Synthesis of Substituted Oxazoles by Visible-Light Photocatalysis

Modular Approach for Photoinduced Cycloaddition Enabling the Synthesis of Diverse Bioactive Oxazoles

The synthesis of bioactive oxazoles is often inefficient, and the reported methods remain largely unexplored for complex derivatives. To circumvent this issue, we have utilized a metal-free, photomediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between diazo compounds and nitriles, leading to a step- and reagent-economical synthesis of bioactive oxazoles. These exciting developments guided us in the efficient synthesis of oxazole-based natural products like annuloline, alkaloids like pimprinethine, labradorin 2, and oxazole-containing pharmaceuticals such as oxaprozin. Utilizing this approach, we have also demonstrated efficient synthesis of deuterium-labeled and heterocyclic-based oxazoles.

Isolation of Antiplasmodial Oxazoles and Isoflavonoids from the Roots of Oxytropis trichophysa and Total Synthesis of Oxazole-type Alkaloids

A chemical examination of a root extract of Oxytropis trichophysa led to the isolation and identification of 23 compounds, including oxazole-type alkaloids and isoflavonoid derivatives. Notably, three oxazole-type alkaloids (1, 2, and 3) and two isoflavonoid derivatives (7 and 10) were obtained from a natural source for the first time. In addition, O. trichophysa derived 2,5-diphenyloxazoles and their derivatives were synthesized. Despite their potential activity, the antiplasmodial activities of naturally occurring 2,5-diphenyloxazoles and certain isoflavonoids remain unexplored. Therefore, the antiplasmodial activities of both the naturally occurring and synthesized compounds were evaluated against Plasmodium falciparum strain 3D7. Among the tested compounds, three naturally occurring oxazole-type alkaloids (1, 5, and 6), one synthesized alkaloid (34), and two isoflavonoid derivatives (13 and 15) demonstrated significant inhibitory effects, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ranging from 3.1 to 6.2 μM and selective indices between 0.9 and 18.8. Compound 1 showed the most potent inhibitory activity, with an IC50 of 3.1 μM, while its cytotoxic concentration 50% value against human foreskin fibroblasts was found to be 8.5 μM. The oxazole-type alkaloids and isoflavonoids isolated from this plant provide valuable insights into its chemical composition and may help elucidate the antiplasmodial properties of O. trichophysa.

Benzylic C-H Oxidation: Recent Advances and Applications in Heterocyclic Synthesis

Benzylic C-H oxidation to form carbonyl compounds, such as ketones, is a fundamental transformation in organic synthesis as it allows for the preparation of versatile intermediates. In this review, we highlight the synthesis of aromatic ketones via catalytic, electrochemical, and photochemical oxidation of alkylarenes using different catalysts and oxidants in the past 5 years. Additionally, we also discuss the synthesis of heterocyclic molecules using benzylic C-H oxidation as a key step. These methods can potentially be used in medicinal, synthetic, and inorganic chemistry.

Advances in the self-organized total synthesis of natural products

Natural product total synthesis has trailblazed in the era of multistep synthesis. The strategic application of existing synthetic methodologies and the stepwise construction that revolves around newly developed, tailored key steps, are two basic tactics in the principle of classic retrosynthetic analysis. However, a new synthetic model, termed self-organized total synthesis, has emerged in recent years, enabling the rapid creation of specific natural products by a one-pot reaction. Distinct from conventional analysis associated with certain bond disconnections, the design of self-organized total synthesis focuses on seeking a series of self-organized reaction sequences which can be integrated compatibly under a uniform condition, therefore allowing the entire sequence to proceed in one pot, and most importantly, starting from commercially available feedstocks or biomass materials. Whilst dauntingly challenging, this synthetic strategy is more consistent with the biogenetic pathway of natural products compared with conventional counterparts, and will hopefully provide the shortest synthesis for such natural products. Through this rational analysis, one-pot total synthesis is no longer in the way of serendipity but can be precisely designed and manipulated. In this review, we account for the definition, delimitation, and categorization of self-organized total synthesis and then elucidate a comprehensive understanding of this synthetic strategy based on our intensive explorations. We also highlight the contributions of other research groups in this growing field and anticipate that it will give rise to advancing new methodologies, as well as new concepts within organic synthesis.

Metal free C-O bond cleavage: a new strategy for the synthesis of substituted oxazoles

A strategy for the efficient metal-free C-O bond cleavage of ester using amines for the synthesis of substituted oxazoles was developed for the first time. The synthesis proceeded smoothly under metal-free conditions, combining C-O bond cleavage as well as C-N and C-O bond formation in one pot to yield desired products in moderate to excellent yields, and accommodated a wide range of functional groups and substrates.

Activation of enamine by photoexcited organocatalyst assisted singlet oxygen: synthesis of oxazoles and quinoxalines

Herein, a novel transition-metal-free thiol-based donor-acceptor organophotocatalyst-assisted, singlet-oxygen-mediated tandem oxidative cyclization for the synthesis of substituted oxazoles in moderate-to-good yields is described. The developed method demonstrates applicability for the synthesis of various substituted quinoxalines in good-to-excellent yields. The metal-free methodology shows a practical route for the synthesis of oxazole and quinoxaline derivatives, which are privileged moieties prevalent in various biologically active compounds and natural products. To the best of our knowledge, both the thiol photocatalyst and synthesis of oxazoles by visible-light irradiation are reported for the first time.

DMSO promoted catalyst-free oxidative C-N/C-O couplings towards synthesis of imidazoles and oxazoles

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-promoted catalyst-free oxidative C-N coupling and C-O coupling under oxidant-free conditions are outlined. This protocol is operationally simple and leads to various functionalized substituted imidazoles or oxazoles in good yields. To date, a very limited number of oxidation protocols have been established, where DMSO acts solely as a catalyst or an oxidant or both. In this report, DMSO is not only used as a C-N/C-O coupling agent but is also used as the oxidant required for these oxidative transformations. Hence, our demonstrated DMSO-promoted catalyst-free coupling transformation has the ability to lead to a new dimension in the field of oxidative coupling.

Multiple-cycle photochemical cascade reactions

Cascade reactions represent an efficient and economical synthetic approach, enabling the rapid synthesis of a wide array of structurally complex organic compounds. These compounds, previously inaccessible, can now be synthesized in a remarkably limited number of steps. Concurrently, the photochemical reactions of organic molecules have gained prominence as a potent strategy for accessing a diverse range of radical species and intermediates. This is achieved in a controlled manner under mild conditions. Owing to the relentless endeavors of chemists, significant strides have been made in the realm of photochemical cascade reactions. These advancements have facilitated the synthesis of novel molecular structures with high complexity, structures that are typically challenging to generate under thermal conditions. In this review, we comprehensively summarize and underscore the recent pivotal advancements in visible-light-induced cascade reactions. Our focus is on the elucidation of multiple photochemical catalytic cycles, emphasizing the catalytic activation modes and the types of reactions involved.

Ruthenium(II) complexes with phosphonate-substituted phenanthroline ligands as reusable photoredox catalysts

Ru(II) complexes with polypyridyl ligands (2,2'-bipyridine = bpy, 1,10-phenanthroline = phen) play a central role in the development of photocatalytic organic reactions. In this work, we synthesized four mixed-ligand [Ru(phen)(bpy)2]2+-type complexes (Ru-Pcat-A) bearing two phosphonate substituents P(O)(OH)(OR) (R = H, Et) attached to the phen core at positions 3,8 (Ru-3,8PH and Ru-3,8PHEt) and 4,7 (Ru-4,7PH and Ru-4,7PHEt) of the heterocycle in high yields (87-99%) and characterized them using spectral methods. Single crystal X-ray diffraction was employed to determine the coordination mode of the ditopic phen ligand in Ru-4,7PH. This complex exists as the neutral species and forms a 1D hydrogen-bonded framework in the crystals. The light absorption characteristics were found to be similar for all complexes prepared in this work. However, the emission maxima in aqueous solutions were significantly affected by the substitution of the heterocycle, ranging from 629 nm for Ru-4,7PH to 661 nm for Ru-3,8PHEt. The emission quantum yields in Ar-saturated deionized water showed a strong dependence on the substitution pattern of the phen ligand, with maximal values reaching approximately 0.11 for Ru-4,7PHEt and Ru-4,7PH, which is twice as high as that of the classical [Ru(bpy)3]2+ complex (Ru-bpy). The photocatalytic performance of Ru-Pcat-A was investigated using visible light photoredox catalytic transformations of tertiary amines. With Ru-Pcat-A, we achieved the phosphonylation of N-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQs) and cyanation of THIQs and N,N-dimethylaniline in methanol, while a mixture of nitromethane/methanol (1 : 1 v/v) proved to be the optimal solvent for conducting the nitromethylation of THIQs. In the majority of the studied reactions, Ru-4,7PHEt exhibited greater efficiency compared to Ru-bpy, and it could be easily separated from the products using water extraction and reused in the next catalytic cycle. We successfully performed seven consecutive nitromethylation and phosphonylation of N-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline using the recycled homogeneous photoredox catalyst.

Photoinduced [3+2] Cycloaddition of Carbenes and Nitriles: A Versatile Approach to Oxazole Synthesis

We have developed a photoinduced protocol for the synthesis of pharmaceutically important oxazole molecules using diazo- and nitrile-containing reactants. The process involves the initial photolysis of the diazo compound to afford singlet carbenes, which are tapped by nitriles in a [3+2] cycloaddition fashion to give substituted oxazoles. With di-nitrile compounds, useful bis-oxazoles were obtained. The applicability of the transformation is showcased through the expedient synthesis of small-molecule drugs and biologically relevant molecules such as felbinac, pimprinine, texamine, ugnenenazole etc. The protocol is also useful for the generation of 2 H and 13 C isotope labelled oxazoles. Merging photolysis with continuous-flow chemistry was demonstrated for scaling up the reaction. The non-requirement of metal catalysis or photosensitizers to harness the light energy with blue light sufficing the execution of the reaction makes it a versatile and general protocol for the synthesis of structurally diverse oxazoles.

Dicationic copper(I) complexes bearing ENE (E = S, Se) pincer ligands; catalytic applications in regioselective cyclization of 1,6-diynes

Two novel dicationic binuclear Cu(I) complexes of the type [{(BPPP)E2}Cu]2[BF4]2 (E = S (3a); Se (3b)) bearing (BPPP)E2 (BPPP = bis(diphenylphosphino)pyridine) pincer systems were isolated, and structurally characterized. The solid-state structures of 3a/3b display the presence of intermolecular cuprophilic (Cu⋯Cu) interactions between the two monocationic species, and consist of weak Cu⋯S bonding between the two cations. Besides, complex 3a was introduced as a molecular copper(I) catalyst in cyclization reactions, and new protocols were developed for the synthesis of a series of new oxazole and triazole derivatives bearing alkyne-phenyl propargylic ether substituents. 3a was also found to be active in achieving these two classes of heterocyclic compounds by the mechanical grinding method. One of the key intermediate copper-azide species was detected by the high-resolution mass spectrometry technique, which supports the proposed catalytic pathway. All the reported transformations were accomplished sustainably by employing a well-defined, earth-abundant, and cheap copper(I) catalytic system.

Oxytrofalcatin Puzzle: Total Synthesis and Structural Revision of Oxytrofalcatins B and C

The previously reported structures of oxytrofalcatins B and C possess a benzoyl indole core. However, following synthesis and NMR comparison of both the proposed structure and the synthesized oxazole, we have revised the structure of oxytrofalcatins B and C as oxazoles. The synthetic route developed herein can further our understanding of the biosynthetic pathways that govern the production of natural 2,5-diaryloxazoles.

Photocatalytic Benzylic C-H Oxidation/Cyclization of Enaminones to the Synthesis of Polysubstituted Oxazoles

Photocatalytic benzylic C-H oxidation/cyclization of enaminones was efficiently achieved to afford oxazole derivatives under mild conditions. The oxygen in the oxazole ring originated from green oxidant molecular oxygen. The synthetic protocol features broad substrate scopes and good functional group tolerance. The combined experimental and theoretical studies reveal that in suit benzylic C-H oxidation/cyclization is involved in the reaction transformations.

Chemodivergent Synthesis of Aza-Heterocycles with a Quarternary Carbon Center via [4 + 1] Annulation between Azoalkenes and α-Bromo Carbonyl Compounds

An efficient [4 + 1] annulation reaction between in situ generated azoalkene intermediates and α-bromocarbonyls has been established. A series of skeletally diverse aza-heterocycles with a functionalized quaternary center were obtained in up to 89% yield under mild conditions.

Visible-Light 2,4-Dinitrophenol-Mediated Photoannulation of α-Azidochalcones into 2,5-Diaryloxazoles

A novel and efficient visible-light 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) mediated photoannulation of α-azidochalcones into 2,5-diaryloxazoles was developed. The carbon-carbon double bond of α-azidochalcone was cleaved, leading to the formation of new C-O and C-N bonds in the photoannulation. Control experiments were carried out, and a plausible mechanism of the photoannulation was proposed. The scope of the reaction was studied by synthesizing a series of 2,5-diaryloxazoles including two naturally occurring oxazoles (Texamine and Balsoxin) in excellent yields.

K2S2O8-promoted rearrangement of nitrones for the synthesis of benzo[d]oxazoles

An efficient route for the synthesis of valuable benzoxazoles has been developed through self-oxidative cyclization with N–O bond cleavage.

Visible light photocatalysis in the synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant heterocyclic scaffolds

Visible light and photoredox catalysis have emerged as a powerful and long-lasting tool for organic synthesis, demonstrating the importance of a variety of chemical bond formation methods.

Visible-Light-Driven Photoredox-Catalyzed C(sp3)-C(sp3) Cross-Coupling of N-arylamines with Cycloketone Oxime Esters

A novel photoredox-catalyzed C(sp3)-C(sp3) cross-coupling between N-arylamines and cycloketone oxime esters under mild conditions has been accomplished. The redox-neutral reaction proceeds good functional group tolerance and excellent regioselectivity without any...

Synthesis and evaluation of trypanocidal activity of derivatives of naturally occurring 2,5-diphenyloxazoles

African trypanosomiasis is a zoonotic protozoan disease affecting the nervous system. Various natural products reportedly exhibit trypanocidal activity. Naturally occurring 2,5-diphenyloxazoles present in Oxytropis lanata, and their derivatives, were synthesized. The trypanocidal activities of the synthesized compounds were evaluated against Trypanosoma brucei brucei, T. b. gambiense, T. b. rhodesiense, T. congolense, and T. evansi. Natural product 1 exhibited trypanocidal activity against all the species/subspecies of trypanosomes, exhibiting half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of 1.1-13.5 μM. Modification of the oxazole core improved the trypanocidal activity. The 1,3,4-oxadiazole (7) and 2,4-diphenyloxazole (9) analogs exhibited potency superior to that of 1. However, these compounds exhibited cytotoxicity in Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells. The O-methylated analog of 1 (12) was non-cytotoxic and exhibited selective trypanocidal activity against T. congolense (IC₅₀ = 0.78 µM). Structure-activity relationship studies of the 2,5-diphenyloxazole analogs revealed aspects of the molecular structure critical for maintaining selective trypanocidal activity against T. congolense.

Sustainable Access to 5-Amino-Oxazoles and Thiazoles via Calcium-Catalyzed Elimination-Cyclization with Isocyanides

Herein, we report a sustainable, modular, rapid and high-yielding transformation to afford densely functionalized 5-aminooxazoles and thiazoles. The reaction is tolerant to a wide range of functional groups and is typically complete in under 30 min. Furthermore, the described transformation is inherently green in relation to the catalyst and solvent choice as well as producing environmentally benign alcoholic by-products.

Tracking down the brominated single electron oxidants in recent organic red-ox transformations: photolysis and photocatalysis

A wide range of organic and inorganic brominated compounds including molecular bromine have been extensively used as oxidants in many organic photo-redox transformations in recent years, an area of ever growing interest because of greener and milder approaches. The oxidation power of these compounds is utilized through both mechanistic pathways (by hydrogen atom transfer or HAT in the absence of a photocatalyst and a combination of single electron transfer or SET and/or HAT in the presence of a photocatalyst). Not only as terminal oxidants for regeneration of photocatalysts, but brominated reactants have also contributed to the oxidation of the reaction intermediate(s) to carry on the radical chain process in several reactions. Here in this review mainly the non-brominative oxidative product formations are discussed, carried out since the last two decades, skipping the instances where they acted as terminal oxidants only to regenerate photocatalysts. The reactions are used to generate natural products, pharmaceuticals and beyond.

Synthesis of 2,5-diaryloxazoles through rhodium-catalyzed annulation of triazoles and aldehydes

An efficient synthesis of a variety of 2,5-diaryloxazole derivatives via a rhodium-catalyzed annulation of triazoles and aldehydes is achieved. Various oxazole derivatives could be obtained in good to excellent yields. A concise synthesis of antimycobaterial natural products balsoxin and texamine has been achieved using this method.

Iodine-Catalyzed Functionalization of Primary Aliphatic Amines to Oxazoles, 1,4-Oxazines, and Oxazinones

Unprecedented I₂-catalyzed α,α-C(sp³)-H, decarboxylative α-C(sp³)-H, lactonized α-C(sp³)-H, and α,β-C(sp³)-H functionalized 5- and 6-annulation as well as α-C(sp³)-H activated 6-lactonization of primary aliphatic amines are devised under aerobic conditions. The metal-free sustainable strategy was employed for the diverse construction of valuable five-and six-membered polycyclic N,O-heteroaromatics such as oxazoles, 1,4-oxazines, and oxazin-2-one with a rapid reaction rate and high yield. The viability of this mild nonmetallic catalysis is successfully verified through syntheses of labile chiral heterocyclic analogues. In contrast to the common practice, this method is not limited to use of prefunctionalized amines, directing groups (DGs) and/or transient DGs, metal catalysts, and traditional oxidants. The possible mechanistic pathway of the annulation reaction is investigated by control experiments and ESI-MS data collected for a reaction mixture of the ongoing reaction. The synthesized new compounds are potent organic nanobuilding blocks to achieve valuable organic nanomaterials of different sizes, shapes, and dimensions, which are under investigation for the discovery of high-tech devices of innovative organic nanoelectronics and photophysical properties.

Multicomponent Synthesis of Diversified Chromeno[3,2-d]oxazoles

A practical and efficient synthetic procedure to novel chromeno[3,2-d]oxazoles through a one-pot sequential multistep process is presented. This procedure proceeds efficiently in propylene carbonate (PC) as a green solvent and affords a wide range of the chromenooxazole scaffolds.

CO2/Photoredox-Cocatalyzed Tandem Oxidative Cyclization of α-Bromo Ketones and Amines To Construct Substituted Oxazoles

CO₂/photoredox-cocatalyzed tandem oxidative cyclization of α-bromo ketones and amines for the preparation of substituted oxazoles has been achieved. The avoidance of using both transition-metal catalysts and peroxides makes this method more sustainable and renewable.

Metal-free iodine(iii)-promoted synthesis of 2,5-diaryloxazoles

A nonmetal-catalyzed oxidative cyclization to achieve 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles from inexpensive and readily available substituted chalcone, (diacetoxyiodo)benzene (PIDA) and ammonium acetate (NH4OAc) at room temperature is described. The reaction forms a variety of 2,5-diaryloxazoles in good to excellent yields with broad substrate scope under mild conditions without the requirement of ligands and additional bases.

Base-Promoted Synthesis of 2-Aryl Quinazolines from 2-Aminobenzylamines in Water

A transition-metal-free procedure for the synthesis of a highly valuable class of heteroaromatics, quinazolines, was developed by using easily available 2-aminobenzylamines and α,α,α-trihalotoluenes. The transformation proceeded smoothly in the presence of only sodium hydroxide and molecular oxygen in water at 100 °C, furnishing a variety of 2-aryl quinazolines. The crystallization process of the crude reaction mixture for the purification of the solid products circumvents huge solvent-consuming workup and column chromatographic techniques, which make the overall process more sustainable and economical.

Copper-Catalyzed Oxygenation Approach to Oxazoles from Amines, Alkynes, and Molecular Oxygen

A novel and efficient oxygenation approach to trisubstituted oxazoles via a copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative dehydrogenative annulation of amines, alkynes, and O₂ has been developed. This transformation combines dioxygen activation and oxidative C-H bond functionalization and provides a practical protocol for the preparation of oxazole derivatives, which are privileged units found in various bioactive compounds or other natural products. ¹⁸O-labeling experiments were conducted to reveal that oxygenation was involved in this chemistry.

Establishment of a molecular design to obtain visible-light-activated azoxy polymer actuators

Visible-light-activated main-chain and hyperbranched azoxy polymers were prepared directly from bis-/trinitro-functionalized monomers via photochemical reduction.

Synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles via cobalt(iii)-catalyzed cross-coupling of N-pivaloyloxyamides and alkynes

An efficient synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles via cobalt(iii)-catalyzed cross-coupling of N-pivaloyloxyamides and alkynes is described herein.