A versatile combined N-heterocyclic carbene and base-catalyzed multiple cascade approach for the synthesis of functionalized benzofuran-3-(2H)-ones

Functionalized 2,2-disubstituted benzofuran-3-(2H)-ones have been synthesized from simple aldehyde building blocks in a combined NHC- and base-catalyzed one-pot cascade reaction in moderate to excellent yields. This modular approach comprises a NHC-catalyzed hydroacylation/Stetter reaction sequence followed by a retro-Michael, 1,3-H shift and oxa-Michael cascade rearrangement promoted by strong bases.     

AcOH-catalyzed aza-Michael addition/N-nitrosation: An efficient approach to CF2HCH2-containing N-nitrosoamines

A simple and highly efficient protocol for the AcOH-catalyzed three-component reaction among nitroalkenes, difluoroethylamine and tert-butyl nitrite through cascade aza-Michael addition/N-nitrosation has been developed. A range of CF₂HCH₂-containing N-nitrosoamines were obtained in good to excellent yields. This approach features easily available cheap materials, without using additional organic solvents, simple operation under room temperature, gram scalable preparation and functionally diverse products.     

Pseudo four-component reaction of salicylaldehydes and cyclic ketones with two molecules of malononitrile: A facile and efficient way to synthesize 4-[2-(dicyanomethylene)cyclic or heterocyclic]-2-amino-4H-chromenes

A new type of catalytic cascade pseudo four-component reaction has been found. The simple and facile pseudo four-component reaction of salicylaldehydes and cyclic or heterocyclic ketones with two molecules of malononitrile catalyzed by sodium acetate at ambient temperature results in the formation of 4-substituted 2-amino-4H-chromenes in 70–90% yields. Thus, a new simple and efficient ‘one-pot’ method to synthesize substituted 2-amino-4H-chromenes was found directly from such reasonable starting compounds as salicylaldehydes, cyclic or heterocyclic ketones and malononitrile.     

Metal-free and highly regioselective synthesis of N-heteroaryl substituted pyrazoles from α,β-unsaturated N-tosylhydrazones and heteroaryl chlorides

A cascade cyclization/nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S_NAr) reaction of α,β-unsaturated N-tosylhydrazones with N-heteroaryl chlorides was developed for the synthesis of N-heteroaryl pyrazole derivatives. This one-pot reaction provided bi(heteroaryl) derivatives in good to excellent yields and with excellent regioselectivity. The procedure is operationally simple and applicable to large-scale synthesis.     

Cu(I)-catalyzed cascade reaction of N-tosylhydrazones with 3-butyn-1-ol: A new synthesis of tetrahydrofurans

The Cu(I)-catalyzed cascade coupling/cyclization reaction of N-tosylhydrazones with 3-butyn-1-ol has been explored. This new strategy represents a simple platform for the synthesis of tetrahydrofurans in moderate to good yields.     

Enantioselective one-pot synthesis of β-sulfonyl ketones and trisubstituted tetrahydrothiophenes via β-elimination/cycloaddition sequence

A mild and efficient enantioselective one-pot synthesis of β-sulfonyl ketones and trisubstituted tetrahydrothiophenes via introducing 1,4-dithiane-2,5-diol to the simple kinetic resolution of β-sulfonyl ketones has been described herein. The one-pot reaction sequence including kinetic resolution and cascade sulfa-Michael/Aldol reaction proceeded successively to afford corresponding sulfonyl ketones and tetrahydrothiophenes with high enantioselectivities (85%–98% ee and 84%–95% ee, respectively).     

Facile access to β-hydroxyl ketones via a cobalt-catalyzed ring-opening/hydroxylation cascade of cyclopropanols

A cobalt-catalyzed ring-opening/hydroxylation cascade of highly strained cyclopropanols has been developed for the first time. The reaction was conducted under open-air atmosphere to afford a broad series of structurally diverse β-hydroxy ketones in moderate to good yields with high regioselectivity. The protocol features mild reaction conditions, simple operation, high-functional-group tolerance, facile scalability, and heterocycle compatibility.     

Solvent-free cascade reaction: direct multicomponent assembling of 2-amino-4H-chromene scaffold from salicylaldehyde, malononitrile or cyanoacetate and nitroalkanes

The new type of solvent-free cascade reaction was found: the direct heating of the mixture of salicylaldehyde, malononitrile or cyanoacetate and nitroalkanes at 60 °C in the presence of catalytic amounts of KF or NaOAc results in the formation of 2-amino-4-(1-nitroalkyl)-4H-chromene-3-carbonitriles or methyl 2-amino-4-(1-nitroalkyl)-4H-chromene-3-carboxylates in 80-90% yields. Thus, the new simple and efficient solvent-free ‘one-pot’ way to substituted medicinally privileged 2-amino-4H-chromene scaffold was found directly from such simple and reasonable starting compounds as salicylaldehyde, malononitrile or cyanoacetate and nitroalkanes.     

Research on Liebeskind-Srogl coupling/intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction cascade

The Liebeskind-Srogl coupling/intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reaction cascade that stereoselectively affords a tricarbocyclic compound with a trans–trans-cis fused ring system including an all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center at the ring junction is described. The cascade reactions proceed quickly and stereoselectively afford the products within 2?h at room temperature in the presence of a suitable thioester. The developed protocol as well as the prepared chiral compounds are useful for the enantioselective total synthesis of terpenoids with the trans–trans-cis fused ring system.     

BF3·Et2O and trifluoroacetic acid/triethyl amine-mediated synthesis of functionalized piperidines

A two-step short and efficient strategy for the synthesis of substituted piperidones and piperidines in high diastereoselectivity (only trans-configuration), by employing cascade type reaction using BF₃·Et₂O or by carrying out one pot deprotection of ^tBoc group followed by intramolecular aza-Michael addition of α,β-unsaturated beta keto esters has been developed. Using a similar strategy a short access to hydroxy pipecolic acid is also described. Very simple and rapid experimental procedures involving mild conditions and only one or two chromatographic purifications are the main features of the process.     

Catalytic arylsulfonyl radical-triggered 1,5-enyne-bicyclizations and hydrosulfonylation of α,β-conjugates

A catalytic bicyclization reaction of 1,5-enynes anchored by α,β-conjugates with arylsulfonyl radicals generated in situ from sulfonyl hydrazides has been established using TBAI (20 mol%) and Cu(OAc)₂ (5 mol%) as co-catalysts under convenient conditions. In addition, the use of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as the oxidant and pivalic acid (PivOH) as an additive was proven to be necessary for this reaction. The reactions occurred through 5-exo-dig/6-endo-trig bicyclizations and homolytic aromatic substitution (HAS) cascade mechanisms to give benzo[b]fluorens regioselectively. A similar catalytic process was developed for the synthesis of γ-ketosulfones. These reactions feature readily accessible starting materials and simple one-pot operation.     

An unexpected one-pot synthesis of multi-substituted quinolines via a cascade reaction of Michael/Staudinger/aza-Wittig/aromatization of ortho-azido-β-nitro-styrenes with various carbonyl compounds

Multi-substituted quinolines 3 were unexpectedly prepared from a cascade reaction of ortho-azido-β-nitro-styrenes with various carbonyl compounds. This method takes advantages of mild condition, simple work-up, high yield as well as wide substrate scope, which makes this method powerful for one-pot synthesis of multi-substituted quinolines.     

Formal carbene insertion into CO double bond: A facile approach to the synthesis of 2H-chromenes

A formal carbene insertion into CO double bonds of 2-hydroxycinnamaldehydes catalyzed by Rh₂(esp)₂ with Na₂CO₃ as additive has been disclosed by using aryldiazoacetates as carbene precursors. 2H-chromenes with a quaternary carbon at C-2 position were readily obtained from simple starting materials in good yields with excellent diastereoselectivity under mild reaction conditions in one pot. The reaction mechanism was investigated and proposed as the formation of epoxide intermediate from Rh(II)-associated carbene and (E)-2-hydroxycinnamaldehyde and followed by a cascade epoxide ring-opening procedure in which the (E)-intermediate was converted into the (Z)-intermediate to give (Z)-products.     

An investigation into the mechanism of the imidazolidinone catalyzed cascade reaction

The cascade reaction of α,β-unsaturated butyric aldehydes with 2-methyl furan and chlorinated quinone catalyzed by a (2S,5S)-5-benzyl-2-tert-butyl-3-methylimidazolidin-4-one·TFA was investigated by using density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the PCM(EtOAc)/B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level to (a) confirm the detailed reaction mechanism and key factors controlling the enantioselectivity; and (b) check the models of the iminium ion formation and hydrolysis process that were carried out in another reaction. Two favorable reaction channels, corresponding to the enantioselectivity of the (2R,3S)-product and (2S,3S)-product, have been characterized. The enantioselectivity is controlled by the steps involved in the formation of the C–C bond and the C–Cl bond in the iminium catalysis and the enamine catalysis, respectively. The calculated results explain the reaction mechanism and the enantioselectivity, which are in agreement with experimental observations, and may be helpful for understanding the reaction mechanism of similar cascade reactions.     

Bromophilic substitution/carbophilic substitution cascade reactions of α,α-dibromo-2-methoxyacetophenone with C-, N- and O-nucleophiles

α,α-Dibromo-2-methoxyacetophenone reacts, under mild reaction conditions, with C-, N- and O-nucleophiles via a bromophilic substitution/protonation/carbophilic substitution cascade process to afford α-monosubstituted-2-methoxyacetophenones in moderate to good yield. The only exception from this reaction pathway is the reaction with the anion derived from malononitrile in which 2-aroyl-1,1,3,3-tetracyanopropene is obtained.     

A concise,stereocontrolled synthesis of spectinomycin

A simple and concise synthesis of the antibiotic spectinomycin is described. The key step comprises a reaction cascade initiated by the β-selective 5-O-glycosylation of an N,N-blocked myo-1,3-inosadiamine 10 with a suitable actinospectosyl donor—the d-glucose-derived enol benzoate of 4,6-dideoxy-α-d-hex-3-enulosyl chloride 5—which is spontaneously followed by regio- and stereospecific cyclo-hemiketalization and a 3-O→2-O-benzoyl group migration to directly elaborate the cis–cisoid–trans-fused pyran–dioxane–cyclohexane framework of 1. The approach is flexible enough to be applied to other inosadiamines towards the generation of novel spectinomycin analogues.     

Synthesis of novel isoindolone derivatives via cascade reactions. Contrasting diastereoselectivity under solution-phase vis-a-vis solvent-free ball-milling reaction conditions

The highly diastereoselective synthesis, crystallographic analysis, and full characterization of several novel heterocycle-fused isoindolones is described. The synthetic strategy involves a cascade Michael/aldol-like cyclization reaction between N-substituted phthalimides rac-1 or 2 and several α,β-unsaturated electrophiles to afford the tricyclic systems pyrrolo[2,1- a]isoindolone and tetrahydropyrido[2,1-a]isoindolone. This synthetic strategy offers a convenient alternative to existing procedures for the preparation of isoindolone derivatives fused to five- and six-membered rings. X-ray crystallographic analysis allowed the determination of relative configurations and revealed that the synthesized compounds exhibit significant structural distortion, especially in the five membered rings. Relevantly, the diastereomeric distribution of products depends substantially on whether the cascade reaction is carried out under solution vis-a-vis solvent-free conditions.     

Rhodium-catalyzed cascade reactions of triazoles with organoselenium compounds – a combined experimental and mechanistic study

Herein, we report on our studies on the reaction of organoselenium compounds with triazoles under thermal conditions using simple Rh(ii) catalysts. These reactions do not provide the product of classic rearrangement reactions. Instead two different cascade reactions were uncovered. While allyl selenides react in a cascade of sigmatropic rearrangement and selenium-mediated radical cyclization reaction to give dihydropyrroles, cinnamyl selenides undergo a double rearrangement reaction cascade involving a final aza-Cope reaction to give the product of 1,3-difunctionalization. Theoretical and experimental studies were conducted to provide an understanding of the reaction mechanism of these cascade reactions. The former provide an important insight into fundamental question on the nature of the ylide intermediate in rearrangement reactions and reveal that organoselenium compounds take up multiple roles in rearrangement reactions and mediate a free ylide reaction mechanism.

Herein, we report on our studies on the reaction of organoselenium compounds with triazoles under thermal conditions using simple Rh(ii) catalysts.     

Trapping rhodium vinylcarbenoids with aminochalcones for the synthesis of medium-sized azacycles

A rhodium carbenoid initiated cascade has been developed for the stereoselective synthesis of medium-sized azacycles. The cascade approach utilizes readily accessible N-benzyl protected aminochalcones and vinyldiazo compounds to access 9-membered azacycles through a carbene- nitrogen insertion/aldol/oxy-Cope sequence. The cascade reaction has proven general with a range of N-benzyl protected aminochalcones and vinyldiazos to provide diverse medium-sized azacycles.     

Synthesis of arylsulfonyl-substituted indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-6(5H)-one derivatives via a TBAI-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization

We have developed a metal-free radical cascade reaction of N-substituted 2-aryl indoles with readily available sulfonyl hydrazides for the rapid construction of arylsulfonyl-substituted indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-6(5H)-one derivatives. With the TBAI–TBHP catalytic system, a broad series of structurally diverse indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-6(5H)-one derivatives were obtained in moderate to excellent yields. The reaction features mild reaction conditions, operationally easiness, scaled-up feasibility, and high functional-group-tolerance.