Palladium/Copper Co-catalyzed Oxidative C–H/C–H Carbonylation of Diphenylamines: A Way To Access Acridones

Base-Promoted and Copper(I)-Catalyzed Tandem Cyclization-C(sp2)-N Coupling of Vinyl Malononitriles with Ortho-Nitrochalcones: Access to Acridones and their Fused Derivatives

An efficient Cs2CO3-promoted and copper(I)-catalyzed double cyclization of ortho-nitrochalcones with vinyl malononitriles for the de novo access to a variety of tri- and tetra-substituted acridones and their fused derivatives with a value-added CN group has been developed for the first time. This one-pot operation proceeds through a Michael-cyclization-aromatization, followed by regioselective ipso-amination via nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reaction, resulting in two C═C bonds and a C-N bond for acridone ring synthesis. This economic strategy based on 100% carbon atoms ensures the successive formation of two rings in a one-pot operation, good to high yields, a wide range of substrates, and good tolerance of functionalities. In addition, acridones were converted into several value-added acridones and acridines, highlighting the synthetic versatility and usefulness of the prepared acridone derivatives.

Synthesis of acridones via Ir(III)-catalyzed amination annulation of oxazoles with anthranils

An unprecedented Ir(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/amination/annulation of 2-phenyloxazoles with anthranils for the highly selective preparation of acridone derivatives in one-pot under controlled conditions is reported. This protocol is characterized by atom economy and high regioselectivity. A wide range of anthranils with 2-phenyloxazoles were well tolerated and afforded the desired products in moderate to good yields, in which the anthranil serves as a convenient amination reagent.

Palladium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Dehydrogenative C-2 Pentenylation of Indoles with 2-Methyl-2-butene

Five-carbon (C5) units are the fundamental building blocks that constitute a multitude of natural products. Herein we report an unprecedented unusual C5 functionalization of indole regioselectively at the C-2-position enabled by a (2-pyridyl)sulfonyl-directing palladium-catalyzed dehydrogenative strategy with a bulk chemical 2-methyl-2-butene as a C5 source. Compared to typical C5 functionalization using pentenyl alcohols, carbonates, borates, or halides as the C5 source, the protocol not only has a low cost advantage but also is of atom and step economy.

Palladium-Catalyzed Dual C-H Carbonylation of Diarylamines Leading to Diversified Acridones under CO-Free Conditions

A Pd-catalyzed dual C-H carbonylation of commercially available diarylamines using Co2(CO)8 as a safe CO source has been developed. This methodology provides a facile approach for the synthesis of diversified acridones in moderate to good yields. The protocol features good functional group compatibility, operational safety, easy scale-up, and versatile transformations.

K2CO3-Catalyzed Dual C-C-Coupled Cyclization to 3-Amino-4-benzoylbiphenyls and In Situ I2-Catalyzed C-N Bond Forming Annulation: A Metal-Free Synthesis of Arylacridones

Unprecedented metal-free cyclization catalysis reactions are developed in a highly regioselective fashion to synthesize 3-amino-4-benzoyl biphenyls and arylacridones with high atom economy. Catalytic K2CO3 is utilized as the only reagent for the unusual rapid dual C-C-coupled cyclization between β-keto enamines and cinnamaldehydes to furnish the functionalized biphenyls. Its C(sp2)-H functionalized C-N bond-forming cyclization was performed in situ using molecular I2 as a catalyst to furnish valuable arylacridones. Plausible mechanisms for the new cyclization reactions are predicted by conducting various control experiments and ESI-MS analyses.

Palladium-Catalyzed Carbonylative Dearomatization of Indoles to Achieve Carbonyl-Containing Spirocyclic Indolenines Bearing an All-Carbon Quaternary Center

A Pd-catalyzed carbonylative dearomatization via an acyl Pd complex has been developed. Diversified carbonyl-containing spirocyclic indolenines with an all-carbon quaternary center were constructed in an efficient and straightforward way with good to excellent yields. The protocol features a simple catalytic system, operational simplicity, a broad substrate scope, easy scale-up, and versatile transformations. In addition, the asymmetric reaction was initially explored with moderate enantioselectivity.

Base-Controlled Synthesis of Fluorescent Acridone Derivatives via Formal (4 + 2) Cycloaddition

A transition-metal-free formal (4 + 2) cycloaddition for the direct assembly of acridone derivatives has been developed from simple and easily accessible o-aminobenzamides and 2-(trimethylsilyl)aryl triflates. The base played an important role in the selective controlled synthesis of N-H and N-aryl acridones. A preliminary study on the fluorescence properties of N-aryl acridones demonstrated that they could be used as fluorescent materials with a broad emission range.

A Novel Palladium-Based Heterogeneous Catalyst for Tandem Annulation: A Strategy for Direct Synthesis of Acridones

In order to develop an efficient, rapid, and modular cascade strategy for the direct synthesis of acridones, palladium supported on sulfated alumina and microwave activation are employed. Multifunctional heterogeneous palladium catalysts were prepared in order to carry out the sequential annulation via a Buchwald–Hartwig amination followed by an intramolecular annulation in a one-pot process. This new protocol represents the first report on a catalytic tandem synthesis of acridone derivatives from commercially available starting materials, under ligand-free conditions. The scope of the present methodology is extended to the generation of a library of functionalized acridones, showing high functional group compatibility, in moderate to excellent yields. The applicability of this novel transformation was demonstrated by the concise total synthesis of the natural product arborinine.

Pd-Catalyzed Oxidative Aminocarbonylation of Arylboronic Acids with Unreactive Tertiary Amines via C-N Bond Activation

An efficient synthesis of tertiary amides from aryl boronic acids and inert tertiary amines through the oxidative carbonylation via C(sp³)-N bond activation is presented. This protocol significantly restricts the homocoupling biarylketone product. It involves the use of a homogeneous PdCl₂/CuI catalyst and a heterogeneous Pd/C based catalyst, which promotes C(sp³)-N bond activation of tertiary amines with aryl boronic acids. This process represents a ligand-free, base-free, and recyclable catalyst along with an ideal oxidant like molecular oxygen.

Access to acridones by tandem copper(I)-catalyzed electrophilic amination/Ag(I)-mediated oxidative annulation of anthranils with arylboronic acids

An efficient and practical approach for the synthesis of medicinally important acridones was developed from anthranils and commercially available arylboronic acids by a tandem copper(I)-catalyzed electrophilic amination/Ag(I)-mediated oxidative annulation strategy. This new and straightforward protocol displayed a broad substrate scope (25 examples) and high functional group tolerance. What's more, a possible mechanistic proposal was also presented.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Direct C-H Carbonylative Synthesis of Free (NH)-Indolo[1,2-a]quinoxalin-6(5H)-ones

A cobalt-catalyzed direct C-H carbonylative reaction of N-(2-(1H-indol-1-yl)phenyl)picolinamides for the synthesis of (NH)-indolo[1,2-a]quinoxalin-6(5H)-one skeletons has been developed. Using benzene-1,3,5-triyl triformate (TFBen) as the CO source and picolinamide as the traceless directing group, various free (NH)-indolo[1,2-a]quinoxalin-6(5H)-ones were obtained in good yields (up to 88%). Additionally, a series of product derivatizations were demonstrated, and the core fragment of PARP-1 inhibitor C can be readily constructed by this protocol.

A palladium-catalyzed C-H functionalization route to ketones via the oxidative coupling of arenes with carbon monoxide

We describe the development of a new palladium-catalyzed method to generate ketones via the oxidative coupling of two arenes and CO. This transformation is catalyzed by simple palladium salts, and is postulated to proceed via the conversion of arenes into high energy aroyl triflate electrophiles. Exploiting the latter can also allow the synthesis of unsymmetrical ketones from two different arenes.

A palladium catalyzed route to prepare aryl ketones from their two fundamental building blocks, two arenes and carbon monoxide, is described.

Synthesis of indolo- and pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalinones through a palladium-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of the C2 position of indole

A methodology that involves the Pd-catalyzed direct C(sp2)–H bond carbonylation of the C₂ position of indole has been introduced for the synthesis of indolo[1,2-a]quinoxalin-6(5H)-ones.

Access to 5H-benzo[a]carbazol-6-ols and benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2-b]indol-6-ols via rhodium-catalyzed C–H activation/carbenoid insertion/aldol-type cyclization

The rhodium-catalyzed mono-ortho C–H activation/carbenoid insertion/aldol-type cyclization of 3-aldehyde-2-phenyl-1H-indoles with diazo compounds has been developed.

Palladium-catalyzed C3-selective C–H oxidative carbonylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with CO and alcohols: a way to access esters

A palladium-catalyzed C3-selective C–H oxidative carbonylation for the synthesis of various esters from imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and CO with high efficiency and high atom economy has been developed.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Direct Carbonylative Synthesis of Free (NH)-Benzo[cd]indol-2(1H)-ones from Naphthylamides

A cobalt-catalyzed C-H carbonylation of naphthylamides for the synthesis of benzo[cd]indol-2(1H)-one scaffolds has been developed. The reaction employs a traceless directing group and uses benzene-1,3,5-triyl triormate as the CO source, affording various free (NH)-benzo[cd]indol-2(1H)-ones in moderate to high yields (up to 88%). Using this protocol, the total synthesis of BET bromodomain inhibitors A and B was accomplished as well.

Pd/Cu Cocatalyzed Oxidative Tandem C-H Aminocarbonylation and Dehydrogenation of Tryptamines: Synthesis of Carbolinones

The Pd/Cu cocatalyzed oxidative tandem C-H aminocarbonylation and dehydrogenation was developed, affording carbolinones with molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant. Natural product strychnocarpine and its derivatives were prepared conveniently using this strategy.

Syntheses of 12H-benzo[a]xanthen-12-ones and benzo[a]acridin-12(7H)-ones through Au(i)-catalyzed Michael addition/6-endo-trig cyclization/aromatization cascade annulation

A multifaceted gold(i)-catalyzed aromaticity-driven double 6-endo cascade cyclization strategy to synthesize both 12H-benzo[a]xanthen-12-ones and benzo[a]acridin-12(7H)-ones, whose core motifs xanthone and acridone both exist as important scaffolds in an immense number of bioactive compounds, was developed. The scopes of this strategy were examined by using a batch of synthetic 1,3-diphenylprop-2-yn-1-one substrates. To probe the mechanism of this cyclization a control experiment for synthesizing intermediates was performed. Thus, a putative mechanism was determined according to this experiment and previous studies.

Boron Trifluoride Etherate Promoted Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Antimalarial Acridones

A microwave-assisted, rapid and efficient method using boron trifluoride etherate (BF₃.Et₂O) for the synthesis of acridones, via an intramolecular acylation of N-phenylanthranilic acid derivatives, has been developed. The reaction proceeds under solvent-free conditions, tolerates a wide range of functional groups, and provides rapid access to a range of acridones in good to excellent yields. Several of the synthesized acridones exhibited potent antimalarial activities against CQ sensitive and multi-drug resistant (MDR) parasites.

Palladium catalyzed carbonylative annulation of the C(sp2)-H bond of N,1-diaryl-1H-tetrazol-5-amines and N,4-diaryl-4H-triazol-3-amines to quinazolinones

Pd(ii) catalyzed direct C-H carbonylative annulation of N,1-diaryl-1H-tetrazol-5-amines and N,4-diaryl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-amines gave the corresponding triazole and tetrazole fused quinazolinones in good yields. This methodology offers a convenient method for the synthesis of these important heterocyclic scaffolds in a highly atom economical process. On the mechanistic aspect weakly nucleophilic triazole and tetrazole moieties function as both directing as well as intramolecular nucleophiles. The catalytically active C-H activated intermediate dimeric Pd complex was isolated and characterized which on exposure to CO gas gave the corresponding tetrazole fused quinazolinone derivative. On the basis of isolation of the intermediate and observed kinetic isotope effects, a mechanism has been proposed for the C-H activated direct carbonylative annulation reaction.

Synthesis of 2-aminobenzophenones through acylation of anilines with α-oxocarboxylic acids assisted by tert-butyl nitrite

A highly facile all-in-one-pot synthesis of 2-aminobenzophenones directly from anilines, tert-butyl nitrite and α-oxocarboxylic acids under the catalysis of Pd(OAc)₂ is presented.

Rh(iii)-Catalyzed bilateral cyclization of aldehydes with nitrosos toward unsymmetrical acridines proceeding with C–H functionalization enabled by a transient directing group

A Rh(iii)-catalyzed bilateral cyclization was developed for the efficient construction of acridines proceeding with C–H functionalization byin situformation and removal of a transient directing group.