Polycyclic Indole Derivatives Research Articles

Hyperconjugation-Driven Isodesmic Reaction of Indoles and Anilines: Reaction Discovery, Mechanism Study, and Antitumor Application.

Isodesmic reactions, in which chemical bonds are redistributed between substrates and products, provide a general and powerful strategy for both biological and chemical synthesis. However, most isodesmic reactions involve either metathesis or functional-group transfer. Here, we serendipitously discovered a novel isodesmic reaction of indoles and anilines that proceeds intramolecularly under weakly acidic conditions. In this process, the five-membered ring of the indole motif is broken and a new indole motif is constructed on the aniline side, accompanied by the formation of a new aniline motif. Mechanistic studies revealed the pivotal role of σ→π* hyperconjugation on the nitrogen atom of the indole motif in driving this unusual isodesmic reaction. Furthermore, we successfully synthesized a diverse series of polycyclic indole derivatives; among quinolines, potential antitumor agents were identified using cellular and in vivo experiments, thereby demonstrating the synthetic utility of the developed methodology.

Hyperconjugation‐Driven Isodesmic Reaction of Indoles and Anilines: Reaction Discovery, Mechanism Study, and Antitumor Application

AbstractIsodesmic reactions, in which chemical bonds are redistributed between substrates and products, provide a general and powerful strategy for both biological and chemical synthesis. However, most isodesmic reactions involve either metathesis or functional‐group transfer. Here, we serendipitously discovered a novel isodesmic reaction of indoles and anilines that proceeds intramolecularly under weakly acidic conditions. In this process, the five‐membered ring of the indole motif is broken and a new indole motif is constructed on the aniline side, accompanied by the formation of a new aniline motif. Mechanistic studies revealed the pivotal role of σ→π* hyperconjugation on the nitrogen atom of the indole motif in driving this unusual isodesmic reaction. Furthermore, we successfully synthesized a diverse series of polycyclic indole derivatives; among quinolines, potential antitumor agents were identified using cellular and in vivo experiments, thereby demonstrating the synthetic utility of the developed methodology.

Synthesis of N-Fused Polycyclic Indole Derivatives via Ru(II)-Catalyzed C-H Bond Activation and Intramolecular Hydroarylation.

A new synthesis of N-fused tetracyclic indole derivatives and their related polycyclic analogues has been developed based on ruthenium(II)-catalyzed C-H activation and intramolecular hydroarylation. A series of polycyclic indoles with a 3-formyl group have been prepared in good to high yields. Various aliphatic and aromatic amines have been studied to form a transient directing group with the aldehyde for the catalytic process. A significant impact of the structures of the aromatic amines was identified, and 1-naphthylamine was shown to enable the catalytic process. DFT computations were performed to gain further insight into the role of the transient directing groups.

Photoredox‐Catalyzed Carbon Radical Generation from α‐Keto‐N,O‐acetals: Synthesis of Functionalized Azepino[1,2‐a]indoles and Azepino[1,2‐a]furo[3,2‐b]indoles

AbstractC10a‐Acetoxylated perhydroazepino[1,2‐a]‐indoles, accessible via visible light‐mediated sensitized photooxygenation of cyclo‐hepta[b]indoles, are precursors to structurally elaborate carbon‐centered radicals. Their photoredox‐catalyzed SET reduction by phenothiazine or phenoxazine photocatalysts, followed by fragmentation and C−O bond cleavage, liberates tricyclic α‐amino‐α‐carbonyl radicals that readily engage in radical addition reactions with silyl enol ethers and silyl ketene acetals. The C−C functionalized azepinoindole[1,2‐a]indoles are useful building blocks for the synthesis of polycyclic indole derivatives as shown by the controlled borohydride reduction of a C10a‐methylenecarboxylate derivative, which leads stereoselectively to tetracyclic azepino[1,2‐a]furo[3,2‐b]indoles. The photocatalytic method developed herein is also suitable for the radical functionalization of simple α‐acetoxy acetophenones.

One-Pot Synthesis of Polynuclear Indole Derivatives by Friedel–Crafts Alkylation of γ-Hydroxybutyrolactams

The Friedel-Crafts reaction of novel 3,5-diarylsubstituted 5-hydroxy-1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-ones was used for low cost, one-pot preparation of polycyclic indole derivatives structurally similar to Ergot alkaloids.

Electrochemically time-dependent oxidative coupling/coupling-cyclization reaction between heterocycles: tunable synthesis of polycyclic indole derivatives with fluorescence properties

Electrochemically time-dependent oxidative coupling/coupling-cyclization reaction between heterocycles: tunable synthesis of polycyclic indole derivatives with fluorescence properties

Chiral-Phosphoric-Acid-Catalyzed C6-Selective Pictet-Spengler Reactions for Construction of Polycyclic Indoles Containing Spiro Quaternary Stereocenters.

Compared with the well-established asymmetric Pictet-Spengler reactions on the pyrrole ring of indoles, the catalytic asymmetric Pictet-Spengler reaction on the benzene ring of indoles has been rarely studied. Herein the C6-selective Pictet-Spengler reactions of indoles have been realized by employing 2-(1H-indol-7-yl)anilines and isatins in the presence of chiral phosphoric acid, affording novel polycyclic indole derivatives bearing spiro quaternary stereocenters in excellent yields with excellent enantioselectivities. This reaction could be conducted on the gram scale without any loss of activity or enantioselectivity.

Cu(OAc)2-Promoted Oxidative Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling Reaction of α-Acylmethyl Malonates with Indole Derivatives to Access 3-Functionalized Indoles and Polycyclic Indoles.

A Cu(OAc)2-promoted oxidative cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction of α-acylmethyl malonates with indole derivatives was developed. In the case of indoles, the regioselective coupling products were formed through a sequential dehydrogenation-addition-dehydrogenation process. When a second nucleophilic center was located in the 2-position of indoles, further successive nucleophilic cyclization occurred to give polycyclic indole derivatives. The Cu(OAc)2 was proved to act as not only an oxidant but also a catalyst.

Novel Polycondensed Partly Saturated β-Carbolines Including Ferrocene Derivatives: Synthesis, DFT-Supported Structural Analysis, Mechanism of Some Diastereoselective Transformations and a Preliminary Study of Their in vitro Antiproliferative Effects.

Use of a Pictet-Spengler reaction of tryptamine and l-tryptophan methyl ester and subsequent reduction of the nitro group followed by further cyclocondensation with aryl aldehydes and formyl–substituted carboxylic acids, including ferrocene-based components, furnished a series of diastereomeric 6-aryl-substituted 5,6,8,9,14,14b-hexahydroindolo[2′,3′:3,4]pyrido[1-c]-quinazolines and 5,5b,17,18-tetrahydroindolo[2′,3′:3,4]pyrido[1,2-c]isoindolo[2,1-a]quinazolin-11-(15bH)-ones with the elements of central-, planar and conformational chirality. The relative configuration and the conformations of the novel polycyclic indole derivatives were determined by 1H- and 13C-NMR methods supplemented by comparative DFT analysis of the possible diastereomers. The structure of one of the pentacyclic methyl esters with defined absolute configuration “S” was also confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction measurement. Accounting for the characteristic substituent-dependent diastereoselective formation of the products multistep mechanisms were proposed on the basis of the results of DFT modeling. Preliminary in vitro cytotoxic assays of the products revealed moderate-to-significant antiproliferative effects against PANC-1-, COLO-205-, A-2058 and EBC-1 cell lines that proved to be highly dependent on the stereostructure and on the substitution pattern of the pending aryl substituent.

Chiral Bis(oxazoline)-Copper Complex Catalyzed Asymmetric Alkenylation of Isatin Imines and 3-Vinylindoles for Construction of Optically Active 3-Alkenyl-3-aminooxindoles.

The first catalytic asymmetric alkenylation of isatin imines is described. The reaction, which is promoted by a chiral bis(oxazoline)-copper complex, gives structurally diverse 3-alkenyl-3-aminooxindole derivatives in excellent yields, and with excellent diastereoselectivities and high-to-excellent enantioselectivities. The products can be readily converted to polycyclic indole derivatives without loss of enantioselectivity. A plausible chirality-induced mechanism is proposed to explain the observed stereoselective control.

Asymmetric construction of polycyclic indole derivatives with different ring connectivities by an organocatalysis triggered two-step sequence

Organocatalyzed reaction sequences between hemiacetals and indole-containing nitroolefins were developed for the preparation of indole derivatives with different ring connectivities.

Gold‐Catalyzed Functionalization Reactions of Indole

This review summarizes the progress achieved in the last fifteen years by application of homogeneous gold catalysis in the field of indole functionalization. Several electrophilic species obtained through gold‐catalyzed π‐activation have in fact been found to react with the nucleophilic positions of indole, thus allowing its efficient manipulation. In order to furnish a complete and clear overview on the role of the catalyst, the review is organized from the perspective of the gold‐activated substrate that is reacting with the indole. In addition, in view of the ability of gold to catalyze tandem and cascade reactions, a separate section describes tandem/cascade protocols useful for the synthesis of complex polycyclic indole derivatives. Finally, gold catalysis has also been employed for the synthesis of indole‐based natural products. For this reason, a dedicated section collects all the work in which the key step to obtain these complex indoles is represented by a gold‐catalyzed reaction.

Construction of Polycyclic Indole Derivatives via Multiple Aryne Reactions with Azaheptafulvenes.

An efficient [8 + 2]/aryl-ene tandem reaction between azaheptafulvenes and arynes has been developed, leading to the formation of cyclohepta[b]indoles in a single step with good yield. In addition, employment of excess arynes provides a [8 + 2]/aryl-ene /[6 + 2] tandem reaction to synthesize polycyclic oxacyclohepta[b]indoles. This is the first time that azaheptafulvenes have been employed in tandem reactions with arynes.

Arylative Cyclization of Indole‐1‐carboxamides with 1,6‐Enynes for the Synthesis of Polycyclic Indole Scaffolds

A new alkyne annulation strategy has been developed for the synthesis of polycyclic indole derivatives through a cascade of C–H annulation and Michael addition reactions. This is the first report on sequential alkyne annulation and aza‐Michael addition reactions of indole‐1‐carboxamides with alkyne tethered substrates.

Application of Fischer Indolization under Green Conditions using Deep Eutectic Solvents.

Indole and its derivatives captured the attention of organic chemists due to their applications in medicinal chemistry. The examples covered here are intricate polycyclic indole derivatives and these include: azapolyquinanes, cyclophanes, spirocycles and other heterocycles. We found that deep eutectic mixture such as L-(+)-tartaric acid (TA) and dimethyl urea (DMU) is useful to prepare complex unnatural indole derivatives. These conditions from time to time produced indole derivatives which are not possible by conventional methods. Various substrates containing multiple carbonyl groups were shown to undergo Fischer indolization (FI) in deep eutectic mixtures and thus expand its scope to a higher level.

A new approach for one-pot, green synthesis of new polycyclic indoles in aqueous solution

Electro-oxidation of phenylamine derivatives (1a and 1b) have been studied in the presence of pyrazolidine-3,5-dione (3) as a nucleophile in phosphate buffer solution mixed with ethanol, using voltammetric and spectroscopic techniques. The obtained results indicated that the oxidized form of phenylamines (2a and 2b) participate in Michael addition type reactions with pyrazolidine-3,5-dione (3) and via ECECCCCC mechanisms convert to the corresponding new polycyclic indoles (12a and 12b). In the present study, new polycyclic indole derivatives were synthesized with good yields and high purity using a facile, one-pot and environmentally friendly electrochemical method, without any chemical catalysts, toxic solvents and hard conditions.

Bioinspired Discovery of Chemical Reactions and Biological Probes

Indole alkaloids are a large and diverse family of natural products that display a variety of medicinal properties. These natural products have consistently proven difficult to synthesize, due in large part to their complex skeletons and sterically hindered quaternary carbon centers. We have reported the efficient syntheses of polycyclic indole derivatives using gold catalysts, which selectively activate alkynylindoles for tandem cyclizations with high stereospecificity. The facile nature of these methods has allowed previously implausible diversity syntheses to be carried out yielding a large and highly diverse library of polycyclic indolines. Biological screenings revealed compounds that selectively re-sensitize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to β-lactam antibiotics, which may herald a new way of staving off the incursion of drug-resistant strains of common human pathogens. 1 Introduction 2 Gold-Catalyzed Cyclizations 3 Chemical Probe Discovery 4 Outlook

Enantioselective Synthesis of Polycyclic Indole Derivatives Based on aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman Reaction

A chiral phosphine-catalyzed asymmetric aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction between indole-derived sulfonyl imines and bis(3-chlorophenyl)methyl acrylate has been developed, giving the desired adducts in good yields and enantiomeric excess values along with the further transformations to polycyclic indoles such as dihydropyrido[1,2-a]indole and dihydropyrazino[1,2-a]indole skeleton.

Divergent Functionalization of Indoles with Acryloyl Silanes via Rhodium-Catalyzed C-H Activation.

A protocol enabled by rhodium-catalyzed C-H functionalization of indoles with acryloyl silanes was developed, providing a convenient and highly effective method for the synthesis of functionalized acylsilane derivatives. By tuning the reaction condition, this C-H-activation-initiated reaction proceeds divergently with acryloyl silianes to selectively afford alkylation or alkenylation products via hydroarylation or oxidative cross-coupling, respectively. The mild reaction conditions employed in both cases enable the tolerance of a wide scope of functionalities as well as high reaction efficiency. Furthermore, polycyclic indole derivatives were easily accessed from 2-alkenylation products through a visible-light-induced reaction cascade.

Rhodium-catalyzed regioselective direct C–H arylation of indoles with aryl boronic acids

A highly efficient Rh(III)-catalyzed direct C–H arylation of indoles with aryl boronic acids under mild conditions has been developed. The methodology features wide substrate scope and excellent functional group compatibility (34 examples, up to 99% yield). The arylated products can also be conveniently transformed into biologically active polycyclic indole derivatives.