Synthesis and reactivity of 7-azaindole (1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine)

Solvent-dependent oxidations of 5- and 6-azaindoles to trioxopyrrolopyridines and functionalised azaindoles

A regioselective synthesis of 4,7-dimethoxy 5- and 6-azaindoles 2 has been achieved, based on the appropriate choice of ortho-directing or ortho-repulsing groups in the formylation of a pyridine ring. Studies on the regioselectivity of the formylation step and on the preparation of azidoacrylate intermediates 4 are described in this paper. The reactivity of the 5- and 6-azaindole structures towards BBr3-mediated selective monodemethylation and oxidative demethylation reactions were also investigated. The regioselectivity of the deprotection was confirmed using a chemical approach. Oxidation reactions were then carried out on either dimethoxy- or hydroxymethoxyazaindoles, in different solvents, using [bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene. In acetonitrile-water, trioxopyrrolopyridines 12 were obtained, whereas the formation of functionalised azaindoles 17 was observed in acetonitrile-methanol. The tautomeric structure of the trioxopyrrolopyridines was proved by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of clausine E, mukonine, and koenoline bioisosteres

Aza-analogues of clausine E, mukonine and koenoline were prepared from 1-(benzenesulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carboxaldehyde and their antiproliferative activity was evaluated against miscellaneous cancer cell lines and compared to those obtained with clausine E and mukonine.

Organometallic methods for the synthesis and functionalization of azaindoles

Azaindoles (also called pyrrolopyridines) constitute essential subunits in many pharmaceutically important compounds. The synthesis of azaindoles has been a great synthetic challenge for chemists. Many classical methods for indole synthesis (such as Fischer and Madelung cyclizations) often cannot be effectively applied to the synthesis of the corresponding azaindoles. In recent years, advances in organometallic chemistry have enabled a number of novel and efficient methodologies for azaindole formation as well as for the further functionalization of azaindole templates. In this tutorial review, we have surveyed the recent development of organometallic chemistry-based methods for azaindole synthesis.