Deconstructive annulation mediated one-pot synthesis of xanthene derivatives

Direct conversion of naphthoxazines to diverse xanthene derivatives was achieved under one-pot operation through deconstructive annulation methodology. Sequential oxidative C(sp3)-O/C(sp3)-N cleavage followed by intramolecular/intermolecular annulation reaction was carried out under aerobic reaction conditions. Mechanistic analyses performed on the substrate revealed that the C(sp3)-O bond cleavage supersedes the C(sp3)-N bond scission. The in situ generated Betti base intermediate through the C(sp3)-O cleavage was successfully isolated. Based on a molecular docking investigation, the intermolecular annulated products demonstrated good α-glucosidase inhibitory properties.

Recent advances in the transformation reactions of the Betti base derivatives

Betti bases are the products resulting from the one-pot multicomponent reaction involving 1-naphthol/2-naphthol, aliphatic/aromatic aldehydes, and secondary amines. This chemical process is commonly referred to as the Betti reaction. The significance of Betti bases in medicinal chemistry has grown substantially due to their diverse array of pharmacological applications. Furthermore, their synthetic utility is considerable, given their use as catalysts and ligands in asymmetric synthesis. Moreover, Mannich products, incorporating diverse functional groups such as -OH and -NH, find application in a range of organic reactions. This utilization enables the synthesis of novel C-C bond linkages and diverse heterocycles, including biologically active naphthoxazines, which hold biological applications such as antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer. The focus of this review article is on the application of aminonaphthol derivatives in transformation reactions and the synthesis of organic compounds, with particular emphasis on heterocycles.

Green Tandem [5C + 1C] Cycloaromatization of α-Alkenoyl Ketene Dithioacetals and Nitroethane in Water: Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Ortho-Acylphenols

For the first time, an eco-friendly and sustainable tandem [5C + 1C] cycloaromatization of α-alkenoyl ketene dithioacetals and nitroethane in water for the efficient synthesis of ortho-acylphenols was reported. In refluxing water, a range of α-alkenoyl ketene dithioacetals and nitroethane smoothly underwent tandem Michael addition/cyclization/aromatization reactions in the presence of 2.0 equivalents of DBU to provide various ortho-acylphenols in excellent yields. The green approach to ortho-acylphenols not only avoided the use of harmful organic solvents, which could result in serious environmental and safety issues, but also exhibited fascinating features such as good substrate scope, excellent yields, simple purification for desired products, ease of scale-up, and reusable aqueous medium.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Asperversin A

Asperversin A represents the first example of a steroid-sterigmatocystin heterodimer. We report the concise asymmetric total synthesis of this natural product in 11 steps (the longest linear sequence). The polycyclic ring system was constructed by a cascade dialdehyde cyclization and the late stage xanthene formation by a phenol-assisted reductive alkylation and a S_NAr reaction. The acetal linkage with ergosterol peroxide was furnished by a glycosylation-inspired approach.

Aerobic Copper-Catalyzed Salicylaldehydic Cformyl -H Arylations with Arylboronic Acids

We report a challenging copper-catalyzed C_formyl -H arylation of salicylaldehydes with arylboronic acids that involves unique salicylaldehydic copper species that differ from reported salicylaldehydic rhodacycles and palladacycles. This protocol has high chemoselectivity for the C_formyl -H bond compared to the phenolic O-H bond involving copper catalysis under high reaction temperatures. This approach is compatible with a wide range of salicylaldehyde and arylboronic acid substrates, including estrone and carbazole derivatives, which leads to the corresponding arylation products. Mechanistic studies show that the 2-hydroxy group of the salicylaldehyde substrate triggers the formation of salicylaldehydic copper complexes through a Cu^I /Cu^II /Cu^III catalytic cycle.

α-C–H functionalization of tertiary amines catalyzed/promoted by molecular iodine/derivatives

A recent review on the α-C–H functionalization of tertiary amines using low-cost and benign I₂ or its derivatives.

Catalytic Oxidative Deamination by Water with H2 Liberation

Selective oxidative deamination has long been considered to be an important but challenging transformation, although it is a common critical process in the metabolism of bioactive amino compounds. Most of the synthetic methods developed so far rely on the use of stoichiometric amounts of strong and toxic oxidants. Here we present a green and efficient method for oxidative deamination, using water as the oxidant, catalyzed by a ruthenium pincer complex. This unprecedented reaction protocol liberates hydrogen gas and avoids the use of sacrificial oxidants. A wide variety of primary amines are selectively transformed to carboxylates or ketones in good to high yields. It is noteworthy that mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations indicate that in addition to serving as the oxidant, water also plays an important role in assisting the hydrogen liberation steps involved in amine dehydrogenation.

Tertiary amine-directed and involved carbonylative cyclizations through Pd/Cu-cocatalyzed multiple C-X (X = H or N) bond cleavage

A novel Pd/Cu-cocatalyzed carbonylative cyclization by C-H activation and N-dealkylative C-N bond activation has been developed for the chemoselective construction of synthetically useful heterocycles. The N,N-dimethylamine group on o-indolyl-N,N-dimethylarylamines was found to act as both the directing group and reactive component in this C-H carbonylative cyclization reaction. Furthermore, a unique C-H oxidation/carbonylative lactonization of diarylmethylamines is firstly demonstrated under modified reaction conditions, which could be easily applicable to the one-step synthesis of multi-substituted phthalides bearing an N,O-ketal skeleton that is difficult to access by previously reported methods. Mechanistic studies implicate that Pd/Cu-cocatalyzed C-H oxidation/carbonylative lactonization is a sequential reaction system via Cu-catalyzed C(sp3)-H oxidation and Pd-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of the C(sp2)-H bond. It was found that trace amounts of water are essential to promote the Cu-catalyzed C(sp3)-H oxidation of diarylmethylamine for the formation of the hydroxyl group, which could act as an in situ-formed directing group in the intramolecular carbonylative lactonization step.

Synthesis of (2-hydroxyphenyl)(fusedphenyl)methanones via the photo-induced rearrangement of 2′-arylisoflavones

The photo-induced rearrangement of 2′-arylisoflavones (aryl = phenyl, 1-naphenyl, and 2-naphenyl) for the synthesis of (2-hydroxyphenyl)(fusedphenyl)methanones in EtOH under Ar at room temperature has been developed.

Recent advances in intramolecular C–O/C–N/C–S bond formationviaC–H functionalization

This review presents the construction of C–X bonds (X = O/N/S) by using intramolecular C–H functionalization for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds.

Introducing tetramethylurea as a new methylene precursor: a microwave-assisted RuCl3-catalyzed cross dehydrogenative coupling approach to bis(indolyl)methanes

The microwave-assisted synthesis of symmetrical/unsymmetrical bis(indolyl)methanes using tetramethylurea as a methylene source.