Catalyst Control in Positional-Selective C-H Alkenylation of Isoxazoles and a Ruthenium-Mediated Assembly of Trisubstituted Pyrroles

Rhodium catalyzed sequential dual C-H annulation of 3-arylisoxazoles with 1,6-diynes to access fused naphthalenes

Selective dual C-H annulations with 1,n-diunsaturated systems represent a powerful tool for constructing multicyclic scaffolds in an expeditious manner. Here, we report a rhodium catalyzed sequential dual C-H annulation of 3-arylisoxazoles with 1,6-diynes for napthofused polycyclic systems. Some kinetic isotopic experiments were carried out to understand the reaction mechanism and some downstream experiments were conducted to demonstrate the potential of the methodology. The method features a broad substrate scope and scale-up capability.

Palladium-Catalyzed Solvent-Controlled Divergent C2/C5 Site-Selective Alkynylation of Pyrrole Derivatives

Among the known aromatic N-heterocycles, pyrroles are significant and versatile privileged components in pharmacologically relevant molecules. Herein, we demonstrate a protocol for the selective construction of alkynylated pyrroles in a diversity-oriented fashion through divergent C2/C5 site-selective alkynylation of pyrrole derivatives by employing a palladium catalyst with two different solvent systems. In the presence of 1,4-dioxane, the C2-alkynylation process via chelation-assisted palladation is favored. However, the use of a dimethylformamide/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMF/DMSO) solvent system could override the chelation effect of a weak ester-directing group, favoring the C5-alkynylation process via electrophilic palladation. Late-stage modification of biologically relevant scaffolds and further derivatization of the products highlighted the potential utility and importance of the solvent-controlled regiodivergence.

Isoxazole group directed Rh(III)-catalyzed alkynylation using TIPS-EBX

A highly effective isoxazole directed ortho C-H alkynylation has been developed. Rhodium(III) catalyzed direct di-(and/or mono) alkynylation using a hypervalent iodine reagent (TIPS-EBX) is reported. The reaction proceeds with a wide substrate scope under benign conditions. Preliminary mechanistic studies support this chelation assisted C-H alkynylation.

Harnessing reductive BF2-complexation via Ru(II)-catalyzed N-O cleavage of isoxazoles

Developed here is a highly fluorescent organic N,O bidentate BF2 complex from isoxazole in the presence of a Ru(II) catalyst. Herein, the complexation proceeds via a selective N-O cleavage of the isoxazole ring. The complex shows absorption (λmax,abs) in the range of 352-363 nm with an extinction coefficient (ε) in the range of 8000-64 000 M-1 cm-1, and fluorescence emission (λmax,em) in the range of 413-485 nm with a Stokes shift of 61-125 nm having quantum yield up to 33%. Apart from the solution state, the solid BF2 complex 2u exhibits absorption at 405 nm and strong fluorescence emission at 550 nm with a quantum yield of 26.9%.

Gold-Catalyzed Cyclization of Yndiamides with Isoxazoles via α-Imino Gold Fischer Carbenes

Gold catalysis is an important method for alkyne functionalization. Here we report the gold-catalyzed formal [3+2] aminative cyclization of yndiamides and isoxazoles in a direct synthesis of polysubstituted diaminopyrroles, which are important motifs in drug discovery. Key to this process is the formation, and subsequent cyclization, of an α-imino gold Fischer carbene, which represents a new type of gold carbene intermediate. The reaction proceeds rapidly under mild conditions, with high regioselectivity being achieved by introducing a subtle steric bias between the nitrogen substituents on the yndiamide. DFT calculations revealed that the key to this regioselectivity was the interconversion of isomeric gold keteniminiun ions via a low-barrier π-complex transition state, which establishes a Curtin-Hammett scenario for isoxazole addition. By using benzisoxazoles as substrates, the reaction outcome could be switched to a formal [5+2] cyclization, leading to 1,4-oxazepines.

Isoxazole as a nitrile synthon: en routes to the ortho-alkenylated isoxazole and benzonitrile with allyl sulfone catalyzed by Ru(II)

A Ru(II) catalyzed regioselective Heck-type C-H olefination of isoxazole with unactivated allyl phenyl sulfone is revealed. The solvent DCM offers dual sp2-sp2 C-H activation via an N-directed strategy, leading to ortho-olefinated isoxazoles with exclusive E-selectivity. On the other hand, in DCE solvent, isoxazole serves as the nitrile synthon and leads to o-olefinated benzonitrile. At a higher temperature (110 °C) in DCE, after the ortho-olefination Ru(II) mediated cleavage of isoxazoles delivered the nitrile functionality.

Synthesis of Ferrocene 1,3-Derivatives by Distal C-H Activation

The third position of cyclopentadienyl ring of a monosubstituted ferrocene has remained as an inaccessible chemical space for direct functionalization. Until recently, functionalizing the C(3)-position while bypassing the predominantly active C(2)-position is the most challenging task. Herein, we report a distal C-H functionalization of monosubstituted ferrocenes using an easily removable directing group with precise site-selectivity, under a PdII / mono-N-protected amino-acid ligand catalytic system. The robust synthetic protocol leads to the synthesis of ferrocene 1,3-derivatives with broad scope in olefins while functionalizing ferrocenyl methylamine in moderate to good yields via a highly strained ferrocene appended 12-membered palladacycle intermediate.

Dual Role of a Fluorescent Small Molecule as a Sensor and Inhibitor of Protein Fibrillation

Ordered fibrillar aggregates of proteins, called amyloids, are prevalent in several diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Type II diabetes. The key challenge in the treatment of such diseases is the early detection of protein fibrillation and its effective inhibition using extrinsic agents. Thus, molecules that can both detect and inhibit protein fibril formation have great diagnostic and therapeutic utility. Using insulin as a model protein, we report the dual action of an isoquinoline based molecule, named MK14 which detects and prevents insulin fibrillation. Dose dependent inhibition of insulin fibrillation by MK14 gave an IC₅₀ value of 9 μM, and mechanistic investigations suggested that MK14 prevented the elongation of fibrils by interacting with pre-fibrillar intermediates. The fluorescence of MK14 enhanced upon binding to fibrils of insulin as well as those of α-synuclein, the protein involved in Parkinson's disease. MK14 is an environmentally sensitive fluorophore, which could also detect amorphous aggregates of insulin. The dual nature of MK14 as an inhibitor and detector of protein fibrillation makes it an attractive lead compound for monitoring and disrupting protein amyloidogenesis.

Late-stage ortho-C-H alkenylation of 2-arylindazoles in aqueous medium by Manganese(i)-catalysis

Earth-abundant and water-tolerant manganese(i) catalyzed alkenylation of 2-arylindazole with alkyl and aryl alkynes through C–H bond activation is described with a unique level of E-selectivity. The reaction proceeds through the control of C3 nucleophilicity of 2-aryl indazoles. This method is applied to the late-stage functionalization of complex molecules including ethinylestradiol, norethisterone, and N-protected amino acid derivatives. The kinetic isotope studies suggest that the C–H bond activation step may not be the rate-determining step.

Earth-abundant and water-tolerant manganese(i) catalyzed alkenylation of 2-arylindazole with alkyl and aryl alkynes through C–H bond activation is described with a unique level of E-selectivity.

Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of vinylene carbonate with isoxazoles: access to fused anthranils

A ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of vinylene carbonate with isoxazoles has been developed to achieve the direct C-H formylmethylation of a diverse array of arylisoxazoles utilizing the isoxazole ring as the directing group. A simple manipulation of the established reaction conditions leads to the formation of fused-anthranils. Importantly, the vinylene carbonate functions as both a formylmethyl cation equivalent through a decarboxylation process and an acetylene equivalent. Control experiments were conducted to elucidate a plausible mechanism. This methodology is expected to provide a facile and expeditious approach for the synthesis of formylmethyl isoxazoles and fused-anthranils.

Synthesis Strategies and Medicinal Value of Pyrrole and its Fused Heterocyclic Compounds

For several decades, interest in pyrrole and pyrrolopyrimidine derivatives increases owing to their biological importance, such as anti-tumor, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-histaminic, anti-malarial, anti-Parkinson, antioxidant and anti-viral, specially recently against COVID-19. These tremendous biological features motivated scientists to discover more pyrrole and fused pyrrole derivatives, owing to the great importance of the pyrrole nucleus as a pharmacophore in many drugs, and motivated us to present this article, highlighting on the different synthetic pathways of pyrrole and its fused compounds specially pyrrolopyrimidine, as well as their medicinal value from 2017 till 2021.

An Approach to Vinylidenequinazolines from Isoxazoles and Dioxazolones

An effective strategy for the synthesis of vinylidenequinazolines has been efficaciously developed, which involves Rh(III)-assisted C-H amidation followed by ring-opening and intramolecular annulation. This protocol shows a straightforward way to construct diverse quinazoline units with a wide functional group compatibility from readily available isoxazoles and dioxazolones.

Recent advances in rhodium-catalysed cross-dehydrogenative-coupling between two C(sp2)-H bonds

Rhodium-catalysed cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) has received considerable attention in recent years. This modern technology has been considered as an attractive synthetic tool for selective C−C bond formation due to (1)...

Solvent-Switched Manganese(I)-Catalyzed Regiodivergent Distal vs Proximal C-H Alkylation of Imidazopyridine with Maleimide

A sustainable Mn(I)-catalyzed exclusive solvent-dependent functionalization of imidazopyridine with maleimide via an electrophilic metalation at the distal (in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE)) and chelation assisted at the proximal (in tetrahydrofuran (THF)) has been developed. The strategy was successfully applied to the drug Zolimidine and a broad range of substrates, thereby reflecting the method's versatility.

Pd-Catalyzed Triple-Fold C(sp2)-H Activation with Enaminones and Alkenes for Pyrrole Synthesis via Hydrogen Evolution

The synthesis of NH-free pyrroles via Pd-catalyzed annulation of enaminones and alkenes is reported. With the catalysis of Pd(II), the activation of triple C(sp²)-H bonds, including one internal C(sp²)-H bond in enaminone, has been activated to provide various pyrroles. The interesting evolution of hydrogen gas from the reactions has been observed by a hydrogen detector.

Ru(II)-Catalyzed, Cu(II)-mediated carbene migratory insertion in the synthesis of trisubstituted pyrroles from isoxazoles

A convenient, "one-pot" synthesis of trisubstituted pyrroles via a Ru(ii)-catalyzed, Cu(ii)-mediated reaction of substituted isoxazoles with sulfonylhydrazones has been developed. A series of highly functionalized pyrroles are obtained via a synergistic formation of new C-C and C-N bonds. Mechanistic investigations were carried out to propose the plausible pathway. This protocol provides a facile and expeditious approach for the synthesis of various heterocyclic compounds bearing the pyrrole skeleton.

Recent Advancements in Pyrrole Synthesis

This review article features selected examples on the synthesis of functionalized pyrroles that were reported between 2014 and 2019. Pyrrole is an important nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocycle that can be found in numerous compounds of biological and material significance. Given its vast importance, pyrrole continues to be an attractive target for the development of new synthetic reactions. The contents of this article are organized by the starting materials, which can be broadly classified into four different types: substrates bearing π-systems, substrates bearing carbonyl and other polar groups, and substrates bearing heterocyclic motifs. Brief discussions on plausible reaction mechanisms for most transformations are also presented.

Rapid Access to Benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinoline-Fused Isoxazoles via Pd(II)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Cross Dehydrogenative Coupling: Synthetic Versatility and Photophysical Studies

An efficient and atom-economical palladium-catalyzed intramolecular cross dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reaction has been developed for the construction of highly π-conjugated benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinoline-fused isoxazole scaffolds using molecular oxygen as sole oxidant. The approach portrayed wide substrate scope with good functional group tolerance and depicted a useful tool for the generation of fluorescence active compounds with high quantum yield. Synthetic versatility of the method via Fe-catalyzed reductive isoxazole ring cleavage toward pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrazole fused heteropolycyclic compounds has been showcase.

Regiodivergent C-H Arylation of Triphenylene Derivatives Controlled by Electronic Effects of Diaryliodonium Salts

A regiodivergent C-H arylation of triphenylene derivatives with diaryliodonium salts was developed. The regiodivergence was controlled by electronic effects of diaryliodonium salts. When the aryl(mesityl)iodonium salts bearing strong electron-donating groups at the para-position of aryl groups were used, the arylation reactions occurred ortho to amide groups. However, if the aryl(mesityl)iodonium salts bearing electron-withdrawing groups or weak electron-donating groups at the para-position of aryl groups were utilized, the arylation reactions occurred meta to amide groups.

Recent development in transition metal-catalysed C-H olefination

Transition metal-catalysed functionalizations of inert C-H bonds to construct C-C bonds represent an ideal route in the synthesis of valuable organic molecules. Fine tuning of directing groups, catalysts and ligands has played a crucial role in selective C-H bond (sp2 or sp3) activation. Recent developments in these areas have assured a high level of regioselectivity in C-H olefination reactions. In this review, we have summarized the recent progress in the oxidative olefination of sp2 and sp3 C-H bonds with special emphasis on distal, atroposelective, non-directed sp2 and directed sp3 C-H olefination. The scope, limitation, and mechanism of various transition metal-catalysed olefination reactions have been described briefly.

Rh(iii)-Catalyzed multi-site-selective C–H bond functionalization: condition-controlled synthesis of diverse fused polycyclic benzimidazole derivatives

Multi-site-selective C–H activation: Diverse novel fused polycyclic- and multi-substituted 2-oxyl naphthalene benzimidazole derivatives were selectively synthesized via Rh(iii)-catalyzed tandem C–H activation/cyclization.

Direct synthesis of 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrroles via copper-mediated one-pot multicomponent reaction

We have developed a copper-mediated one-pot synthesis of 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrroles from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and acrylates using ammonium acetate as a nitrogen source. The reaction achieves C-C and C-N bond formation and provides an efficient approach to access highly functionalized pyrroles without further raw material preparation. This method is operationally simple, compatible with a wide range of functional groups, and provides the target products in moderate to good yields.

Trisulfur-Radical-Anion-Triggered C(sp2)-H Amination of Electron-Deficient Alkenes

A trisulfur-radical-anion (S₃̇^-)-triggered C(sp²)-H amination of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl derivatives with simple amines has been demonstrated. This protocol provides convenient access to a variety of synthetically valuable N-unprotected and secondary β-enaminones with absolute Z selectivity and tertiary β-enaminones with E selectivity. Mechanistic probe and electronic structure theory calculations suggest that S₃̇^- initiates the nucleophilic attacks via a thiirane intermediate.

Recent Developments in Transition-Metal Catalyzed Direct C-H Alkenylation, Alkylation, and Alkynylation of Azoles

The transition metal-catalyzed C–H bond functionalization of azoles has emerged as one of the most important strategies to decorate these biologically important scaffolds. Despite significant progress in the C–H functionalization of various heteroarenes, the regioselective alkylation and alkenylation of azoles are still arduous transformations in many cases. This review covers recent advances in the direct C–H alkenylation, alkylation and alkynylation of azoles utilizing transition metal-catalysis. Moreover, the limitations of different strategies, chemoselectivity and regioselectivity issues will be discussed in this review.

Distinct Roles of Ag(I) and Cu(II) as Cocatalysts in Achieving Positional-Selective C-H Alkenylation of Isoxazoles: A Theoretical Investigation

For C-H alkenylation of aryl-substituted diarylisoxazoles, one mode is N-directed C-H alkenylation and the other is C-H alkenylation in the isoxazole ring. In this study, selective C-H alkenylations of 3,5-diarylisoxazoles have been investigated theoretically with the aid of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. With Cp*Rh^III as the catalyst, the N-directed C-H alkenylation is preferred as a result of the stronger interaction energy caused by the nitrogen-directing effect. With Pd(OAc)₂ as the catalyst and Ag₂CO₃ as the cocatalyst, their combination switches the regioselectivity to the C-H alkenylation in the isoxazole ring. The strong structural distortion involved in the competing N-directed olefin insertion transition state was found to suppress N-directed C-H alkenylation. With Pd(OAc)₂ as the catalyst and Cu(OTf)₂ as the cocatalyst, the N-directed C-H alkenylation becomes preferred due to the strong coordination of the nitrogen atom to the copper center. In particular, the structural and mechanistic information involved in the above two heterodimetallic Pd/Ag and Pd/Cu catalytic systems will help toward understanding and designing novel relevant heterodimetallic-catalyzed reactions.

Rhodium-catalyzed multiple C–H activation/highlymeta-selective C–H amination between amidines and alkynes

A tandem process of multiple C–H activation, intermolecular highlymeta-selective C–H amination, and intramolecular C–H amination between amidines and alkynes has been developed.

Catalyst Control in Switching the Site Selectivity of C-H Olefinations of 1,2-Dihydroquinolines: An Approach to Positional-Selective Functionalization of Quinolines

A unique approach to achieve site-selective C-H olefinations exclusively at the C-3- or C-8-positions in the quinoline framework has been developed by catalyst control. Distal C(3)-H functionalization is achieved by using palladium catalysis, whereas proximal C(8)-H functionalization is obtained by employing ruthenium catalysis. Switching the site selectivity within a single substrate directly indicates two diverse pathways, which are operating under the palladium- and ruthenium-catalyzed reaction conditions.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed regioselective distal ortho C–H alkenylation of N-benzyl/furanylmethylpyrazoles directed by N-coordinating heterocycles

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed C–H functionalization of challenging N-benzylpyrazoles, N-benzylindazoles, N-benzylbenzotriazoles and N-furanylmethylpyrazoles with acrylates, vinylsulfone or vinylphosphonate for ortho-alkenylated heterocycles is described.