Aromatic Nucleophiles Research Articles

DFT calculations of properties of CF3-carbocations of the thiophene series as key intermediates in the synthesis of novel CF3-thiophenes

Trimethylsilyl ethers of thiophen-2-yl-(trifluoromethyl)methanols undergo multichannel electrophilic transformations under the action of Brønsted superacid acid CF3SO3H to form a wide range of CF3-substituted thiophene structures. The key cationic intermediates of these transformations are CF3-carbocations. Electronic and orbital characteristics, global electrophilicity indices, and thermodynamic characteristics of these key intermediates have been calculated with a use of the density functional theory (DFT). Experimental data on the reactivity of intermediate cationic species have been explained on the basis of the results of quantum chemical calculations. It has been shown that reactions of the cations with aromatic nucleophiles are mainly ruled by orbital control.

Stereoselective Synthesis of trans-1,2,4-Trihydrobenzo[d][1,2]azaphosphinine 3-Oxides from In Situ Formed Phosphenes and Formaldimines.

Various trans-1,2,4-trihydrobenzo[d][1,2]azaphosphinine 3-oxides are synthesized highly stereoselectively from in situ generated phosphenes and formaldimines under microwave irradiation. Aryl(diazo)methyl(diaryl)phosphine oxides first undergo the Wolff rearrangement to generate phosphenes. Imines, in situ generated from 1,3,5-triazinanes or paraformaldehyde and primary amines, nucleophilically attack the phosphenes followed by a tandem stereoelectronic effect-controlled intramolecular nucleophilic addition and aromatization to give final trans-1,2,4-trihydrobenzo[d][1,2]azaphosphinine 3-oxides, exhibiting completely different annuloselectivity from linear nonformaldimines.

Microwave‐Assisted Catalyst‐Free Conjugate Addition of Amines to Maleimide

AbstractA catalyst‐free approach has been introduced for the conjugate addition of aromatic amine nucleophiles to α, β‐unsaturated N‐methyl maleimide under microwave irradiation by utilizing water as a promoter. Catalyst‐free, environmentally friendly, short‐reaction time, green solvent, and mild reaction conditions are the advantages of this protocol. This reaction provided good to excellent yields with aromatic anilines as nucleophiles. The benefits of this reaction align with the principles of green and sustainable synthetic chemistry, making it widely applicable in organic synthesis and pharmaceutical chemistry.

"The Sulfur Dance" Around Arenes and Heteroarenes - the Reversible Nature of Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitutions.

We disclose the features of a category of reversible nucleophilic aromatic substitutions in view of their significance and generality in dynamic aromatic chemistry. Exchange of sulfur components surrounding arenes and heteroarenes may occur at 25 °C, in a process that one may call a "sulfur dance". These SNAr systems present their own features, apart from common reversible reactions utilized in dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC). By varying conditions, covalent dynamics may operate to provide libraries of thiaarenes with some selectivity, or conversion of a hexa(thio)benzene asterisk into another one. The reversible nature of SNAr is confirmed by three methods: a convergence of the products distribution in reversible SNAr systems, a related product redistribution between two per(thio)benzenes by using a thiolate promoter, and from kinetic/thermodynamic data. A four-component dynamic covalent system further illustrates the thermodynamically-driven formation of a thiacalix[2]arene[2]pyrimidine by sulfur component exchanges. This work stimulates the implementation of reversible SNAr in aromatic chemistry and in DCC.

Tandem Hock and Friedel-Crafts reactions allowing an expedient synthesis of a cyclolignan-type scaffold.

The Hock cleavage, which is compatible with tandem processes, was applied to the synthesis of 1-aryltetralines through a one-pot transformation from readily available benzyl(prenyl)malonate substrates. After the photooxygenation of the prenyl moiety, the resulting hydroperoxide was directly engaged in a Hock cleavage by adding a Lewis acid. The presence of an aromatic nucleophile in the reaction mixture and that of a benzyl moiety on the substrate resulted in tandem Friedel-Crafts reactions to form the 1-aryltetraline products. These compounds share a close analogy to the cyclolignan natural products. Experimental observations and a DFT study support the involvement of an aldehyde intermediate during the Friedel-Crafts reactions, rather than an oxocarbenium.

Nucleophilic aromatization of monoterpenes from isoprene under nickel/iodine cascade catalysis

As a large number of organic compounds possessing two isoprene units, monoterpenes and monoterpenoids play important roles in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agricultural, and food industries. In nature, monoterpenes are constructed from geranyl pyrophosphate (C10) via various transformations. Herein, the bulk C5 chemical—isoprene, is used for the creation of various monoterpenoids via a nucleophilic aromatization of monoterpenes under cascade catalysis of nickel and iodine. Drugs and oil mixtures from conifer and lemon can be convergently transformed to the desired monoterpenoid. Preliminary mechanistic studies are conducted to get insights about reaction pathway. Two types of cyclic monoterpenes can be respectively introduced onto two similar heterocycles via orthogonal C–H functionalization. And various hybrid terpenyl indoles are programmatically assembled from abundant C5 or C10 blocks. This work not only contributes a high chemo-, regio-, and redox-selective transformation of isoprene, but also provides a complementary approach for the creation of unnatural monoterpenoids.

High yield production of cyanidin-derived pyranoanthocyanins using 4-vinylphenol and 4-vinylguaiacol as cofactors.

Pyranoanthocyanins are anthocyanin-derived pigments with vivid colors and enhanced stability, making them promising food colorants. We evaluated two 4-vinylphenols, decarboxylated p-coumaric (pCA) and ferulic acid (FA), as cofactors for pyranoanthocyanin formation. Cyanidin-3-glycosides from saponified black carrot were incubated with 4-vinylphenol or 4-vinylguaiacol in different anthocyanin-to-cofactor molar ratios (1:1-1:30) to form pyranoanthocyanins. Formation efficiency (45°C, ≤96h) was compared to their respective precursors at a 1:30 ratio. Composition changes were monitored using uHPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS. Pyranoanthocyanin yields with 4-vinylphenol (13.8-33.4%) were ∼12× higher than with pCA and yields with 4-vinylguaiacol (8.1-31.0%) were ∼6.5× higher than with FA. Molar ratios of 1:5 and 1:10 yielded significantly more pyranoanthocyanins. Pyranoanthocyanin formation with 4-vinylphenols followed first-order kinetics, whereas formation with hydroxycinnamic acids followed zero-order kinetics. Detection of intermediate compounds was consistent with a nucleophilic addition and aromatization formation mechanism. Overall, pyranoanthocyanin formation with 4-vinylphenols was more efficient than with hydroxycinnamic acids.

Reactions of Alkyl β‐Nitroacrylates with Arenes in Triflic Acid: Synthesis of Oximes of Alkyl 2,3‐Diaryl‐3‐oxopropanoates

AbstractMethyl or ethyl 3‐nitropropenoates (β‐nitroacrylates) AlkO(O)C1−C2H=C3H−NO2 in reaction with arenes ArH in triflic acid CF3SO3H (TfOH) at room temperature in 1 h give rise to oximes of alkyl 2,3‐diaryl‐3‐oxopropanoates AlkO(O)C−CH(Ar)−C(Ar)=NOH in yields of 42–92 %. The obtained oximes bearing ortho‐methyl substituents in the aryl ring exist as atropoisomers in solutions. The study of protonated forms of β‐nitroacrylates by NMR and DFT calculations has revealed that the reactive electrophiles are species AlkO(HO+)C1−C2H=C3H−N+(O)(OH) protosolvated on the acceptor groups NO2 and CO2R. Plausible reaction mechanism is based on the primary interaction of aromatic nucleophiles with these electrophilic species onto their carbon C2.

2‐Ketophenyl Assisted Biomimetic Synthesis of 3‐Thio Substituted Glycals at Room Temperature

AbstractHerein we designed a strategy for the synthesis of regioselective and stereoselective displacement of C‐3 acetate group in the presence of other C‐4 and C‐6 acetate of 2‐ketophenyl‐glycal by different aromatic and cyclic aliphatic thiol nucleophiles taking inspiration from cytosolic esterase mediated thiolation of glucosamine sugars into cellular glycan. Under a mild base condition at room temperature, the protocol generated a library of 3‐arylthiosugars with excellent yields and high axial selectivity. This stereoselective approach tolerated well with different ester‐protected glycals and thiophenols, aliphatic cyclic thiols, and mercaptans. A variety of control experiments were conducted to establish the mechanism and reason behind the stereoselectivity.

Synthesis of new imidazolidin-2-ones based on the reaction of 1-(2,2-dimethoxyethyl)urea with <i>C</i>-nucleophiles

The acid-catalyzed reaction of 1-(2,2-dimethoxyethyl)ureas with aromatic and heterocyclic nucleophiles leads to the formation of new imidazolidin-2-ones. The proposed method makes it quite easy to introduce the required pharmacophore group into position 4 of the imidazolidine cycle.

Silver catalyzed substitution of allylic and benzylic alcohols having unactivated hydroxy groups

The catalytic Friedel-Crafts substitution of allylic and benzylic alcohols having free hydroxy groups was regioselectively catalyzed by cationic Ag(I) salts. No precautions to exclude moisture or atmosphere were necessary, making the reaction highly robust and facile. Substitution of allylic alcohols with electron rich aromatic nucleophiles favored products with alkenes conjugated to aromatic substituents. Benzylic substitution was impacted by the electronics of the alcohol aryl group, whereas allylic substitution was not. The use of a bromoindole nucleophile allowed for a formal total synthesis of echinosulfonic acid D, where the penultimate synthetic intermediate was synthesized in half the steps previously needed.

Synthesis and Epoxidation of Flav-3-enes as Methodology for the Biomimetic Preparation of Flavan-3,4-diols

AbstractSince flavonoids exhibit a remarkable number of pharmacological properties like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities, a great deal of work has been done on the medicinal and therapeutical application of these compounds. Despite the central role of flavan-3,4-diols in the synthesis of many other classes of flavonoids, only a few methods for the preparation of these compounds have been reported. In this paper, the results on the preparation of methoxy-substituted flavan-3,4-diols, displaying natural substitution patterns, from readily available starting materials through a 3-step process is disclosed. It is also indicated that the 4-aryl-substituted analogues can become available from the corresponding flav-3-enes if an aromatic nucleophile is added during the dimethyldioxirane (DMDO) epoxidation process.

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Cascade Cyclization of Nitrogen or Oxygen Containing Nucleophile Tethered‐Vinylidenecyclopropanes to Pyrrole, Furan, Pyrrolidine and Piperidine Skeletons

AbstractIn this paper, we report a gold(I)‐catalyzed cascade cyclization of N‐ or O‐nucleophile tethered‐vinylidenecyclopropanes (VDCPs), resulting in the synthesis of pyrrole, furan, pyrrolidine, and piperidine skeletons in 30%‐98% yields. Depending on the carbon chain length connecting the nucleophile and VDCPs, two reaction pathways are available, leading to different products. Both α‐amino VDCPs and α‐hydroxyl VDCPs, where nucleophiles and VDCPs are connected by a methylene group, undergo intramolecular nucleophilic addition and aromatization, followed by ring‐opening of the cyclopropane unit to produce substituted pyrroles and furans. By extending the chain length to three or four carbons, it becomes possible to form pyrrolidines and piperidines with a cyclobutene moiety via ring expansion of the cyclopropane unit, accompanied by gold carbene induced vinylogous nucleophilic addition.

Direct Access to α,β-Alkynylamides via Pd-Catalyzed Carbonylation of Terminal Alkynes with Amines Using Chloroform as the CO Surrogate.

We describe the first-time use of a palladium-di(1-adamantyl)-n-butylphosphine catalytic system for the synthesis of alk-2-ynamides from terminal alkynes via aminocarbonylation reaction. This method avoids the direct use of toxic CO gas by utilizing chloroform as an in situ CO source. The aminocarbonylation of both aromatic and aliphatic electron-rich alkyne nucleophiles is reported for the first time. The mild condition provides alk-2-ynamides within 50 min under microwave irradiation at 80 °C.

Stereoselective C-Aryl Glycosylation by Catalytic Cross-Coupling of Heteroaryl Glycosyl Sulfones.

Stereoselective C-glycosylation reactions are increasingly gaining attention in carbohydrate chemistry because they enable glycosyl precursors, easily accessible as anomeric mixtures, to converge to a single diastereomeric product. However, controlling the stereochemical outcome via transition metal catalysis remains challenging, and methods that leverage bench-stable heteroaryl glycosyl sulfone donors to facilitate glycosylation are rare. Here, we show two complementary nonprecious metal catalytic systems, based on iron or nickel, which are capable of promoting efficient C-C coupling between heteroaryl glycosyl sulfones and aromatic nucleophiles or electrophiles via distinct mechanisms and modes of activation. Diverse C-aryl glycosides were secured with excellent selectivity, scope, and functional group compatibility, and reliable access to both α and β isomers could be achieved for key sugar residues.

StereoselectiveC‐Aryl Glycosylation by Catalytic Cross‐Coupling of Heteroaryl Glycosyl Sulfones

AbstractStereoselectiveC‐glycosylation reactions are increasingly gaining attention in carbohydrate chemistry because they enable glycosyl precursors, readily accessible as anomeric mixtures, to converge to a single diastereomeric product. However, controlling the stereochemical outcome through transition‐metal catalysis remains challenging, and methods that leverage bench‐stable heteroaryl glycosyl sulfone donors to facilitate glycosylation are rare. Herein, we show two complementary nonprecious metal catalytic systems, based on iron or nickel, which are capable of promoting efficient C−C coupling between heteroaryl glycosyl sulfones and aromatic nucleophiles or electrophiles through distinct mechanisms and modes of activation. DiverseC‐aryl glycosides were secured with excellent selectivity, scope, and functional‐group compatibility, and reliable access to both α and β isomers was possible for key sugar residues.

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Axially Chiral Molecules: Development of Strategies and Skeletons.

The growing importance of axially chiral architectures in different scientific domains has unveiled shortcomings in terms of efficient synthetic access and skeletal variety. This account describes our strategies in answering these challenges within the organocatalytic context where the emergence of bifunctional catalysts such as chiral phosphoric acids (CPAs) has proven invaluable in controlling the sense of axial chirality. The wide occurrence of bi(hetero)aryl skeletons in privileged structures constitutes a strong motivation to devise more effective arylation methods. Our design revolves around modulating the intrinsic nucleophilicity of aromatic amines and alcohols. The first approach involves the design of an electron-withdrawing activating group which could associate with the catalyst for reactivity enhancement and selectivity control. The resonance of arenes offers the unique mechanistic possibility to select between activating sites. C2-Azo- and nitroso-substituted naphthalenes undergo atroposelective ortho C- or N-arylation with (hetero)aromatic nucleophiles. For monocyclic benzenes, programmable charge localization leads to regioselective activation by catalytic control alone or aided by substrate design. For instance, selective addition to nitroso nitrogen enables successive annulation initiated by the amine to yield axially chiral N-arylbenzimidazoles. In a biomimetic manner, a finely tuned catalyst could direct a para-selective nucleophilic approach in the atroposelective arylation of azobenzenes. The second strategy employs electrophilic arene precursors for arylation which occurs via rearomatization with central-to-axial chirality transfer. This enabled the arylation of (imino)quinones with indoles to access phenylindole atropisomers. By adapting this chemistry with an additional oxidation event to liberate the carbonyl functionalities, aryl-o-naphthoquinone and aryl-p-quinone atropisomers were attained. Along with the development of new arylation strategies, deriving new axially chiral structures has been another consistent theme of our research program. The atroposelective functionalization of alkynes provides broad entry to atropisomeric alkenes. The monofunctionalization of alkynes through the interception of an electrophilic vinylidene-quinone-methide (VQM) intermediate with 2-naphthols yielded the new EBINOL scaffolds. By designing an internal directing group, the atroposelective dihalogenation of alkynes was realized using abundant alkali halides despite their weak nucleophilicities and poor solubilities. The atroposelective N-alkylation of alkenes was pursued to prepare multifunctionalized alkene atropisomers that could be converted into 2-arylpyrroles with chirality transfer. The synthesis of B-aryl-1,2-azaborines containing a C-B chiral axis was accomplished where the CPA catalyst effects the desymmetrization and defines the configuration of the distal C-B bond. Inspired by the axially chiral scaffold of allenes, we leveraged the developed arene activation strategy to achieve para-addition and dearomatization of judiciously designed azobenzenes, which led to structurally novel cyclohexadienylidene-based hydrazones. To complement these structures, axially chiral cyclohexadienyl oxime ethers were also attained through CPA-catalyzed condensation between hydroxylamines and spiro[4.5]trienones.

Direct C-H/C-H Coupling of the Azoloannulated Pteridines with Electron Rich (Hetero)Aromatic Compounds.

The methods for modification of azoloannulated pteridines with (hetero)aromatic nucleophiles using a nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen (SNH) methodology have been developed in this work. Stable intermediate σH-adducts, as well as products of an unexpected intramolecular rearrangement of diadducts, have been isolated and characterized. The potential of the proposed approach for obtaining donor-acceptor systems, in which the pteridine fragment of the molecule acts as an acceptor, was demonstrated. The main photophysical properties of the obtained D-A compounds have been studied.

One-Pot Synthesis of Novel Functionalized Fused Pyridine Derivatives via Consecutive Pyrrolidine Ring-Closure/Ring-Opening/Formal Aza-Diels-Alder Reactions.

In this article, we report a highly regioselective method for the synthesis of new fused pyridine derivatives─2,3-disubstituted quinolines and 1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-one derivatives. The method is based on the reaction of 1,1-diethoxybutane derivatives with aromatic and heterocyclic nucleophiles. The isolated compounds are similar to the products formed as a result of the Debner-Miller reaction. However, we have shown that the interaction of 1,1-diethoxybutane derivatives with (hetero)aromatic amines proceeds according to a mechanism different from that of the Doebner-Miller reaction. The proposed method is distinguished by the possibility of obtaining a wide range of substituted quinolines and 1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-one derivatives in one step, the absence of the need to use expensive metal-containing catalysts, and a high product yield.

Synthesis of substituted tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ones through nucleophilic cyclization / electrophilic substitution of 1-(3,3-diethoxypropyl)urea with C-nucleophiles

In this article, we report a regioselective method for the synthesis of new water-soluble 1,3,4-trisubstituted tetrahydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one derivatives containing sodium methanesulfonate fragment in the first position of the heterocycle. The method is based on the reaction of (1-(3,3-diethoxypropyl)ureido)methanesulfonate with aromatic and heterocyclic nucleophiles. The proposed method is distinguished by the possibility of obtaining a wide range of water-soluble substituted tetrahydropyrimidinone derivatives, the absence of the need to use expensive metal complex catalysts, high product yield, and ease of purification.