Ring-Opening of Indoles: An Unconventional Route for the Transformation of Indoles to 1 H-Pyrazoles Using Lewis Acid

Synthesis and Structure of Novel Hybrid Compounds Containing Phthalazin-1(2H)-imine and 4,5-Dihydro-1H-imidazole Cores and Their Sulfonyl Derivatives with Potential Biological Activities

A novel hybrid compound-2-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phthalazin-1(2H)-imine (5) was synthesized and converted into di-substituted sulfonamide derivatives 6a-o and phthalazine ring opening products-hydrazonomethylbenzonitriles 7a-m. The newly prepared compounds were characterized using elemental analyses, IR and NMR spectroscopy, as well as mass spectrometry. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data were collected for the representative compounds 5, 6c, 6e, 7g, and 7k. The antiproliferative activity of compound 5, sulfonyl derivatives 6a-o and benzonitriles 7a-m was evaluated on approximately sixty cell lines within nine tumor-type subpanels, including leukemia, lung, colon, CNS, melanoma, ovarian, renal, prostate, and breast. None of the tested compounds showed any activity against the cancer cell lines used. The antioxidant properties of all compounds were assessed using the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP radical scavenging methods, as well as the β-carotene bleaching test. Antiradical tests revealed that among the investigated compounds, a moderate ABTS antiradical effect was observed for sulfonamide 6j (IC50 = 52.77 µg/mL). Benzonitrile 7i bearing two chlorine atoms on a phenyl ring system showed activity in a β-carotene bleaching test (IC50 = 86.21 µg/mL). Finally, the interaction AGE/RAGE in the presence of the selected phthalazinimines 6a, 6b, 6g, 6m, and hydrazonomethylbenzonitriles 7a, 7c-g, and 7i-k was determined by ELISA assay. A moderate inhibitory potency toward RAGE was found for hydrazonomethylbenzonitriles-7d with an electron-donating methoxy group (R = 3-CH3O-C6H4) and 7f, 7k with an electron-withdrawing substituent (7f, R = 2-Cl-C6H4; 7k, R = 4-NO2-C6H4).

Ring-opening silylation of N-arylindoles via endocyclic C-N bond cleavage triggered by silylboranes

The cleavage of heteroaromatic endocyclic carbon-heteroatom bonds to assemble C-Si bonds is scarce. Here, we demonstrate an unprecedented dearomatization silylation of N-arylindoles arising from reductive activation initiated by electron-rich silylboronic complexes to deliver silyl styrenes with perfect stereoselectivity.

Indoline hemiaminals: a platform for accessing anthranilic acid derivatives through oxidative deformylation

2-Aminobenzoyl chlorides possess both a nucleophilic nitrogen atom and an electrophilic carbonyl group, and thus selective acylation of nucleophiles is challenging; self-dimerization and sluggish reactions occur. Herein, we introduce a new synthetic protocol using 2-aminobenzoyl surrogates, allowing concise entry to decorated 2-aminobenzoyl derivatives in the absence of transition metals, acid chlorides, and specific reagents.

Formal One Carbon Deletion of Indoline Hemiaminals under Tautomeric Control to Access 2-Aminobenzyl Compounds

Unprecedented tert-BuOK-mediated one carbon deletion of indoline hemiaminals has been achieved. This novel protocol provides an efficient synthetic tool for the construction of 2-aminobenzyl compounds with high chemoselectivity. In addition, functionalized 2-aminobenzyl compounds are difficult to make, for which few limited means of access currently exist. The key to success is the use of in situ generated Heyns rearrangement products (α-amino carbonyl compounds) as precursors for formal one carbon deletion.

Microwave-Assisted, Metal- and Azide-Free Synthesis of Functionalized Heteroaryl-1,2,3-triazoles via Oxidative Cyclization of N-Tosylhydrazones and Anilines

As the search for competent soft-Lewis basic complexants for separations continues to evolve toward identification of a chemoselective moiety for speciation of the minor actinides from the electronically similar lanthanides, synthetic methods must congruently evolve. Synthetic options to convergently construct unsymmetric heteroaryl donor complexants incorporating a 1,2,3-triazole from accessible starting materials for evaluation in separation assays necessitated the development of the described methodology. In this report, metal- and azide-free synthesis of diversely functionalized pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole derivatives facilitated by microwave irradiation was leveraged to prepare a novel class of tridentate ligands. The described work negates the incorporation of thermally sensitive and toxic organoazides by using N-tosylhydrazones and anilines as viable synthetic equivalents in an efficient 12 min reaction time. Adaptation to alternative synthons useful for drug discovery was also realized. Method discovery, optimization, N-tosylhydrazone and aniline substrate scope, as well as a preliminary mechanistic hypotheses supported by DFT calculations are reported herein.

Indole Editing Enabled by HFIP-Mediated Ring-Switch Reactions of 3-Amino-2-Hydroxyindolines

This work reports the novel reactivity of hemiaminal as a precursor for indole editing at the multi-site. The HFIP-promoted indole editing of indoline hemiaminals affords 2-arylindoles through a ring-switch sequence. The key to success of this transformation is to use a cyclic hemiaminal as an α-amino aldehyde surrogate under transient tautomeric control. This transformation features mild reaction conditions and good yields with broad functional group tolerance. The utility of this transformation is presented through the one-pot protocol and the synthesis of isocryptolepine.

Transformation of the sp2 Carbanion to Carbene with Subsequent 1,1-Migratory Insertion and Nucleophilic Substitution in Rare-Earth Metal Chemistry

The development of Fischer-type electrophilic carbene chemistry with early transition metals has been a great challenge due to the fact that such metals in their high oxidation states lack the d electrons to stabilize the electrophilic carbene. Herein, we disclose the first experimental and theoretical findings of in situ transformation of an sp² carbanion to a Fischer-type electrophilic carbene with rare-earth metals in their high oxidation state with a d⁰ electron via electron transfer. The carbene may undergo 1,1-migratory insertion into an adjacent RE-C(sp³) bond, and an unprecedented ring opening of the indole ring of the ligand occurs when the carbenes undergo nucleophilic substitution with a special organolithium reagent o-Me₂NC₆H₄CH₂Li. The key to success is the uniquely tailored novel ligand systems featuring a suitable conjugate building block (^-C═C-C═N) bearing an sp² carbanion connected to the rare-earth metal center.

An Electrochemical Route for Special Oxidative Ring-Opening of Indoles

A novel electrochemical protocol for the oxidative cleavage of indoles has been developed, which offers a simple way to access synthetically useful anthranilic acid derivatives. In undivided cells, a wide variety of indoles and alcohol compounds are examined to afford amide ester aromatics without using extra oxidants and stoichiometric metal catalysts, which avoids the formation of undesired by-products and exhibits high atom economy. The products we described in this perspective represent a synthetic intermediate in numerous drug molecules and industrial chemical reagents and remarkably show potential application in the future.

Direct Access for the Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of N-Alkenylpyrazoles and Chromenopyrazoles

A highly regio- and stereoselective method was developed for the preparation of N-alkenylpyrazoles and chromenopyrazoles by the reaction of N-tosylhydrazones and salicyl N-tosylhydrazones with alkynes under neat conditions in the presence of La(OTf)₃. The present study was found to be efficient and convenient for direct access to N-alkenylpyrazoles and chromenopyrazoles through C-C, C-N, and C-O bond forming reactions. Structure assignment of N-alkenylpyrazole compound 5c was confirmed by X-ray analysis.

Nature-inspired remodeling of (aza)indoles to meta-aminoaryl nicotinates for late-stage conjugation of vitamin B3 to (hetero)arylamines

Despite the availability of numerous routes to substituted nicotinates based on the Bohlmann–Rahtz pyridine synthesis, the existing methods have several limitations, such as the inevitable ortho-substitutions and the inability to conjugate vitamin B₃ to other pharmaceutical agents. Inspired by the biosynthesis of nicotinic acid (a form of vitamin B₃) from tryptophan, we herein report the development of a strategy for the synthesis of meta-aminoaryl nicotinates from 3-formyl(aza)indoles. Our strategy is mechanistically different from the reported routes and involves the transformation of (aza)indole scaffolds into substituted meta-aminobiaryl scaffolds via Aldol-type addition and intramolecular cyclization followed by C–N bond cleavage and re-aromatization. Unlike previous synthetic routes, this biomimetic method utilizes propiolates as enamine precursors and thus allows access to ortho-unsubstituted nicotinates. In addition, the synthetic feasibility toward the halo-/boronic ester-substituted aminobiaryls clearly differentiates the present strategy from other cross-coupling strategies. Most importantly, our method enables the late-stage conjugation of bioactive (hetero)arylamines with nicotinates and nicotinamides and allows access to the previously unexplored chemical space for biomedical research.

Vitamin B3 derivatives display a range of biological activities. Here, the authors report the synthesis of meta-aminoaryl nicotinates, derivatives of vitamin B3, and their late-stage conjugation with (hetero)arylamines, ultimately expanding the chemical space for biomedical research.

Lewis Acid Catalyzed [4 + 2] Cycloaddition of N-Tosylhydrazones with ortho-Quinone Methides

A formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition of N-tosylhydrazones with ortho-quinone methides was developed, affording the facile synthesis of diverse 1,3-oxazine derivatives under mild conditions. In this transformation, N-tosylhydrazones are used as a 1,2-dipole synthon under base-free conditions. Moreover, the substrate scope is broad, and the products are formed with high diastereoselectivities in most of the cases.

Synthesis of 1H-Pyrazol-5-yl-pyridin-2-yl-[1,2,4]triazinyl Soft-Lewis Basic Complexants via Metal and Oxidant Free [3 + 2] Dipolar Cycloaddition of Terminal Ethynyl Pyridines with Tosylhydrazides

Soft-Lewis basic complexants that facilitate chemoselective separation of the minor actinides from the lanthanides are critical to the closure of the nuclear fuel cycle. Complexants that modulate covalent orbital interactions with relevant metals of interest can facilitate desired outcomes in liquid-liquid separation, allowing for further transmutative processes that decrease issues related with storage of spent nuclear fuel from energy and weapons production. Synthesis of previously unexplored scaffolds seeks to improve performance over benchmark complexants. In the current work, an intermolecular, thermally initiated, and DBU-assisted [3 + 2] cycloaddition of 3-(6-ethynyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5,6-diphenyl-[1,2,4]triazine dipolarophiles with structurally diverse 4-methylbenzenesulfono-hydrazides afforded 21 yet-to-be reported examples in 42-68% yield and modest regioselectivity for the desired regioisomer. Preparation of requisite starting materials, method definition, dipole and dipolarophile scope, ten-fold scale-up reaction, and downstream functional group interconversion are reported herein.

Regioselective Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Pyrazoles from N-Tosylhydrazones

A regioselective synthesis of highly functionalized pyrazoles from N-tosylhydrazones was developed. The reaction was general for a wide range of substrates and demonstrated excellent tolerance to a variety of substituents, and the method has been successfully applied to the formal synthesis of ibrutinib.