Bioinspired Pyrano[2,3-f]chromen-8-ones: Ring C-Opened Analogues of Calanolide A: Synthesis and Anti-HIV-1 Evaluation

We have designed and synthesized a series of bioinspired pyrano[2,3-f]coumarin-based Calanolide A analogs with anti-HIV activity. The design of these new calanolide analogs involved incorporating nitrogen heterocycles or aromatic groups in lieu of ring C, effectively mimicking and preserving their bioactive properties. Three directions for the synthesis were explored: reaction of 5-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-10-propyl-2H,8H-pyrano[2,3-f]chromen-8-one with (i) 1,2,4-triazines, (ii) sulfonylation followed by Suzuki cross-coupling with (het)aryl boronic acids, and (iii) aminomethylation by Mannich reaction. Antiviral assay of the synthesized compounds showed that compound 4 has moderate activity against HIV-1 on enzymes and poor activity on the cell model. A molecular docking study demonstrates a good correlation between in silico and in vitro HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) activity of the compounds when docked to the nonnucleoside RT inhibitor binding site, and alternative binding modes of the considered analogs of Calanolide A were established.

Xanthone-1,2,4-triazine and Acridone-1,2,4-triazine Conjugates: Synthesis and Anticancer Activity

A total of 21 novel xanthone and acridone derivatives were synthesized using the reactions of 1,2,4-triazine derivatives with 1-hydroxy-3-methoxy-10-methylacridone, 1,3-dimethoxy-, and 1,3-dihydroxanthone, followed by optional dihydrotiazine ring aromatization. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their anticancer activity against colorectal cancer HCT116, glioblastoma A-172, breast cancer Hs578T, and human embryonic kidney HEK-293 tumor cell lines. Five compounds (7a, 7e, 9e, 14a, and 14b) displayed good in vitro antiproliferative activities against these cancer cell lines. Compounds 7a and 7e demonstrated low toxicity for normal human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells, which determines the possibility of further development of these compounds as anticancer agents. Annexin V assay demonstrated that compound 7e activates apoptotic mechanisms and inhibits proliferation in glioblastoma cells.

Mesomeric Betaines Based on Adamantylated 1,2,4-Triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidin-5-ones: Synthesis, Structure and Conversion into Anionic N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

The C-N coupling of 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones with 1-adamantanol/1-bromoadamantane leads to 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidinium-5-olates, which are represented as mesomeric betaines (MBs). The formation of MBs involves not only N-alkylation of heterocyclic framework but also the rearrangement leading to a change in the type of fusion between pyrimidine and 1,2,4-triazole fragments. The structures of the obtained products were confirmed by the X-ray analysis and measurements of ¹³ C-¹³ C (J_CC ) coupling constants in the 1D ¹³ C NMR spectra of selectively ¹³ C-labeled samples. Treatment of the betaines with lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (LiHMDS) gave anionic carbenes, which were detected by ¹³ C NMR spectroscopy and were trapped by reactions with phenyl isothiocyanate and sulfur. Density functional theory (DFT) and the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analyses allowed for an insight into the electronic structure of the obtained betaines and N-heterocyclic carbene derivatives.

Plant Coumarins with Anti-HIV Activity: Isolation and Mechanisms of Action

This review summarizes and systematizes the literature on the anti-HIV activity of plant coumarins with emphasis on isolation and the mechanism of their antiviral action. This review summarizes the information on the anti-HIV properties of simple coumarins as well as annulated furano- and pyranocoumarins and shows that coumarins of plant origin can act by several mechanisms: inhibition of HIV reverse transcriptase and integrase, inhibition of cellular factors that regulate HIV-1 replication, and transmission of viral particles from infected macrophages to healthy ones. It is important to note that some pyranocoumarins are able to act through several mechanisms or bind to several sites, which ensures the resistance of these compounds to HIV mutations. Here we review the last two decades of research on the anti-HIV activity of naturally occurring coumarins.

Fluorescent Pyranoindole Congeners: Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of Pyrano[3,2-f], [2,3-g], [2,3-f], and [2,3-e]Indoles

This paper reports the synthesis of four types of annulated pyranoindole congeners: pyrano[3,2-f]indole, pyrano[2,3-g]indole, pyrano[2,3-f]indole, and pyrano[2,3-e]indole and photophysical studies in this series. The synthesis of pyrano[3,2-f], [2,3-g], and [2,3-e]indoles involve a tandem of Bischler-Möhlau reaction of 3-aminophenol with benzoin to form 6-hydroxy- or 4-hydroxyindole followed by Pechmann condensation of these hydroxyindoles with β-ketoesters. Pyrano[2,3-f]indoles were synthesized through the Nenitzescu reaction of p-benzoquinone and ethyl aminocrotonates and subsequent Pechmann condensation of the obtained 5-hydroxyindole derivatives. Among the pyranoindoles studied, the most promising were pyrano[3,2-f] and [2,3-g]indoles. These compounds were characterized by moderate to high quantum yields (30-89%) and a large (9000-15,000 cm^-1) Stokes shift. More detailed photophysical studies were carried out for a series of the most promising derivatives of pyrano[3,2-f] and [2,3-g]indoles to demonstrate their positive solvatochromism, and the data collected was analyzed using Lippert-Mataga equation. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to deepen the knowledge of the absorption and emission properties of pyrano[3,2-f] and [2,3-g]indoles as well as to explain their unusual geometries and electronic structures.

MnO2-Mediated Oxidative Cyclization of "Formal" Schiff's Bases: Easy Access to Diverse Naphthofuro-Annulated Triazines

A different type of MnO₂-induced oxidative cyclization of dihydrotriazines has been developed. These dihydrotriazines are considered as a "formal" Schiff's base. This method provided easy access to naphthofuro-fused triazine via the C-C/C-O oxidative coupling reaction. The reaction sequence comprised the nucleophilic addition of 2-naphthol or phenol to 1,2,4-triazine, followed by oxidative cyclization. The scope and limitations of this novel coupling reaction have been investigated. Further application of the synthesized compound has been demonstrated by synthesizing carbazole-substituted benzofuro-fused triazines. The scalability of the reaction was demonstrated at a 40 mmol load. The mechanistic study strongly suggests that this reaction proceeds through the formation of an O-coordinated manganese complex.

Coumarin-pyridine push-pull fluorophores: Synthesis and photophysical studies

A series of coumarin-pyridine-based push-pull fluorophores were prepared starting from 1,2,4-triazines by using direct C-H functionalization (S_N^H-reaction)-Diels-Alder-retro Diels-Alder domino reaction sequence. This efficient synthetic strategy allowed to obtain a series of 19 coumarin-pyridine fluorophores. Their photophysical properties were studied. While pyridine-substituted derivatives of 4-alkylcoumarins may be considered as alternative to coumarin dyes characterized by emission maxima mainly in a visible region with wavelengths of 402-415 nm, absorption in the UV range at 210-307 nm, and good photoluminescence quantum yields of 6-19%, all the derivatives of 4-phenylcoumarin did not exhibit any noticeable fluorescence. More detailed photophysical studies were carried out for two the most representative derivatives of 4-alkyl-coumarin-pyridines to demonstrate their positive solvatochromism, and the collected data were analyzed by using Lippert-Mataga equation, as well as Kosower and Dimroth/Reichardt scales. The obtained results demonstrate that the combining two chromophore systems, such as 2,5-diarylpyridine and coumarin ones, is promising in terms of improving the photophysical properties of the new coumarin-pyridine hybrid compounds.

Benzo[<i>de</i>]naphtho[1,8-<i>gh</i>]quinolines: synthesis, photophysical studies and nitro explosives detection

A rational synthetic approach to substituted naphtho[1,8-gh]quinolines using intramolecular cyclization in the presence of potassium in the series of (naphthalen-1-yl)isoquinolines is described. The photophysical properties of the obtained compounds were studied; in particular, fluorescence emission was detected in the range 454 - 482 nm with a quantum yield of up to 54%. We also calculated the HOMO-LUMO energies and optimized molecular structures for the resulting fluorophores. Based on the results of fluorescence titration, the Stern-Volmer constants (up to 21587 M-1) and the detection limits of nitroanalytes (up to 1.4 ppm) were calculated, confirming the possibility of their use as potential chemosensors for the visual detection of nitro-containing explosives.

15N Chemical Shifts and JNN-Couplings as Diagnostic Tools for Determination of the Azide-Tetrazole Equilibrium in Tetrazoloazines

Selectively ¹⁵N-labeled tetrazolo[1,5-b][1,2,4]triazines and tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines bearing one, two, or three ¹⁵N labels were synthesized. The synthesized compounds were studied by ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy in DMSO and TFA solutions, where the azide-tetrazole equilibrium can lead to the formation of two tetrazole (T, T') isomers and one azide (A) isomer for each compound. Incorporation of the ¹⁵N-label(s) leads to the appearance of ¹⁵N-¹⁵N coupling constants (J_NN), which can be easily measured via simple 1D ¹⁵N NMR spectra, even at natural abundance between labeled and unlabeled ¹⁵N atoms. The chemical shifts for the ¹⁵N nuclei in the azole moiety are very sensitive to the ring opening and azide formation, thus providing information about the azido-tetrazole equilibrium. At the same time, the ^1-2J_NN couplings between ¹⁵N-labeled atoms in the azole and azine fragments unambiguously determine the fusion type between tetrazole and azine rings in the cyclic isomers T and T'. Thus, combined analysis of ¹⁵N chemical shifts and J_NN values in selectively isotope-enriched compounds provides an effective diagnostic tool for direct structural determination of tetrazole isomers and azide form in solution. This method was found to be the most simple and efficient way to study the azido-tetrazole equilibrium.

A practicable synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted 1,4-dioxanes bearing a carbonyl functionality from α,β-unsaturated ketones using the Williamson strategy

We have observed that a reagent combination of NaIO₄ and NH₂OH·HCl reacts with α,β-unsaturated ketones followed by the nucleophile ethylene glycol allowing the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted 1,4-dioxanes using cesium carbonate as a base under Williamson ether synthesis. This reaction is useful for the synthesis of functionalized 1,4-dioxane having a carbonyl functionality. A variety of 2,3-disubstituted 1,4-dioxanes have been synthesized using these reaction conditions. A probable reaction mechanism has also been proposed.

Synthetic Approaches to Unsymmetrically Substituted 5,7-Dihydroxycoumarins

The chemical equivalence of the hydroxy groups in the 5,7-dihydroxycoumarin core has challenged synthetic chemists to develop short and efficient strategies for the selective modification of one of the hydroxy groups leaving the second intact. Over the past 100 years, chemists have proposed various approaches to distinguishing between these two groups according to their reactivity. While the early syntheses included simple nonselective reactions of both hydroxy groups and the subsequent separation of mixtures of the 5-O- and 7-O-isomers formed, recent sophisticated approaches often include the introduction of protective groups for selective directing reactions or the completely controlled construction of the 5,7-dihydroxycoumarin framework by Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction. This review discusses in detail approaches towards unsymmetrically substituted 5,7-dihydroxycoumarins as well as factors influencing 5-O vs. 7-O regioselectivity of reactions of 5,7-dihydroxycoumarins. This review covers all the literature since 1921 with an emphasis on recent works. This critical review may facilitate the synthesis of new drug candidates as well as the total synthesis of natural products.

1 Introduction

2 O-Modification of 5,7-Dihydroxycoumarins

2.1 Alkylation/Alkenylation

2.2 Acylation

2.3 Sulfonylation

2.4 Silylation

2.5 Acylation Followed by Alkylation

3 Other Approaches

3.1 Synthesis from Substituted Phloroglucinol

3.2 Synthesis from Derivatives of 2-Acylphloroglucinol

4 Conclusion

1-Nicotinoylbenzotriazole: A Convenient Tool for Site-Selective Protection of 5,7-Dihydroxycoumarins

1-Nicotinoylbenzotriazole (NicBt) was uncovered as an efficient protecting agent for the site-selective acylation of resorcinol-type phenolic groups with almost equal reactivity. The use of NicBt allows selective protection of the 7-OH group in 5,7-dihydroxycoumarins in one simple scalable step, while combination of the nicotinoylation with tosylation–denicotinoylation or silylation–denicotinoylation yields 5-OH-protected 5,7-dihydroxycoumarins. Furthermore, nicotinoylated 5,7-dihydroxycoumarins proved useful in a gram-scale three-step preparation of a 2,2-dimethylpyrano[2,3-f]coumarin, a key intermediate for the synthesis of calanolide A, an HIV reverse transcriptase and Mycobacterium tuberculosis inhibitor, and its active analogues.

15N labeling and analysis of 13C–15N and 1H–15N couplings in studies of the structures and chemical transformations of nitrogen heterocycles

This review provides a generalization of effective examples of ¹⁵N labeling followed by an analysis of J_CN and J_HN couplings in solution as a tool to study the structural aspects and pathways of chemical transformations in nitrogen heterocycles.

Mild, Efficient, and Metal-Free Radical 1,2-Dithiocyanation of Alkynes and Alkenes at Room Temperature

A transition metal-free process has been reported for 1,2-dithiocyanation of alkynes in the presence of sodium persulfate and potassium thiocyanate reagent combination in a short reaction time under ambient air. Styrene derivatives are equally applicable under the same reaction conditions. Monothiocyanated vinyl derivatives were also synthesized from 2-ethynylpyridine and dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate. The reaction proceeds by the radical/polar pathway as evidenced from our experiments and literature. After removal of the solvent from the reaction mixture by evaporation, the crude product was purified without conventional workup.

15N-Labelling and structure determination of adamantylated azolo-azines in solution

Determining the accurate chemical structures of synthesized compounds is essential for biomedical studies and computer-assisted drug design. The unequivocal determination of N-adamantylation or N-arylation site(s) in nitrogen-rich heterocycles, characterized by a low density of hydrogen atoms, using NMR methods at natural isotopic abundance is difficult. In these compounds, the heterocyclic moiety is covalently attached to the carbon atom of the substituent group that has no bound hydrogen atoms, and the connection between the two moieties of the compound cannot always be established via conventional 1H-1H and 1H-13C NMR correlation experiments (COSY and HMBC, respectively) or nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY or ROESY). The selective incorporation of 15N-labelled atoms in different positions of the heterocyclic core allowed for the use of 1H-15N (JHN) and 13C-15N (JCN) coupling constants for the structure determinations of N-alkylated nitrogen-containing heterocycles in solution. This method was tested on the N-adamantylated products in a series of azolo-1,2,4-triazines and 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine. The syntheses of adamantylated azolo-azines were based on the interactions of azolo-azines and 1-adamatanol in TFA solution. For azolo-1,2,4-triazinones, the formation of mixtures of N-adamantyl derivatives was observed. The JHN and JCN values were measured using amplitude-modulated 1D 1H spin-echo experiments with the selective inversion of the 15N nuclei and line-shape analysis in the 1D 13С spectra acquired with selective 15N decoupling, respectively. Additional spin-spin interactions were detected in the 15N-HMBC spectra. NMR data and DFT (density functional theory) calculations permitted to suggest a possible mechanism of isomerization for the adamantylated products of the azolo-1,2,4-triazines. The combined analysis of the JHN and JCN couplings in 15N-labelled compounds provides an efficient method for the structure determination of N-alkylated azolo-azines even in the case of isomer formation. The isomerization of adamantylated tetrazolo[1,5-b][1,2,4]triazin-7-ones in acidic conditions occurs through the formation of the adamantyl cation.

Long-range 1H-15N J couplings providing a method for direct studies of the structure and azide-tetrazole equilibrium in a series of azido-1,2,4-triazines and azidopyrimidines

The selectively (15)N labeled azido-1,2,4-triazine 2*A and azidopyrimidine 4*A were synthesized by treating hydrazinoazines with (15)N-labeled nitrous acid. The synthesized compounds were studied by (1)H, (13)C, and (15)N NMR spectroscopy in DMSO, TFA, and DMSO/TFA solutions, where the azide-tetrazole equilibrium could lead to the formation of two tetrazoles (T, T') and one azide (A) isomer for each compound. The incorporation of the (15)N label led to the appearance of long-range (1)H-(15)N coupling constants (J(HN)), which can be measured easily by using amplitude-modulated 1D (1)H spin-echo experiments with selective inversion of the (15)N nuclei. The observed J(HN) patterns enable the unambiguous determination of the mode of fusion between the azole and azine rings in the two groups of tetrazole isomers (2*T', 4*T' and 2*T, 4*T), even for minor isoforms with a low concentration in solution. However, the azide isomers (2*A and 4*A) are characterized by the absence of detectable J(HN) coupling. The analysis of the J(HN) couplings in (15)N-labeled compounds provides a simple and efficient method for direct NMR studies of the azide-tetrazole equilibrium in solution.