Selective oxymetalation of terminal alkynes via 6-endo cyclization: mechanistic investigation and application to the efficient synthesis of 4-substituted isocoumarins

The cyclization of heteroatom-containing alkynes with π acidic metal salts is an attractive method to prepare heterocycles because the starting materials are readily available and the organometallic compounds are useful synthetic intermediates. A new organometallic species in the heterocyclization provides an opportunity to synthesize heterocycles that are difficult to obtain. Herein, we describe a novel cyclic oxymetalation of 2-alkynylbenzoate with indium or gallium salts that proceeds with an unusual regioselectivity to give isocoumarins bearing a carbon-metal bond at the 4-position. This new type of metalated isocoumarin provided 3-unsubstituted isocoumarins that have seldom been investigated despite their important pharmacological properties. Indium and gallium salts showed high performance in the selective 6-endo cyclization of terminal alkynes while boron or other metals such as Al, Au, and Ag caused 5-exo cyclization or decomposition of terminal alkynes, respectively. The metalated isocoumarin and its reaction intermediate were unambiguously identified by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The theoretical calculation of potential energy profiles showed that oxyindation could proceed via 6-endo cyclization under thermodynamic control while previously reported oxyboration would give a 5-membered ring under kinetic control. The investigation of electrostatic potential maps suggested that the differences in the atomic characters of indium, boron and their ligands would contribute to such a regioselective switch. The metalated isocoumarins were applied to organic synthetic reactions. The halogenation of metalated isocoumarins proceeded to afford 4-halogenated isocoumarins bearing various functional groups. The palladium-catalyzed cross coupling of organometallic species with organic halides gave various 4-substituted isocoumarins. A formal total synthesis of oosponol, which exhibits strong antifungal activity, was accomplished.

Potent Antifungal Synergy of Phthalazinone and Isoquinolones with Azoles Against Candida albicans

Four phthalazinones (CIDs 22334057, 22333974, 22334032, 22334012) and one isoquinolone (CID 5224943) were previously shown to be potent enhancers of antifungal activity of fluconazole against Candida albicans. Several even more potent analogues of these compounds were identified, some with EC₅₀ as low as 1 nM, against C. albicans. The compounds exhibited pharmacological synergy (FIC < 0.5) with fluconazole. The compounds were also shown to enhance the antifungal activity of isavuconazole, a recently FDA approved azole antifungal. Isoquinolone 15 and phthalazinone 24 were shown to be active against several resistant clinical isolates of C. albicans.