Concise approach to γ-(het)aryl- and γ-alkenyl-γ-aminobutyric acids. Synthesis of vigabatrin

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and GABA derivatives have attracted increased attention over the years in the fields of medicinal chemistry and chemical biology due to their interesting biological properties and synthetic relevance. Here, we report a short synthetic route to γ-(het)aryl- and γ-alkenyl-γ-aminobutyric acids, including the antiepileptic drug vigabatrin, from readily available donor-acceptor cyclopropanes and ammonia or methylamine. This protocol includes a facile synthesis of 2-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxamides and their acid hydrolysis to γ-aryl- or γ-alkenyl-substituted GABAs, which can serve as perspective building blocks for the synthesis of various GABA-based N-heterocycles and bioactive compounds.

Synthesis of 1,5-Substituted Pyrrolidin-2-ones from Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes and Anilines/Benzylamines

We developed a straightforward synthetic route to pharmacologically important 1,5-substituted pyrrolidin-2-ones from donor-acceptor cyclopropanes bearing an ester group as one of the acceptor substituents. This method includes a Lewis acid-catalyzed opening of the donor-acceptor cyclopropane with primary amines (anilines, benzylamines, etc.) to γ-amino esters, followed by in situ lactamization and dealkoxycarbonylation. The reaction has a broad scope of applicability; a variety of substituted anilines, benzylamines, and other primary amines as well as a wide range of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes bearing (hetero)aromatic or alkenyl donor groups and various acceptor substituents can be involved in this transformation. In this process, donor-acceptor cyclopropanes react as 1,4-C,C-dielectrophiles, and amines react as 1,1-dinucleophiles. The resulting di- and trisubstituted pyrrolidin-2-ones can be also used in subsequent chemistry to obtain various nitrogen-containing polycyclic compounds of interest to medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, such as benz[g]indolizidine derivatives.

Cation Triggered Domino Aza-Piancatelli Rearrangement/Friedel-Crafts Alkylation of Indole-Tethered Furfuyl Alcohols to Access Cycloocta[b]indole Core of Alkaloids

A domino approach to bridged cycloocta[b]indolone through a cascade of aza-Piancatelli rearrangement/Friedel-Crafts alkylation is developed. This transformation has been realized by reaction of an indole-tethered 2-furylcarbinol and substituted aniline in the presence of a Lewis acid to initiate aza-Piancatelli rearrangement followed by an in situ intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation to access bridged tetracyclic frameworks in one pot.

4b,5,6,9-Tetrahydro-7H-dibenzo[c,e]pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepin-7-one

A simple approach to synthesize 4b,5,6,9-tetrahydro-7H-dibenzo[c,e]pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepin- 7-one has been developed, based on a three-step transformation of 2-(2-bromophenyl)cyclopropane-1,1-diester. The key stage in this method is an intramolecular cross-coupling of 1-(2-bromobenzyl)-5-(2-bromophenyl)pyrrolidin-2-one under continuous flow conditions in an H-Сube-Pro using commercially available supported Pd catalysts.

Platinum-catalyzed selective N-allylation of 2,3-disubstituted indoles with allylic acetates in water

Herein, we have demonstrated that the platinum-catalyzed selective N-allylation of 2,3-disubstituted indoles proceeds in water.

Convenient approach to polyoxygenated dibenzo[c,e]pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepines from donor–acceptor cyclopropanes

A convenient approach to polyoxygenated tetrahydrodibenzo[c,e]pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepines from the donor–acceptor cyclopropanes has been developed.