Access to Polycyclic Alkaloid-Like Structures by Coupling the Passerini and Ugi Reactions with Two Sequential Metal-Catalyzed Cyclizations

Synthesis of spiroindolenines through a one-pot multistep process mediated by visible light

Spiro-heterocyclic indolenines are privileged scaffolds widely present in numerous indole alkaloids. Here, we develop a novel approach for the one-pot multistep synthesis of different spiro[indole-isoquinolines]. The protocol proposed involves the visible light mediated oxidation of N-aryl tertiary amines using bromochloroform with the generation of a reactive iminium species, which reacts with an isocyanide and an electron-rich aniline in a three-component Ugi-type reaction to give an α-aminoamidine. This compound might undergo an additional visible light-mediated oxidation to furnish a second iminium intermediate, which acts as electrophile in an intramolecular electrophilic aromatic substitution giving the final spiro-indolenine. The scope of the process has been investigated with respect to all three components. Simple operations, mild conditions, and good yields make this strategy a convenient and sustainable way to obtain novel spiro-indolenine derivatives.

Tsuji-Trost Based Cascades: From Passerini Adducts of Cinnamaldehyde to Allylated Oxazolones

The Passerini coupling of cinnamaldehyde derivatives affords allylic esters that may behave as both electrophiles and nucleophiles in Tsuji-Trost reactions. We present herein the interaction of the latter with methylallylcarbonate, leading to the formation of oxazolidine-diones. The efficiency of the process relies on the building up of a CO2 overpressure in the medium. A reaction mechanism highlighting the reversibility of the Tsuji-Trost reaction is proposed for the process.

Study and application of graphene oxide in the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted quinolines via a Povarov multicomponent reaction and subsequent oxidation

The carbocatalyzed synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted quinolines is disclosed. This process involved a three-component Povarov reaction of anilines, aldehydes and electron-enriched enol ethers, which gave the substrate for the subsequent oxidation. Graphene oxide (GO) was exploited as a heterogeneous, metal-free and sustainable catalyst for both transformations. The multicomponent reaction proceeded under simple and mild reaction conditions, exhibited good functional group tolerance, and could be easily scaled up to the gram level. A selection of tetrahydroquinolines obtained was subsequently aromatized to quinolines. The multistep synthesis could also be performed as a one-pot procedure. Investigation of the real active sites of GO was carried out by performing control experiments and a by full characterization of the carbon material by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR).

Two decades of recent advances of Passerini reactions: synthetic and potential pharmaceutical applications

This perspective describes the applications of Passerini reactions in the last two decades from 2000 to 2021 in pharmaceutical applications and synthesis of peptides, natural products, macrocycles, dendrimers, and versatile types of heterocycles.

The 100 facets of the Passerini reaction

This perspective aims at celebrating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Passerini three component reaction. After being nearly neglected for many years, now this reaction has become quite popular, thanks to the achievements of the last 30 years, which have revealed several chances of exploitation in organic synthesis. Though not being comprehensive, this review means to show the various ways that have been used in order to expand the utility of the Passerini reaction. Post-MCR transformations to give heterocycles or peptidomimetics, variants through single component replacement, stereochemical issues, and applications in total syntheses will be especially covered.

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Diketopiperazines by Intramolecular Tsuji-Trost Allylation

We report the intramolecular Tsuji–Trost reaction of Ugi adducts to give spiro-diketopiperazines in high yield and with high enantioselectivity. This approach allows the catalytic asymmetric construction of a broad range of these medicinally important heterocycles under mild conditions, in two steps from cheap, commercially available starting materials.

Multicomponent, fragment-based synthesis of polyphenol-containing peptidomimetics and their inhibiting activity on beta-amyloid oligomerization

A new and short fragment-based approach towards artificial (but “natural-based”) complex polyphenols has been developed, exploiting the Ugi multicomponent reaction of phenol-containing simple substrates.