Me3Al-mediated domino nucleophilic addition/intramolecular cyclisation of 2-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)benzonitriles with amines; a convenient approach for the synthesis of substituted 1-aminoisoquinolines

A simple and efficient protocol for the construction of 1-aminoisoquinolines was achieved by treating 2-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)benzonitriles with amines in the presence of Me₃Al. The reaction proceeds via a domino nucleophilic addition with subsequent intramolecular cyclisation. This method provides a wide variety of substituted 1-aminoisoquinolines with good functional group tolerance. Furthermore, the synthetic utility of this protocol was demonstrated in the successful synthesis of the antitumor agent CWJ-a-5 in gram scale.

Synthesis of N-(Isoquinolin-1-yl)sulfonamides via Ag2O-Catalyzed Tandem Reaction of ortho-Alkynylbenzaldoximes with Benchtop Stabilized Ketenimines

In this project, a moderately efficient approach to multisubstituted N-(isoquinolin-1-yl)sulfonamide derivatives was illustrated, utilizing ortho-alkynylbenzaldoximes and zwitterionic ketenimine salts in a tandem reaction catalyzed by silver oxide. The oxophilicity of Ag₂O, along with its nature as Lewis acid, pave the way for a smooth [3 + 2] cycloaddition between isoquinoline N-oxides and ketenimine species, which is a key step in this reaction. DFT calculation suggests that 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrone and ketenimine proceeds through a selective stepwise mechanism.

Heterogeneous gold(III)-catalyzed tandem cyclization of 2-alkynylbenzamides with ammonium acetate toward 1-aminoisoquinolines

Heterogeneous tandem cyclization of 2-alkynylbenzamides with ammonium acetate is achieved in acetonitrile at 85 °C using a magnetic nanoparticles-immobilized bipy-gold(III) complex and AgSbF6 as catalysts to afford a variety of 1-aminoisoquinoline derivatives in moderate to high yields. This heterogeneous gold catalyst can be easily recovered from the reaction mixture by simply applying an external magnetic field and can be recycled at least seven times without any apparent loss of catalytic activity.

Dioxane-involving reaction for the synthesis of 3-aryl-1-(2-(vinyloxy)ethoxy)isoquinolines catalyzed by AgOTf

Dioxane was found to be involved in the reaction of 2-(arylethynyl)benzaldehydes and 3-aminopyrazine-2-carbohydrazide, and underwent a ring-opening reaction catalyzed by AgOTf. This domino type procedure provided an efficient method for the synthesis of 3-aryl-1-(2-(vinyloxy)ethoxy)isoquinolines in good yields via the loss of a molecule of 3-aminopyrazine-2-carboxamide.

ZnBr2-Mediated oxidative spiro-bromocyclization of propiolamide for the synthesis of 3-bromo-1-azaspiro[4.5]deca-3,6,9-triene-2,8-dione

ZnBr₂-Mediated oxidative ipso-bromocyclization of N-arylpropoilamide was utilized herein for the synthesis of 3-bromo-1-azaspiro[4.5]deca-3,6,9-triene-2,8-dione with high efficiency and a broad tolerance for functional groups.

Silver-catalysed reactions of alkynes: recent advances

Silver is a less expensive noble metal. Superior alkynophilicity due to π-coordination with the carbon-carbon triple bond makes silver salts ideal catalysts for alkyne-based organic reactions. This review highlights the progress in alkyne chemistry via silver catalysis primarily over the past five years (ca. 2010-2014). The discussion is developed in terms of the bond type formed with the acetylenic carbon (i.e., C-C, C-N, C-O, C-Halo, C-P and C-B). Compared with other coinage metals such as Au and Cu, silver catalysis is frequently observed to be unique. This critical review clearly indicates that silver catalysis provides a significant impetus to the rapid evolution of alkyne-based organic reactions, such as alkynylation, hydrofunctionalization, cycloaddition, cycloisomerization, and cascade reactions.

Regioselective decarboxylative cross-coupling of carboxy isoquinoline N-oxides

A straightforward method for direct decarboxylative arylation of 1- and 3-carboxy isoquinaldic acid N-oxides with aryl iodides is reported. The reaction proceeded selectively at the carboxy function site to exclusively give the corresponding C-1 or C-3 arylated product. This methodology tolerates various aryl iodides substituted by electronically different groups. Combined with subsequent Reissert-Henze chlorination and SNAr amination, the decarboxylative arylation provides an efficient access to 1,3-functionalized isoquinoline-based antitumor agent.

Radical 5-exo cyclization of alkynoates with 2-oxoacetic acids for synthesis of 3-acylcoumarins

A silver-promoted decarboxylative annulation of alkynoates with 2-oxoacetic acids leading to the formation of 3-acyl-4-arylcoumarins is reported. The process involves radical decarboxylative acylation, 5-exo cyclization, and ester migration.