Cycloaddition of Huisgen 1,4-dipoles: synthesis and rapid epimerization of functionalized spiropyrido[2,1-b][1,3]oxazine-pyrroles and related products

Recent Strategies in the Nucleophilic Dearomatization of Pyridines, Quinolines, and Isoquinolines

Dearomatization reactions have become fundamental chemical transformations in organic synthesis since they allow for the generation of three-dimensional complexity from two-dimensional precursors, bridging arene feedstocks with alicyclic structures. When those processes are applied to pyridines, quinolines, and isoquinolines, partially or fully saturated nitrogen heterocycles are formed, which are among the most significant structural components of pharmaceuticals and natural products. The inherent challenge of those transformations lies in the low reactivity of heteroaromatic substrates, which makes the dearomatization process thermodynamically unfavorable. Usually, connecting the dearomatization event to the irreversible formation of a strong C-C, C-H, or C-heteroatom bond compensates the energy required to disrupt the aromaticity. This aromaticity breakup normally results in a 1,2- or 1,4-functionalization of the heterocycle. Moreover, the combination of these dearomatization processes with subsequent transformations in tandem or stepwise protocols allows for multiple heterocycle functionalizations, giving access to complex molecular skeletons. The aim of this review, which covers the period from 2016 to 2022, is to update the state of the art of nucleophilic dearomatizations of pyridines, quinolines, and isoquinolines, showing the extraordinary ability of the dearomative methodology in organic synthesis and indicating their limitations and future trends.

The unique reactivity of 5,6-unsubstituted 1,4-dihydropyridine in the Huisgen 1,4-diploar cycloaddition and formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition

The three-component reaction of isoquinolines, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, and 5,6-unsubstituted 1,4-dihydropyridines in acetonitrile at room temperature afforded functionalized isoquinolino[1,2-f][1,6]naphthyridines in good yields and with high diastereoselectivity. More importantly, the formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and 5,6-unsubstituted 1,4-dihydropyridines in refluxing acetonitrile gave unique 2-azabicyclo[4.2.0]octa-3,7-dienes as major products and 1,3a,4,6a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrroles as minor products via further rearrangement.