Direct Synthesis of β-Aminoenals through Reaction of 1,2,3-Triazine with Secondary Amines

Diazotization of o-Aminoamidoximes for the Preparation of Energetic 6,5,6-Fused 1,2,3-Triazine-3-oxides

Two 6,5,6-fused 1,2,3-triazine-3-oxides (4 and 6) were designed and synthesized via the reaction of o-aminoamidoximes with sodium nitrite. In addition, the ring-opening products (5, 7, and 8) derived from 1,2,3-triazine-3-oxides were isolated and characterized. A comprehensive exploration of the reaction mechanism governing the ring-opening process was performed through a combination of theoretical and experimental studies. Notably, compound 4 exhibited commendable detonation properties and low sensitivity, demonstrating its promising potential as an energetic material.

Cysteine-Specific Multifaceted Bioconjugation of Peptides and Proteins Using 5-Substituted 1,2,3-Triazines

Peptide and protein postmodification have gained significant attention due to their extensive impact on biomolecule engineering and drug discovery, of which cysteine-specific modification strategies are prominent due to their inherent nucleophilicity and low abundance. Herein, the study introduces a novel approach utilizing multifunctional 5-substituted 1,2,3-triazine derivatives to achieve multifaceted bioconjugation targeting cysteine-containing peptides and proteins. On the one hand, this represents an inaugural instance of employing 1,2,3-triazine in biomolecular-specific modification within a physiological solution. On the other hand, as a powerful combination of precision modification and biorthogonality, this strategy allows for the one-pot dual-orthogonal functionalization of biomolecules utilizing the aldehyde group generated simultaneously. 1,2,3-Triazine derivatives with diverse functional groups allow conjugation to peptides or proteins, while bi-triazines enable peptide cyclization and dimerization. The examination of the stability of bi-triazines revealed their potential for reversible peptide modification. This work establishes a comprehensive platform for identifying cysteine-selective modifications, providing new avenues for peptide-based drug development, protein bioconjugation, and chemical biology research.

Site Reversal in Nucleophilic Addition to 1,2,3-Triazine 1-Oxides

One of the most important reactions of 1,2,3-triazines with a dienophile is inverse electron demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) cycloaddition, which occurs through nucleophilic addition to the triazine followed by N2 loss and cyclization to generate a heterocycle. The site of addition is either at the 4- or 6-position of the symmetrically substituted triazine core. Although specific examples of the addition of nucleophiles to triazines are known, a comprehensive understanding has not been reported, and the preferred site for nucleophilic addition is unknown and unexplored. With access to unsymmetrical 1,2,3-triazine-1-oxides and their deoxygenated 1,2,3-triazine compounds, we report C-, N-, H-, O-, and S-nucleophilic additions on 1,2,3-triazine and 1,2,3-triazine-1-oxide frameworks where the 4- and 6-positions could be differentiated. In the IEDDA cycloadditions using C- and N-nucleophiles, the site of addition is at C-6 for both heterocyclic systems, but product formation with 1,2,3-triazine-1-oxides is faster. Other N-nucleophile reactions with triazine 1-oxides show addition at either the 4- or 6-position of the triazine 1-oxide ring, but nucleophilic attack only occurs at the 6-position on the triazine. Hydride from NaBH4 undergoes addition at the 6-position on the triazine and the triazine 1-oxide core. Alkoxides show a high nucleophilic selectivity for the 4-position of the triazine 1-oxide. Thiophenoxide, cysteine, and glutathione undergo nucleophilic addition on the triazine core at the 6-position, while addition occurs at the 4-position of the triazine 1-oxide. These nucleophilic additions proceed under mild reaction conditions and show high functional group tolerance. Computational studies clarified the roles of the nucleophilic addition and nitrogen extrusion steps and the influence of steric and electronic factors in determining the outcomes of the reactions with different nucleophiles.

Formal Nitrene Insertion into the β-Vinyl C-H Bond of Acroleins: Synthesis of Enaminals

An efficient formal nitrene insertion reaction into the β-vinyl C-H bond of acroleins with an electron-rich organic azide was developed. The reaction protocol can produce secondary enaminals in high yield with a broad substrate scope. In the reaction, acid mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition of organic azides with an acrolein generated intermediate protonated triazolines, which were selectively decomposed into enaminals with addition of a weakly Brønsted basic reagent such as methanol. The resulting secondary enaminal could be easily reduced into a γ-amino alcohol under mild hydrogenation conditions.

Selective desaturation of amides: a direct approach to enamides

C(sp3)-H bond desaturation has been an attractive strategy in organic synthesis. Enamides are important structural fragments in pharmaceuticals and versatile synthons in organic synthesis. However, the dehydrogenation of amides usually occurs on the acyl side benefitting from enolate chemistry like the desaturation of ketones and esters. Herein, we demonstrate an Fe-assisted regioselective oxidative desaturation of amides, which provides an efficient approach to enamides and β-halogenated enamides.

Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution of 5-Bromo-1,2,3-triazines with Phenols

Nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S_NAr) reaction in classic textbook is a stepwise mechanism, and few examples of concerted reactions have been reported. Herein, we developed a concerted S_NAr reaction of 5-bromo-1,2,3-triazines with phenols in which the nonclassic mechanism of this reaction could be revealed by calculation. Furthermore, the resulting 5-aryloxy-1,2,3-triazines could be used as convenient precursors to access biologically important 3-aryloxy-pyridines in one-pot manner.

Reaction Scope of Methyl 1,2,3-Triazine-5-carboxylate with Amidines and the Impact of C4/C6 Substitution

A comprehensive study of the reaction scope of methyl 1,2,3-triazine-5-carboxylate (3a) with alkyl and aryl amidines is disclosed, reacting at room temperature at remarkable rates (<5 min, 0.1 M in CH₃CN) nearly 10000-fold faster than that of unsubstituted 1,2,3-triazine and providing the product pyrimidines in high yields. C4 Methyl substitution of the 1,2,3-triazine (3b) had little effect on the rate of the reaction, whereas C4/C6 dimethyl substitution (3c) slowed the room-temperature reaction (<24 h, 0.25 M) but displayed an unaltered scope, providing the product pyrimidines in similarly high yields. Measured second-order rate constants of the reaction of 3a-c, the corresponding nitriles 3e and 3f, and 1,2,3-triazine itself (3d) with benzamidine and substituted derivatives quantitated the remarkable reactivity of 3a and 3e, verified the inverse electron demand nature of the reaction (Hammett ρ = -1.50 for substituted amidines, ρ = +7.9 for 5-substituted 1,2,3-triazine), and provided a quantitative measure of the impact of 4-methyl and 4,6-dimethyl substitution on the reactivity of the methyl 1,2,3-triazine-5-carboxylate and 5-cyano-1,2,3-triazine core heterocycles.

Merging Annulation with Ring Deconstruction: Synthesis of (E)-3-(2-Acyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-4-yl)acrylaldehyde Derivatives via I2/FeCl3-Promoted Dual C(sp3)-H Amination/C-N Bond Cleavage

An unprecedented I₂/FeCl₃-promoted cascade reaction of aryl methyl ketones with 8-aminoquinolines for the convenient synthesis of (E)-3-(2-acyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-4-yl)acrylaldehydes was developed by merging annulation with ring deconstruction. This novel strategy unlocked the new reactivity of 8-aminoquinolines and provided an attractive platform for the ring opening of unactivated N-heteroaromatic compounds. Preliminary mechanistic investigation suggested that dual C(sp³)-H amination/C-N bond cleavage were key reaction steps. Furthermore, late-stage modification of the obtained products successfully delivered pyrazole and isoxazole derivatives, increasing the practicability and application potential of this methodology in organic synthesis.

Application of NMR Spectroscopy for the Detection of Equilibrating E-Z Diastereomers

Conjugation can lower the energy barrier for unsaturated C-C bond rotations, resulting in a mixture of equilibrating diastereomers at room temperature. Therefore, methods claiming diastereoselective synthesis of conjugated double bonds often require proof that the observed diastereomeric ratio is not because of the diastereomeric equilibration of the product. Variable-temperature (VT) NMR experiments are commonly used to distinguish between the two possibilities. However, the VT technique requires accessories for the NMR spectrometer and more setup time. Here, we show that the rarely used application of 1-D and 2-D nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy experiments for the detection of the equilibrating diastereomers is a convenient alternative to the VT technique.

A Method for the Preparation of β-Amino-α,β-unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds: Study of Solvent Effect and Mechanism

An efficient method for the preparation of β-amino-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is demonstrated. Bench-stable sodium 3-oxo-enolates were prepared from carbonyl compounds, and reacted with amines in the presence of an acid and a desiccant. DFT studies revealed contrasting mechanisms toward the reactivity of aliphatic amines in protic solvents and aromatic amines in aprotic solvents. While the former proceeds through the formation of an imine, the latter passes through the Michael addition-elimination mechanism.

Inverse Electron Demand Diels-Alder Reactions of Heterocyclic Azadienes, 1-Aza-1,3-Butadienes, Cyclopropenone Ketals, and Related Systems. A Retrospective

A summary of the investigation and applications of the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction is provided that have been conducted in our laboratory over a period that now spans more than 35 years. The work, which continues to provide solutions to complex synthetic challenges, is presented in the context of more than 70 natural product total syntheses in which the reactions served as a key strategic step in the approach. The studies include the development and use of the cycloaddition reactions of heterocyclic azadienes (1,2,4,5-tetrazines; 1,2,4-, 1,3,5-, and 1,2,3-triazines; 1,2-diazines; and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles), 1-aza-1,3-butadienes, α-pyrones, and cyclopropenone ketals. Their applications illustrate the power of the methodology, often provided concise and nonobvious total syntheses of the targeted natural products, typically were extended to the synthesis of analogues that contain deep-seated structural changes in more comprehensive studies to explore or optimize their biological properties, and highlight a wealth of opportunities not yet tapped.

Copper-Catalyzed Coupling of Thioamides and Donor/Acceptor-Substituted Carbenoids: Synthesis of Enamino Esters and Enaminones

The coupling of thioamides and donor/acceptor-substituted diazocarbonyl compounds is reported for the first time. The present report provides a mild, catalytic method that couples thioamides and donor/acceptor-substituted diazocarbonyl compounds to form enamino esters and enaminones. Unlike traditional methods for the synthesis of enamino esters and enaminones from thioamides, both N-alkyl thioamides and thiocarbamates are suitable substrates in this coupling reaction. Copper(I) bromide catalyzes the reaction and provides enamino esters and enaminones chemo- and diastereoselectively in less time than Rh2(OAc)4 or Ru(PPh3)3Cl2 catalysts.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Rapid Cycloadditions of 5-Nitro-1,2,3-triazine

The synthesis, characterization, and a study of the cycloaddition reactions of 5-nitro-1,2,3-triazine (3) are reported. The electron-deficient nature of 3 permits rapid cycloaddition with a variety of electron-rich dienophiles, including amidines, enamines, enol ethers, ynamines, and ketene acetals in high to moderate yields. ¹H NMR studies of a representative cycloaddition reaction between 3 and an amidine revealed a remarkable reaction rate and efficiency (1 mM, <60 s, CD₃CN, 23 °C, >95%).