Intramolecular azide to alkene cycloadditions for the construction of pyrrolobenzodiazepines and azetidino-benzodiazepines

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (-)-Hunterine A Enabled by a Desymmetrization/Rearrangement Strategy

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-hunterine A is disclosed. Our strategy employs a catalytic asymmetric desymmetrization of a symmetrical diketone and subsequent Beckmann rearrangement to construct a 5,6-α-aminoketone. A convergent 1,2-addition joins a vinyl dianion nucleophile and the enantioenriched ketone. The endgame of the synthesis features an aza-Cope/Mannich reaction and azide-olefin dipolar cycloaddition to complete the pentacyclic ring system. The synthesis is completed through a regioselective aziridine ring opening.

Metal-free Three-Component Synthesis of 1,2,3-Triazoline-4-sulfonamides

A new type of diazo compounds, namely, CH-diazomethane sulfonamides (generated in situ from readily available α-acetyl-α-diazomethane sulfonamides), was employed in a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction with imines (also formed in situ from primary amines and aldehydes). The reaction gave hitherto undescribed 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoline-4-sulfonamides, which were obtained in good to excellent yields with complete trans diastereoselectivity. These new sulfonamides based on the nonaromatic 1,2,3-triazoline core are rather attractive from a medicinal chemistry standpoint in light of the strong emphasis recently put on the nonflat, more saturated (higher Fsp3) scaffolds for lead-generation libraries. The oxidative aromatization of 1,2,3-triazoline-4-sulfonamides by manganese(IV) oxide gave nearly quantitative yields of 1,2,3-triazole-4-sulfonamides, of which only two examples have been reported in the literature.

Trifluoromethanesulfonamide vs. Non-Fluorinated Sulfonamides in Oxidative Sulfamidation of the C=C Bond: An In Silico Study

A theoretical analysis of the reaction of oxidative sulfamidation of several alkenes was performed in order to explain the various experimental observations and different reactivity of triflamide and non-fluorinated sulfonamides. Transformations occurring in the system alkene–sulfonamide in the presence of oxidative system (Bu^tOCl + NaI) were analyzed at the MP2/DGDZVP//B3LYP/DGDZVP level of theory using the IEF-PCM method for taking into account the solvent acetonitrile (MeCN) effect. As the model substrates, styrene, trimethyl(vinyl)silane, dimethyl(divinyl)silane and diphenyl(divinyl)silane were chosen and mesylamide, triflamide, tosylamide and p-nosylamide were taken as the reagents. Bu^tOI generated from Bu^tOCl and NaI reacts with sulfonamides to give N-iodinated sulfonamides RSO₂NHI and RSO₂NI₂ as active intermediates, the iodinating activity of the latter being notably higher. The analysis allowed to answer such challenging questions as different reactivity of nonfluorinated sulfonamides leading to aziridination and of triflamide resulting in the formation the main products of bis-triflamidation, or different regioselectivity of halogenation of styrene and trimethyl(vinyl)silane caused by a linear intermediate iodonium cation in the former case and a cyclic one in the latter.

N-Alkylation and Aminohydroxylation of 2-Azidobenzenesulfonamide Gives a Pyrrolobenzothiadiazepine Precursor Whereas Attempted N-Alkylation of 2-Azidobenzamide Gives Benzotriazinones and Quinazolinones

N-Alkylation of 2-azidobenzenesulfonamide with 5-bromopent-1-ene gave an N-pentenyl sulfonamide, which underwent intramolecular aminohydroxylation to give an N-(2-azidoaryl)sulfonyl prolinol, a precursor for the synthesis of a pyrrolobenzothiadiazepine. The attempted N-alkylation of 2-azidobenzamide gave a separable mixture (∼1:1) of a benzotriazinone and a quinazolinone in a 72% combined yield. Other primary alkyl halides (3 examples) gave similar mixtures of benzotriazinones and quinazolinones. Benzylic, allylic, and secondary and tertiary alkyl halides (5 examples) gave only benzotriazinones in moderate yields. The results of mechanistic studies show the likely involvement of nitrene intermediates in the quinazolinone pathway and a second pathway involving a dimethylsulfoxide or dimethylsulfide-mediated conversion of 2-azidobenzamide into benzotriazinones.

An Update on the Synthesis of Pyrrolo[1,4]benzodiazepines

Pyrrolo[1,4]benzodiazepines are tricyclic compounds that are considered “privileged structures” since they possess a wide range of biological activities. The first encounter with these molecules was the isolation of anthramycin from cultures of Streptomyces, followed by determination of the X-ray crystal structure of the molecule and a study of its interaction with DNA. This opened up an intensive synthetic and biological study of the pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepines that has culminated in the development of the dimer SJG-136, at present in Phase II clinical trials. The synthetic efforts have brought to light some new synthetic methodology, while the contemporary work is focused on building trimeric pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepines linked together by various heterocyclic and aliphatic chains. It is the broad spectrum of biological activities of pyrrolo[1,2-a][1,4]benzodiazepines that has maintained the interest of researchers to date whereas several derivatives of the even less studied pyrrolo[1,2-d][1,4]benzodiazepines were found to be potent non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors. The present review is an update on the synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepines since the last major review of 2011, while the overview of the synthesis of the other two tricyclic isomers is comprehensive.

Metal-Free Three-Component Domino Approach to Phosphonylated Triazolines and Triazoles

An efficient, three-component domino reaction between aldehydes, amines, and the Bestmann-Ohira reagent is reported that enables a general, mild, and straightforward access to 1,4,5-trisubstituted 1,2,3-triazolines and triazoles. The reaction proceeds through a domino-condensation/1,3-dipolar cycloaddition sequence to afford the triazoline derivatives with excellent diastereoselectivity. Moreover, when both amine and aldehyde employed for this reaction are aromatic, a spontaneous oxidation afforded 1,4,5-trisubstituted triazoles in moderate yields.

Synthesis, conformation and antiproliferative activity of isothiazoloisoxazole 1,1-dioxides

Isothiazoles (I) reacted with 1,3-dipoles or NaN₃ to give cycloadducts (II) or thiazete (III). Thiazete (III) rearranged to give 1,2,3-oxathiazoline (IV).