Atom-economic Michael reaction between hydroacridines and arylmaleimides without catalyst/additive

Abstract

Previously unknown spiroderivatives of 3,1-benzoxazines were synthesized by the reaction of anthranilic acid with cyclic ketones. The interaction of 3,1-spirobenzoxazines with Vilsmeier-Haack reagent (POCl3 (PBr3)/DMF), depending on the amount of formulation agent, leads to the formation of hydroacridones or hydroacridines. Under catalyst- and additive-free conditions, N-arylmaleimides, like Michael's acceptors, are added to the hydroacridines in DMSO to form the corresponding adducts. The reaction proceeds stereoselectively with the formation of a mirror pair of diastereomers, if the products have only two chiral centers. In the presence of three chiral centers in the structure of Michael's adducts, the reaction is not stereoselective. The reaction proceeds by the sp3 hybrid carbon atom under non-catalytic conditions due to the imin-enamine tautomerism of chloro(bromo)hydroacridines. The presented reaction can also be considered as an effective atom-economical aza-ene reaction, which fully meets today's requirements for eco-friendly reaction. The synthesized compounds are potential biologically active substances and can also be used as "building-blocks" for organic synthesis.