Multicomponent Synthesis of Functionalized Tetrahydroacridinones: Insights into a Mechanistic Route

Developing and enhancing promiscuous activity for NAD(P)H-dependent flavin reductase via elimination of cofactor

Promiscuous enzymes have shown their synthetic abilities in generating various organic compounds with high selectively and efficiency under mild conditions. Therefore, the design and development of conditions to raise promiscuity to the enzymes have been under the spotlight in recent years. Flavin reductase, that reduces flavins by using NADH as a cofactor, has not been studied in promiscuous reactions. In the present study, it was aimed to develop a catalytic promiscuous activity in the recombinant E.coli flavin reductase by removing its cofactor. The flavin reductase demonstrated a promiscuous activity for Knoevenagel condensation and Michael addition reactions individually. The cofactor-independent promiscuous activity of the flavin reductase was further enhanced by altering the reaction conditions to proceed a Knoevenagel-Michael addition cascade for tetraketone synthesis. Yet, the presence of the cofactor blocked the promiscuous Knoevenagel condensation, Michael addition, and therefore the cascade reaction, demonstrating that the removal of NADH was pivotal in inducing the promiscuous activity. Furthermore, molecular docking and MD simulations were performed to obtain more structural and mechanistic details of the transformation. The computational studies identified the most likely catalytic sites of the flavin reductase in the reaction. Additionally, a truncated variant of the enzyme that lacked 28 residues from the C-terminus displayed comparable activity to the wild-type enzyme, indicating the robustness of the enzyme in performing the cascade reaction. In brief, the cofactor-elimination method presented in this work could be considered as a straightforward and economical approach for inducing enzyme promiscuity in promoting organic transformations.

Synthesis of Quinoline and Dihydroquinoline Embelin Derivatives as Cardioprotective Agents

A set of new dihydroquinoline embelin derivatives was obtained from the reaction of the natural benzoquinone embelin (1) with anilines and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of AgOTf. The synthesis of these compounds involves the formation of a Knoevenagel adduct, followed by nucleophilic addition of aniline and subsequent electrocyclic ring closure. The scope of the reaction regarding the aldehydes and anilines was determined. Quinoline derivatives were also obtained from the corresponding dihydroquinolines under oxidation with DDQ. The cardioprotective activity of the synthesized compounds was screened using a doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity model in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Some structure-activity relationships were outlined, and the best activities were achieved with quinoline-embelin derivatives having a 4-nitrophenyl group attached at the pyridine ring. The obtained results indicated that embelin derivatives 4i, 6a, 6d, 6k, and 6m could have potential as cardioprotective agents, as they attenuated a DOX-induced cardiotoxicity effect acting on oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Meglumine-Promoted Eco-Compatible Pseudo-Three-Component Reaction for the Synthesis of 1,1-Dihomoarylmethane Scaffolds and Their Green Credentials

A simple, straightforward, and energy-efficient greener route for the synthesis of a series of biologically interesting functionalized 1,1-dihomoarylmethane scaffolds has been developed in the presence of meglumine as an efficient and eco-friendly organo-catalyst via one-pot pseudo-three-component reaction at room temperature. Following this protocol, it is possible to synthesize 1,1-dihomoarylmethane scaffolds of an assortment of C-H activated acids such as dimedone, 1,3-cyclohexadione, 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone, 4-hydroxycoumarin, and 1-phenyl-3-methyl-pyrazolone. The salient features of the present green protocol are mild reaction conditions, good to excellent yields, operational simplicity, easy isolation of products, no cumbersome post treatment, high atom economy, and low E-factor. In addition, this chemistry portrays several green advantages including the reusability of reaction media and product scalability, which makes protocol sustainably efficient. Additionally, several control experiments such as protection of catalyst reactive site, D₂O exchange, and ¹H NMR studies revealed possible pathways for meglumine-promoted reactions. Inspired by the natural physiological environment of 1,1-dihomoarylmethane scaffolds, we reconnoitered the biological profile of our compounds and synthesized compounds that were promising for their antiproliferative and antibacterial activities.

Ultrasound-promoted convenient and ionic liquid [BMIM]BF4 assisted green synthesis of diversely functionalized pyrazolo quinoline core via one-pot multicomponent reaction, DFT study and pharmacological evaluation

An ultrasound-assisted green protocol for one-pot synthesis of a new series of pharmaceutically relevant pyrazolo quinoline derivatives (4a-t) were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated using DFT and biological activities. Pyrazolo quinoline derivatives (4a-t) were synthesized via a three-component tandem reaction of 1,3-dicarbonyl compound (1a-b), substituted aromatic aldehyde (2a-o), and 5-amino indazole (3a) in the presence of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIM]BF₄ ionic liquid in ethanol at ambient conditions. The main purpose of the present work is selective functionalization of pyrazolo quinoline (4a-t) core excluding another potential parallel reaction under environmentally benign reaction conditions. The present protocol shows features such as amphiphilic behavior of ionic liquid during reaction transformation, and reusability of the [BMIM]BF₄ ionic liquid under mild reaction condition. All newly derived compounds were evaluated for their in vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Among them, compound 4c showed encouraging antioxidant activity compared with standard antioxidant ascorbic acid, and compounds 4n and 4r displayed very good anti-inflammatory activity compared with a standard drug. In this study, a theoretical computational density functional study was also executed to perform the geometry optimizations, frontier molecular orbital approach, and molecular electrostatic potential (MESP). The DFT study was carried out with the basis set DFT/B3LYP/6-31+G (d, p) level of theory. The quantum chemical descriptors (QCDS) and MESP diagrams were plotted to examine the biological reactivities of representative pyrazolo quinolines (4a-t).

On the Enantioselective Phosphoric-Acid-Catalyzed Hantzsch Synthesis of Polyhydroquinolines

A reinvestigation of a chiral phosphoric-acid-catalyzed four-component Hantzsch enantioselective synthesis of polyhydroquinolines reported in 2009 is presented. In our hands, when the reaction was performed with fidelity to the original report using a chiral enantiopure phosphoric acid catalyst, no enantioselectivity was observed. Unlike in the original report, enantioselectivity results are backed by baseline separation of the enantiomers by HPLC analyses on chiral stationary phase with UV and chiroptical detection.

Intercepted-Knoevenagel condensation for the synthesis of unsymmetrical fused-tricyclic 4H-pyrans

4H-Pyrans (4H-Pys) and 1,4-dihydropyridines (1,4-DHPs) are important classes of heterocyclic scaffolds in medicinal chemistry. Herein, an indium(III)-catalyzed one-pot domino reaction for the synthesis of highly functionalized 4H-Pys, and a model of 1,4-DHP is reported. This alternative approach to the challenging Hantzsch 4-component reaction enables the synthesis of fused-tricyclic heterocycles, and the mechanistic studies underline the importance of an intercepted-Knoevenagel adduct to achieve higher chemoselectivity towards these types of unsymmetrical heterocycles.

4-Aminoindoles as 1,4-bisnucleophiles for diversity-oriented synthesis of tricyclic indoles bearing 3,4-fused seven-membered rings

A straightforward access to tricyclic indoles bearing 3,4-fused seven-membered rings was established by using 4-aminoindoles as 1,4-bisnucleophiles in three-component reactions.

Four-component synthesis of polyhydroquinolines under catalyst- and solvent-free conventional heating conditions: mechanistic studies

A convenient and environmentally friendly procedure for the synthesis of polyhydroquinolines via a one-pot four-component reaction has been developed. A detailed mechanistic study of the reaction is presented.

A Novel Mechanistic Study on Ultrasound-Assisted, One-Pot Synthesis of Functionalized Benzimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-1(1H)-ones

Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of benzimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-1(1H)-ones was achieved via piperidine-catalyzed three-component reaction of 2-aminobenzimidazoles, an aromatic aldehyde, and 1,3-dione in aqueous isopropanol. This mechanism was first suspected following our identification of unusual reaction intermediates in a one-pot reaction. An unprecedented coupling reaction, it involved a nucleophilic attack by 2-aminobenzimidazole on in situ generated Michael adduct, followed by electrocyclic ring formation reaction. In contrast to the commonly accepted mechanism, that the direct reaction of 2-amino benzimidazole with a Knoevenagel adduct cannot deliver target compounds.

Ionic liquid [Dabco-H][AcO] as a highly efficient and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of various bisenol derivatives via domino Knoevenagel–Michael reaction in aqueous media

An efficient, green and reusable catalystic system for the synthesis of various bisenol derivatives is presented.

Evaluation of sodium acetate trihydrate–urea DES as a benign reaction media for the Biginelli reaction. Unexpected synthesis of methylenebis(3-hydroxy-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-enones), hexahydroxanthene-1,8-diones and hexahydroacridine-1,8-diones

In this work, the low melting mixture sodium acetate trihydrate–urea was synthesized and the eutectic composition was determined and characterized. The performance of this deep eutectic solvent on the Biginelli reaction was evaluated.