Highly Efficient Synthesis of Substituted 3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-ones (DHPMs) Catalyzed by Hf(OTf)₄: Mechanistic Insights into Reaction Pathways under Metal Lewis Acid Catalysis and Solvent-Free Conditions

Dihydropyrimidinones as potent anticancer agents: Insight into the structure-activity relationship

Cancer is a serious disease that has been around for a long time but currently has no sustainable solution. Several medications currently available offer an opportunity for the manifestation of cancer treatment; however, the "search for better" has led to the development and study of a variety of new scaffolds. Dihydropyrimidinones (DHPMs) are a privileged scaffold, prominent for their versatile range of biological activities. In recent years, the anticancer potential of these unsaturated pyrimidine ring systems has been traversed, along with their synthesis methods and the interlinked mechanisms leading to the anticancer activity. This review summarizes the structure-activity relationship of DHPMs as potential anticancer agents. This study is a short review of their synthesis, mechanism of action, and structure-activity relationships (SARs) that are answerable for the anticancer activity of DHPMs and have been thoroughly researched and assessed.

Topologically Driven Pore/Surface Engineering in a Recyclable Microporous Metal-Organic Vessel Decorated with Hydrogen-Bond Acceptors for Solvent-Free Heterogeneous Catalysis

The use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) comprising custom-designed linkers/ligands as efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalysts is on the rise. However, the topologically driven bifunctional porous MOFs for showcasing a synergistic effect of two distinct activation pathways of substrates (e.g., involving hydrogen bonding and a Lewis acid) in multicomponent organic transformations are very challenging. In particular, the novelty of such studies lies in the proper pore and/or surface engineering in MOFs for bringing the substrates in close proximity to understand the mechanistic aspects at the molecular level. This work represents the topological design, solid-state structural characterization, and catalytic behavior of an oxadiazole tetracarboxylate-based microporous three-dimensional (3D) metal-organic framework (MOF), {[Zn₂(oxdia)(4,4'-bpy)₂]·8.5H₂O}_n (1), where the tetrapodal (4-connected) 5,5'-(1,3,4-oxadiazole-2,5-diyl)diisophthalate (oxdia^4-), the tetrahedral metal vertex (Zn(II)), and a 2-connected pillar linker 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bpy) are unique in their roles for the formation, stability, and function. As a proof of concept, the efficient utilization of both the oxadiazole moiety with an ability to provide H-bond acceptors and the coordinatively unsaturated Zn(II) centers in 1 is demonstrated for the catalytic process of the one-pot multicomponent Biginelli reaction under mild conditions and without a solvent. The key steps of substrate binding with the oxadiazole moiety are ascertained by a fluorescence experiment, demonstrating a decrease or increase in the emission intensity upon interaction with the substrates. Furthermore, the inherent polarizability of the oxadiazole moiety is exploited for CO₂ capture and its size-selective chemical fixation to cyclic carbonates at room temperature and under solvent-free conditions. For both catalytic processes, the chemical stability, structural integrity, heterogeneity, versatility in terms of substrate scope, and mechanistic insights are discussed. Interestingly, the first catalytic process occurs on the surface, while the second reaction occurs inside the pore. This study opens new ways to catalyze different organic transformation reactions by utilizing this docking strategy to bring the multiple components close together by a microporous MOF.

Hf(OTf)4-Catalyzed Three-Component Synthesis of N-Carbamate-Protected β-Amino Ketones

Hafnium(IV) triflate (Hf(OTf)₄) has been identified as a potent catalyst for the direct three-component synthesis of β-carbamate ketones. This new method, featuring a low catalyst loading, fast reaction rate, and solvent-free conditions, provided facile access to a diversity of carbamate-protected Mannich bases. A mechanistic investigation indicated that the three-component reaction proceeds via sequential aldol condensation and aza-Michael addition, but not the Mannich-type pathway.

Photo-Switchable Aggregation-Induced Emission of Bisthienylethene-Dipyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazole Triad

A bisthienylethene-dipyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazole (BTE-2PBT) triad has been designed and synthesized based on our recent discovery of PBTs as atypical propeller-shaped novel AIEgens. The triad not only maintains the photochromic properties of BTE moiety in solution, film, and solid state but also exhibits remarkable AIE properties. Moreover, the fluorescence of BTE-2PBT PMMA film could be modulated with high contrast by alternate UV and visible light irradiation. Photoerasing, rewriting, and non-destructive readout of fluorescent images on BTE-2PBT PMMA film well demonstrate its potential application as optical memory media.

Biochar-Based Graphitic Carbon Nitride Adorned with Ionic Liquid Containing Acidic Polymer: A Versatile, Non-Metallic Catalyst for Acid Catalyzed Reaction

A novel biochar-based graphitic carbon nitride was prepared through calcination of Zinnia grandiflora petals and urea. To provide acidic and ionic-liquid functionalities on the prepared carbon, the resultant biochar-based graphitic carbon nitride was vinyl functionalized and polymerized with 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, acrylic acid and the as-prepared 1-vinyl-3-butylimidazolium chloride. The final catalytic system that benefits from both acidic (-COOH and -SO3H) and ionic-liquid functionalities was applied as a versatile, metal-free catalyst for promoting some model acid catalyzed reactions such as Knoevenagel condensation and Biginelli reaction in aqueous media under a very mild reaction condition. The results confirmed high activity of the catalyst. Broad substrate scope and recyclability and stability of the catalyst were other merits of the developed protocols. Comparative experiments also indicated that both acidic and ionic-liquid functionalities on the catalyst participated in the catalysis.

Bio-Catalysis in Multicomponent Reactions

Enzyme catalysis is a very active research area in organic chemistry, because biocatalysts are compatible with and can be adjusted to many reaction conditions, as well as substrates. Their integration in multicomponent reactions (MCRs) allows for simple protocols to be implemented in the diversity-oriented synthesis of complex molecules in chemo-, regio-, stereoselective or even specific modes without the need for the protection/deprotection of functional groups. The application of bio-catalysis in MCRs is therefore a welcome and logical development and is emerging as a unique tool in drug development and discovery, as well as in combinatorial chemistry and related areas of research.

Efficient biocatalytic strategy for one-pot Biginelli reaction via enhanced specific effects of microwave in a circulating reactor

A one-pot efficient biocatalytic strategy for the synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-ones was developed in a circulating microwave reactor selecting α-chymotrypsin as the promiscuous biocatalyst. In the circulating reaction system, the combination of microwave heating and external cooling could avoid the denaturation and inactivation of enzyme, and greatly improved the radiation power of microwave, thus improving the specific effects of microwave. During the reaction process, the microwave radiation power was automatically adjusted by adjusting the speed of the reaction mixture circulation. When the microwave power was maintained at 110 W, the best results could be obtained with the highest yield of 96% at 55 °C in 50 min, and the reaction had a wide range of substrates. But no obvious product was detected in a tank microwave reactor at 55 °C for 100 min, under this condition, the microwave power was maintained at about 3 W. As a contrast, the reaction only obtained 63% yield in 55 °C oil bath for 96 h.

Activated Carbon Supported Hafnium(IV) Chloride as an Efficient, Recyclable, and Facile Removable Catalyst for Expeditious Parallel Synthesis of Benzimidazoles

A highly efficient method for parallel synthesis of a diversity of 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles from N-substituted phenylenediamines and aldehydes has been developed by using 10 mol% HfCl4 on activated carbon (HfCl4/C) as the catalyst. The newly reported HfCl4/C catalyst not only mediated fast and clean formation of benzimidazoles but also could be easily removed from the reaction solution and reused up to eight times. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and thermal desorption studies showed that activated carbon could reversibly adsorb and release Hf(IV) in ethanol upon cooling and heating, thereby serving as a thermal-controlled solid support.

Hf(OTf)4 as a Highly Potent Catalyst for the Synthesis of Mannich Bases under Solvent-Free Conditions

Hf(OTf)4 was identified as a highly potent catalyst (0.1-0.5 mol%) for three-component Mannich reaction under solvent-free conditions. Hf(OTf)4-catalyzed Mannich reaction exhibited excellent regioselectivity and diastereoselectivity when alkyl ketones were employed as substrates. 1H NMR tracing of the H/D exchange reaction of ketones in MeOH-d4 indicated that Hf(OTf)4 could significantly promote the keto-enol tautomerization, thereby contributing to the acceleration of reaction rate.