Pictet-Spengler Cyclization Research Articles

Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé multicomponent reaction coupled with unconventional Pictet–Spengler cyclization for the synthesis of imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridine fused polycyclic heterocycles

AbstractA diverse library of fused tetracyclic and pentacyclic imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridine scaffolds was synthesized using an unconventional strategy, involving Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé (GBB) multicomponent reaction coupled with Pictet–Spengler (PS) cyclization. The reaction strategy involves the use of 2‐aminoazine, aldehyde, and 1,1,3,3‐tetramethyl butyl isocyanide in the GBB reaction followed by the dealkylation to generate a free amine, which on PS cyclization with another aldehyde generated a fused polycyclic heterocycle. A small set of 15 diverse polycyclic heterocycles were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectrometric analyses. In addition, a single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction of one of the library members established the three‐dimensional structure of the polycyclic skeleton.

Iodine promoted synthesis of pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline derivatives via oxidative decarboxylation of phenylacetic acid

An unprecedented and efficient molecular iodine promoted domino protocol for the synthesis of N polycyclic pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]quinolines were reported from phenylacetic acid and 2-(imidazoheteroaryl)anilines. This methodology was also extended for the preparation of benzo[4′,5′]thiazolo [2′,3′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]isoquinolines in good yields. However, this protocol proceeds via a sequential decarboxylation of phenylacetic acid with I2/DMSO system followed by Pictet-Spengler cyclization in good yields.

A direct entry to polycyclic quinoxaline derivatives via I2-DMSO mediated oxidative decarboxylation of α-amino acids and the subsequent Pictet-Spengler cyclization reaction.

A facile and highly efficient iodine-promoted strategy has been delineated for the synthesis of indolo and pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline derivatives via an oxidative Pictet-Spengler type amino cyclo-annulation reaction using ∝-amino acids as aldehyde surrogates. The concomitant benzylic oxidation and the compatibility of different starting materials under standard conditions made the current method versatile. The salient features of the protocol such as readily available starting materials, inexpensive promoters, environmental benignity, broad substrate scope, scalability, and good to excellent yield make the method more attractive to practitioners of organic synthesis.

Practical synthesis of phthalascidin and zalypsis antitumor agents

The first total synthesis of zalypsis and the practical synthesis of phthalascidin (Pt-650) are achieved through the Pictet-Spengler cyclization coupling strategy. The direct iodination of the primary alcohol in trihydroxyl intermediate 26 followed by SN2 reaction with potassium phthalimide is employed to rapidly introduce the required amino functionality at C-22 on the pentacyclic framework. By the approaches, the two antitumor agents can be obtained from sesamol or N-Cbz-l-tyrosine with ca. 8%-10% overall yield.

1,2,5,6,9-Pentaazacoronenes (PACs) and π-Extended PAC Derivatives: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Optical and Redox Properties.

A novel class of 1,2,5,6,9-pentaazacoronene (PAC, 1) derivatives and π-extended PAC derivatives, chromeno[2,3,4-ij]pentaazacoronenes (CPACs, 2), has been successfully synthesized on the basis of intramolecular diazo-coupling reaction and Pictet-Spengler cyclization. Single-crystal analysis demonstrates that 1o (R1 = H) displays a herringbone packing motif while 1s (R1 = C3F7) packs into an S-shaped arrangement. Photophysical and electrochemical studies indicated that the new PAC system manifested significantly red-shifted absorption and emission capacity, larger Stokes shifts, and narrower HOMO-LUMO energy gaps.

Beyond Pseudo-natural Products: Sequential Ugi/Pictet-Spengler Reactions Leading to Steroidal Pyrazinoisoquinolines That Trigger Caspase-Independent Death in HepG2 Cells.

In this work, we describe how stereochemically complex polycyclic compounds can be generated by applying a synthetic sequence comprising an intramolecular Ugi reaction followed by a Pictet-Spengler cyclization on steroid-derived scaffolds. The resulting compounds, which combine a fragment derived from a natural product and a scaffold not found in nature. are both structurally distinct and globally similar to natural products at the same time, and interrogate an alternative region of the chemical space. One of the new compounds showed significant antiproliferative activity on HepG2 cells through a caspase-independent cell-death mechanism, an appealing feature when new antitumor compounds are searched.

New approaches towards the synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro isoquinoline-3-phosphonic acid (TicP)

Two new strategies for the efficient synthesis of racemic 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-phosphonic acid (TicP) (±)-2 have been developed. The first strategy involves the electron-transfer reduction of the easily obtained α,β-dehydro phosphonophenylalanine followed by a Pictet-Spengler cyclization. The second strategy involves a radical decarboxylation-phosphorylation reaction on 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (Tic). In both strategies, the highly electrophilic N-acyliminium ion is formed as a key intermediate, and the target compound is obtained in good yield using mild reaction conditions and readily available starting materials, complementing existing methodologies and contributing to the easy accessibility of (±)-2 for further research.

Oxidative Pictet-Spengler cyclisations through acceptorless iridium-catalysed dehydrogenation of tertiary amines

The valuable tetrahydro-β- and γ-carboline skeleta can be accessed through Pictet-Spengler cyclisation initiated by acceptorless dehydrogenation of saturated cyclic amines. The substrate scope for the β-isomers is found to be somewhat limited, but access to the γ-isomers through the more reactive 2-(aminoethyl)indoles is more general. The synthetic utility of hydrogen transfer catalysis is highlighted in a two-step preparation of the alkaloid desbromoarborescidine A by sequential redox-neutral alkylation/dehydrogenative cyclisation.

Construction of the Erythrinane Core Skeleton via Asymmetric Catalytic Cascade Reaction of Tertiary Enamides.

We report herein an efficient cascade strategy for the rapid construction of a highly enantioenriched erythrinane core skeleton. Under the sequential catalysis of a chiral Cr(III)(salen)Cl and InCl3, cyclohexanone-derived tertiary enamides undergo an intramolecular enantioselective nucleophilic addition followed by diastereoselective Pictet-Spengler cyclization. This method is highly enantio- and diastereoselective, leading to diverse erythrina alkaloid derivatives as the sole diastereoisomer with up to 98% ee.

Enantioselective Total Syntheses of Pentacyclic Homoproaporphine Alkaloids.

Herein we report the first enantioselective total syntheses of pentacyclic homoproaporphine alkaloids by means of a route, which includes a tandem retro-oxa-Michael addition and nucleophilic substitution to generate the oxa-benzobicyclco[3.3.1]nonane core structure, a Pictet-Spengler cyclization to construct the fused B and C rings, and sequential Baeyer-Villiger oxidation and pinacol-type cyclization to install the hydroxyl-lactol moiety of D ring. With this unified route, six pentacyclic homoproaporphine alkaloids have been synthesized enantioselectively.

Ruthenium Catalyzed Tandem Pictet-Spengler Reaction.

We report a pyridyl-phosphine ruthenium(II) catalyzed tandem alcohol amination/Pictet-Spengler reaction sequence to synthesize tetrahydro-β-carbolines from an alcohol and tryptamine. Our conditions use a Lewis acid cocatalyst, In(OTf)3, that is compatible with typically base catalyzed amination and an acid catalyzed Pictet-Spengler cyclization. This method proceeds well with benzylic alcohols, heterocyclic carbinols, and aliphatic alcohols. We also show how combining this reaction with a subsequent cycloamination enables a direct synthesis of tetracyclic alkaloids like harmicine.

Synthetic carboline compounds targeting protein: biophysical and biological perspective

Pictet–Spengler cyclization method has been adopted for the synthesis of three carboline derived compounds: two compounds with tetrahydro gama- and beta-having CF3 group and amino alkyl chain at delta and alpha position, respectively, and another with guanidine alkyl chain at alpha-position. Structure–activity relationship of the analogues with human serum albumin was studied by fluorescence and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy followed by molecular docking. The data showed maximum affinity of human serum albumin with comp7 (S0-820) followed by comp3 (S0-1040) and least with comp1 (S0-728). The compounds were tested for cytotoxic potencies. Comp3, showed maximum cytotoxicity with GI50 6.2 µM, against HCT-116, followed by comp7, and poor cytotoxicity with comp1. Comp3 and 7 induced oxidative stress mediated autophagy led programmed cell death in HCT-116. Furthermore, the compounds effectively inhibit DNA topoisomerase I activity and showed anti-inflammatory actions. In vivo studies regarding therapeutic protective action of Comp3, as a representative carboline analogue, against colon toxicant, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride (DMH), showed the efficacy of the compound against organ toxicity. The existing studies on biological evaluation showed that these synthetic compounds may have a major role as anticancer agents having myriad of proven therapeutic applications. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Diastereoselective Pictet-Spengler Based Synthesis of a Chiral Tetrahydroisoquinoline D1 Potentiator.

A practical synthesis of a D1 potentiator chiral tetrahydroisoquinoline has been accomplished employing diastereoselective Pictet-Spengler methodology to access the required trans-stereochemistry. A dynamic kinetic resolution by crystallization gives high yields of a N-(phenylsulfonyl)alkyloxazolidinone that is converted to an acyl iminium ion when exposed to a variety of Lewis acids resulting in a highly diastereoselective Pictet-Spengler cyclization. An eight-step linear synthesis that starts with commercially available R-2-bromophenylalanine affords the chiral tetrahydroisoquinoline 1 in 54% overall yield.

Catalytic, Enantioselective Formal Synthesis of Monoterpene Indole Alkaloid (-)-Alstoscholarine.

A catalytic, enantioselective formal synthesis of monoterpene indole alkaloid (-)-alstoscholarine is described. The synthesis employs an Ir-amine dual catalyzed asymmetric allylation of aldehyde 8 with 3-indolyl vinyl carbinol derivative 7 to furnish chiral aldehyde 6 as a key asymmetric step. Other key reactions include the construction of the 2-ketopyrrole moiety by Nicolaou's method and Tf2O promoted Pictet-Spengler cyclization to access Zhu's intermediate 3.

Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of Bioactive Azaspirocycles

A collection of novel azaspirocyclic β-arylethylamines was prepared in good yield and excellent diastereoselectivity by an expedient strategy that features condensation of a cyclic ketone with an amino allylsilane and a tandem aza-Sakurai cyclization to generate several different spirocyclic N-heterocycles. Subsequent elaboration of the spirocyclic scaffold was achieved via Pictet-Spengler cyclizations, Suzuki cross-coupling reactions, N-functionalizations, and olefin refunctionalization reactions to create a diverse library of compounds, several of which have nanomolar affinity for the sigma 1 receptor and transmembrane protein 97 (TMEM97).

Convergent Formal Synthesis of Ecteinascidin 743.

A concise formal synthesis of ecteinascidin 743 is described. Key features involve the coupling of the multisubstituted tetrahydroisoquinoline and phenylalaninol moieties via a regio- and stereoselective Pictet-Spengler cyclization as well as the subsequent chemoselective MOM protection of the phenol group, which opens a rapid access to the desirable pentacycle. The synthesis successfully delivered the advanced intermediate with the characteristic macrolactone from sesamol in 23 steps.

Total Synthesis of (+)-Arborisidine.

The first total synthesis of arborisidine, a unique Kopsia indole alkaloid possessing a fully substituted cyclohexanone ring system with two quaternary carbons, has been achieved in seven steps in racemic format from tryptamine and in nine steps in asymmetric format from d-tryptophan methyl ester. Key elements of the design include a carefully orchestrated decyanation protocol to finalize the asymmetric formation of an aza-quaternary center that is challenging to access in optically active format via direct Pictet-Spengler cyclizations with tryptamine, a metal-promoted 6- endo-dig cyclization of an enyne to establish the second core quaternary center, and regiospecific functionalizations of the resultant complex diene to finalize the target structure. The distinct and efficient nature of the developed solution is highlighted by several unsuccessful approaches and unexpected rearrangements.

An efficient synthesis of an 8-phenoxy aporphine derivative utilizing mono-ligated palladium ortho-phenol arylation

8-Aryloxy aporphines are a structurally diverse subset of alkaloids that display an array of biological activities. An efficient synthesis of an 8-phenoxy aporphine model compound has been developed utilizing Pictet-Spengler cyclization followed by biaryl bond formation using Pd-XPhos catalyzed ortho-phenol arylation. Biaryl bond formation using direct arylation is also compared. Finally, the stability of the 8-phenoxy aporphine model compound is discussed with potential implications for the isolation, structure elucidation and pharmacognosy of 7-dehydroaporphine natural products.

Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Isoxazole-Based CK1 Inhibitors Modified with Chiral Pyrrolidine Scaffolds.

In this study, we report on the modification of a 3,4-diaryl-isoxazole-based CK1 inhibitor with chiral pyrrolidine scaffolds to develop potent and selective CK1 inhibitors. The pharmacophore of the lead structure was extended towards the ribose pocket of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding site driven by structure-based drug design. For an upscale compatible multigram synthesis of the functionalized pyrrolidine scaffolds, we used a chiral pool synthetic route starting from methionine. Biological evaluation of key compounds in kinase and cellular assays revealed significant effects of the scaffolds towards activity and selectivity, however, the absolute configuration of the chiral moieties only exhibited a limited effect on inhibitory activity. X-ray crystallographic analysis of ligand-CK1δ complexes confirmed the expected binding mode of the 3,4-diaryl-isoxazole inhibitors. Surprisingly, the original compounds underwent spontaneous Pictet-Spengler cyclization with traces of formaldehyde during the co-crystallization process to form highly potent new ligands. Our data suggests chiral “ribose-like” pyrrolidine scaffolds have interesting potential for modifications of pharmacologically active compounds.

Efficient Pictet–Spengler Bioconjugation with N‐Substituted Pyrrolyl Alanine Derivatives

AbstractWe discovered N‐pyrrolyl alanine derivatives as efficient reagents for the fast and selective Pictet–Spengler reaction with aldehyde‐containing biomolecules. Other aldehyde‐labeling methods described so far have several drawbacks, like hydrolytic instability, slow reaction kinetics or not readily available labeling reagents. Pictet–Spengler cyclizations of pyrrolyl 2‐ethylamine substituted at the pyrrole nitrogen are significantly faster than with analogues substituted at the α‐ and β‐ position. Functionalized N‐pyrrolyl alanine derivatives can be synthesized in only 2–3 steps from commercially available materials. The small size of the reagent, the high reaction rate, and the easy synthesis make pyrrolyl alanine Pictet–Spengler (PAPS) an attractive choice for bioconjugation reactions. PAPS was shown as an efficient strategy for the site‐selective biotinylation of an antibody as well as for the condensation of nucleic‐acid derivatives, demonstrating the versatility of this reagent.