Rapid and Scalable Halosulfonylation of Strain-Release Reagents

Sulfonylated aromatics are commonplace motifs in drugs and agrochemicals. However, methods for the direct synthesis of sulfonylated non-classical arene bioisosteres, which could improve the physicochemical properties of drug and agrochemical candidates, are limited. Here we report a solution to this challenge: a one-pot halosulfonylation of [1.1.1]propellane, [3.1.1]propellane and bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes that proceeds under practical, scalable and mild conditions. The sulfonyl halides used in this chemistry feature aryl, heteroaryl and alkyl substituents, and are conveniently generated in situ from readily available sulfinate salts and halogen atom sources. This methodology enables the synthesis of an array of pharmaceutically and agrochemically relevant halogen/sulfonyl-substituted bioisosteres and cyclobutanes, on up to multidecagram scale.

Control of Redox-Active Ester Reactivity Enables a General Cross-Electrophile Approach to Access Arylated Strained Rings

Strained rings are increasingly important for the design of pharmaceutical candidates, but cross-coupling of strained rings remains challenging. An attractive, but underdeveloped, approach to diverse functionalized carbocyclic and heterocyclic frameworks containing all-carbon quaternary centers is the coupling of abundant strained-ring carboxylic acids with abundant aryl halides. Herein we disclose the development of a nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile approach that couples a variety of strained ring N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHP) esters, derived from the carboxylic acid in one step, with various aryl and heteroaryl halides under reductive conditions. The chemistry is enabled by the discovery of methods to control NHP ester reactivity, by tuning the solvent or using modified NHP esters, and the discovery that t-Bu BpyCamCN , an L2X ligand, avoids problematic side reactions. This method can be run in flow and in 96-well plates.

A Practical and Scalable Approach to Fluoro-Substituted Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes

After more than 20 years of trials, a practical scalable approach to fluoro-substituted bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (F-BCPs) has been developed. The physicochemical properties of the F-BCPs have been studied, and the core was incorporated into the structure of the anti-inflammatory drug Flurbiprofen in place of the fluorophenyl ring.

Electrophilic Activation of [1.1.1]Propellane for the Synthesis of Nitrogen-Substituted Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes

Strategies commonly used for the synthesis of functionalised bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (BCP) rely on the reaction of [1.1.1]propellane with anionic or radical intermediates. In contrast, electrophilic activation has remained a considerable challenge due to the facile decomposition of BCP cations, which has severely limited the applications of this strategy. Herein, we report the electrophilic activation of [1.1.1]propellane in a halogen bond complex, which enables its reaction with electron-neutral nucleophiles such as anilines and azoles to give nitrogen-substituted BCPs that are prominent motifs in drug discovery. A detailed computational analysis indicates that the key halogen bonding interaction promotes nucleophilic attack without sacrificing cage stabilisation. Overall, our work rehabilitates electrophilic activation of [1.1.1]propellane as a valuable strategy for accessing functionalised BCPs.

Continuous Flow Acylation of (Hetero)aryllithiums with Polyfunctional N,N-Dimethylamides and Tetramethylurea in Toluene

The continuous flow reaction of various aryl or heteroaryl bromides in toluene in the presence of THF (1.0 equiv) with sec -BuLi (1.1 equiv) provided at 25 °C within 40 sec the corresponding aryllithiums which were acylated with various functionalized N,N-dimethylamides including easily enolizable amides at -20 °C within 27 sec, producing highly functionalized ketones in 48-90% yield (36 examples). This method was well suited for the preparation of α-chiral ketones such as naproxene and ibuprofen derived ketones with 99% ee . A one-pot stepwise bis-addition of two different lithium organometallics to 1,1,3,3-tetramethyurea (TMU) provided unsymmetrical ketones in 69-79% yield (9 examples).

Catalyst-Free Decarbonylative Trifluoromethylthiolation Enabled by Electron Donor-Acceptor Complex Photoactivation

A catalyst- and additive-free decarbonylative trifluoromethylthiolation of aldehyde feedstocks has been developed. This operationally simple, scalable, and open-to-air transformation is driven by the selective photoexcitation of electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes, stemming from the association of 1,4-dihydropyridines (donor) with N-(trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide (acceptor), to trigger intermolecular single-electron transfer events under ambient- and visible light-promoted conditions. Extension to other electron acceptors enables the synthesis of thiocyanates and thioesters, as well as the difunctionalization of [1.1.1] propellane. The mechanistic intricacies of this photochemical paradigm are elucidated through a combination of experimental efforts and high-level quantum mechanical calculations [dispersion-corrected (U)DFT, DLPNO-CCSD(T), and TD-DFT]. This comprehensive study highlights the necessity for EDA complexation for efficient alkyl radical generation. Computation of subsequent ground state pathways reveals that SH2 addition of the alkyl radical to the intermediate radical EDA complex is extremely exergonic and results in a charge transfer event from the dihydropyridine donor to the N-(trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide acceptor of the EDA complex. Experimental and computational results further suggest that product formation also occurs via SH2 reaction of alkyl radicals with 1,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)disulfane, generated in-situ through combination of thiyl radicals.

α-Cyclodextrin Encapsulation of Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane Derivatives: A Storable Feedstock for Preparation of [1.1.1]Propellane

The bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) scaffold is useful in medicinal chemistry, and many protocols are available for synthesizing BCP derivatives from [1.1.1]propellane. Here, we report (1) the α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) encapsulation of BCP derivatives, affording a stable, readily storable material from which BCPs can be easily and quantitatively recovered and (2) new and simple protocols for deiodination reaction of 1,3-diiodo BCP to afford [1.1.1]propellane in protic/aprotic/polar/non-polar solvents. The combination of these methodologies enables simple, on-demand preparation of [1.1.1]propellane in various solvents under mild conditions from α-CD capsules containing 1,3-diiodo BCP.

Highly Regioselective Addition of Allylic Zinc Halides and Various Zinc Enolates to [1.1.1]Propellane

We report a range of highly regioselective openings of [1.1.1]propellane with various allylic zinc halides, as well as zinc enolates of ketones, esters and nitriles. The resulting zincated bicyclopentanes (BCPs) were trapped with a range of electrophiles including acyl chlorides, sulfonothioates, hydroxylamino benzoates, tosyl cyanide as well as aryl and allyl halides, generating highly functionalized BCP-derivatives. The unusually high regioselectivity of these reactions has been rationalized using DFT calculations. A bioisostere of the synthetic opioid pethidine was prepared in 95 % yield in one step using this method.

Cubane, Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane and Bicyclo[2.2.2]octane: Impact and Thermal Sensitiveness of Carboxyl-, Hydroxymethyl- and Iodo-substituents

With the burgeoning interest in cage motifs for bioactive molecule discovery, and the recent disclosure of 1,4-cubane-dicarboxylic acid impact sensitivity, more research into the safety profiles of cage scaffolds is required. Therefore, the impact sensitivity and thermal decomposition behavior of judiciously selected starting materials and synthetic intermediates of cubane, bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP), and bicyclo[2.2.2]octane (BCO) were evaluated via hammer test and sealed cell differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. Iodo-substituted systems were found to be more impact sensitive, whereas hydroxymethyl substitution led to more rapid thermodecomposition. Cubane was more likely to be impact sensitive with these substituents, followed by BCP, whereas all BCOs were unresponsive. The majority of derivatives were placed substantially above Yoshida thresholds-a computational indicator of sensitivity.

Saturated Bioisosteres of ortho-Substituted Benzenes

Saturated bioisosteres of ortho-disubstituted benzenes (bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes) were synthesized, characterized and validated. These cores were incorporated into the bioactive compounds Valsartan, Boskalid and Fluxapyroxad instead of the benzene ring. The saturated analogues showed a similar level of antifungal activity compared to that of Boskalid and Fluxapyroxad.

Divergent Strain-Release Amino-Functionalization of [1.1.1]Propellane with Electrophilic Nitrogen-Radicals

Herein we report the development of a photocatalytic strategy for the divergent preparation of functionalized bicyclo[1.1.1]pentylamines. This approach exploits, for the first time, the ability of nitrogen-radicals to undergo strain-release reaction with [1.1.1]propellane. This reactivity is facilitated by the electrophilic nature of these open-shell intermediates and the presence of strong polar effects in the transition-state for C-N bond formation/ring-opening. With the aid of a simple reductive quenching photoredox cycle, we have successfully harnessed this novel radical strain-release amination as part of a multicomponent cascade compatible with several external trapping agents. Overall, this radical strategy enables the rapid construction of novel amino-functionalized building blocks with potential application in medicinal chemistry programs as p-substituted aniline bioisosteres.

Sodium Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanesulfinate: A Bench-Stable Precursor for Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentylsulfones and Bicyclo- [1.1.1]pentanesulfonamides

Herein, we present the synthesis of the bench-stable sodium bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanesulfinate (BCP-SO2 Na) and its application in the synthesis of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentyl (BCP) sulfones and sulfonamides. The salt can be obtained in a four-step procedure from commercially available precursors in multigram scale without the need for column chromatography or crystallization. Sulfinates are known to be useful precursors in radical and nucleophilic reactions and are widely used in medicinal chemistry. This building block enables access to BCP sulfones and sulfonamides avoiding the volatile [1.1.1]propellane which is favorable for the extension of SAR studies. Further, BCP-SO2 Na enables the synthesis of products that were not available with previous methods. A chlorination of BCP-SO2 Na and subsequent reaction with a Grignard reagent provides a new route to BCP sulfoxides. Several products were analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Water-Soluble Non-Classical Benzene Mimetics

A new generation of saturated benzene mimetics, 2-oxabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes, was developed. These compounds were designed as analogues of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane with an improved water solubility. Crystallographic analysis of 2-oxabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes revealed that they occupy a novel chemical space, but, at the same time, resemble the motif of meta-disubstituted benzenes.

Bridging and Conformational Control of Porphyrin Units through Non-Traditional Rigid Scaffolds

Connecting two porphyrin units in a rigid linear fashion, without any undesired electron delocalization or communication between the chromophores, remains a synthetic challenge. Herein, a broad library of functionally diverse multi-porphyrin arrays that incorporate the non-traditional rigid linker groups cubane and bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) is described. A robust, reliable, and versatile synthetic procedure was employed to access porphyrin-cubane/BCP-porphyrin arrays, representing the largest non-polymeric structures available for cubane/BCP derivatives. These reactions demonstrate considerable substrate scope, from utilization of small phenyl moieties to large porphyrin rings, with varying lengths and different angles. To control conformational flexibility, amide bonds were introduced between the bridgehead carbon of BCP/cubane and the porphyrin rings. Through varying the orientation of the substituents around the amide bond of cubane/BCP, different intermolecular interactions were identified through single crystal X-ray analysis. These studies revealed non-covalent interactions that are the first-of-their-kind including a unique iodine-oxygen interaction between cubane units. These supramolecular architectures indicate the possibility to mimic a protein structure due to the sp3 rigid scaffolds (BCP or cubane) that exhibit the essential conformational space for protein function while simultaneously providing amide bonds for molecular recognition.

Silaboration of [1.1.1]Propellane: A Storable Feedstock for Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane Derivatives

The silaboration of [1.1.1]propellane enables direct introduction of B and Si functional groups onto the bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) scaffold in high yield under mild, additive-free conditions. The silaborated BCP can be obtained on a gram-scale in a single step without the need for column-chromatographic purification, and is storable and easy to handle, providing a versatile synthetic intermediate for BCP derivatives. We also describe various conversions of the C-B/C-Si bonds on the BCP scaffold, including development of a modified Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction at the highly sterically hindered bridgehead sp³ carbon center of the BCP skeleton using a combination of highly activated BCP boronic esters, copper(I) oxide, and a PdCl₂ (dppf) catalyst system.

Reactions of 2-Aryl-1,3-Dithianes and [1.1.1]Propellane

Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (BCPs) have sparked the interest of medicinal chemists due to their recent discovery as bioisosteres of aromatic rings. To study the biological activity of this relatively new class of bioisosteres, reliable methods to incorporate BCPs into target molecules are in high demand, as reflected by a flurry of methods for BCP synthesis in recent years. In this work, we disclose a general method for the synthesis of BCP-containing dithianes which, upon deprotection, provide access to BCP analogues of medicinally abundant diarylketones. A broad scope of 2-aryl-1,3-dithianes, including several heterocyclic derivatives, react with [1.1.1]propellane to afford 26 new derivatives in good to excellent yields. Further transformation of the dithiane portion into a variety of functional groups demonstrates the robustness of the products. A computational study indicates that the reaction of 2-aryl-1,3-dithianes and [1.1.1]propellane proceeds via a two-electron pathway.

Nonconjugated Hydrocarbons as Rigid-Linear Motifs: Isosteres for Material Sciences and Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry

Nonconjugated hydrocarbons, like bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane, triptycene, and cubane are a unique class of rigid linkers. Due to their similarity in size and shape they are useful mimics of classic benzene moieties in drugs, so-called bioisosteres. Moreover, they also fulfill an important role in material sciences as linear linkers, in order to arrange various functionalities in a defined spatial manner. In this Review article, recent developments and usages of these special, rectilinear systems are discussed. Furthermore, we focus on covalently linked, nonconjugated linear arrangements and discuss the physical and chemical properties and differences of individual linkers, as well as their application in material and medicinal sciences.