The facile dearomatization of nitroaromatic compounds using lithium enolates of unsaturated ketones in conjugate additions and (4+2) formal cycloadditions

Controlling Diastereoselectivity in Dearomatizing Diels-Alder Reactions of Nitroarenes with 2-Trimethylsilyloxycyclohexadiene

Dearomative Diels-Alder cycloadditions between nitroarenes and 2-trimethylsilyloxycyclohexadiene are carried out under high pressure at room temperature in the absence of any chemical promoter. Reactions are performed with different arenes, including the highly aromatic naphthalenes and quinolines. They lead to 3D-scaffolds with exquisite exo-diastereoselectivity. The exo approach is characterized by lower distortion of the substrates in a late TS and by more favorable orbital interactions presumably between the nitro group and the dienic part, explaining the stereoselectivity.

Catalyst-free formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition of stabilized N,N-cyclic azomethine imines to 3-nitrobenzofurans and 3-nitro-4H-chromenes: access to heteroannulated pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazoles

We have studied the [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of various N,N-cyclic azomethine imines to 3-nitrobenzofurans. This process is a rare example of their dearomatization. We have also extended this process to the related 3-nitro-4H-chromenes as dipolarophiles. Both reactions provide access to benzofuro- and chromeno-condensed pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazoles with 100% atom economy in a diastereoselective manner under mild eco-friendly conditions. Finally, on the basis of DFT calculations, the mechanistic insights into the mentioned [3 + 2]-cycloadditions and explanations of the experimentally determined limitations of the method are given. Hirshfeld atomic charge values of push-pull heterocycles were suggested as a criterion for a priori assessment of the possibility of their dipolar cycloaddition with N,N-cyclic azomethine imines.

Palladium-Catalyzed Dearomative Methoxyallylation of 3-Nitroindoles with Allyl Carbonates

Herein we report a Pd-catalyzed dearomative methoxyallylation of 3-nitroindoles with readily available allyl carbonates. Good yields (up to 86 %) and diastereoselectivity (up to >20:1 dr) are obtained for a wide range of substrates. The compatibility of gram-scale synthesis and the relatively low catalyst loading (down to 1 mol % of [Pd]) enhance the practicality of this method. The kinetic experiments indicate that the rate-determining step of this reaction is the nucleophilic attack of the alkoxide anion.

Synthesis of 4-Hydroxycarbazole Derivatives by Benzannulation of 3-Nitroindoles with Alkylidene Azlactones

A general synthesis of 4-hydroxylcarbazoles by domino vinylogous conjugate addition/cyclization/elimination/aromatization of easily prepared 3-nitroindoles with alkylidene azlactones under mild and transition-metal-free conditions has been developed. This method was also applicable to other nitrosubstituted benzofused heterocycles such as 3-nitrobenzothiophene, 2-nitrobenzothiophene, and 2-nitrobenzofuran. The valuable tetracyclic carbazole derivatives, such as 6H-oxazolo[4,5-c]carbazole and 3,6-dihydro-2H-oxazolo[4,5-c]carbazol-2-one, were readily prepared from the product, demonstrating synthetic utility of this method.

Reactivity of 3-nitroindoles with electron-rich species

The indol(in)e building block is one of the "privileged-structures" for the pharmaceutical industry since this fragment plays a central role in drug discovery. While the electron-rich character of the indole motif has been investigated for decades, exploiting the electrophilic reactivity of 3-nitroindole derivatives has recently been put at the heart of a wide range of new, albeit challenging, chemical reactions. In particular, dearomatization processes have considerably enriched the scope of C2[double bond, length as m-dash]C3 functionalizations of these scaffolds. This feature article showcases this remarkable electrophilic reactivity of 3-nitroindoles with electron-rich species and highlights their value in generating diversely substituted indol(in)es. This compilation underlines how these heteroaromatic templates have gradually become model substrates for electron-poor aromatic compounds in dearomatization strategies.

Rapid access to indole-fused bicyclo[2.2.2]octanones by merging the umpolung strategy and molecular iodine as a green catalyst

One-pot synthesis of indole-fused bicyclo[2.2.2]octanones from DiMeOIN and 2-cyclohexen-1-one is accomplished under an iodine catalyst. The simple and metal-free conditions provide a practical tool to construct Csp3-rich complex molecules via coupling cyclization.

Dearomatization of 3-cyanoindoles by (3 + 2) cycloaddition: from batch to flow chemistry

1,3-Dipolar dearomatizing cycloadditions between a non-stabilized azomethine ylide and 3-cyanoindoles or benzofuran afford the corresponding 3D-heterocycles bearing a quaternary carbon centre at the ring junction. While 6 equivalents of ylide precursor 1 are required for full conversion in a classical flask, working under flow conditions limits the excess (3 equiv., tR = 1 min) and leads to a cleaner process, affording cycloadducts that are easier to isolate.

Corey-Chaykovsky Cyclopropanation of Nitronaphthalenes: Access to Benzonorcaradienes and Related Systems

Nitronaphthalene derivatives react as Michael acceptors in the Corey-Chaykovsky reaction with alkyl phenyl selenones and alkyl diphenyl sulfonium salts. Mechanistic studies reveal that sterically demanding substituents at the carbanionic center favor formation of cyclopropanes and suppress competitive β-elimination to the alkylated products. The transformation, demonstrated also on heterocyclic nitroquinoline and nitroindazolines, is an example of transition metal-free dearomatization method.