The Intramolecular Povarov Tool in the Construction of Fused Nitrogen-Containing Heterocycles

Nitrogen heterocycles are part of the structure of natural products and agents with important biological activity, such as antiviral, antibiotic, and antitumor drugs. For this reason, heterocyclic compounds are one of today's most desirable synthetic targets and the Povarov reaction is a powerful synthetic tool for the construction of highly functionalized heterocyclic systems. This process involves an aromatic amine, a carbonyl compound, and an olefin or acetylene to give rise to the formation of a nitrogen-containing heterocycle. This review illustrates advances in the synthetic aspects of the intramolecular Povarov reaction for the construction of intricate nitrogen-containing polyheterocyclic compounds. This original review presents research done in this field, with references to important works by internationally relevant research groups on this current topic, covering the literature from 1992 to 2022. The intramolecular Povarov reactions are described here according to the key processes involved, using different combinations of aromatic or heteroaromatic amines, and aliphatic, aromatic, or heteroaromatic aldehydes. Some catalytic reactions promoted by transition metals are detailed, as well as the oxidative Povarov reaction and some asymmetric intramolecular Povarov processes.

Organocatalytic Domino Entry to an Octahydroacridine Scaffold Bearing Three Contiguous Stereocenters

A facile and enantioselective access to a functionalized octahydroacridine scaffold was developed via an organocatalytic domino sequence between cyclohexenone and 2- N-substituted benzaldehyde. High levels of yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to 99:1 er) were readily achieved in this developed organocatalytic transformation, which holds promising applications in the construction of complex multicyclic systems for further pharmacological studies.

Brønsted and Lewis Solid Acid Catalysts in the Valorization of Citronellal

Terpenes are valuable starting materials for the synthesis of molecules that are of interest to the flavor, fragrance, and pharmaceutical industries. However, most processes involve the use of mineral acids or homogeneous Lewis acid catalysts. Here, we report results obtained in the liquid-phase reaction of citronellal with anilines under heterogeneous catalysis conditions to give tricyclic compounds with interesting pharmacological activity. The terpenic aldehyde could be converted into octahydroacridines with a 92% yield through an intramolecular imino Diels–Alder reaction of the imine initially formed in the presence of an acidic clay such as Montmorillonite KSF. Selectivity to the desired product strongly depended on the acid sites distribution, with Brønsted acids favoring selectivity to octahydroacridine and formation of the cis isomer. Pure Lewis acids such as silica–alumina with a very low amount of alumina gave excellent results with electron-rich anilines like toluidine and p-anisidine. This protocol can be applied starting directly from essential oils such as kaffir lime oil, which has a high citronellal content.

Facile and highly diastereo and regioselective synthesis of novel octahydroacridine-isoxazole and octahydroacridine-1,2,3-triazole molecular hybrids from citronella essential oil

A novel and highly efficient synthetic approach for the expedite construction of new octahydroacridine-isoxazole- and octahydroacridine-1,2,3-triazole-based molecular hybrids is first reported. Rapid access to the octahydroacridine core was achieved in a highly diastereoselective fashion via cationic Povarov reaction of N-propargyl anilines and citronella essential oil (Cymbopogon nardus). The subsequent 1,3-dipolar and Cu (I) catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction of the terminal alkyne fragment with the corresponding oxime or azide affords the desired 3,5-isoxazoles and 1,2,3-triazoles, respectively, as interesting molecular hybrid models for pharmacological studies.