Traditional and New methods for the Preparation of Diazocarbonyl Compounds

Kinetic Characterization and Identification of Key Active Site Residues of the L-Aspartate N-Hydroxylase, CreE

CreE is a flavin-dependent monooxygenase (FMO) that catalyzes three sequential nitrogen oxidation reactions of L-aspartate to produce nitrosuccinate, contributing to the biosynthesis of the antimicrobial and antiproliferative nautral product, cremeomycin. This compound contains a highly reactive diazo functional group for which the reaction of CreE is essential to its formation. Nitro and diazo functional groups can serve as potent electrophiles, important in some challenging nucleophilic addition reactions. Formation of these reactive groups positions CreE as a promising candidate for biomedical and synthetic applications. Here, we present the catalytic mechanism of CreE and the identification of active site residues critical to binding L-aspartate, aiding in future enzyme engineering efforts. Steady-state analysis demonstrated that CreE is very specific for NADPH over NADH and performs a highly coupled reaction with L-aspartate. Analysis of the rapid-reaction kinetics showed that flavin reduction is very fast, along with the formation of the oxygenating species, the C4a-hydroperoxyflavin. The slowest step observed was the dehydration of the flavin. Structural analysis and site-directed mutagenesis implicated T65, R291, and R440 in the binding L-aspartate. The data presented describes the catalytic mechanism and the active site architecture of this unique FMO.

Diazo-Transfer Reaction of Nonactivated Ketones with 2-Azido-1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolium Hexafluorophosphate (IPrAP)

The diazo-transfer reaction of nonactivated ketone under mild reaction conditions was developed. Various nonactivated ketones such as aryl methyl ketones, sec-alkyl methyl ketones, and cyclic ketones were transformed into their corresponding α-diazoketones in one step by treating 2-azido-1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolium hexafluorophosphate (IPrAP) in the presence of iPr2NH in ethylene glycol. In the reaction of IPrAP with prim-alkyl methyl ketone and prim-alkyl aryl ketones, migratory amidation proceeded under the reaction conditions to afford the corresponding amides.

Recent Synthetic Advances on the Use of Diazo Compounds Catalyzed by Metalloporphyrins

Diazo compounds are organic substances that are often used as precursors in organic synthesis like cyclization reactions, olefinations, cyclopropanations, cyclopropenations, rearrangements, and carbene or metallocarbene insertions into C-H, N-H, O-H, S-H, and Si-H bonds. Typically, reactions from diazo compounds are catalyzed by transition metals with various ligands that modulate the capacity and selectivity of the catalyst. These ligands can modify and enhance chemoselectivity in the substrate, regioselectivity and enantioselectivity by reflecting these preferences in the products. Porphyrins have been used as catalysts in several important reactions for organic synthesis and also in several medicinal applications. In the chemistry of diazo compounds, porphyrins are very efficient as catalysts when complexed with low-cost metals (e.g., Fe and Co) and, therefore, in recent years, this has been the subject of significant research. This review will summarize the advances in the studies involving the field of diazo compounds catalyzed by metalloporphyrins (M-Porph, M = Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir) in the last five years to provide a clear overview and possible opportunities for future applications. Also, at the end of this review, the properties of artificial metalloenzymes and hemoproteins as biocatalysts for a broad range of applications, namely those concerning carbene-transfer reactions, will be considered.

Synthesis of 2-iminothiazolidin-4-ones via copper-catalyzed [2 + 1 + 2] tandem annulation

In this paper, an efficient synthesis of 2-iminothiazolidin-4-ones through a copper-catalyzed tandem annulation reaction of alkyl amines, isothiocyanates and diazo acetates is presented. Notable advantages of this [2 + 1 + 2] cyclization methodology include readily accessible starting materials, simple operation, mild reaction conditions, high yields, step-economy and diverse functional group tolerance. In addition, the reaction is applicable to the gram scale synthesis and the preparation of bioactive molecules.

Continuous Flow Generation of Acylketene Intermediates via Nitrogen Extrusion

A flow chemistry process for the generation and use of acylketene precursors through extrusion of nitrogen gas is reported. Key to the development of a suitable continuous protocol is the balance of reaction concentration against pressure in the flow reactor. The resulting process enables access to intercepted acylketene scaffolds using volatile amine nucleophiles and has been demonstrated on the gram scale. Thermal gravimetric analysis was used to guide the temperature set point of the reactor coils for a variety of acyl ketene precursors. The simultaneous generation and reaction of two reactive intermediates (both derived from nitrogen extrusion) is demonstrated.

Catalytic Bismuth(V)-Mediated Oxidation of Hydrazones into Diazo Compounds

A new bismuth(V) oxidative catalytic system has been developed and applied for the conversion of hydrazones into diazo compounds. With the use of low catalytic amounts of Ph₃Bi and AcOH with NaBO₃·H₂O as a terminal oxidant, the in situ formation of Ph₃Bi(OAc)₂ is capable of oxidizing hydrazones in excellent yields. The reaction was applied for the synthesis of diazocarbonyls and 2,2,2-trifluoromethyl diazoalkanes in good to excellent yields.

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Sulfa-Michael Additions to α,β-Unsaturated Diazoketones

Enantioselective sulfa-Michael additions to α,β unsaturated diazocarbonyl compounds have been developed. Quinine-derived squaramide was found to be the best catalyst to promote C-S bond formation in a highly stereoselective fashion for alkyl and aryl thiols. The easy-to-follow protocol allowed the preparation of 22 examples in enantiomeric ratios up to 97:3 and reaction yields up to 94%. The mechanism and origins of enantioselectivity were determined through density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Exploiting Continuous Processing for Challenging Diazo Transfer and Telescoped Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Transformations

Generation and use of triflyl azide in flow enables efficient synthesis of a range of α-diazocarbonyl compounds, including α-diazoketones, α-diazoamides, and an α-diazosulfonyl ester, via both Regitz-type diazo transfer and deacylative/debenzoylative diazo-transfer processes with excellent yields and offers versatility in the solvent employed, in addition to addressing the hazards associated with handling of this highly reactive sulfonyl azide. Telescoping the generation of triflyl azide and diazo-transfer process with highly enantioselective copper-mediated intramolecular aromatic addition and C–H insertion processes demonstrates that the reaction stream containing the α-diazocarbonyl compound can be obtained in sufficient purity to pass directly over the immobilized copper bis(oxazoline) catalyst without detrimentally impacting the catalyst enantioselectivity.

Synthetic Routes Towards the Synthesis of Geminal α-Difunctionalized Ketones

The importance of gem-difunctionalized ketones is represented by their broad applications across chemical boundaries over recent years. The interesting reactivities that this class of compounds possess have made them ideal building blocks to access high-value organic molecules. Furthermore, the gem-difunctionalized ketone moiety has featured in numerous bioactive molecules. For these reasons, a plethora of routes to access such significant molecules have been developed by research groups worldwide - this account looks at delineating the synthesis of gem-difunctionalized ketones from carbonyl substrates, diazo compounds, sulfur ylides and alkynyl reactants.

Assembly of Thiosubstituted Benzoxazoles via Copper-Catalyzed Coupling of Thiols with 5-Iodotriazoles Serving as Diazo Surrogates

An efficient cascade approach to thiosubstituted benzoxazoles has been developed. The transformation starts with in situ generation of a diazo compound via annulation-triggered electrocyclic opening of the 1,2,3-triazole ring. The subsequent Cu-catalyzed trapping of diazo intermediates by various thiols affords the desired heterocycles in generally good yields of up to 91%. The protocol features very good functional group tolerance and is applicable to substrates with different electronic properties.

Synthesis and Rhodium(II)-Mediated Cascade Cyclopropanation/Rearrangement/Isomerization of Diazo 2,3,5-Trisubstituted Furans: The Construction of Penta-substituted Aromatic Compounds

Ag(I)-catalyzed synthesis of diazo-trisubstituted furans starting from diazo-cumulated allenyl ketones has been investigated. The Rh₂(OAc)₄-catalyzed reaction of the diazo 2,3,5-trisubstituted furans provided penta-substituted aromatics via cascade intermolecular cyclopropanation/rearrangement/isomerization. The cyclopropanation on the furan ring/rearrangement of cyclopropane moiety has been reported. A reasonable mechanism is proposed.

OC, Ahmad A, Burtoloso ACB. Synthesis of Oxazinanones: Intramolecular Cyclization of Amino Acid-Derived Diazoketones via Silica-Supported HClO4 Catalysis

A Brønsted acid catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of N-Cbz-protected diazoketones, derived from α-amino acids, is described. The reaction proceeds under metal-free conditions and is promoted by ecofriendly silica-supported HClO₄ as the catalyst and methanol as the solvent. This transformation enables the short synthesis of various 1,3-oxazinane-2,5-diones under mild reaction conditions and in good yields (up to 90%). The set-up is very simple; by just mixing all reagents together with no work-up necessary before purification, this protocol takes a greener approach.

Synthesis of Fused Bicyclic [1,2,3]-Triazoles from γ-Amino Diazoketones

Triazoles are an important class of N-heterocycles that are well known for their broad biological activities. In this work, we would like to demonstrate a direct synthesis of the rare fused bicyclic [1,2,3]-triazoles, employing γ-N-protected amino diazoketones as useful synthetic platforms. The strategy was based on the deprotection of a trifluoroacetamide group for the intramolecular and in situ generation of an α-diazo imine intermediate, followed by a 5-endo-dig cyclization to construct the bicyclic unit. In this fashion, the synthesis of a series of fused bicyclic [1,2,3]-triazoles could be carried out in good to excellent yields (63-95%).

Metal-Free Insertion Reactions of Diazo Carbonyls to Azlactones

Insertion reactions of diazo carbonyls to azlactones in basic conditions have been performed. The developed method allows the preparation of a wide range of oxazole derivatives in yields ranging from 74 to 98%. Different substituents on both azlactone rings and diazo carbonyls do not compromise the methodology, even those containing stereogenic centers. Isotopic labeling experiments revealed the mechanism may proceed through a rare diazo carbonyl activation by an ammonium salt derivative.