Expeditious Approach to Coumarins via Pechmann Reaction Catalyzed by Molecular Iodine or AgOTf

An Efficient and Versatile Deep Eutectic Solvent-Mediated Green Method for the Synthesis of Functionalized Coumarins

Herein, we report a green and efficient synthetic route for the construction of diverse functionalized coumarins in good-to-excellent yields (60-98%) via the Pechmann condensation. The optimized synthetic route involves a biodegradable, reusable, and inexpensive deep eutectic solvent (DES) of choline chloride and l-(+)-tartaric acid in a ratio of 1:2 at 110 °C. Interestingly, phloroglucinol and ethyl acetoacetate, upon reaction, furnished the functionalized coumarin (20) in 98% yield within 10 min. On the other front, the same DES at relatively lower reaction temperature (90 °C) was found to provide the bis-coumarins in decent yields (81-97%) within 20-45 min. Moreover, this particular method was found to be quite effective for large-scale coumarin synthesis without noteworthy reduction in the yields of the desired products. Noticeably, in this versatile approach, the DES plays a dual role as solvent as well as catalyst, and it was effectively recycled and reused four times with no significant drop-down in the yield of the product.

Syntheses and evaluation of daphnetin derivatives as novel G protein-coupled receptor inhibitors and activators

A series of daphnetin (7,8-dihydroxycoumarin) derivatives 1-22 were synthesized including sixteen new compounds (1-5, 7-14, 18, 21 and 22) and six known compounds (6, 15-17, 19 and 20). Their pharmacological activities on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) were evaluated by double antibody sandwich ELISA (DAS-ELISA) in vitro. Daphnetin derivatives with various substitution patterns/groups were obtained from inhibitors to activators on GPCRs. Derivatives 2-5, 8, 15, 16 and 18-20 possessed moderate activation potency on GPCRs. Among them, derivatives 3-5, 16 and 19 presented significant activation potency on GPCRs with EC₅₀ values in the range of 1.18-1.91 nM. Derivatives 6, 11, 14 and 18 showed significant inhibitory potency on GPCRs with IC₅₀ values in the range of 1.26-1.38 nM. Moreover, the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of daphnetin derivatives were discussed in detail. The new daphnetic-based GPCRs activators and inhibitors have potentials as future drug candidates for the treatment of metabolic diseases.

Iodine catalyzed one-pot four component synthesis of coumarinyl phosphoramidates via sequential addition of reactants

An unprecedented synthetic route for the preparation of a library of novel coumarinyl phosphoramidate derivatives via iodine catalysed one-pot four component reactions of ethyl 4-bromo-3-oxo-alkanoate, sodium azide, trialkyl phosphites, and phenols in ethanol is reported.

Insight into the Mechanism of the Pechmann Condensation Reaction Using NMR

The mechanism of the Pechmann condensation is still controversial despite the technological and biochemical importance of coumarins. Here, we present NMR evidence for a mechanism featuring the sequence of initial electrophilic aromatic substitution followed by transesterification and a final dehydration. This mechanism has been convincingly defined and supported by the temporal evolution of two key intermediates which could be purified and identified.

FeCl3-catalysed ultrasonic-assisted, solvent-free synthesis of 4-substituted coumarins. A useful complement to the Pechmann reaction

The catalytic activity of FeCl3 for the synthesis of a variety of 4-substituted coumarins using high energy techniques has been investigated. The ultrasonic-assisted conditions provide a useful complement to the Pechmann reaction, affording the coumarin derivatives in excellent yields, under solvent-free conditions, in short reaction times using an inexpensive, mild and benign Lewis acid catalyst.