Convenient Access to Conformationally Rigid Sultams

Stereoselective Synthesis of β, γ-Fused Bicyclic γ-Ureasultams via an Intramolecular Mannich and aza-Michael Addition Cascade

A novel approach has been developed for the synthesis of bicyclic β, γ-fused bicyclic γ-ureasultams containing two consecutive chiral centers through an intramolecular Mannich and aza-Michael addition cascade of alkenyl sulfamides. The straightforward practical procedure and readily available starting materials enable the synthesis of variously substituted ureasultams. In addition, bicyclic γ-ureasultams is a class of potential biotin analogues.

2,5-disubstituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes as rigidified cyclopentane variants

Identification of rigid counterparts for common flexible scaffolds is crucial to the advancement of medicinal chemistry. Here we showcase a new class of building blocks, 2,5-disubstituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes that can act as rigidified cis-, or trans-1,3-disubstituted cyclopentanes, common motifs in drugs. The scalable synthesis of these structures was enabled through the use of C-H functionalization logic and cycloaddition reactions.

Radical Fluorosulfonyl Heteroarylation of Unactivated Alkenes with Quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones and Related N-Heterocycles

The incorporation of sulfonyl fluoride groups into molecules has been proved effective to enhance their biological activities or introduce new functions. Herein, we report a transition-metal-free and visible-light-mediated radical 1-fluorosulfonyl-2-heteroarylation of alkenes, which could allow access to a series of SO₂F-containing quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones, which are a critical structural motif widely present in a number of biologically active molecules. Further application of the method to the modification of other heterocycles and drug molecules as well as ligation chemistry via SuFEx click reactions is also demonstrated.

Formation of the Tertiary Sulfonamide C(sp3)-N Bond Using Alkyl Boronic Ester via Intramolecular and Intermolecular Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Cross-Coupling

A synthetic strategy for the formation of C(sp³)-N bonds, particularly through a copper-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling, is rare. Herein, we report a novel synthetic approach for the preparation of tertiary sulfonamides via copper-catalyzed intra- and intermolecular oxidative C(sp³)-N cross-coupling reactions. This method allows the utilization of the readily available C(sp³)-based pinacol boronate as a substrate and the tolerance of a wide range of functional groups under mild reaction conditions. The success of this strategy relies on the unprecedented additive effects of silanol and NaIO₄.

A Diastereoselective Route to Benzoannelated Bridged Sultams

A practical diastereoselective method for the synthesis of benzoannelated tri- and tetracyclic bridged sultams has been developed. The synthetic route employs widely available, substituted o-iodoanilines and is based on intramolecular Michael addition followed by cycloalkylation with α,ω-dihaloalkanes, or vice versa. The target compounds were isolated in good yields and the diastereoselectivity of the reaction could be easily controlled by the order of Michael addition and cycloalkylation steps.

Intermolecular [2 + 2] Photocycloaddition of α,β-Unsaturated Sulfones: Catalyst-Free Reaction and Catalytic Variants

2-Aryl-1-sulfonyl-substituted cyclobutanes were prepared in an intermolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition from various α,β-unsaturated sulfones and olefins upon irradiation at λ = 300 nm (26 examples, 60-99% yield). Lewis acids catalyzed the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of 2-benzimidazolyl styryl sulfones. At short wavelengths, the latter substrates underwent C-S bond cleavage but AlBr₃ (5 mol %) allowed for an intermolecular reaction with 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene at longer wavelengths. A chiral-at-metal Lewis acid (2 mol %) facilitated an enantioselective reaction (up to 77% ee).

Synthesis of 3-Iodomethyl Sultams

A method for the synthesis of iodomethyl-substituted five-membered sultams has been developed. The sultams were synthesized by intramolecular iodoamination of alkenyl sulfamides. The method allows synthesis of N- and C-substituted sultams. NH-Sultams were prepared by acidic cleavage of the corresponding tert-butyl sultams that are readily available. Varying the length of alkenyl substituent at sulfamide it was shown that only five- and six-membered sultams could be prepared by this method. Neither four- nor seven-membered sultams were detected. The simple practical procedure and available starting materials make the variously substituted sultams readily available.

Computational-aided design of a library of lactams through a diversity-oriented synthesis strategy

Small molecule libraries for virtual screening are becoming a well-established tool for the identification of new hit compounds. As for experimental assays, the library quality, defined in terms of structural complexity and diversity, is crucial to increase the chance of a successful outcome in the screening campaign. In this context, Diversity-Oriented Synthesis has proven to be very effective, as the compounds generated are structurally complex and differ not only for the appendages, but also for the molecular scaffold. In this work, we automated the design of a library of lactams by applying a Diversity-Oriented Synthesis strategy called Build/Couple/Pair. We evaluated the novelty and diversity of these compounds by comparing them with lactam moieties contained in approved drugs, natural products, and bioactive compounds from ChEMBL. Finally, depending on their scaffold we classified them into β-, γ-, δ-, ε-, and isolated, fused, bridged and spirolactam groups and we assessed their drug-like and lead-like properties, thus providing the value of this novel in silico designed library for medicinal chemistry applications.

Twisting and Turning the Sulfonamide Bond: A Synthetic, Quantum Chemical, and Crystallographic Study

Structural restriction of the sulfonamide bond was used to design sultams with abnormal geometric parameters. Based on analysis of tertiary aliphatic sulfonamides published in the Cambridge crystallographic database, Paquette's sultams (i.e., bridged bicyclic sultams with a bridgehead nitrogen atom) were outlined, and a number of these compounds (including the novel smallest representative, 2-thia-1-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane 2,2-dioxide) were synthesized by cyclization of the corresponding amino sulfonyl fluorides. A series of tertiary aliphatic sulfonamides was studied by crystallographic and quantum chemical methods. It was found that the s-character of the nitrogen lone pair is the most important factor defining properties of the S-N bond. Thus, going from the sp³-hybrid lone pair in common sulfonamides to the sp-like lone pair in the smallest Paquette's sultam resulted in an increase in S-N bond length by ca. 0.06 Å. The strain energy of ca. 30 kcal/mol was predicted for the latter compound, which was higher than for any existing sulfonamides studied.