxygenation reaction

An efficient and practical method for the synthesis of benzylpyridines has been developed using aqueous hydroiodic acid in acetic acid.

Metal free chemoselective reduction of α-keto amides using TBAF as catalyst

Metal and ligand free chemoselective reduction of keto group and complete reduction of the both keto and amide groups of α-keto amide with hydrosilanes using tetrabutylammoniumflouride (TBAF) as catalyst have been accomplished. This methodology affords an efficient and economic route for the synthesis of biologically important α-hydroxy amides and β-amino alcohols.