N-alkylpyridinium Salts Research Articles

Base-Mediated Chemodivergent [4 + 1] and [2 + 1] Cycloadditions of N-Alkylpyridiniums and Enones.

Divergent synthesis of structurally different products from the same kinds of starting materials is highly synthetically useful but very challenging. Herein, we reported a base-mediated chemodivergent [4 + 1] and [2 + 1] cycloaddition of N-alkylpyridinium and enone under mild conditions, leading to furan-fused bicycles with high diastereoselectivity and spirobicycles, respectively, from moderate to high yields. N-Alkylpyridinium salts were modular nucleophilic transfer reagents and C1 synthons, which underwent tandem Michael addition to the α,β-unsaturated ketones and cyclization under the base conditions. Late-stage derivatization of 4-propyldicyclohexylanone from an important industrial raw of liquid crystal display (LCD) screens was realized. In vitro, compound 3f exhibited good activities against human colon cancer cells (HCT116) with IC50 values in 9.82 ± 0.27 μM. Further biological evaluations investigated the mechanism of the effective inhibition of cell growth, including apoptosis ratio detection, cell cycle analysis, and migration capacity of HCT116 cells. In apoptosis effect studies, complex 3f increased the percentage of apoptotic HCT116 cells to 26.8% (15 μM).

Iodine-Mediated Heterocyclization for the Synthesis of 6-Alkylthio-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamines from N-Alkylpyridinium Salts and NH4SCN.

An iodine-mediated method for the synthesis of 6-alkylthio-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamines by the reaction of N-alkylpyridinium salts and NH4SCN in air is reported. Twenty-seven compounds were obtained under the standard conditions. Pyridinium salts work as benzyl-group transfer reagents to promote the formation of the CBn-SSCN bond and thereby the construction of the triazine skeleton. A plausible mechanism is proposed based on the experimental results and literature survey.

Formation of C(sp2)-C(sp3) Bonds Instead of Amide C-N Bonds from Carboxylic Acid and Amine Substrate Pools by Decarbonylative Cross-Electrophile Coupling.

Carbon-heteroatom bonds, most often amide and ester bonds, are the standard method to link together two complex fragments because carboxylic acids, amines, and alcohols are ubiquitous and the reactions are reliable. However, C-N and C-O linkages are often a metabolic liability because they are prone to hydrolysis. While C(sp2)-C(sp3) linkages are preferable in many cases, methods to make them require different starting materials or are less functional-group-compatible. We show here a new, decarbonylative reaction that forms C(sp2)-C(sp3) bonds from the reaction of activated carboxylic acids (via 2-pyridyl esters) with activated alkyl groups derived from amines (via N-alkyl pyridinium salts) and alcohols (via alkyl halides). Key to this process is a remarkably fast, reversible oxidative addition/decarbonylation sequence enabled by pyridone and bipyridine ligands that, under reaction conditions that purge CO(g), lead to a selective reaction. The conditions are mild enough to allow coupling of more complex fragments, such as those used in drug development, and this is demonstrated in the coupling of a typical Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) anchor with common linkers via C-C linkages.

Direct 2-Pyridyl-Alkylation of Benzyne with N-Alkylpyridinium Salts

AbstractA 2-pyridyl-alkylation of benzyne using N-alkylpyridinium salts has been developed under either photochemical or thermal conditions. This metal-free dicarbofunctionalization of benzyne undergoes a de Mayo-type process including cascade dearomative [3+2] cycloaddition and rearomative ring-opening reaction. An electron-deficient N-cyclic alkyl group was necessary. A formal ortho-C–H arylation of pyridine has been achieved.

Site-Selective Synthesis of N-Benzyl 2,4,6-Collidinium Salts by Electrooxidative C-H Functionalization.

N-alkylpyridinium salts are versatile pseudohalides for SET-mediated cross couplings. However, the common 2,4,6-triphenylpyridinium salt is plagued by poor atom economy and high cost of synthesis. Thus, there is a growing need for more practical scaffolds and innovative strategies for pyridinium salt formation. Herein, we report the synthesis of benzylic 2,4,6-collidinium salts via electrooxidative C-H functionalization. This method provides a complementary approach to tradtional strategies relying on substitution and condensation of prefunctionalized substrates.

An In Vitro and In Silico Study of Antioxidant Properties of Curcuminoid N-alkylpyridinium Salts: Initial Assessment of Their Antitumoral Properties.

In this work, we report the synthesis of curcuminoids with ionic liquid characteristics, obtained by incorporating alkyl-substituted pyridinium moiety rather than one phenyl group through a two-step process. The antioxidant capacity of the obtained compounds was evaluated in vitro by 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, showing that some derivatives are more potent than curcumin. Pyridine curcuminoids (group 4) and curcuminoid N-alkylpyridinium salts with two methoxyl groups in the phenyl ring (group 7), presented the best antioxidant capacity. The experimental results were rationalized by density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) for O–H in each compound. The computational calculations allowed for insight into the structural–antioxidant properties relationship in these series of compounds. BDEs, obtained in the gas phase and water, showed a notable impact of water solvation on the stabilization of some radicals. The lower values of BDEs in the water solution correspond to the structurally related compounds curcuminoid-pyridine 4c and curcuminoid pyridinium salt 7a, which is consistent with the experimental results. Additionally, an assessment of cell viability and cell migration assays was performed for human colon cancer (HT29), human breast cancer (MCF7) cells, in addition to NIH3T3 murine fibroblast, as a model of non-cancer cell type. These compounds mainly cause inhibition of the cell migration observed in MCF7 cancer cells without affecting the non-tumoral NIH3T3 cell line: Neither in viability nor in migration.

Visible-Light-Promoted Cross-Coupling of N-Alkylpyridinium Salts and Nitrostyrenes.

A stereoselective, denitrative cross-coupling of β-nitrostyrenes with N-alkylpyridinium salts for the preparation of functionalized styrenes has been developed. The visible-light-induced reaction proceeds without any catalyst at ambient temperature. Broad in scope and tolerant to multiple functional groups, the moderately yielding transformation is orthogonal to several traditional metal-catalyzed cross-couplings.

Cover Feature: Photoredox‐Induced Deaminative Radical‐Cationic Three‐Component Couplings with N‐Alkylpyridinium Salts and Alkenes (ChemPhotoChem 11/2021)

The Cover Feature shows a radical three-component coupling driven by visible light photoredox catalysis. Single electron transfer (SET) reduction of N-alkylpyridinium salts liberates nucleophilic carbon radicals that successively couple with an acceptor and a donor alkene, enabling a stereoselective synthesis of new succinimide derivatives. Cover image made by Marcin Henk Kowalski. More information can be found in the Communication by Malte Brasholz and co-workers.

Phosphite mediated asymmetric N to C migration for the synthesis of chiral heterocycles from primary amines.

A phosphite mediated stereoretentive C–H alkylation of N-alkylpyridinium salts derived from chiral primary amines was achieved. The reaction proceeds through the activation of the N-alkylpyridinium salt substrate with a nucleophilic phosphite catalyst, followed by a base mediated [1,2] aza-Wittig rearrangement and subsequent catalyst dissociation for an overall N to C-2 alkyl migration. The scope and degree of stereoretention were studied, and both experimental and theoretical investigations were performed to support an unprecedented aza-Wittig rearrangement–rearomatization sequence. A catalytic enantioselective version starting with racemic starting material and chiral phosphite catalyst was also established following our understanding of the stereoretentive process. This method provides efficient access to tertiary and quaternary stereogenic centers in pyridine systems, which are prevalent in drugs, bioactive natural products, chiral ligands, and catalysts.

The Antibacterial Effects of New N-Alkylpyridinium Salts on Planktonic and Biofilm Bacteria.

An increasing microbial resistance to known antibiotics raises a demand for new antimicrobials. In this study the antimicrobial properties of a series of new N-Alkylpyridinium quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) with varying alkyl chain lengths were evaluated for several nosocomial pathogens. The chemical identities of the new QACs were determined by NMR, LC-MS, and HRMS. All the planktonic bacteria tested were susceptible to the new QACs as evaluated by MIC and MBC assays. The antimicrobial effect was most pronounced against Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates. Live/dead staining CLSM was used to test the effectiveness of the QACs in biofilms. The effectiveness was up to 10-fold lower than in the plankton. When QACs were used as irrigants in Er:YAG – SSP photoacoustic steaming, their effectiveness significantly increased. The combined use of irrigants and photoacoustic streaming increased biofilm removal from the surface and increased the killing rate of the cells remaining on the surface. This may allow for a shorter chemical exposure time and lower dosage of QACs used in applications. The results demonstrate that the new QACs have potential to be applied as antibacterial compounds effective against planktonic and biofilm bacteria as well as irrigants in removal of difficult-to-reach biofilms.

Manganese-mediated reductive functionalization of activated aliphatic acids and primary amines

Alkyl carboxylic acids as well as primary amines are ubiquitous in all facets of biological science, pharmaceutical science, chemical science and materials science. By chemical conversion to redox-active esters (RAE) and Katritzky’s N-alkylpyridinium salts, respectively, alkyl carboxylic acids and primary amines serve as ideal starting materials to forge new connections. In this work, a Mn-mediated reductive decarboxylative/deaminative functionalization of activated aliphatic acids and primary amines is disclosed. A series of C-X (X = S, Se, Te, H, P) and C-C bonds are efficiently constructed under simple and mild reaction conditions. The protocol is applicable to the late-stage modification of some structurally complex natural products or drugs. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest the involvement of radicals in the reaction pathway.

Nickel-Catalyzed Synthesis of Dialkyl Ketones from the Coupling of N-Alkyl Pyridinium Salts with Activated Carboxylic Acids.

While ketones are among the most versatile functional groups, their synthesis remains reliant upon reactive and low-abundance starting materials. In contrast, amide formation is the most-used bond-construction method in medicinal chemistry because the chemistry is reliable and draws upon large and diverse substrate pools. A new method for the synthesis of ketones is presented here that draws from the same substrates used for amide bond synthesis: amines and carboxylic acids. A nickel terpyridine catalyst couples N-alkyl pyridinium salts with in situ formed carboxylic acid fluorides or 2-pyridyl esters under reducing conditions (Mn metal). The reaction has a broad scope, as demonstrated by the synthesis of 35 different ketones bearing a wide variety of functional groups with an average yield of 60±16 %. This approach is capable of coupling diverse substrates, including pharmaceutical intermediates, to rapidly form complex ketones.

Deprotonated Salicylaldehyde as Visible Light Photocatalyst.

Salicylaldehyde is established as an efficient visible light photocatalyst for the first time. Compared to other simple aldehyde analogies, salicylaldehyde has a unique deprotonative red-shift from 324 to 417 nm and gives rise to the remarkable increase of fluorescence quantum from 0.0368 to 0.4632, thus enabling salicylaldehyde as a visible light (>400 nm) photocatalyst. The experimental investigations suggest that the reactive radical species are generated by sensitization of the substrates by the deprotonated salicylaldehyde through an energy-transfer pathway. Consequently, the C-C cleaving alkylation reactions of N-hydroxyphthalimide esters proceed smoothly in the presence of as low as 1 mol % of salicylaldehyde under the visible-light irradiation, affording desired alkylation products with up to 99% yields. Application in visible-light induced aerobic oxidation of N-alkylpyridinium salts is also reported.

Photocatalytic decarboxylative alkylations mediated by triphenylphosphine and sodium iodide.

Most photoredox catalysts in current use are precious metal complexes or synthetically elaborate organic dyes, the cost of which can impede their application for large-scale industrial processes. We found that a combination of triphenylphosphine and sodium iodide under 456-nanometer irradiation by blue light-emitting diodes can catalyze the alkylation of silyl enol ethers by decarboxylative coupling with redox-active esters in the absence of transition metals. Deaminative alkylation using Katritzky's N-alkylpyridinium salts and trifluoromethylation using Togni's reagent are also demonstrated. Moreover, the phosphine/iodide-based photoredox system catalyzes Minisci-type alkylation of N-heterocycles and can operate in tandem with chiral phosphoric acids to achieve high enantioselectivity in this reaction.

Efficient catalytic oxidation of methyl aromatic hydrocarbon with N-alkyl pyridinium salts.

A series of N-alkyl pyridinium salts were synthesized and employed as metal-free catalyst for the selective oxidation of methyl aromatic hydrocarbon with molecular oxygen. The electronic effect of the substitutes was found to be an important factor for the catalytic performance. With the introduction of electron-donating substitute –N(CH3)2, the conversion of p-xylene and selectivity of p-toluic acid could be simultaneously increased. 1-Benzyl-4-N,N-dimethylaminopyridinium salt showed the highest catalytic activity, and 95% conversion with 84% of selectivity to p-toluic acid could be obtained for the selective oxidation of p-xylene. Several methyl aromatic hydrocarbons could all be efficiently oxidized with the reported catalyst at the absence of any metal species.

Photoinduced Deaminative Borylation of Alkylamines.

An operationally simple deaminative borylation reaction of primary alkylamines has been developed. The formation of electron-donor-acceptor complexes between N-alkylpyridinium salts and bis(catecholato)diboron enables photoinduced single-electron transfer and fragmentation to carbon-centered radicals, which are subsequently borylated. The mild conditions allow a diverse range of readily available alkylamines to be efficiently converted into synthetically valuable alkylboronic esters under catalyst-free conditions.

Spectral, structural, solvatochromism, biological and computational investigation of some new azo–azomethines containing N-alkylpyridinium salts

The 4-((4-hydroxy-3-(pyridin-3-ylimino)methyl)phenyl)diazenyl)-1-alkylpyridinium (2a-e) were prepared by reaction of 3-aminopyridine with 4-amino-1-alkyl pyridinium salts (1a-e) in absolute ethanol and identified by NMR, IR, UV–Vis, mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The UV–Vis spectra in some organic solvents showed the presence of enol-keto tautomerism in solution for compounds 2a-e. The geometries for 2a tautomers were fully optimized in the gas phase. The vibrational frequencies of the compound were calculated using the density functional theory method. Considering UV–Vis data and the quantum chemical results, exhibited positive solvatochromism for compounds 2a-e that may be for enol-keto tautomerism which occurred between azo-enol-imine (I) and azo-ketone-enamine (II) tautomers. Antibacterial properties of 2a-e were evaluated by paper disk method. Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was chosen to prove the antioxidant activity. The activity of 2b against B. cereus and S. aureus (Gram positive bacteria) was better than the rest of the compounds. These compounds did not show effective activity against E coli and K. pneumonia (Gram negative bacteria). The DPPH test showed a moderate antioxidant activity for these products.

Synthesis, Antimicrobial Effect and Surface Properties of Hydroxymethylsubstituted Pyridinium Salts

Background: The cationic surfactants are a huge group of compounds with thousands of applications. Quaternary Ammonium Salts (QAS) make up the majority of this group. Their countless applications in chemistry, the food industry and textile industry are indubitable. The antibacterial and antifungal effect of the various novel QAS is usually referred to in comparison with commercially used benzalkonium and pyridinium salts, since such compounds have found widespread use as common disinfectants e.g. in hospitals as prevention against nosocomial infections. Methods: Three series of N-alkylpyridinium salts with a hydroxymethyl group in positions 2, 3 and 4 were synthesized as novel potential antimicrobial agents. The nucleophilic substitution-type reaction has been used. The novel compounds have been tested as a disinfection agents against bacteria and fungi. The microdilution broth method was utilized for antimicrobial evaluation. Conductivity measurement method has been used for the determination of Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC). Standard MTT test was used for cytotoxic evaluation. Results: We have prepared 15 new compounds based on hydroxymethylpyridine in different positions (2, 3, 4) and the different length of lipophilic alkyl chain on the quaternary nitrogen (C10-18). The compounds were characterized with analytical data (NMR, HRMS) and tested for in vitro antimicrobial activity. The highest, and submicromolar antimicrobial activity was achieved for the 3- hydroxymethylpyridinium salts substituted with longer alkyl chains (C14, C16 and C18). Nhexadecyl- 3-hydroxymethylpyridinium bromide (10b) showed even better performance than standard benzalkonium salts. Conductometric analysis confirmed the trend of decreasing CMC with elongation of the alkyl side chain. Generally, the location of the hydroxymethyl function on the pyridinium scaffold induced only negligible changes in antimicrobial efficacy. Finally, potential use of the N-alkylhydroxymethylpyridinium salts in practice was supported by MMT tests which proved relatively low cytotoxicity of the compounds. Conclusion: We have designed, synthesized and characterized three series of cationic surfactants based on 2-, 3- and 4-hydroxymethylpyridine. The cationic surfactants differ in the length of alkyl side-chain (C10, C12, C14, C16, C18). The antimicrobial effect was evaluated against four groups of microorganisms (gram- positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi). The Critical Micelle Concentrations (CMC) were measured by conductivity method, and finally cytotoxicity tests were performed. Keywords: Hydroxymethylpyridinium salts, antimicrobial activity, synthesis, quaternary ammonium salts, critical micelle concentration, conductivity, cytotoxicity.

Control of Crystal Growth in Local Electroless Gold Deposition by Pyridinium Based Surfactants

The formation and local deposition of well-shaped Au nanostructures on a nonconducting surface are described. Specifically, the local electroless deposition of Au in aqueous solutions in the presence of various n-alkylpyridinium surfactants is driven by electrochemically generating a flux of AuCl4– at a gold tip close to a 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane modified Si oxidized wafer. Two reducing agents, NaBH4 and ascorbic acid, were used for the reduction of the gold ions. We studied the effect of the solution temperature, the potential applied to the gold tip and its distance from the surface, the reductant, and the nature of the alkylpyridinium on the structure of the gold deposit. The chloride salts of methylpyridinium, butylpyridinium, cetylpyridinium, 4-carbamoyl-1-cetylpyridinium, and 4-methyl-1-cetylpyridinium were added separately and showed remarkable effect on the shape of the structures that were formed. We find that short chain n-alkylpyridinium salts do not adsorb preferentially on the gold f...

Enantioselective Dearomatization of Alkylpyridiniums by N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Nucleophilic Acylation.

A chiral NHC-catalyzed dearomatizing reaction of activated N-alkylpyridinium salts with aliphatic aldehydes is described. The resulting acylated 1,4-dihydropyridines have been obtained with complete C4 regioselectivity and enantioselectivities in the range 52-78% ee. The (4R)-absolute configuration of the synthesized compounds has been determined by the TD-DFT simulation of the electronic circular dichroism spectra.