Heterocyclic iodoniums as versatile synthons to approach diversified polycyclic heteroarenes

Rearrangement of C2-Spirooxindoles: Conversion to the 2-Hydroxyhemi-Indigo and Chromenoindole

This study demonstrates the rearrangement of C2-spirooxindoles to the 2-hydroxyhemi-indigo and chromenoindole. The N-H-spirooxindole exhibits double proton translocation and its conversion to the (Z)-2-hydroxyhemi-indigo photoswitch with trifluoroacetic acid, while the N-methyl-spirooxindole undergoes structural rearrangement to the chromenoindole. The mechanism of the reactions was proposed, and the structure of the products was confirmed by one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR spectra and X-ray structure analysis. The photoswitching performance of (Z)-2-hydroxyhemi-indigo, which allows the stabilization of the E-switched form by intramolecular hydrogen bonding, has been studied in solvents of different polarities. It was found that in the less polar solvents, the E-switched metastable isomer is characterized by high stability.

Synthesis of N-acyl carbazoles, phenoxazines and acridines from cyclic diaryliodonium salts

N-Acyl carbazoles can be efficiently produced through a single-step process using amides and cyclic diaryliodonium triflates. This convenient reaction is facilitated by copper iodide in p-xylene, using the commonly found activating ligand diglyme. We have tested this method with a wide range of amides and iodonium triflates, proving its versatility with numerous substrates. Beyond carbazoles, we also produced a variety of other N-heterocycles, such as acridines, phenoxazines, or phenazines, showcasing the robustness of our technique. In a broader sense, this new method creates two C-N bonds simultaneously based on a mono-halogenated starting material, thus allowing heterocycle formation with diminished halogen waste.

Toward a General Protocol for Catalytic Oxidative Transformations Using Electrochemically Generated Hypervalent Iodine Species

A simple catalytic electrosynthetic protocol for oxidative transformations mediated by hypervalent iodine reagents has been developed. In this protocol, electricity drives the iodine(I)/iodine(III) catalytic cycle enabling catalysis with in situ generated hypervalent iodine species, thereby eliminating chemical oxidants and the inevitable chemical waste associated with their mode of action. In addition, no added electrolytic salts are needed in this process. The developed method has been validated using two different hypervalent iodine-mediated transformations: (i) the oxidative cyclization of N-allylic and N-homoallylic amides to the corresponding dihydrooxazole and dihydro-1,3-oxazine derivatives, respectively, and (ii) the α-tosyloxylation of ketones. Both reactions proceeded smoothly under the developed catalytic electrosynthetic conditions without reoptimization, featuring a wide substrate scope and excellent functional group tolerance. In addition, scale-up to gram-scale and catalyst recovery were easily achieved maintaining the high efficiency of the process.

Synthesis and reactivity of azole-based iodazinium salts

A systematic investigation of imidazo- and pyrazoloiodazinium salts is presented. Besides a robust synthetic protocol that allowed us to synthesize these novel cyclic iodonium salts in their mono- and dicationic forms, we gained in-depth structural information through single-crystal analysis and demonstrated the ring opening of the heterocycle-bridged iodonium species. For an exclusive set of dicationic imidazoiodaziniums, we show highly delicate post-oxidation functionalizations retaining the hypervalent iodine center.

Synthesis of Cyclic and Acyclic ortho-Aryloxy Diaryliodonium Salts for Chemoselective Functionalizations

Two regioselective, high-yielding one-pot routes to oxygen-bridged cyclic diaryliodonium salts and ortho-aryloxy-substituted acyclic diaryliodonium salts are presented. Starting from easily available ortho-iodo diaryl ethers, complete selectivity in formation of either the cyclic or acyclic product could be achieved by varying the reaction conditions. The complimentary reactivities of these novel ortho-oxygenated iodonium salts were demonstrated through a series of chemoselective arylations under metal-catalyzed and metal-free conditions, to deliver a range of novel, ortho-functionalized diaryl ether derivatives.

Recent Advances in Heterocyclic Nanographenes and Other Polycyclic Heteroaromatic Compounds

This review surveys recent progress in the chemistry of polycyclic heteroaromatic molecules with a focus on structural diversity and synthetic methodology. The article covers literature published during the period of 2016-2020, providing an update to our first review of this topic (Chem. Rev. 2017, 117 (4), 3479-3716).

Synthesis of indolo- and benzothieno[3,2-c]quinolines via POCl3 mediated tandem cyclization of o-alkynylisocyanobenzenes derived from o-alkynyl-N-phenylformamides

A synthesis of indolo[3,2-c]quinolines and benzothieno[3,2-c]quinolines has been developed employing o-alkynyl-N-phenylformamide derivatives as the substrates. The reaction proceeded via a tandem process involving POCl3‒assisted intramolecular cyclization of the firstly formed...

Recent Advances in the Tandem Copper-Catalyzed Ullmann-Goldberg N-Arylation–Cyclization Strategies

N‒Aryl bond formation under copper catalysis has been playing a pivotal role and has been extensively used as a key step in the total syntheses of several therapeutic molecules. The...

Preparation and Synthetic Applicability of Imidazole-Containing Cyclic Iodonium Salts

A novel approach to the preparation of imidazole-substituted cyclic iodonium salts has been developed via the oxidative cyclization of 1-phenyl-5-iodoimidazole using a cheap and available Oxone/H₂SO₄ oxidative system. The structure of the new polycyclic heteroarenes has been confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry, revealing the characteristic structure features for cyclic iodonium salts. The newly produced imidazole-flanked cyclic iodonium compounds were found to readily engage in a heterocyclization reaction with elemental sulfur, affording benzo[5,1-b]imidazothiazoles in good yields.

Scalable electrochemical synthesis of diaryliodonium salts

Cyclic and acyclic diaryliodonium are synthesised by anodic oxidation of iodobiaryls and iodoarene/arene mixtures, respectively, in a simple undivided electrolysis cell in MeCN-HFIP-TfOH without any added electrolyte salts. This atom efficient process does not require chemical oxidants and generates no chemical waste. More than 30 cyclic and acyclic diaryliodonium salts with different substitution patterns were prepared in very good to excellent yields. The reaction was scaled-up to 10 mmol scale giving more than four grams of dibenzo[b,d]iodol-5-ium trifluoromethanesulfonate (>95%) in less than three hours. The solvent mixture of the large-scale experiment was recovered (>97%) and recycled several times without significant reduction in yield.

Iodolopyrazolium Salts: Synthesis, Derivatizations, and Applications

The synthesis of iodolopyrazolium triflates via an oxidative cyclization of 3-(2-iodophenyl)-1H-pyrazoles is described. The reaction is characterized by a broad substrate scope, and various applications of these novel cyclic iodolium salts acting as useful synthetic intermediates are demonstrated, in particular in site-selective ring openings. This was finally applied to generate derivatives of the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib. Their application as highly active halogen-bond donors is shown as well.