Palladium-Catalyzed Nucleophilic Substitution/C–H Activation/Aromatization Cascade Reaction: One Approach To Construct 6-Unsubstituted Phenanthridines

Pd-catalysed C-H bond functionalisation route to 1,2-dihydroferroceno[c]isoquinoline and its annellated derivatives and the reactivity of these compounds

C-H bond functionalisation has developed into a powerful synthetic methodology that is applicable to a wide array of substrates, including organometallic compounds. In this study, racemic, planar-chiral 1,2-dihydroferroceno[c]isoquinoline and analogous helical compounds with one or two additional ortho-fused benzene rings were synthesised by palladium-catalysed C-H bond activation/cyclisation of N-[(bromoaryl)methyl]-N-(methylsulfonyl)aminoferrocenes. These starting materials are readily accessible from FcNHSO2Me (Fc = ferrocenyl) and appropriate vicinal bromo-(bromomethyl)arenes. The racemic products were successfully enantioseparated using chiral chromatography and the representative compound, 1,2-dihydro-2-(methylsulfonyl)ferroceno[c]isoquinoline, was converted to the unstable ferroceno[c]isoquinoline and further used to prepare a heterobimetallic, Fe/Ru bis-metallocene complex via a reaction with [(η5-C5Me5)Ru(MeCN)3][PF6]. All compounds were characterised by spectroscopic methods (NMR, FTIR, and UV-vis) and mass spectrometry and, in most cases, the structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In addition, the representative compounds were examined by cyclic voltammetry, and the results were rationalised with the aid of DFT calculations.

De Novo Synthesis of α-Ketoamides via Pd/TBD Synergistic Catalysis

Precisely controlling the product selectivity of a reaction is an important objective in organic synthesis. α-Ketoamides are vital intermediates in chemical transformations and privileged motifs in numerous drugs, natural products, and biologically active molecules. The selective synthesis of α-ketoamides from feedstock chemicals in a safe and operationally simple manner under mild conditions is a long-standing catalysis challenge. Herein, an unprecedented TBD-switched Pd-catalyzed double isocyanide insertion reaction for assembling ketoamides in aqueous DMSO from (hetero)aryl halides and pseudohalides under mild conditions is reported. The effectiveness and utility of this protocol are demonstrated by its diverse substrate scope (93 examples), the ability to late-stage modify pharmaceuticals, scalability to large-scale synthesis, and the synthesis of pharmaceutically active molecules. Mechanistic studies indicate that TBD is a key ligand that modulates the Pd-catalyzed double isocyanide insertion process, thereby selectively providing the desired α-ketoamides in a unique manner. In addition, the imidoylpalladium(II) complex and α-ketoimine amide are successfully isolated and determined by X-ray analysis, confirming that they are probable intermediates in the catalytic pathway.

One-Pot Synthesis of Benzo[c]phenanthridine Alkaloids from 7-Azabenzonorbornadienes and Aryl Nitrones

An efficient synthesis of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids via a synergistic combination of C-C bond formation and a cycloaromatization reaction is described. Aryl nitrones react with 7-azabenzonorbornadienes in the presence of a Rh(III) catalyst, providing pharmaceutically useful benzo[c]phenanthridine derivatives in good to moderate yields. Using this methodology, highly useful alkaloids such as norfagaronine, norchelerythrine, decarine, norsanguinarine, and nornitidine were prepared in a single step.

A unified approach to benzo[c]phenanthridines via the cascade dual-annulation/formylation of 2-alkynyl/alkenylbenzonitriles

A base-mediated versatile cascade dual-annulation and formylation of 2-alkenyl/alkynylbenzonitriles with 2-methylbenzonitriles has been established for the construction of four different classes of amino and amido substituted benzo[c]phenanthridines and benzo[c]phenanthrolines. The synthesized molecules could be of utmost relevance in pharmaceuticals. The transformation uses the solvent DMF as the formyl source for synthesis of the amido-substituted scaffolds. This transition-metal-free unique strategy enables the formation of multiple C-C and C-N bonds in one pot at room temperature.

A Review on Synthetic Approaches of Phenanthridine

Abstract:

The phenanthridine family is widely found in medicinal chemistry and material science because of the biological activity and its presence in a variety of significant natural products and synthetic dye stuffs. The phenanthridine has many clinical applications, for e.g., being used as an anticancer agent, possessing antibacterial, antiprotozoal, pharmaceutical, and optoelectronic properties. Many methods have been reported for the synthesis of phenanthridine and phenanthridine alkaloids, such as Pd catalyzed C-C bond formation, a reaction involving C-H activation, radical, microwave-assisted, transition metal-catalyzed, one-pot cascade, benzyne mediated, photochemical, hypervalent iodine promoted methods, etc. Here, we have summarized the literature data from 2014 to the present concerning novel or improved synthetic approaches.

Recent Advances on Photoinduced Cascade Strategies for the Synthesis of N-Heterocycles

Over the last decade, visible-light photocatalysis has proved to be a powerful tool for the construction of N-heterocyclic frameworks, important constituents of natural products, insecticides, pharmacologically relevant therapeutic agents and catalysts. This account highlights recent developments and established methods towards the photocatalytic cascades for preparation of different classes of N-heterocycles, giving emphasis on our contribution to the field.

Aziridine used as a vinylidene unit in palladium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] domino annulation

A series of chromone fused methylenecyclopentanes are efficiently constructed in moderate to good yields by Pd-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] annulation, in which aziridine is used as a vinylidene unit by cleavage of two C–N bonds for the first time.

Synthesis of chromone-containing polycyclic compounds via palladium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] annulation

A palladium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] domino annulation of 3-iodochromones, α-bromo carbonyl compounds, and tetracyclododecene (TCD) is described. This approach provides a facile, efficient and atom-economical route to a variety of chromone-containing polycyclic compounds bearing fused/bridged-ring systems in good yields (up to 81%) with excellent diastereoselectivities (99 : 1 dr in all cases).

Synthesis of phenanthridines by I2-mediated sp3C–H amination

An I₂-mediated transition-metal-free sp³C–H amination reaction is established for phenanthridine synthesis in an efficient and scalable manner.

Transition-Metal-Free One-Pot Tandem Synthesis of 3-Ketoisoquinolines from Aldehydes and Phenacyl Azides

An efficient and transition-metal-free strategy for the synthesis of 3-keto-isoquinolines in one pot has been developed from the easily accessible 2-(formylphenyl)acrylates and phenacyl azides. Various substituted aldehydes and phenacyl azides were successfully employed in this transformation to furnish a variety 3-keto-isoquinolines in very good yields. A number of controlled experiments were conducted to postulate the reaction mechanism. Secondary functionalizations of 2-keto-isoquinolins were also performed to showcase the synthetic utility.

Amaryllidaceae andSceletiumalkaloids

Recent progress on the isolation, identification, biological activity and synthetic studies of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, as well as the structurally close alkaloids from theSceletiumgenus, published from July 2015 to June 2017 are reviewed.

Insight into the Selectivity and Mechanism of Surfactin Containing Multiple Dissociated Carboxyls with 1-Bromoacetylpyrene in Fluorescent Derivatization

Fluorescent derivatization of the carboxyls in surfactin peptide rings is an effective way to improve the sensitivity of trace detection of surfactin, but very little is known about the reaction selectivity of surfactin containing multiple carboxyls in derivatization. In this paper, the reaction selectivity in fluorescent derivatization of a surfactin containing two carboxyls in its peptide ring with 1-bromoacetylpyrene and the catalysis role in the reactions were investigated using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry. It showed that only one carboxyl was labeled with 1-bromoacetylpyrene in derivatization reactions, and the connection of the Asp residue with 1-bromoacetylpyrene was confirmed. It also showed that triethylamine as a catalyst was connected with surfactin to liberate more nucleophilic groups beneficial to promote the derivatization rate. This would contribute to better understanding the mechanism of derivatization of surfactin and its analogues with 1-bromoacetylpyrene, and with other fluorescent labeling reagents.

Active methylene compounds (AMCs) controlled facile synthesis of acridine and phenanthridine from morita Baylis–Hillman acetate

We carried out simple and facile syntheses of acridines and phenanthridines from MBH acetates of 2-chloro-quinoline-3-carbaldehyde with active methylene compounds (AMCs).

Synthesis of 2,3′-spirobi[indolin]-2-ones enabled by a tandem nucleophilic benzylation/C(sp2)–N cross-coupling reaction sequence

This study provides an efficient strategy for the construction of spiro[pyrrolidin-3,2′-oxindoles] and represents a new perspective for the synthesis of spirocyclic oxindoles.

Organocatalyzed aerobic oxidative Robinson-type annulation of 2-isocyanochalcones: expedient synthesis of phenanthridines

An unprecedented organocatalyzed aerobic oxidative Robinson annulation of 2-isocyanochalcones with active methylene ketones was developed for the expedient synthesis of phenanthridines and hydrophenanthridinones in high to excellent yields.