Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Cascade Reactions of Ene–Ynes Tethered to Cyano/Aldehyde: Access to Naphtho[1,2-b]furans and Benzo[g]indoles

Revealing the Role of Solvent in anti-Oxypalladation-Triggered Regiocontrolled Domino Reactions for the Synthesis of Benzazepine- and Tetrahydroquinoline-Containing Scaffolds: A Combined Computational and Experimental Study

Palladium-catalyzed regiocontrolled intramolecular oxypalladation-initiated cascades of multifunctional internal alkyne bearing an N-tosyl tether deliver functionalized benzazepine as an exclusive product via 6-endo-dig pathway in 1,4-dioxane solvent and tetrahydroquinoline scaffold as a major product via the 5-exo-dig pathway in the DMSO solvent. The role of the solvent in controlling the regioselectivity is still unknown which can be a major hurdle for further reaction development. Moreover, the reaction in DMSO suffered from having a mixture of products, and no exclusive formation of tetrahydroquinoline was achieved. Herein, we report a concerted computational and experimental study, revealing the role of the solvent in controlling the reaction outcome. DFT study revealed that the formation of the σ-vinylpalladium intermediate is reversible for the 5-exo-dig pathway while it is irreversible for the 6-endo-dig mechanism in 1,4-dioxane and consequently, the 5-exo-dig pathway is difficult to proceed. In contrast, both the 5-exo-dig and 6-endo-dig pathways are irreversible in DMSO. We predicted an exclusive formation of isobenzofuranone-fused chromane via the 5-exo-dig pathway when the N-tosyl tether is replaced by the O-tether in the internal alkyne in DMSO. The experimental study confirms the theoretical hypothesis and provides a highly chemo-divergent approach for the synthesis of biologically significant chromane with a large substrate scope and up to 95% yield at room temperature.

Ligand-controlled regiodivergent Ni-catalyzed trans-hydroboration/carboboration of internal alkynes with B2pin2

Unprecedented regioselective trans-hydroboration and carboboration of unbiased electronically internal alkynes were realized via a nickel catalysis system with the aid of the directing group strategy. Furthermore, the excellent α- and β-regioselectivity could be accurately switched by the nitrogen ligand (terpy) and phosphine ligand (Xantphos). Mechanistic studies provided an insight into the rational reaction process, that underwent the cis-to-trans isomerization of alkenyl nickel species. This transformation not only expands the scope of transition-metal-catalyzed boration of internal alkynes but also, more particularly, portrays the vast prospects of the directing group strategy in the selective functionalization of unactivated alkynes.

Organocatalytic (Z/E)-Selective Synthesis of 3-Vinylnaphthofurans via a Formal (3 + 2) Cycloaddition

A formal (3 + 2) cycloaddition of 1,4-enediones with 2-naphthols was established under the catalysis of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid as an organocatalyst, leading to the efficient synthesis of structurally diverse 3-vinylnaphthofurans with high yields and excellent (Z/E)-selectivities (up to 96% yield, all >20:1 Z/E). This formal (3 + 2) cycloaddition involved a cascade reaction process, and the intramolecular hydrogen bond in the structure of 3-vinylnaphthofurans should play an important role in controlling the (Z/E)-selectivity of the newly formed vinyl group. Moreover, this class of 3-vinylnaphthofurans was discovered to have an axial chirality. This work provides an organocatalytic approach for constructing multi-substituted vinylnaphthofurans via a cascade reaction with excellent control of the (Z/E)-selectivity, which will serve as a useful strategy for synthesizing vinylnaphthofurans via in situ construction of the furan core and formation of the vinyl group.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 7,7-dimethyl-2-phenyl-3,3a,4,6,7,8,9,9a-octa-hydro-1H-benzo[f]iso-indole-1,5(2H)-dione

The title compound, C20H23NO2, was obtained via the reaction of N-allyl-N-phenyl-acryl-amide with 3-iodo-cyclo-hex-2-en-1-one using PdCl2(PPh3)2 as a catalyst. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c. The fused-ring system is not planar and the five- and six-membered rings are trans-fused. The mol-ecular geometry is partially stabilized by an intra-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bond, forming an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π inter-actions into a three-dimensional network. To further analyse the inter-molecular inter-actions, a Hirshfeld surface analysis was performed. The results indicate that the most important contributions to the overall surface are from H⋯H (65.5%), O⋯H/H⋯O (17.5%) and C⋯H/H⋯C (14.3%) inter-actions.

Domino Reaction of 2,4-Diyn-1-ols with 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds: Direct Access to Aryl/Heteroaryl-Fused Benzofurans and Indoles

A domino propargylation/furanylation (intramolecular exo-dig-cyclization)/benzannulation reaction of 2,4-diyn-1-ols with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds has been developed for the first time. This provides a novel and effective method for the preparation of aryl/heteroaryl-fused benzofurans from easily accessible starting materials in a single step. The methodology was extended to pyrrolyl-benzannulation to obtain aryl/heteroaryl-fused indoles. Further, application of this approach in the synthesis of eustifoline D and dictyodendrin structural frameworks has been demonstrated.

Palladium(0)-catalysed regioselective cyclisations of 2-amino(tosyl) benzamides/sulphonamides: the stereoselective synthesis of 3-ylidene-[1,4]benzodiazepin-5-ones/benzo[f][1,2,5]thiadiazepine-1,1-dioxides

The Pd(0) catalysed cyclisation reactions between tert-butyl propargyl carbonates and 2-aminotosyl benzamides or sulphonamides deliver 1,4-benzodiazepin-5-ones or sultam derivatives, key components of many biologically active compounds. But 2-amino benzamides/sulphonamides require propargyl carbonates substituted at acetylenic carbon to undergo the reaction resulting in the stereoselective formation of the said products.

Metal-Free Intramolecular [3+2] Cycloaddition of γ-Hydroxy Acetylenic Ketones with Alkynes for the Synthesis of Naphtho[1,2-c]furan-5-ones and Its Derivatization via a Selective C(sp2)-H Deuteration Reaction

A metal-free intramolecular [3+2] cycloaddtion has been achieved by treating benzene-linked propynol-ynes with AcOH/H₂O in a one-pot manner. The reaction provides greener, 100% atom-economic, highly regioselective, and more practical access to functionalized naphtho[1,2-c]furan-5-ones with valuable and versatile applications. The regioselective α-deuteration of naphtho[1,2-c]furan-5-ones has been also presented with excellent deuterium incorporation and chemical yields. Moreover, the fluorescent properties of naphtho[1,2-c]furan-5-one products have been investigated in solution.

Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of 1-Vinyltetrahydro-β-carbolines and Aza-spiroindolenines: Access to the Syntheses of 1-Vinyl-β-carbolines and Eudistomins Y1 and Y2

A general synthesis of 1-vinyltetrahydro-β-carbolines (THBCs) has been achieved via palladium(0)-catalyzed cyclocondensation between allenyltryptamines and aryl iodides. Aza-spiroindolenines could also be accessed from the N-unsubstituted indole substrates by simply tweaking the reaction conditions. DDQ-mediated oxidation of THBCs easily afforded β-carbolines, which could be synthetically transformed into 1-aroyl-β-carbolines of pharmacological interest. Formal total syntheses of eudistomins Y1 and Y2 have also been achieved.

Divergent Conversion of 4-Naphthoquinone-substituted 4H-Isoxazolones to Different Benzo-fused Indole Derivatives

4,4-Disubstituted 4H-isoxazol-5-ones bearing a 1,4-naphthoquinone moiety undergo transformation into different types of benzoindolyl products depending on the different reaction conditions. A decarboxylative ring opening/ring closure promoted by catalytic [Ru(p-cymene)₂Cl₂]₂ yields benzo[f]indole-4,9-diones. Alternatively, hydrogenation reactions provide the conversion of 4-(1,4-naphthoquinone)-substituted isoxazol-5-ones to benzo[g]indole compounds, with the level of reduction depending on the substituents present on the ring. Starting materials have been easily prepared by the functionalization of isoxazolinones with naphthoquinone under mild conditions.

Regioselective synthesis of tetrahydroquinolines via syn- and anti-nucleopalladation-initiated cascade processes

Regioselective synthesis of tetrahydroquinolines via nucleopalladation-initiated cascade sequences was established.