Reactivity switch-over of 4-hydroxydithiocoumarins under various conditions and their application in organic synthesis

L-Proline-catalysed synthesis of 2-aryl-2H,5H-thiopyrano[2,3-b] thiochromen-5-ones from 4-hydroxydithiocoumarins and cinnamaldehyde derivatives

The hitherto unreported synthesis of 2-aryl-2H,5H-thiopyrano[2,3-b]thiochromen-5-one derivatives was achieved from 4-hydroxydithiocoumarin and cinnamaldehyde using 20 mol% L-proline, an environmentally benign organocatalyst in methanol under reflux conditions. The current approach involves imine formation, followed by a Mannich reaction, instead of a 1,4-addition or thia-Michael reaction, and finally, cyclization. The salient features of this method are mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, good yield, atom economy, and shorter reaction time.

Synthesis of 3-sulfenylindole derivatives from 4-hydroxy-2H-chromene-2-thione and indole using oxidative cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction and anti-proliferative activity study of some of their sulfone derivatives

The synthesis of hitherto unreported 3-sulfenylindole derivatives is achieved from 4-hydroxy-2H-chromene-2-thione (1) and indole (2) by employing an oxidative cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction using a combination of 10 mol% of molecular iodine and 1 equivalent of TBHP in DMSO at room temperature. Then, the 3-sulfenylindole derivatives 3a, 3b, 3d, 3f, 3 h, and 3 k were converted into their corresponding sulfone derivatives because of lead likeness properties. Subsequently, a target prediction and docking study of six sulfone derivatives (5a-f) was performed, and four sulfones, namely 5a, 5d, 5e, and 5f, were selected for further in-vitro studies. The four sulfones mentioned above exhibited prominent anti-proliferative activity on breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines. In addition, this reaction was exergonic through quantum chemical analysis of the mechanistic steps. The salient features of this reaction are mild reaction conditions, good yields, and broad substrate scope.

α-Sulfenylation between 4-Hydroxydithiocoumarin and 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds: A Key Precursor for the Synthesis of New Pyrazole Derivatives

An efficient synthetic protocol for the α-sulfenylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds is reported through a cross dehydrogenative coupling reaction with 4-hydroxydithiocoumarins in the presence of 10 mol% KI and 1 equiv. TBHP in toluene under reflux conditions. Some of the products are utilized for the synthesis of substituted new pyrazole derivatives on reaction with phenylhydrazine in ethanol at room temperature. In addition, α-benzylation is also achieved on treatment with benzyl bromide using K2CO3/CH3CN under mild conditions. The salient features of the present protocol are good yields, mild reaction conditions, shorter reaction time, no byproducts were formed (sulfoxide/sulfone), and no deacylation occurs during the process. In the present protocol, 4-hydroxydithiocoumarin is converted into a suitable electrophile through a radical substitution pathway, which undergoes ultimately C–S bond formation with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds by a nucleophilic substitution reaction.