A new strategy of the chemical route to the cyclopropane structure: direct transformation of benzylidenemalononitriles and malononitrile into 1,1,2,2-tetracyanocyclopropanes

The new reaction was found: the direct formation of cyclopropanes from activated olefins and C-H acids. The action of free halogen or active halogen containing compounds on the equal amounts of benzylidenemalononitriles and malononitrile in basic alcohol solutions results in the formation of 3-aryl-1,1,2,2-tetracyanocyclopropanes in 65-95% yields. Thus, the new simple and efficient way to 3-aryl substituted tetracyanocyclopropanes was found directly from such simple and reasonable starting compounds as benzylidenemalononitriles and malononitrile.     

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.     

Synthesis of azo compounds by nanosized iron-promoted reductive coupling of aromatic nitro compounds

Treatment of a variety of aromatic nitro compounds with the active-iron based reducing system composed of FeCl₂·4H₂O, an excess of lithium powder and a catalytic amount of 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (DTBB, 5 mol %) in THF at room temperature, led to the formation of the corresponding symmetrically substituted azo compounds in good yield, resulting from a reductive coupling process. Some other functionalities including carbonyl, halogen, amino and hydroxyl groups, demonstrated to be compatible with the reaction conditions, giving none reduced or coupled by-products. In all cases, the azo compounds formed have not experienced over-reduction to the corresponding hydrazo or amino derivatives even upon prolonged heating or using an excess of the reducing system.     

General non-catalytic approach to spiroacenaphthylene heterocycles: multicomponent assembling of acenaphthenequinone,cyclic CH-acids and malononitrile

The new type of non-catalytic cascade reaction was found: the direct multicomponent reaction of acenaphthenequinone, cyclic CH-acids, and malononitrile to form spiroacenaphthylene heterocycles. The direct heating in water acenaphthenequinone, cyclic CH-acids, and malononitrile at 80 °C results in the formation of spiroacenaphthylene heterocycles in 90–95% yields. Thus, a new simple and efficient green ‘one-pot’ method to synthesize substituted spiroacenaphthylene frameworks was found directly from simple starting compounds. The application of this convenient green multicomponent method is also beneficial from the viewpoint of diversity-oriented large-scale processes.     

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.     

Headspace in-drop derivatization of carbonyl compounds for their analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection

A simple and rapid method has been reported for the determination of carbonyl compounds involving sample preparation by headspace single drop microextraction using 1-butanol as extraction solvent containing 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine for hydrazone formation, and direct transfer of the drop into the injector for high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. An angle-cut polytetrafluoroethylene sleeve, 3 mm × 0.5 mm, was fixed at the tip of the syringe needle and this allowed the use of 7 μL drop of solvent drop for extraction and derivatization. The procedure has been optimized with respect to suitable solvent for headspace drop formation, drop volume, concentration of reagent, sample temperature, reaction time, and headspace-to-sample volume ratio. The method has been validated when rectilinear relationship was obtained between the amount of analyte and peak area ratio of hydrazones in the range 0.01-15 mg L⁻¹, the correlation coefficient over 0.996-0.999, and the limit of detection in the range 1.7-24.1 μg L⁻¹. Spiked real samples have been analyzed with adequate accuracy, and application has been demonstrated of the method for analysis of carbonyl compounds formed as oxidation products.     

Microwave-assisted cycloadditions of 2-alkynylbenzonitriles with sodium azide: selective synthesis of tetrazolo[5,1-a]pyridines and 4,5-disubstituted-2H-1,2,3-triazoles

Under microwave irradiation (75 W), treatment of 2-alkynylbenzonitriles with 1.5 equiv of sodium azide in DMSO at 140 °C gave 4,5-disubstituted-2H-1,2,3-triazoles in 60-99% yields. Additionally, adding 8 equiv of ZnBr₂ and using 8 equiv of sodium azide in DMF at 100 °C lead to the formation of tetrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinolines up to 87% yield.     

Three-component condensations with 5-amino-4-phenylpyrazole

Three-component condensation of 3-methyl(or methoxymethyl)-4-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine with triethyl orthoformate and carbonyl compounds or nitriles containing an activated methylene group (cyclohexane-1,3-diones, acetoacetanilides, benzoylacetone, ethyl cyanoacetate, malononitrile, 1H-benzimidazol-2-ylacetonitrile) gave substituted pyrazolopyrimidines and pyrazoloquinazolines.     

An efficient and general urazole synthesis

A general two-step scheme for the synthesis of N4 substituted urazoles (i.e., 1,2,4-triazolin-3,5-diones) is described. The first step involves the reaction of a primary amine with 2.5 equiv of phenyl chloroformate to produce diphenyl (N-substituted)imidodicarbonates. The second step involves the reaction of these compounds with hydrazine to produce N4 substituted urazoles. The mild reaction conditions permit synthesis of N4 oxygenated urazoles, not available via existing methodology. Bicyclic urazoles can be prepared through the subsequent reaction of these N4-protected urazoles with 2.5 equiv of NaH in DMF together with either 1,3-dibromopropane or 2-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-1,3-dibromopropane in the presence of NaI. The resultant bicyclic urazoles are observed to display varying degrees of pyrimidalization at N1 and N2, depending on substituents.     

Organic iodine(V) compounds as terminal oxidants in iron(III) phthalocyanine catalyzed oxidation of alcohols

The pseudocyclic iodine(V) oxidants, such as esters of iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX-esters) and 2-iodylphenol ethers, can serve as stable and efficient sources of oxygen in catalytic oxidations, and their reactivity is similar to the commonly used thermally unstable and potentially explosive iodosylbenzene. In a specific example, primary or secondary benzylic alcohols are selectively oxidized by isopropyl IBX-ester in the presence of μ-oxo-(tetra-tert-butylphthalocyaninato)iron(III) (0.1 mol equiv) in dichloromethane at room temperature in 0.5-2 h to afford the respective carbonyl compounds in 100% conversion and preparative yields 91-95% after column chromatography.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 2-aminonicotinic acids by reacting 2-chloronicotinic acid with amines

2-(Methylamino)nicotinic acid was readily prepared in high yield by reacting 2-chloronicotinic acid with 40% aq MeNH₂ under microwave irradiation either at 120 °C for 2 h or at 140 °C for 1.5 h. Subsequently, we found that a range of 2-aminonicotinic acids could be obtained under microwave heating. The optimal reaction conditions involved the use of 3 equiv of amine, water as the solvent and heating at 200 °C for 2 h in the presence of diisopropylethylamine (3 equiv).     

Reactions of C5H5M (M = Fe, Ni) with substituted thiophenes

The ion molecule reactions between C₅H₅M⁺ (M = Fe, Ni) with some substituted thiophenes have been studied in an ion trap mass spectrometer. The reactions of halogen substituted thiophenes lead to the formation of a new C-C bond between the cyclopentadiene ring and the thiophene with the loss of a neutral HX. The reaction mechanism has been investigated by means of DFT calculations and it was found that the insertion of the metal atom in the C-X bond is the key step in the process.     

β-Lactam derivatives as enzyme inhibitors: halogenated β-lactams and related compounds

Different modifications of the imine – acyl chloride reaction were used for the synthesis of 3-mono- and 3,3-dihalogenated 1,4-diaryl substituted β-lactams. Furthermore, these β-lactams were modified by halogen substitution either at the aryl at position 1 or at the aryl substituent at position 4, or at both positions. The influence of the halogen atoms on the reactivity of the β-lactam ring, visible by the carbonyl frequence in their IR spectra, was studied. A selection of compounds was tested as inhibitors of the serin protease porcine pancreatic elastase. No simple correlation between IR frequence and biological activity was found. Finally, the base induced rearrangement of N-benzyl β-lactams was used for the synthesis of 4,5-diaryl substituted pyrrolidinones. Correspondence: Hans-Hartwig Otto, Department of Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry (PMC), Institute of Pharmacy, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, 17487 Greifswald, Germany.     

Sodium acetate catalyzed tandem Knoevenagel–Michael multicomponent reaction of aldehydes, 2-pyrazolin-5-ones,and cyano-functionalized C–H acids: Facile and efficient way to 3-(5-hydroxypyrazol-4-yl)-3-aryl-propionitriles

Sodium acetate catalyzed multicomponent reaction of aryl aldehydes, 2-pyrazolin-5-ones, and malononitrile or alkyl cyanoacetates in alcohols results in the formation of substituted 3-(5-hydroxy-3-methylpyrazol-4-yl)-3-arylpropionitriles in 80–99% yields. The developed efficient catalytic approach to the substituted 3-(5-hydroxy-3-methylpyrazol-4-yl)-3-arylpropionitriles – the promising compounds for human cardiovascular diseases therapy and different biomedical applications – is beneficial from the viewpoint of diversity-oriented large-scale processes and represents facile, efficient and environmentally benign synthetic concept for multicomponent reactions strategy.     

Iodine-alumina as an efficient and useful catalyst for the regeneration of carbonyl functionality from the corresponding 1,3-oxathiolanes and 1,3-dithiolanes in aqueous system

A simple and useful method has been demonstrated for the deprotection of 1,3-oxathiolanes and 1,3-dithiolanes to the corresponding carbonyl compounds in excellent yield by employing catalytic amount (30 mol %) of iodine supported on neutral alumina in ethanol-water or water. The major advantages of this protocol are mild reaction conditions, less reaction time, easy to handle, high yields, inexpensive reagent and environmentally benign.     

Synthesis of benzothiophene derivatives from dilithio reagents, sulfur, and electrophiles via electrophilic cyclization

Benzothiophene derivatives were synthesized in high yields from readily available o-(alkynyllithio)aryllithio compounds, sulfur, and 2 equiv of acid chlorides or other electrophiles. An acid chloride-induced electrophilic cyclization resulted in the formation of the thiophene ring.     

Alkylation and cyclopentannulation of phospholene derivatives

The deprotonation of 1-phenyl-3-phospholene 1-oxide, 1-sulfide or 1-borane with 1 or 2 equiv of LDA, followed by quenching with electrophiles gave a range of 2-mono- or 2,5-disubstituted phospholene derivatives in good yield. Only trans substitution in relation to the P-Ph group was observed. Treatment of lithiated phospholene intermediates with 1,3-dihaloalkanes afforded annulated 2-phenyl-2-phosphabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-3-ene derivatives. The annulation reactions occurred with high regio- and stereoselectivity and led to the exclusive formation of the exo-Ph-P substituted products.     

Efficient synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes in an aqueous-organic system using a versatile and recyclable Rh/m-TPPTC catalyst

We have found that the use of [Rh(cod)OH]₂ associated with the water-soluble ligand m-TPPTC was highly efficient for the Rh-catalyzed arylation of alkynes. Aryl and alkyl alkynes were transformed to alkenes using 3 mol % rhodium catalyst and 2.5 equiv of boronic acid at 100 °C in a biphasic water/toluene system in 80-99% yield. The reaction was found to be totally regioselective for alkyl arylalkynes and alkyl silylated alkynes. The Rh/m-TPPTC system was for the first time recycled with no loss of the activity and with excellent purity of the desired alkene.     

Palladium-free zinc-mediated hydroamination of alkynes: efficient synthesis of indoles from 2-akynylaniline derivatives

Reaction of 2-phenylethynyl N-tosylanilide prepared by Pd-free procedure with ZnBr₂ (3 equiv) in refluxing toluene gave N-tosyl-2-phenylindole in 93% yield. Treatment of 2-phenylethynylaniline with ZnBr₂ (1 equiv) in refluxing toluene resulted in the formation of 2-phenylindole in 91% yield. Catalytic ZnBr₂ (0.05 equiv) effectively reacted with 2-alkynylanilines to afford 2-substituted indoles in high yields. Thus, complete Pd-free zinc catalyzed hydroamination of 2-alkynylanilines was achieved.     

Intramolecular diamination and alkoxyamination of alkenes with N-sulfonyl ureas employing N-iodosuccinimide

Reaction of N-δ-alkenyl-N′-sulfonyl urea 1 with N-iodosuccinimde (NIS; 2 equiv) and a catalytic amount of AgOTf (20 mol %) at room temperature led to intramolecular alkoxyamination to form bicyclic isourea 2a in 95% isolated yield. In comparison, reaction of 1 with NIS and sodium bicarbonate (1 equiv) at room temperature led to isolation of bicyclic imidazolidin-2-one 2b in 91% yield. These NIS-mediated alkoxyamination and diamination protocols were effective for a range of N-δ-alkenyl-N′-sulfonyl ureas to form the corresponding heterobicyclic compounds in good yield with high chemoselectivity and good to excellent diastereoselectivity.