Palladium-catalyzed N-Arylation of 1-substituted-1H-tetrazol-5-amines

Condition-Controlled Divergent Selective Synthesis of (Z)-N-Vinyl and N-Allenyl Benzimidazoles by Pd- or Bi-Catalyzed Direct N-Alkenylation Reactions

We have developed a condition-controlled divergent synthesis of (Z)-N-vinyl and N-allenyl benzimidazoles from 1,1,3-triphenylprop-2-yn-1-ols and benzimidazoles through Pd- or Bi-catalyzed N-alkenylation reactions involving nucleophilic attack and C-C bond cleavage processes. The desired two different kinds of products can be conveniently and selectively synthesized by using this strategy, which features stereospecific synthesis, good functional group tolerance, a broad substrate scope, and high efficiency. The strategy provides significant advantages for the synthesis of biologically and pharmaceutically active imidazoheterocycles.

Three-Component Synthesis of 1-Substituted 5-Aminotetrazoles Promoted by Bismuth Nitrate

A nontoxic bismuth-promoted multicomponent synthesis of 5-aminotetrazoles and bistetrazoles is reported. The reaction of phenyl isothiocyanate, NaN3, and amine (primary aliphatic, aromatic, and aliphatic diamine) promoted by Bi(NO3)3·5H2O under microwave heating affords good yields, short reaction times, simple workup, and purification without column chromatography. A set of diagnostic 1H NMR signals was identified as a guide for quickly elucidating the exclusive (or main) regioisomer formed, with the stronger electron donor group located at heterocyclic nitrogen 1. This regioselectivity is strongly dependent on the electronic density of the amine. It is opposite to that obtained by several thiourea desulfurization methods promoted by thiophilic metals and metal-free protocols.

Unraveling the anti-virulence potential and antifungal efficacy of 5-aminotetrazoles using the zebrafish model of disseminated candidiasis

Candida albicans remains the main causal agent of candidiasis, the most common fungal infection with disturbingly high mortality rates worldwide. The limited diversity and efficacy of clinical antifungal drugs, exacerbated by emerging drug resistance, have resulted in the failure of current antifungal therapies. This imposes an urgent demand for the development of innovative strategies for effective eradication of candidal infections. While the existing clinical drugs display fungicidal or fungistatic activity, the strategy specifically targeting C. albicans filamentation, as the most important virulence trait, represents an attractive approach for overcoming the drawbacks related to clinical antifungals. The results acquired in this study revealed the significant potential of 5-aminotetrazoles as a new class of effective and safe anti-virulence agents. Moreover, these novel agents were active when applied both alone and in combination with clinically approved polyenes. Complete prevention of C. albicans morphogenetic yeast-to-hyphae transition was achieved at doses as low as 1.3 μM under conditions mimicking various filamentation-responsive stimuli in the human body, while no cardio- or hepatotoxicity was observed at doses as high as 200 μM. The treatment of C. albicans-infected zebrafish embryos with nystatin alone had low efficacy, while the combination of nystatin and selected 5-aminotetrazoles prevented fungal filamentation, successfully eliminating the infection and rescuing the infected embryos from lethal disseminated candidiasis. In addition, the most potent anti-virulence 5-aminotetrazole prevented C. albicans in developing the resistance to nystatin when applied in combination, keeping the fungus sensitive to the antifungal drug.

Controlling Pd-Catalyzed N-Arylation and Dimroth Rearrangement in the Synthesis of N,1-Diaryl-1H-tetrazol-5-amines

The Pd-catalyzed N-arylation method for the synthesis of eighteen N,1-diaryl-1H-tetrazol-5-amine derivatives is reported. By running the reactions at 35 °C, compounds were isolated as single isomers since the undesired Dimroth rearrangement was completely suppressed. Furthermore, the Dimroth rearrangement of N,1-diaryl-1H-tetrazol-5-amines was rationalized by conducting comprehensive experiments and NMR analysis as well as density functional theory (DFT) calculations of thermodynamic stability of the compounds. It was established that the Dimroth rearrangement is thermodynamically controlled, and the equilibrium of the reaction is determined by the stability of the corresponding isomers. The mechanism was investigated by additional DFT calculations, and the opening of the tetrazole ring was shown to be the rate-determining step. By maneuvering Pd-catalyzed N-arylation and the subsequent Dimroth rearrangement, two more N,1-diaryl-1H-tetrazol-5-amine derivatives were acquired, which otherwise cannot be synthesized by employing the C-N cross-coupling reaction.