An overview of metal-free synthetic routes to isoxazoles: the privileged scaffold

In the field of drug discovery, isoxazole is a five-membered heterocyclic moiety commonly found in many commercially available drugs. In view of their enormous significance, it is always imperative to unleash new eco-friendly synthetic strategies. Among various novel synthetic techniques in use for isoxazole synthesis, most synthetic methods employ Cu(i) or Ru(ii) as catalysts for (3 + 2) cycloaddition reaction. The particular disadvantages associated with metal-catalyzed reactions are high costs, low abundance, toxicity, a significant generation of waste, and difficulty to separate from the reaction mixtures. In view of these drawbacks, it is always imperative to develop alternate metal-free synthetic routes. This review article highlights a comprehensive overview on the potential application of metal-free synthetic routes for the synthesis of isoxazoles with significant biological interests.

Et3N/DMSO-supported one-pot synthesis of highly fluorescent β-carboline-linked benzothiophenones via sulfur insertion and estimation of the photophysical properties

A robust transition-metal-free strategy is presented to access novel β-carboline-tethered benzothiophenone derivatives from 1(3)-formyl-β-carbolines using elemental sulfur activated by Et3N/DMSO. This expeditious catalyst-free reaction proceeds through the formation of β-carboline-based 2-nitrochalcones followed by an incorporation of sulfur to generate multifunctional β-carboline-linked benzothiophenones in good to excellent yields. The synthetic strategy could also be extended towards the synthesis of β-carboline-linked benzothiophenes. Moreover, the afforded products emerged as promising fluorophores and displayed excellent light-emitting properties with quantum yields (ΦF) up to 47%.

A transition metal-free approach towards the regioselective synthesis of β-carboline tethered pyrroles and 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrroles

A transition metal-free one-pot sequential approach has been unfolded for the synthesis of β-carboline tethered pyrroles and 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrroles by using highly diverse 1-formyl-9H-β-carbolines as a template.

Convenient construction of tetrahydrochromeno[4',3':2,3]indolizino[8,7-b]indoles and tetrahydroindolizino[8,7-b]indoles via one-pot domino reaction

The functionalized tetrahydrochromeno[4′,3′:2,3]indolizino[8,7-b]indoles were conveniently synthesized in high yields by one-pot domino reaction of tryptamines, alkyl propiolates and 2-aryl-3-nitro-2H-chromenes. Under similar conditions, the one-pot reaction of tryptamines, alkyl propiolates and β-nitroalkenes resulted in functionalized tetrahydroindolizino[8,7-b]indoles. The reaction mechanism involved sequential generation of β-enamino ester, Michael addition, Pictet–Spengler reaction and annulation process. The reaction showed high atomic economy and met the goals of sustainable chemistry.

The functionalized tetrahydrochromeno[4′,3′:2,3]indolizino[8,7-b]indoles were conveniently synthesized in high yields by one-pot domino reaction of tryptamines, alkyl propiolates and 2-aryl-3-nitro-2H-chromenes.

In(OTf)3 assisted synthesis of β-carboline C-3 tethered imidazo[1,2-a]azine derivatives

Synthesis of β-carboline based natural products and synthetic derivatives is one of the frontier areas of research owing to their medicinal properties.