Organocatalytic Enantioselective Vinylogous Michael-Aldol Cascade for the Synthesis of Spirocyclic Compounds

Chemoselective and diastereoselective construction of 4-alkylidene-tetrahydroquinoline via a redox-neutral vinylogous cascade [1,7]-hydride transfer/6-endo-trig cyclization strategy

Herein, we disclose a chemoselective and diastereoselective synthesis of the medicinally significant 4-alkylidene-tetrahydroquinoline via a redox-neutral vinylogous cascade condensation/[1,7]-hydride transfer/6-endo-trig cyclization strategy, which features a novel product skeleton, high chemoselectivity and diastereoselectivity, facile introduction of 4-alkylidenyl motifs, employment of α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated dicyanoalkenes as novel hydride acceptors, and green and metal-free conditions with water as the only by-product. Additionally, the versatility of α,α-dicyanoalkenes has been fully exploited as hydride acceptors and γ-exclusive nucleophiles consecutively for accessing novel heterocyclic skeletons.

Sequential condensation and double desulfonylative cyclopropanation of 1,2-bis(sulfonylmethyl)arenes with 3-arylacroleins: access to biscyclopropane-fused tetralins

Efficient tBuOK-mediated sequential condensation and double desulfonylative cyclopropanation of readily accessible 1,2-bis(sulfonylmethyl)arenes with 3-arylacroleins is described. This high-yielding, single-step strategy provides a variety of polysubstituted biscyclopropane-fused tetralins with six contiguous stereogenic centers via the construction of five carbon-carbon single bonds. A plausible mechanism is proposed and discussed. In the overall reaction process, water and sulfinic acid salts were generated as the byproducts.

Catalytic Diastereo- and Enantioselective Synthesis of Tertiary Trifluoromethyl Carbinols through a Vinylogous Aldol Reaction of Alkylidenepyrazolones with Trifluoromethyl Ketones

A diastereo- and enantioselective organocatalytic aldol reaction between alkylidenepyrazolones and trifluoromethyl ketones leading to chiral tertiary alcohols bearing a trifluoromethyl group is presented. The methodology is based on the use of a bifunctional organocatalyst in order to activate the γ-hydrogen atoms of the alkylidenepyrazolone nucleophile and the carbonyl group of the trifluoromethylarylketone providing highly functionalized trifluoromethyl alcohols with moderate yields, excellent diastereoselectivity, and moderate to good enantioselectivity. Experiments monitoring the conversion by 1H NMR and the enantiomeric excess by HPLC with the reaction time showed that full conversion of the starting materials is not achieved and that the enantiomeric excess decreases upon extended times, probably due to the reversibility of the reaction.

Asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 4-aminopyrazolone-based azomethine ylides: a straightforward approach to spiropyrazolones

The asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of 4-amino pyrazolone-derived azomethine ylides with α,β-enones has been established for the synthesis of 4-spiropyazolones derivatives with four contiguous stereocenters. This cycloaddition process delivered spiro[pyrrolidine-2,4’-pyrazolone] derivatives...

Catalytic Diastereo- and Enantioselective Vinylogous Mannich Reaction of Alkylidenepyrazolones to Isatin-Derived Ketimines

A valuable organocatalytic vinylogous Mannich reaction between alkylidenepyrazolones and isatin-derived ketimines has been successfully established. Squaramide organocatalyst, prepared from quinine, catalyzed the diastereo- and enantioselective vinylogous Mannich addition, affording a range of aminooxindole-pyrazolone adducts (24 examples) with excellent outcomes: up to 98% yield with complete diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee). Additionally, different synthetic transformations were performed with the chiral pyrazolone-oxindole adducts.

Revealing the Similarities of α,β-Unsaturated Iminiums and Acylazoliums in Organocatalysis

The secondary amine-catalyzed reactions proceeding via α,β-unsaturated iminiums and the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed transformations taking place via α,β-unsaturated acylazoliums are the two widely used electrophilic intermediates in organocatalysis. Over the last two decades, these two intermediates are extensively utilized for the enantioselective construction of valuable molecules. Both intermediates are generated by the covalent binding of catalysts to the substrates leading to LUMO activation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyls. A variety of soft nucleophiles are known to add to the α,β-unsaturated iminiums and acylazoliums in a conjugate fashion, and in many cases, striking similarity in reactivity has been observed. Having said this, there are few cases where these intermediates exhibit difference in reactivity. This Minireview is aimed at highlighting the resemblances in reactivity between α,β-unsaturated iminiums and acylazoliums thereby shedding light on the unnoticed parallels of the two intermediates in organocatalysis.

Exploration of interaction behavior between spiro[indene-2,2'-[1,3,5]oxathiazine]-1,3-diones and DNA with the help of DFT, molecular docking, and MD simulations

A detailed computational study covering density functional theory (DFT), molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of some spirocyclic compounds interacting with a B-DNA has been performed. DFT calculations were performed using the B3LYP functional with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set and were used to identify the electrophilic and nucleophilic centers in electrostatic forces. NMR results were in agreement with previous experimental data and approved the reliability of the used method and basis set. The in silico screening results showed that spirocyclic compounds fulfill the Lipinski's rule of five and can be developed as potential oral bioavailable drug candidates. Based on molecular docking results, the binding affinities follow the 4c < 4d < 4a = 4b < 4e < 4g < 4f order and ranged from -8.6 to -9.7 kcal/mol indicating a reasonably favorable interaction between DNA and investigated compounds. The adducts were stabilized by hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions. The MD simulations performed for 100 ns and the results are reported in terms of variables such as root-mean-square deviation (RMSD), root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF), center of mass (COM) separation distance between DNA and ligands, intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and radial distribution functions (RDF). The MD simulations demonstrated that compounds 4a and 4d bind into the minor groove of 1BNA and may act as potential biological probes for B-DNA.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Highly enantioselective one-pot sequential synthesis of valerolactones and pyrazolones bearing all-carbon quaternary stereocentres

Highly enantiopure and bioactive δ-valerolactones and pyrazolones, bearing α-all-carbon quaternary stereocentres, were successfully and sequentially prepared via a one-pot procedure starting from readily available, inexpensive materials, catalysed by a new chiral squaramide under mild reaction conditions. An organocatalytic Michael reaction afforded the valerolactones, while a one-pot Michael-hydrazinolysis-imidization cascade yielded the pyrazolones. This procedure is economically efficient and environmentally benign.

Highly Chemoselective [2+1] Annulation of α-Alkylidene Pyrazolones with α-Bromonitroalkenes: Synthesis of Pyrazolone-Based Vinylcyclopropanes and Computational Studies

A highly chemoselective [2+1] annulation of α-alkylidene pyrazolones with α-bromonitroalkenes has been achieved under mild conditions. α-Alkylidene pyrazolones were unprecedentedly used as a C1 synthon to participate in annulation reactions, providing access to diverse vinylcyclopropane-based pyrazolone products. In addition, a spectrum of pharmaceutically interesting pyrazole-fused pyranone oximes could be rapidly obtained through a [2+1] annulation/rearrangement sequential process. Computational studies disclosed the origin of the observed chemoselectivity of the [2+1] cycloaddition.

Facile syntheses of tetrahydroquinolines and 1,2-dihydroquinolines via vinylogous cascade hydride transfer/cyclization

The medicinally significant 3-monosubstituted tetrahydroquinolines and 1,2-dihydroquinolines were controllably constructed via redox-neutral vinylogous cascade condensation/[1,5]-hydride transfer/cyclization in EtOH.

Regioselective and diastereodivergent organocatalytic asymmetric vinylogous Michael addition

Regioselective and diastereodivergent γ-position asymmetric vinylogous Michael addition (AVMA) of cyclohex-2-enones to nitroalkenes and γ′-AVMA between cyclohex-3-enones and nitroalkenes.

Orthogonal Strapping of o-Haloaryl Ynones with Pyrazolones: A One-Pot, Domino Process toward Spiropyrazolones

A new class of spiroannulated pyrazolone scaffolds have been assembled from diverse o-haloaryl ynones and β-bromoalkenyl ynones via base mediated, one-pot, metal free, orthogonal strapping (tethering) mediated by the recursive anion(s) derived from pyrazolones. These convenient, preparatively useful transformations proceed through either a tandem Michael addition-intramolecular S_NAr reaction or a tandem Michael addition-intramolecular Ad_NE process to furnish a range of pharmacophoric, diverse, spiroannulated pyrazolones from readily accessible precursors.

New Developments of the Principle of Vinylogy as Applied to π-Extended Enolate-Type Donor Systems

The principle of vinylogy states that the electronic effects of a functional group in a molecule are possibly transmitted to a distal position through interposed conjugated multiple bonds. As an emblematic case, the nucleophilic character of a π-extended enolate-type chain system may be relayed from the legitimate α-site to the vinylogous γ, ε, ..., ω remote carbon sites along the chain, provided that suitable HOMO-raising strategies are adopted to transform the unsaturated pronucleophilic precursors into the reactive polyenolate species. On the other hand, when "unnatural" carbonyl ipso-sites are activated as nucleophiles (umpolung), vinylogation extends the nucleophilic character to "unnatural" β, δ, ... remote sites. Merging the principle of vinylogy with activation modalities and concepts such as iminium ion/enamine organocatalysis, NHC-organocatalysis, cooperative organo/metal catalysis, bifunctional organocatalysis, dicyanoalkylidene activation, and organocascade reactions represents an impressive step forward for all vinylogous transformations. This review article celebrates this evolutionary progress, by collecting, comparing, and critically describing the achievements made over the nine year period 2010-2018, in the generation of vinylogous enolate-type donor substrates and their use in chemical synthesis.

Organo-catalyzed asymmetric cascade annulation reaction for the construction of bi-spirocyclic pyrazolone and oxindole derivatives

Organo-catalyzed tandem reaction between β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters and α-arylidene pyrazolinones was developed, and it provided chiral bi-spirocyclic pyrazolone and oxindole derivatives in high yields with good to excellent stereoselectivity.

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Spiropyrazolones and their Application in Medicinal Chemistry

Chiral spiropyrazolones are unique frameworks widely found in a large family of medicinally relevant compounds with various biological activities. Substantial research efforts have been invested toward stereoselectively by constructing spiro-cyclic structures. Over the past years, remarkable progress has been made in the organo- and metal-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of spiropyrazolones through the utilization of accessible simple pyrazolone derivatives as raw materials. This review is organized according to the size of the spiro-ring fused at the 4-position of the pyrazolone framework. In the last part, the bio-evaluations of chiral spiropyrazolones for drug discovery are summarized.

Combined inorganic base promoted N-addition/[2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement to construct homoallyl sulfur-containing pyrazolones

The first sequentially combined inorganic base promoted N-addition/[2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement reaction of α-alkylidene pyrazolinones and propargyl sulfonium salts has been reported to construct homoallyl sulfur-containing pyrazolones with moderate to excellent yields. α-Alkylidene pyrazolinones function as N-nucleophilic agents distinguished from the reported C-addition reactions. Propargyl sulfonium salts were first involved in the [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement protocol differentiated from the well-established annulation reactions. The excellent regioselectivity, the broad scope of substrates, gram-scale synthesis and convenient transformation embody the synthetic superiority of this cascade process.

Stereoselective synthesis of spirocyclohexadiene-pyrazolones via organic base and/or hydrogen bonding assisted [3 + 3] annulation reactions

A DABCO and a chiral hydrogen bonding-assisted catalyzed [3 + 3] cycloaddition of α-arylidene pyrazolinones and 2-benzylidenemalononitriles provided spirocyclohexadiene-pyrazolones with all-carbon quaternary centers in good yields with excellent ees and moderate to high drs.

A bifunctional pyrazolone–chromone synthon directed organocatalytic double Michael cascade reaction: forging five stereocenters in structurally diverse hexahydroxanthones

The merging of two or more known natural product-based scaffolds is a powerful and routine strategy to develop bioactive small molecules.

Organocatalytic asymmetric [4 + 1] annulation of in situ generated ortho-quinomethanes with 4-halo pyrazolones: straightforward access to chiral spiro-benzofuran pyrazolones

Asymmetric [4 + 1] annulation of ortho-quinomethanes with 4-halo pyrazolones was developed to construct spiro-benzofuran pyrazolones.

The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of CF3-containing spiro-oxindole–pyrrolidine–pyrazolone compounds through squaramide-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

Pharmaceutically important compounds were synthesized through the organocatalytic 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction.

Asymmetric organocatalytic conjugated addition of pyrazolin-5-ones to ortho-quinomethanes: construction of vicinal tertiary and all-carbon quaternary stereocenters

An organocatalytic conjugated addition of pyrazolin-5-ones to ortho-quinomethanes was developed to construct the vicinal tertiary and all-carbon quaternary stereocenters.

Enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of spiropyrazolones via an organocatalytic [1 + 2 + 3] multicomponent reaction

An asymmetric catalytic [1 + 2 + 3] multicomponent reaction of malononitrile, benzaldehyde and α-arylidene pyrazolinones to produce spiropyrazolones in high yields, with excellent enantioselectivities and good diastereoselectivities.

Pyrazolone: a powerful synthon for asymmetric diverse derivatizations

This feature article reports recent advances in the asymmetric diverse derivatizations of the pyrazolone scaffold.