Synthesis of amino acid derived enaminones via Wolff rearrangement using vinylogous amides as carbon nucleophiles

Tetrazole Diversification of Amino Acids and Peptides via Silver-Catalyzed Intermolecular Cycloaddition with Aryldiazonium Salts

Selective structural modification of amino acids and peptides is a central strategy in organic chemistry, chemical biology but also in pharmacology and material science. In this context, the formation of tetrazole rings, known to possess significant therapeutic properties, would expand the chemical space of unnatural amino acids but has received less attention. In this study, we demonstrated that the classic unimolecular Wolff rearrangement of α-amino acid-derived diazoketones could be replaced by a faster intermolecular cycloaddition reaction with aryldiazonium salts under identical practical conditions. This strategy provides an efficient synthetic platform that could transform proteinogenic α-amino acids into a plethora of unprecedented tetrazole-decorated amino acid derivatives with preservation of the stereocenters. Density functional theory studies shed some light on the reaction mechanism and provided information regarding the origins of the chemo- and regioselectivity. Furthermore, this diazo-cycloaddition protocol was applied to construct tetrazole-modified peptidomimetics and drug-like amino acid derivatives.

Theoretical Insight into the Mechanism of Cu(I)-Catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] Cycloaddition to β-Pyrrolinones: Azaheterocycle Formation and Assisted Dehydrogenation with Solvent MeNO2

The construction of multisubstituted β-pyrrolinones from simple starting materials remains a great challenge. Recently, a novel Cu(I)-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition reaction was developed for rapid access to fully substituted β-pyrrolinones, which are difficult to synthesize through traditional methods as this approach may involve unusual C-nucleophilic addition of enamines and umpolung of imines. Elucidating the reaction mechanism may inspire the development of new methodologies via the unusual C-nucleophilic addition of enamines and imines. However, the reaction mechanism is still unclear because none of the intermediates was observed during the reaction process. In this work, we employed theoretical and computational chemistry to investigate the possible pathway. Finally, the calculated results indicate that ketene formed by the Wolff rearrangement of α-diazo-β-ketoester reacts with enamine formed by the addition of alkynes and amine, affording the five-membered azaheterocycle, and this process involves the formation of a six-membered ring intermediate and sequential isomerization, and the further dehydrogenation needs to be assisted with solvent MeNO₂.

Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of β-enaminone derivatives via Tin(Ⅳ)-catalyzed addition reaction from β-dicarbonyl compounds with nitriles

Abstract:

An efficient and eco-friendly approach for the synthesis of β-enaminone derivatives is described, which is through the addition of nitriles with β-dicarbonyl compounds under ultrasound irradiation condition at room temperature. The scope and limitation of this strategy are also discussed. A variety of substituted amides can be obtained in moderate to good yields. We hope that this protocol for the efficient synthesis of β-enaminones will offer insights in further investigations.

Potential Energy Surfaces of Vinylogous Wolff Rearrangement: NBO Analysis and Molecular Dynamic Simulation

The potential energy surfaces of the Vinylogous Wolff Rearrangement, an alternative process for the Wolff Rearrangement that takes place β,γ-unsaturated diazoketones have been fully explored employing M062X model chemistry and in a complementary task by means of the CASSCF method. The NBO analysis has been invoked to reveal the alternations of orbital occupancies and their stabilization energies through some of the critical structures located on the pathways. The calculations establish a two steps process for each pathway involving a second higher energy transition state that seems likely to be the rate determining step in agreement with experimental results. Energy analysis indicates more feasibility of the pathway including diradical intermediate. The most striking feature of the study concerns the finding out a transition state providing a channel in between two pathways through interconversion of the two keys bicyclo[2.1.0]pentanone and diradical intermediates.

Cu(I)-Catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] Cycloaddition of Amines, Alkynes, and Ketenes: An Umpolung and Regioselective Approach to Full-Substituted β-Pyrrolinones

Described here is a Cu-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] modular synthesis of full-substituted β-pyrrolinones from simple amines, alkynes, and α-diazo-β-ketoesters. This approach involving the regioselective C-nucleophilic attack of enamines, uncommon C-nucleophilic addition to ketenes, and umpolung of imines enables the direct synthesis of full-substituted β-pyrrolinones, which were hardly constructed by traditional synthetic strategies.

Synthesis of 2,3-Dihydro-4-pyridones and 4-Pyridones by the Cyclization Reaction of Ester-Tethered Enaminones

2,3-Dihydro-4-pyridone skeleton is an important building block in organic synthesis because it features several reaction sites with nucleophilic or electrophilic properties. Herein, we disclose a method for its formation by intramolecular cyclization of ester-tethered enaminones, which can easily be synthesized from readily available materials, such as amines, activated alkynes, and activated alkenes. 2,3-Dihydro-4-pyridones have been isolated in 41-90% yields. We also demonstrate the transformation of these heterocycles into another important class of compounds, 4-pyridones, by utilizing 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-p-benzoquinone (chloranil) as an oxidizing agent. The latter products were isolated in 65-94% yields.

Formal oxo- and aza-[3 + 2] reactions of α-enaminones and quinones: a double divergent process and the roles of chiral phosphoric acid and molecular sieves

A double divergent process has been developed for the reaction of α-enaminones with quinones through facile manipulation of catalyst and additive, leading to structurally completely different products. The two divergent processes, which involve formal aza- and oxo-[3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, are mediated by chiral phosphoric acid and molecular sieves, respectively. While inclusion of phosphoric acid in the reaction switched the reaction pathway to favor the efficient formation of a wide range of N-substituted indoles, addition of 4 Å molecular sieves to the reaction switched the reaction pathway again, leading to enantioselective synthesis of 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans in excellent yields and enantioselectivities under mild conditions. Studies in this work suggest that the chiral phosphoric acid acts to lower the transition state energy and promote the formation of amide intermediate for the formal aza-[3 + 2] cycloaddition and the molecular sieves serve to facilitate proton transfer for oxo-[3 + 2] cycloaddition. The reactivity of α-enaminones is also disclosed in this work.

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.

Gold-Catalyzed Oxidation of Thioalkynes To Form Phenylthio Ketene Derivatives via a Noncarbene Route

Gold-catalyzed oxidations of thioalkynes with 8-methylquinoline oxides afford 2-phenylthioketenes that can be trapped efficiently with alcohols. The synthetic utility is manifested by terminal and internal thioalkynes over a wide scope, bearing esters, ketones, alkyl, and oxime substituents. Our density functional theory calculations suggest that gold-catalyzed oxidations of terminal and internal thioalkynes with 8-methylquinoline oxides generate gold-bound ketene intermediates without the intermediacy of α-oxo gold carbene.

Diazocarbonyl derivatives of amino acids: unique chiral building blocks for the synthesis of biologically active compounds

This review deals with applications of chiral α-amino diazoketones, α-amino acid derivatives, in the synthesis of various biologically active compounds. General approaches to the synthesis of chiral α-amino diazoketones, including the Arndt – Eistert reaction, acylation of trimethylsilyldiazomethanes, etc., are discussed. Due to the presence of three functional groups, these building blocks can be used to produce a wide range of organic compounds with potential physiological activity, ranging from various heterocyclic compounds to peptidomimetics. Methods for the synthesis of β-amino acid-containing peptides and depsipeptides, amino acid derivatives and heterocyclic compounds with three- to seven-membered rings are considered.

The bibliography includes 226 references.

Zn(OAc)2-catalyzed tandem cyclization of isocyanides, α-diazoketones, and anhydrides: a general route to polysubstituted maleimides

A zinc-catalyzed three-component reaction of isocyanides, α-diazoketones, and anhydrides has been realized as a novel and efficient method for the synthesis of polysubstituted maleimides.

A Photochemical Two-Step Formal [5+2] Cycloaddition: A Condensation/Ring-Expansion Approach to Substituted Azepanes

Seven-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycles are considerably underrepresented in the literature compared to their five- and six-membered analogues. Herein, we report a relatively understudied photochemical rearrangement of N-vinylpyrrolidinones to azepin-4-ones in good yields. This transformation allows for the conversion of readily available pyrrolidinones and aldehydes to densely functionalized azepane derivatives in a facile two step procedure.

Highly efficient synthesis of benzodioxins with a 2-site quaternary carbon structure by secondary amine-catalyzed dual Michael cascade reactions

Employing salicylic acids and substituted 3-butyn-2-ones as the substrates, a morpholine catalyzed tandem dual Michael addition afforded a benzodioxin skeleton.

Ring contraction of metallabenzooxirene to metal carbonyl complexes - a comparative study with the Wolff rearrangement of oxirene and benzooxirene

A detailed quantum mechanical study on the role of transition metal fragments towards the epoxidation reaction of metallabenzynes (1M, M = Fe, Ru, Os) to give metallabenzyne epoxide or metallabenzooxirene (2M), followed by the Wolff type 1,2-rearrangement to give metal carbonyls (4M), has been carried out at the M06/def2-TZVPP//BP86/def2-SVP level of theory. The epoxide or oxirene product (2A) of linear alkynes like acetylene is unstable and converts to a ketene (4A) by highly exothermic (-78.7 kcal mol^-1) Wolff rearrangement via an oxocarbene (3A) intermediate. The epoxide product of cyclic alkynes like benzyne (2C) is comparatively more stable than benzooxocarbene (3C), yet it undergoes rearrangement to cyclopentadienylketene (4C) through Wolff type ring contraction reactions (-65.3 kcal mol^-1). The replacement of one of the carbyne carbons in benzyne by 14 VE metal fragment M(PH₃)₂Cl₂, M = Fe, Ru and Os enhances the stability of the 18 VE metallabenzyne epoxide product (2M, -88.1 kcal mol^-1 for 2Fe, -87.2 kcal mol^-1 for 2Ru and -82.8 kcal mol^-1 for 2Os) as compared to the 16 VE metallacyclohexadienone (3M). The ring contracted 18 VE product of 2M is a carbonyl bridged metallacyclopentadienyl complex (4M, M = Fe, Ru and Os). Even though this interconversion is thermodynamically favourable, it involves a high-energy barrier (19.3, 28.1 and 27.9 kcal mol^-1 for 2Fe, 2Ru and 2Os, respectively). However, the hepta-coordinated (5M) terminal metallacyclopentadienyl carbonyl analogues of ketene (4A/4C) are not minima on the potential energy surface.

Organocatalytic activation of isocyanides: N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed enaminone synthesis from ketones

The first example of the use of an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) as an organocatalyst for the activation of isocyanides was demonstrated. On the basis of previous reports on the interaction between NHCs and isocyanides, we developed a catalytic cycle involving transient imidoyl intermediate. The reaction of ketones with isocyanides produced the corresponding enaminones with high efficiency. Control experiments suggested a novel role for the carbene in the activation of isocyanides, and a proton transfer process was found to be crucial for the generation of two activated species in the catalytic cycle. Various enaminones, some of which are not easily accessible by other methods, were synthesized in excellent yields. This study clearly demonstrates the potential of the nucleophilic activation of isocyanides in the expansion of their reactivity scope.

Enantioselective Aza-Sakurai Cyclizations: Dual Role of Thiourea as H-Bond Donor and Lewis Base

An enantioselective, catalytic aza-Sakurai cyclization of chlorolactams has been developed as an efficient entry into indolizidine and quinolizidine frameworks. Structure-enantioselectivity relationship studies and mechanistic analysis point to a dual role of the catalyst wherein the thiourea moiety of the catalyst is engaged in both anion binding and Lewis base activation of a substrate.

Cyclic enaminones. Part I: stereocontrolled synthesis using diastereoselective and catalytic asymmetric methods

Cyclic enaminones are versatile intermediates to construct a variety of azacyclic frameworks and have been widely used in alkaloid synthesis. Here, we summarize three approaches for stereoselective syntheses of cyclic enaminones and their functionalized derivatives. These include chiral substrates (chirons) as starting materials, syntheses employing non-catalytic (stoichiometric) reagents, and catalytic asymmetric methods.

Modular access to vicinally functionalized allylic (thio)morpholinonates and piperidinonates by substrate-controlled annulation of 1,3-azadienes with hexacyclic anhydrides

A modular substrate-controlled hexannulation of 1,3-azadienes with hexacyclic anhydrides, which affords versatile vicinally functionalized allylic lactams, in high yields, regio- and stereoselectivities is described.

Design of a graphene oxide-SnO2 nanocomposite with superior catalytic efficiency for the synthesis of β-enaminones and β-enaminoesters

A graphene–SnO₂ nanocomposite has been synthesized by a solvothermal method, which is a more effective and less time-consuming catalyst for the synthesis of β-enaminones and β-enaminoesters.

Electrosynthesis of enaminones directly from methyl ketones and amines with nitromethane as a carbon source

An efficient and mechanistically different method for the electrosynthesis of enaminone directly from methyl ketones, amines and nitromethane was developed.

Enantiospecific Synthesis and Biological Investigations of a Nuphar Alkaloid: Proposed Structure of a Castoreum Component

An enantiospecific synthesis of a Nuphar alkaloid was achieved in 9 steps from N-Boc-(L)-proline. The alkaloid is a minor component of castoreum, the dried scent glands of the beaver. During the course of our study, the stereochemistry of three synthetic intermediates was verified by X-ray analysis, which contributes to resolving existing discrepancies among the literature reports regarding the synthesis of this particular compound. Based on our synthesis, we propose the structure of the natural product. Also, intrigued by castoreum's therapeutic effect, which was used in ancient Greece and Rome for gynecological and other purposes, biological screening was conducted. We found that the alkaloid has affinity for the oxytocin receptor.

Efficient PPA-SiO2-catalyzed synthesis of β-enaminones under solvent-free conditions

An efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of β-enaminones under solvent-free reaction conditions using PPA-SiO₂ as catalyst. The reaction yields were good to excellent (up to 90%). This methodology affords high selectivity and good tolerance of a variety of different functional groups present on both aromatic and aliphatic amines. In addition, the methodology is environmentally benign and cost-effective due to absence of solvent and easy work-up.

Total synthesis of (-)-epimyrtine by a gold-catalyzed hydroamination approach

A new approach to the total synthesis of (−)-epimyrtine has been developed from D-alanine. The key step to access the enantiopure pyridone intermediate was achieved by a gold-mediated cyclization. Finally, various transformations afforded the natural product in a few steps and good overall yield.

Vinylogous reactivity of enol diazoacetates with donor-acceptor substituted hydrazones. Synthesis of substituted pyrazole derivatives

A regiospecific synthesis of multifunctional pyrazoleshas been developed from a cascade process triggered by Rh(II)-catalyzed dinitrogen extrusion from enol diazoacetates with vinylogous nucleophilic addition followed by Lewis acid catalyzed cyclization and aromatization.

Copper-assisted palladium(II)-catalyzed direct arylation of cyclic enaminones with arylboronic acids

Described herein is a palladium(II)-catalyzed direct arylation of cyclic enaminones with arylboronic acids. The versatility of this method is that both electron-rich and electron-poor boronic acids can be coupled in high yields. A mixture of two Cu(II) additives was crucial for efficient cross-coupling. The role of each Cu(II) reagent appears to be distinct and complementary serving to assist catalyst reoxidation and transmetalation through a putative arylcopper intermediate.

Expedient synthesis of highly substituted pyrroles via tandem rearrangement of α-diazo oxime ethers

An efficient rhodium-catalyzed synthesis of 2H-azirines and pyrroles has been developed. Novel rearrangement of α-oximino ketenes derived from α-diazo oxime ethers provides 2H-azirines bearing quaternary centers and allows for subsequent rearrangement to highly substituted pyrroles in excellent yields.