Facile N-arylation of amidines and N,N-disubstituted amidines

Direct, Late-Stage Mono-N-arylation of Pentamidine: Method Development, Mechanistic Insight, and Expedient Access to Novel Antiparastitics against Diamidine-Resistant Parasites

A selective mono‐N‐arylation strategy of amidines under Chan‐Lam conditions is described. During the reaction optimization phase, the isolation of a mononuclear Cu(II) complex provided unique mechanistic insight into the operation of Chan‐Lam mono‐N‐arylation. The scope of the process is demonstrated, and then applied to access the first mono‐N‐arylated analogues of pentamidine. Sub‐micromolar activity against kinetoplastid parasites was observed for several analogues with no cross‐resistance in pentamidine and diminazene‐resistant trypanosome strains and against Leishmania mexicana. A fluorescent mono‐N‐arylated pentamidine analogue revealed rapid cellular uptake, accumulating in parasite nuclei and the kinetoplasts. The DNA binding capability of the mono‐N‐arylated pentamidine series was confirmed by UV‐melt measurements using AT‐rich DNA. This work highlights the potential to use Chan‐Lam mono‐N‐arylation to develop therapeutic leads against diamidine‐resistant trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.

Synthesis of Stannylated Aryl Imines and Amines via Aryne Insertion Reactions into Sn-N Bonds

The reaction of in situ generated arynes with stannylated imines to provide ortho-stannyl-aniline derivatives is reported. The readily prepared trimethylstannyl benzophenone imine is introduced as an efficient reagent to realize the aryne σ-insertion reaction. The imine functionality is an established N-protecting group and insertions proceed with good yields and good to excellent regioselectivities. The product anilines are valuable starting materials for follow-up chemistry thanks to the rich chemistry offered by the trimethylstannyl moiety.

Intra- versus Intermolecular Carbon-to-Carbon Proton Transfers in the Reactions of Arynes with Nitrogen Nucleophiles: A DFT Study

Carbon-to-carbon proton transfer (PT) is an elementary reaction in organic chemistry. Herein we report a systematic DFT study on the carbon-to-carbon proton transfers in the reactions of arynes with nitrogen nucleophiles, including tertiary amines, aziridines, imines, and N-heteroarenes. DFT calculations indicated that the Gibbs energies of activation for the 1,4- and 1,5-proton transfers involved are lower than 20 kcal/mol in most cases. We also found that the Bell-Evans-Polanyi principle applies to the 1,4-proton transfers, indicating that the more exergonic an intramolecular proton transfer is (the more stable a carbanion is generated), the faster it will be. Previous experimental studies have shown that, in the presence of a carbon nucleophile (NuH; e.g., CHCl₃ and MeCN) as the third component (also as the solvent), intermolecular proton abstractions may compete with the intramolecular proton transfers and lead to different products. Our theoretical rationalization of these competitions is that the introduction of an electron-withdrawing group at the acidic site can accelerate the intramolecular proton transfer dramatically (owing to the generation of a more stable carbanion), making it compete with the intermolecular processes. In addition, we have also discussed the competition between intra- and intermolecular proton transfers when NuH is used as the reactant rather than the solvent.

Mild synthesis of triarylsulfonium salts with arynes

Reactions between arynes and alkyl sulfides have been extensively studied over the past few decades. These reactions commonly end with a dealkylation process and thus deliver thioethers as final products. In contrast, the transformation described furnishes valuable triarylsulfonium salts, in lieu of thioethers, from arynes and diarylsulfides. The reaction features mild conditions and a broad substrate scope. A suite of functional groups such as ketones, esters, nitriles, aryl ethers and aryl halides is tolerated, which can be issues faced by traditional synthetic methods. The practicality of the reaction and its extension to the synthesis of triphenyl selenonium salt are also exhibited herein.

Tandem nucleophilic addition–cycloaddition of arynes with α-iminoesters: two concurrent pathways to imidazolidines

The tandem nucleophilic addition-cycloaddition reaction of arynes with α-iminoesters gave functionalized imidazolidine derivatives with high yields, complete regioselectivities, and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.