Ru(II)-Catalyzed [4 + 2]-Annulation of 2-Alkenyl/Arylimidazoles with N-Substituted Maleimides and 1,4-Naphthoquinones: Access to Imidazo-Fused Polyheterocycles

Synthesis of imidazo-fused polyheterocyclic molecular frameworks, viz. imidazo[1,2-a]pyrrolo[3,4-e]pyridines, imidazo[2,1-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]isoquinolines, and benzo[g]imidazo[1,2-a]quinoline-6,11-diones, has been achieved by the ruthenium(II)-catalyzed [4 + 2] C-H/N-H annulation of 2-alkenyl/2-arylimidazoles with N-substituted maleimides and 1,4-naphthoquinones. The developed protocol is operationally simple, exhibits broad substrate scope with excellent functional group tolerance, and provides the desired products in moderate to good yields. The mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction involves the formation of a C-C bond through Ru-catalyzed C(sp2)-H bond activation followed by intramolecular cyclization.

Rapid Synthesis of Benzimidazole-Fused Isoindoles by Rh(III)/Ru(II)-Catalyzed [4 + 1] Cascade C-H/N-H Annulation of 2-Arylbenzimidazoles with Alkynoates and Alkynamide

A Rh(III)-catalyzed [4 + 1] cyclization of 2-arylbenzimidazoles with alkynoates through C-H activation/ortho-alkenylation/intramolecular annulation cascade to obtain benzimidazole-fused isoindoles is reported. The reaction of the Rh catalyst and internal alkyne ester provides benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]isoindole acetate exclusively. Conversely, internal alkyne amide participates in the annulation process in the presence of a Ru catalyst to provide benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]isoindole acetamide. The alkyne acts as a C1 synthon and undergoes [4 + 1] cyclization rather than traditional [4 + 2] annulation.

Microfluidics Biocatalysis System Applied for the Synthesis of N-Substituted Benzimidazole Derivatives by Aza-Michael Addition

Benzimidazole scaffolds became an attractive subject due to their broad spectrum of pharmacological activities. In this work, a methodology was developed for the synthesis of N-substituted benzimidazole derivatives from benzimidazoles and α, β-unsaturated compounds (acrylonitriles, acrylate esters, phenyl vinyl sulfone) catalyzed by lipase TL IM from Thermomyces lanuginosus in continuous-flow microreactors. Investigations were conducted on reaction parameters such as solvent, substrate ratio, reaction temperature, reactant donor/acceptor structures, and reaction time. The transformation is promoted by inexpensive and readily available lipase in methanol at 45 °C for 35 min. A wide range of β-amino sulfone, β-amino nitrile, and β-amino carbonyl compounds were efficiently and selectively synthesized in high yields (76–97%). All in all, a microfluidic biocatalysis system was applied to the synthesis of N-substituted benzimidazole derivatives, and could serve as a promising fast synthesis strategy for further research to develop novel and highly potent active drugs.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Annulations and Heck Coupling/Aza-Michael Addition for the Synthesis of Benzothiadiazinoisoquinoline 6,6-Dioxides and Benzothiadiazinoisoindole 5,5-Dioxides, Respectively

A new and efficient protocol has been demonstrated for the synthesis of benzothiadiazinoisoquinoline 6,6-dioxides and benzothiadiazinoisoindole 5,5-dioxides in good to excellent yields. These compounds are formed through a sequential Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H cyclization of dihydrophenylbenzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides with alkynes and oxidative Heck coupling/aza-Michael addition of dihydrophenylbenzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides with acrylates, respectively.

Substrate-controlled Rh(III)-catalyzed regiodivergent annulation towards fused and spiro benzimidazoles

A Rh(III)-catalyzed cascade C-H activation and cyclization of 2-aryl benzimidazoles with maleimides for the synthesis of benzimidazole-fused isoquinolines and benzimidazole-spiro isoindoles is reported. Switchable selectivity towards the formation of these two distinct products can be achieved using unsubstituted and substituted benzimidazoles at the ortho-position of the phenyl ring. Mechanistically, C-H activation followed by migratory insertion of maleimide forms a Heck-type intermediate. Unsubstituted benzimidazole undergoes aza-Michael addition to form a (4 + 2) fused product, whereas ortho-substituted phenyl benzimidazole causes steric clash to deliver a (4 + 1) spiro-adduct favorably via acid-catalyzed intramolecular annulation.

Ruthenium-catalyzed, site-selective C-H activation: access to C5-substituted azaflavanone

A site-selective ruthenium-catalyzed keto group assisted C–H bond activation of 2-aryl tetrahydroquinoline (azaflavanone) derivatives has been achieved with a variety of alkenes for the first time. A wide range of substrates was utilized for the synthesis of a wide variety of alkenylated azaflavanones. This simple and efficient protocol provides the C5-substituted azaflavanone derivatives in high yields with a broad range of functional group tolerance. Further, the C5-alkenylated products were converted into substituted 2-aryl quinoline derivatives in good yields.

A site-selective ruthenium-catalyzed keto group assisted C–H bond activation of 2-aryl tetrahydroquinoline (azaflavanone) derivatives has been achieved with a variety of alkenes for the first time.

Gram-Scale Synthesis of 3-Sulfonyl Flavanones

In this paper, an easy-operational, high-yielding method for the gram-scale synthesis of 3-sulfonyl flavanones is described by a one-pot straightforward POCl₃ mediated intermolecular (5 + 1) annulation of the β-ketosulfones with an o-hydroxyaryl group (dual nucleophile) and arylaldehydes (dual electrophile) in refluxing toluene for 3 h. A plausible mechanism is proposed and discussed. This protocol provides a highly effective annulation via one carbon-oxygen (C-O) and one carbon-carbon (C-C) bond formations.

Recent Advances in C–H Bond Functionalization with Ruthenium-Based Catalysts

The past decades have witnessed rapid development in organic synthesis via catalysis, particularly the reactions through C–H bond functionalization. Transition metals such as Pd, Rh and Ru constitute a crucial catalyst in these C–H bond functionalization reactions. This process is highly attractive not only because it saves reaction time and reduces waste,but also, more importantly, it allows the reaction to be performed in a highly region specific manner. Indeed, several organic compounds could be readily accessed via C–H bond functionalization with transition metals. In the recent past, tremendous progress has been made on C–H bond functionalization via ruthenium catalysis, including less expensive but more stable ruthenium(II) catalysts. The ruthenium-catalysed C–H bond functionalization, viz. arylation, alkenylation, annulation, oxygenation, and halogenation involving C–C, C–O, C–N, and C–X bond forming reactions, has been described and presented in numerous reviews. This review discusses the recent development of C–H bond functionalization with various ruthenium-based catalysts. The first section of the review presents arylation reactions covering arylation directed by N–Heteroaryl groups, oxidative arylation, dehydrative arylation and arylation involving decarboxylative and sp3-C–H bond functionalization. Subsequently, the ruthenium-catalysed alkenylation, alkylation, allylation including oxidative alkenylation and meta-selective C–H bond alkylation has been presented. Finally, the oxidative annulation of various arenes with alkynes involving C–H/O–H or C–H/N–H bond cleavage reactions has been discussed.

Diversity-oriented synthesis of imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines

Herein, we report an efficient and practical strategy for the synthesis of five types of imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines via Cp*RhIII-catalyzed [4+2] annulation of 2-arylimidazoles and α-diazoketoesters, whose structural and substituted diversity at 5- or 6-position can be precisely controlled by the α-diazoketoester coupling partners. Compared with previous reports, in this study, we merged two attractive C-C cleavage strategies (retro-Claisen and decarboxylation) into the classical C-H functionalization/condensation process by choosing appropriate ester groups (-COOEt, -COOtBu or -COOiPr) or inexpensive additives (HOAc or KOAc). Moreover, the synthetic efficacies of these methods were demonstrated by the concise synthesis of several bioactive compounds and the late-stage modification of representative drugs.

Divergent synthesis of α-aryl ketones/esters via rhodium-catalyzed selective deesterification and decarbonylation of diazo compounds

A rhodium-catalyzed selective deesterification, decarbonylation and dual C–H activation of diazo compounds is presented.

Co(iii)-Catalyzed N-chloroamide-directed C–H activation for 3,4-dihydroisoquinolone synthesis

The first time synthesis of 3,4-dihydroisoquinolones via Co(iii)-catalyzed C–H activation at room temperature is described herein.