Preparation of vinylogous 2-sulfonylindolines by the palladium-catalyzed heteroannulation of o-iodoanilines with dienyl sulfones and their further transformation to indoles and carbazoles

Fe-Catalyzed C-H Alkenylation of Dialkyl Anilines with Disulfonylethenes

The oxidative alkenylation reaction of α-aminoalkyl C(sp3)-H bonds has been investigated with (E)-1,2-bis(sulfonyl)ethenes. The catalytic process of iron-polypyridyl complexes drives the single-electron oxidation of dialkyl anilines, resulting in the formation of α-aminoalkyl radical species. Subsequent cascades of radical addition and elimination reactions ensue, ultimately leading to the generation of sulfonylated allylic amine products. The utility of these products extends further, enabling the synthesis of multisubstituted heterocycles like pyrroles, pyrazines, and triazoles.

Metal- and Solvent-Free Synthesis of Tetrahydrobenzo[c]carbazolones through NaI-Catalyzed Formal [4 + 2] Annulation

A novel strategy for the preparation of functional carbazoles through NaI-catalyzed formal [4 + 2] annulation of 2-(indol-3-yl)cyclohexanones and alkynes/alkenes has been developed. The present approach started from easily available raw materials and provided a variety of tetrahydrobenzo[c]carbazolones in satisfactory yields under metal- and solvent-free conditions. Furthermore, the products could be further transformed into structurally valuable carbazole-based conjugated derivatives.

Photoinduced [3+2] Annulation of Alkene with o-Iodoanilines: An Expedient Approach to Indolines

A highly regioselective [3+2] cyclization of alkenes with 2-iodoanilines under the irradiation of UV light is described. This general, metal-free strategy facilitates the direct preparation of 2-mono-/disubstituted indolines as well as spiroindolines through alkene carboamination in one step. Mechanistic studies suggested that the photochemical protocol proceeded via a radical pathway.

tert-Butyl 6-bromo-1,4-dimethyl-9H-carbazole-9-carboxyl-ate

The title compound, C₁₉H₂₀BrNO₂, consists of a carbazole skeleton with methyl groups at positions 1 and 4, a protecting group located at the N atom and a Br atom at position 6. The pyrrole ring is oriented at dihedral angles of 1.27 (7) and 4.86 (7)° with respect to the adjacent benzene rings. The dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 5.11 (7). The crystal structure is determined mainly by intra­molecular C—H⋯O and inter­molecular π–π inter­actions. π-stacking between adjacent molecules forms columns with a parallel arrangement of the carbazole ring systems. The presence of the tert-but­oxy­carbonyl group on the carbazole N atom and the intra­molecular hydrogen bond induce a particular conformation of the exocyclic N—C bond within the mol­ecule.

Regiochemical switching in Diels-Alder cycloadditions by change in oxidation state of removable diene sulfur substituents. Synthesis of carbazoles by sequential heteroannulation and Diels-Alder cycloaddition

The palladium-catalyzed heteroannulation of N-carbobenzyloxy-o-iodoanilines with 1-phenylthio-1,3-butadiene afforded indolines 7, which were oxidized with DDQ to produce vinylogous 2-(phenylthio)indoles 8. The latter compounds underwent highly regioselective Diels-Alder cycloadditions with methyl propiolate in the presence of MeAlCl(2) or AlCl(3), with simultaneous elimination of benzenethiol, to afford methyl N-(carbobenzyloxy)carbazole-3-carboxylates 9 and, in some cases, the N-deprotected derivatives 11. This is the opposite regiochemistry of that observed previously with the corresponding sulfone analogues of 8. Thus, the regiochemistry of the cycloaddition can be effectively controlled by appropriate choice of oxidation state of the diene sulfur substituent.

Conjugate additions of o-iodoanilines and methyl anthranilates to acetylenic sulfones. A new route to quinolones including first syntheses of two alkaloids from the medicinal herb Ruta chalepensis

A novel synthesis of 2-substituted 4-quinolones was developed on the basis of the conjugate additions of appropriately ortho-substituted anilines to acetylenic sulfones followed by intramolecular acylation of the corresponding sulfone-stabilized anions. Conjugate additions of variously substituted anilines to alkyl-substituted acetylenic sulfones generally proceeded slowly and in poor yield, especially when the aniline contained an electron-withdrawing substituent such as an ester group. In some cases, the reactions were enhanced by the presence of DMAP and the use of an excess of the sulfone in aqueous DMF. N-Formylanilines proved superior to free anilines. The products were either vinyl or allyl sulfones, depending on the conditions and the structure of the reactants. The acetylenic sulfone exists in equilibrium with its allenic and propargylic isomers under base-catalyzed conditions. Therefore, any of the three unsaturated sulfones can serve as the starting material for the conjugate additions. o-Iodoanilines proved superior to methyl anthranilate derivatives and underwent conjugate additions smoothly. The products were subjected to palladium-catalyzed carbonylation in methanol, and the resulting methyl esters were cyclized by treatment with strong bases such as LiHMDS or LiTMP, followed by reductive desulfonylation with aluminum amalgam. The resulting 2-substituted 4-quinolones included the naturally occurring medicinal compounds 1 and 2 and the O-methyl derivative 3.