Diels-Alder cycloadditions of 2(1H)-quinolones having an electron-withdrawing group at the 3-position acting as dienophiles with dienes

Synthesis and Characterization of Multiple Functionalized Cyclohexanone Using Diels–Alder Reaction of α-Nitrocinnamate

A systematic study of the Diels–Alder reaction of α-nitrocinnamate was performed. The reaction of p-substituted α-nitrocinnamate with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadienes smoothly proceeded regardless of the p-substituent, which was either an electron-donating or -withdrawing group. A control reaction revealed that α-nitrocinnamate isomerized during the reaction. Danishefsly’s diene (1-methoxy-3-trimethylsiloxy-1,3-butadiene) facilitated cycloaddition under mild conditions to afford a cycloadduct without the alternation of the diastereomeric ratio. Moreover, the desilylation of the cycloadduct furnished multiple functionalized cyclohexanones.

Catalytic Enantioselective Birch-Heck Sequence for the Synthesis of Phenanthridinone Derivatives with an All-Carbon Quaternary Stereocenter

Novel phenanthridinone analogues with an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter have been enantioselectively synthesized using the Birch-Heck sequence. Flat phenanthridinone structures have extensive bioactivity but consequently also suffer from poor therapeutic selectivity. The addition of a quaternary center to the phenanthridinone skeleton has the potential to generate more complex analogues with improved selectivity. Unfortunately, no general synthetic pathway to such derivatives exists. Herein we report a four-step process that transforms inexpensive benzoic acid into 22 different quaternary carbon-containing phenanthridinone analogues with a variety of substituents on all three rings: alkyl groups at the quaternary center; methyl, methoxymethyl, or para-methoxybenzyl on the amide nitrogen; and halogen and methyl substituents on the aryl ring. Good to very good enantioselectivity was demonstrated in the key intramolecular desymmetrizing Mizoroki-Heck reaction. Transformations of the Heck reaction products into molecules with potentially greater therapeutic relevance were also accomplished.

Recent Progress in Nitro-Promoted Direct Functionalization of Pyridones and Quinolones

Nitro group is one of the most important functional groups in organic syntheses because its strongly electron-withdrawing ability activates the scaffold, facilitating the reaction with nucleophilic reagents or the Diels-Alder reaction. In this review, recent progress in the nitro-promoted direct functionalization of pyridones and quinolones is highlighted to complement previous reviews.

Iron-catalyzed regioselective direct coupling of aromatic aldehydes with coumarins leading to 3-aroyl coumarins

Iron-catalyzed direct radical acylation of coumarins with aromatic aldehydes to regioselectively afford 3-aroyl coumarin derivatives in moderate yields was described.

Chemistry of nitroquinolones and synthetic application to unnatural 1-methyl-2-quinolone derivatives

The 1-methyl-2-quinolone (MeQone) framework is often found in alkaloids and recently attention was drawn to unnatural MeQone derivatives with the aim of finding new biologically active compounds, however, low reactivity of the MeQone framework prevents the syntheses of versatile derivatives. A nitro group is one of the useful activating groups for this framework that enables a concise chemical transformation. Among nitroquinolones, 1-methyl-3,6,8-trinitro-2-quinolone (TNQ) exhibits unusual reactivity favoring region-selective cine-substitutions that afford 4-substituted 1-methyl-6,8-dinitro-2-quinolones upon treatment with nucleophilic reagents. Contrary to this, 1-methyl-3,6-dinitro-2-quinolone (3,6-DNQ) does not undergo any reaction under the same conditions. The unusual reactivity of TNQ is caused by steric repulsion between the methyl group at the 1-position and the nitro group at the 8-position, which distorts the MeQone framework. As a result, the pyridone ring of TNQ loses aromaticity and acts rather as an activated nitroalkene. Indeed, the pyridone moiety of TNQ undergoes cycloaddition with electron-rich alkenes or dienes under mild conditions, whereby a new fused ring is constructed on the [c]-face of the MeQone. Consequently, TNQ can be used as a new scaffold leading to versatile unnatural MeQone derivatives.

Synthesis of 5(6H)-Phenanthridones Using Diels-Alder Reaction of 3-Nitro-2(1H)-quinolones Acting as Dienophiles

Diels-Alder reactions of 3-nitro-2(1H)-quinolones with 1,3-butadiene derivatives were carried out to give the phenanthridone derivatives under both atmospheric and high pressure conditions. Furthermore, the reactivity of 3-substituted 2(1H)-quinolones acting as a dienophile with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene was examined using molecular orbital (MO) calculation.

Synthesis of Unnatural 1-Methyl-2-quinolone Derivatives

Unnatural 1-methyl-2-quinolone derivatives were synthesized by regioselective C-C bond formation. When 1-methyl-3,6,8-trinitro-2-quinolone (TNQ) was treated with enamines, nucleophilic addition readily occurred at the 4-position, and succeeding hydrolysis of enamine moiety followed by elimination of nitrous acid furnished 4-acylmethyl-1-methyl-6,8-dinitro-2-quinolones. The same products could be prepared by the reaction of TNQ with ketones in the presence of triethylamine. The present reaction enabled the introduction of various kinds of acylmethyl groups substituted with alkyl, aryl or hetaryl groups.

Cycloadditions of 1-substituted 1,3-butadienes with 4- or 3-substituted 2(1H)-quinolones acting as dienophiles

Cycloadditions of 1,3-butadiene derivatives having an electron-rich group at the 1-position with 4- or 3-substituted 2(1H)-quinolones were carried out to give the richly functionalized phenanthridines under both atmospheric and high pressure conditions. Furthermore, the reactivity of 4- or 3-substituted 2(1H)-quinolones acting as a dienophile with 1-substituted dienes was examined using MO calculation.

[Cycloaddition of 1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolones having an electron-withdrawing group at the 3 or 4-position with 1,3-butadiene derivatives]

Cycloaddition of 1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolones with electron-withdrawing groups such as methoxycarbonyl, cyano, and acetyl groups, at the 3 or 4-position with 2,3-dimethoxy- and 2-(trimethylsilyloxy)-1,3-butadienes afforded stereoselectively phenanthridone derivatives under atmospheric and high pressures. Furthermore, regioselectivities of the cycloaddition of 3- or 4-substituted 2 (1H)-quinolones with 2-(trimethylsilyloxy)-1,3-butadiene were examined using MO calculation.