New syntheses of acridin-9-ones, benzo[c]quinolizin-6-ones, pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoline-1,5-diones, and some related tetracyclic compounds

Tandem aza-Michael addition-vinylogous aldol condensation: synthesis of N-bridged pyridine fused quinolones

Herein, we present a tandem aza-Michael addition-vinylogous aldol condensation strategy for the synthesis of N-bridged pyridine fused quinolone derivatives from quinolones and ynones. The presented tandem transformation features the construction of C-N and CC bonds in a single operation, under transition metal-free conditions. The wide substrate scope and gram scale synthesis of pyridine fused quinolone derivatives expand the synthetic value of the presented protocol.

Applications of total synthesis to problems in neurodegeneration: Fascinating chemistry along the way

The possibility for the application of organic synthesis to the discovery of new agents in combating neurodegenerative disorders is described. Our focus has been on agents derived from natural-product leads and natural products themselves prepared through total synthesis. Herein, we describe some of the chemistry as well as interesting observations made along the way.

Synthesis of a new series of heterocyclic scaffolds for medicinal purposes

A new series of substituted 8-fluro-4H-pyrimido[2,1-b] [1,3]benzothiazole-4-ones () substituted 7-methyl-4H-isoxazolo[2,3-a]pyrimidin-4-ones, and substituted 2-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-9H-isoxazolo[2,3-a]pyridopyrimidin-9-ones, compounds I-VII, have been prepared via condensation of beta-keto esters with 2-aminopyridine derivatives, in the presence of polyphosphoric acid. The same technique has also been used to prepare diazepine compounds, VIII-X, by condensation of a gamma-keto ester with 2-aminopyridine derivatives. Details of synthetic procedures are shown. The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, GC-MS, FT-IR and NMR spectrometry. Antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer (cytotoxic) activities, for three of these compounds, have been investigated and are presented.

Novel reaction products from the hypervalent iodine oxidation of hydroxylated stilbenes and isoflavones

Novel reaction pathways for the hypervalent iodine-mediated oxidation of bioactive phenols containing extended conjugated pi-systems are described. Oxidation of 4-hydroxystilbenes in methanol using a hypervalent iodine-based oxidant led to the formal 1,2-addition of methoxy groups across the central stilbene double bond. Treatment of the structurally related 4-hydroxyisoflavone with di(trifluoroacetoxy)iodobenzene leads to the surprising formation of 2,4'-dihydroxybenzil. Potential mechanisms for these new reaction pathways are discussed, and the X-ray crystal structure of 2,4'-dihydroxybenzil is presented. In contrast, oxidation of the corresponding 3-hydroxystilbenes and 3-hydroxyisoflavone led to conventional dienone oxidation products. The antitumour implications of these oxidation processes are briefly highlighted; the novel 4-substituted phenolic oxidation products were found to be inactive in terms of in vitro antitumour cellular activity, whereas the 3-substituted phenol products gave novel agents with potent and enhanced antitumour activity in the HCT 116 cancer cell line.

A Convenient Route to Diverse Heterocycles through an Addition of β-Amino Carbonyl Compounds to 3-Halogeno-4-methoxybenzynes

[reaction: see text] 3-Halogeno-4-methoxybenzynes 5 generated from 5-(3-halogeno-4-methoxyphenyl)thianthrenium perchlorates 1 and LDA in THF at reflux reacted with various beta-amino carbonyl compounds and 2-aminophenyl benzenesulfonate etc. to give diverse heterocyclic compounds.

Enantiospecific synthesis of the antituberculosis marine sponge metabolite (+)-puupehenone. The arenol oxidative activation route

[formula: see text] The total synthesis of the marine sesquiterpene quinone (+)-puupehenone, a promising new antituberculosis agent, was achieved in 10 steps starting from commercially available (+)-sclareolide. The key feature of this synthesis is the construction of the heterocycle via an intramolecular attack of the terpenoid-derived C-8 oxygen function onto an oxidatively activated 1,2-dihydroxyphenyl unit.

Iodine(III)-mediated generation of nitrogen-tethered orthoquinol acetates for the construction of oxygenated indole, quinoline, and phenanthridine alkaloid motifs

Functionalized indole and quinoline derivatives are conveniently prepared from nitrogen-tethered 2-methoxyphenols via phenyliodine(III) diacetate mediated oxidative acetoxylation, followed by a fluoride- or base-induced intramolecular nucleophilic addition reaction. This regioselective Michael-type addition step is further discussed in view of the rearrangement of orthoquinol acetate intermediates into paraquinol acetates that is sometimes observed in situ. Application of this methodology to the synthesis of a functionalized phenanthridine, and its potential for the construction of polyoxygenated lycorine-type alkaloid skeleta are here described.

Synthesis, antimalarial activity and inhibition of haem detoxification of novel bisquinolines

The synthesis of novel bisquinoline compounds comprising 4-(4-diethylamino-1-methylbutyl)aminoquinoline units joined through the 2-position by a (CH(2))(n) linker is described. Their ability to inhibit the growth of both chloroquine-sensitive (D10) and chloroquine-resistant (K1) strains of Plasmodium falciparum, the hydrogen peroxide-mediated pathway for decomposition of haem, and the conversion of haem to beta-haematin have been measured. The activity was affected by the length of the linker and the most active (6c, n=12) showed effects similar to chloroquine in three of the assays. However, it was even more active against the resistant strain [IC(50), 17 nM (K1); 43 nM (D10)], much superior to chloroquine (IC(50), 540 nM) and slightly better than mefloquine (IC(50), 30 nM) in this regard.

Hypervalent Iodine(V)-Induced Asymmetric Oxidation of Sulfides to Sulfoxides Mediated by Reversed Micelles: Novel Nonmetallic Catalytic System

Although several types of chiral hypervalent iodine reagents have been used for asymmetric induction, all of them have needed more than a stoichiometric amount of chiral reagents and have shown low enantioselectivities. The described new catalytic asymmetric oxidation using a hypervalent iodine(V) reagent, iodoxybenzene (PhIO(2)), in a cationic reversed micellar system provides the first example of a catalytic asymmetric oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides in high chemical yield with moderate to good enantioselectivity without the use of any transition-metal catalysts. The solubilization and activation of PhIO(2) by adding catalytic amounts of both cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and a chiral tartaric acid derivative were found to be indispensable for the enhancement of chemical and optical yields.