Challenge N- versus O-six-membered annulation: FeCl3-catalyzed synthesis of heterocyclic N,O-aminals.

A new class of heterocyclic N,O-aminal and hemiaminal scaffolds was successfully obtained by means of a three-component reaction (3-CR) of 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes (DDs), α-aminoacetals and iso(thio)cyanates. These stable imine surrogates are generated from key-substituted (thio)hydantoin intermediates through selective FeCl3-catalyzed intramolecular N-annulation.

Useful Access to Uncommon Thiazolo[3,2-a]indoles.

A practical and environmentally benign protocol for the assembly of poly substituted-thiazolo[3,2-a]indoles from 3-alkylated indoline-2-thiones and 2-halo-ketones has been developed. This metal-free approach consists in a complete chemo/regioselective formal [3 + 2] annulation that occurs in air, at 60 °C, and in water as the sole reaction medium. The opportunity to vary the substitution pattern up to six different positions, odorless manipulation of sulfurylated compounds, very easy product isolation, and mild reaction conditions are the main synthetic features of this method. The scaled-up experiment and the successive transformations of the products further demonstrate the utility of this chemistry.

A facile protocol for the preparation of 2-carboxylated thieno [2,3-b] indoles: a de novo access to alkaloid thienodolin.

A metal-free strategy, alternative to the known complex cycloaddition reactions, towards 2-carboxylated thieno [2,3-b] indole derivatives has been successfully developed. The novel approach involves as starting materials easy accessible 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes and indoline 2-thione and requires mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, the easy work-up required makes this method amenable for a one-pot approach as demonstrated in the preparation of thienodolin, a natural product isolated from Streptomyces albogriseolus that exhibits valuable biological properties.

Synthesis of Azacarbolines via PhIO2-Promoted Intramolecular Oxidative Cyclization of α-Indolylhydrazones.

An unprecedented synthesis of polysubstituted indole-fused pyridazines (azacarbolines) from α-indolylhydrazones under oxidative conditions using a combination of iodylbenzene (PhIO2) and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) has been developed. This transformation is conducted without the need for transition metals, harsh conditions, or an inert atmosphere.

Construction of Unusual Indole-Based Heterocycles from Tetrahydro-1H-pyridazino[3,4-b]indoles.

Herein, we report the successful syntheses of scarcely represented indole-based heterocycles which have a structural connection with biologically active natural-like molecules. The selective oxidation of indoline nucleus to indole, hydrolysis of ester and carbamoyl residues followed by decarboxylation with concomitant aromatization of the pyridazine ring starting from tetrahydro-1H-pyridazino[3,4-b]indole derivatives lead to fused indole-pyridazine compounds. On the other hand, non-fused indole-pyrazol-5-one scaffolds are easily prepared by subjecting the same C2,C3-fused indoline tetrahydropyridazines to treatment with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). These methods feature mild conditions, easy operation, high yields in most cases avoiding the chromatographic purification, and broad substrate scope. Interestingly, the formation of indole linked pyrazol-5-one system serves as a good example of the application of the umpolung strategy in the synthesis of C3-alkylated indoles.

Synthesis of new dihydroberberine and tetrahydroberberine analogues and evaluation of their antiproliferative activity on NCI-H1975 cells.

Dihydroberberine (DHBER), the partially reduced form of the alkaloid berberine (BER), is known to exhibit important biological activities. Despite this fact, there have been only few studies that concern the biological properties of functionalized DHBER. Attracted by the potentiality of this latter compound, we have realized the preparation of new arylhydrazono-functionalized DHBERs, starting from BER and some α-bromohydrazones. On the other hand, also the fully reduced form of BER, namely tetrahydroberberine (THBER), and its derivatives have proven to present different biological activities. Therefore, the obtained arylhydrazono-functionalized DHBERs were reduced to the corresponding arylhydrazono-THBERs. The antiproliferative activity of both arylhydrazono-DHBERs and -THBERs has been evaluated on NCI-H1975 lung cancer cells.

Sequential MCR via Staudinger/Aza-Wittig versus Cycloaddition Reaction to Access Diversely Functionalized 1-Amino-1H-Imidazole-2(3H)-Thiones.

A multicomponent reaction (MCR) strategy, alternative to the known cycloaddition reaction, towards variously substituted 1-amino-1H-imidazole-2(3H)-thione derivatives has been successfully developed. The novel approach involves α-halohydrazones whose azidation process followed by tandem Staudinger/aza-Wittig reaction with CS2 in a sequential MCR regioselectively leads to the target compounds avoiding the formation of the regioisomer iminothiazoline heterocycle. The approach can be applied to a range of differently substituted α-halohydrazones bearing also electron-withdrawing groups confirming the wide scope and the substituent tolerance of the process for the synthesis of the target compounds. Interestingly, the concurrent presence of reactive functionalities in the scaffolds so obtained ensures post-modifications in view of N-bridgeheaded heterobicyclic structures.

Metal and Oxidant-Free Brønsted Acid-Mediated Cascade Reaction to Substituted Benzofurans.

Substituted hydroxy-benzofurans are easily accessible by treatment of resorcinols and 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes (DDs) under acidic conditions. The reaction happens through an uncommon Michael reaction between aromatic derivatives as aromatic C(sp2)-H nucleophiles and DDs as acceptors. Also, the behavior of different phenols and 2-naphthol was investigated.

Zn(II)-Catalyzed Addition of Aromatic/Heteroaromatic C(sp2)-H to Azoalkenes: A Polarity-Reversed Arylation of Carbonyl Compounds.

An umpolung α-(hetero)arylation strategy that involves the Michael-type reaction between electron-rich (hetero)aromatic substrates and azoalkenes is developed. The reaction proceeds under very mild conditions at room temperature and in the presence of inexpensive, nontoxic ZnCl2 catalyst to provide access to otherwise inaccessible hydrazone structures. Subsequent hydrolysis of these latter to ketones as well as other valuable synthetic transformations to a variety of heterocyclic scaffolds demonstrate the usefulness of this protocol.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel heteroring-annulated pyrrolino-tetrahydroberberine analogues as antioxidant agents.

Tetrahydroberberine (THB), otherwise known as canadine, is a natural alkaloid showing significant pharmacological properties and antioxidant protection against oxidative damage. Herein, we synthetized structurally complex THB analogues, namely pyrrolino-tetrahydroberberines (PTHBs) 4a-g, containing the pyrrolino[2,3-b]pyridine system, by means of the reactions of 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes and 7,8-dihydroberberine. Aim of the study was to explore the in vitro antioxidant properties of PTHBs in comparison to THB thus to identify the most effective against free radical-induced oxidative injury, by using three different antioxidant tests: the ORAC method, the DNA nicking assay, and the DCFH-DA cellular assay. As a result, PTHB 4d emerged among the other THB analogues by exhibiting the best antioxidant properties. First, it was the only compound having an ORAC value completely comparable to that of THB, indicating the same ability to neutralize peroxyl radicals. Secondly, 4d showed an even better antioxidant capacity than THB in protecting DNA against ferrous ion-induced strand breaks. These observations were also confirmed in NCTC-2544 human keratinocytes exposed to hydrogen peroxide. Indeed, 4d protected cells against oxidation more efficiently than THB both in the short (1 and 3 h) and long (24 h) period of incubation, possibly suggesting increased cell membrane permeability and/or intracellular stability of 4d as compared to THB.

Divergent Approach to Thiazolylidene Derivatives: A Perspective on the Synthesis of a Heterocyclic Skeleton from ß-Amidothioamides Reactivity.

Herein we report a domino protocol able to reach regioselectively thiazolylidene systems by combining the reactive peculiarities of both ß-amidothioamides (ATAs) and 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes (DDs). Depending on the reaction conditions and/or the nature of the residue at C4 of the heterodiene system, ATAs can act as hetero-mononucleophiles or hetero-dinucleophiles in the diversified thiazolylidene ring assembly.

Micellization properties of cardanol as a renewable co-surfactant.

With the aim to improve the features of surfactant solutions in terms of sustainability and renewability we propose the use of hydrogenated natural and sustainable plant-derived cardanol as an additive to commercial surfactants. In the present study we demonstrated that its addition, in amounts as high as 10%, to commercial surfactants of different charge does not significantly affect surfactant properties. Conversely, the presence of hydrogenated cardanol can strongly affect spectrophotometric determination of CMC if preferential interactions with the dyes used take place. This latter evidence may be profitably exploited in surfactant manufacturing by considering that the concurrent presence of a rigid organic molecule such as Orange OT and 10% hydrogenated cardanol decreases the CMC of CTAB up to 65 times.

Synthesis of novel symmetrical 2-oxo-spiro[indole-3,4'-pyridines] by a reaction of oxindoles with 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes.

A simple reaction of some oxindole derivatives with 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes to produce 2-oxo-spiro[indole-3,4'-pyridines] in good yields is described here. This transformation represents a practical two steps approach to new and biologically interesting 2-oxo-spiro[indole-3,4'-pyridine] scaffolds using a double Michael addition/cyclization sequence.

Interceptive [4 + 1] annulation of in situ generated 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes with diazo esters: direct access to substituted mono-, bi-, and tricyclic 4,5-dihydropyrazoles.

In situ derived acyclic and cyclic 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes (DDs) were engaged in interceptive [4 + 1] annulation strategy with diazo esters (DEs). The catalytic activity of inexpensive copper(II) chloride allows the direct synthesis of mono-, bi-, and tricyclic 4,5-dihydropyrazole-5-carboxylic acid derivatives in a process that circumvents the use of an anhydrous and inert atmosphere.

A novel solvent-free approach to imidazole containing nitrogen-bridgehead heterocycles.

A very simple domino reaction under solvent-free conditions of various pyridine-like heterocycles with 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes produces in good yields imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, imidazo[1,2-a]quinolines, and imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines. The advantage of this one-pot transformation lies in the use of simple pyridine-like compounds without prefunctionalization of the starting heterocycles.

Divergent regioselective synthesis of 2,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-1,4-diazepin-2-ones and 5H-1,4-benzodiazepines.

A novel and simple one-pot synthesis of 3-substituted 2,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-1,4-diazepin-2-ones from 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes (DDs) and N-unsubstituted aliphatic 1,3-diamines is described. Here we also report a procedure to selectively obtain alkyl 5H-1,4-benzodiazepine-3-carboxylates from the DDs and 2-aminobenzylamine. Both processes occur by means of sequential 1,4-conjugated addition followed by regioselective 7-exo cyclization. The behavior of N-methyl- and N,N'-dimethyl-1,3-diaminopropanes toward the DDs furnished pyrazol-3-ones and bis-α-aminohydrazones, respectively.

1,3,5-Trisubstituted and 5-acyl-1,3-disubstituted hydantoin derivatives via novel sequential three-component reaction.

1,2-Diaza-1,3-dienes (DDs) react as Michael acceptors with primary amines to afford α-aminohydrazone derivatives that were in situ coupled with isocyanates. Intramolecular ring closure of the asymmetric urea derivatives so formed allows for a selectively substituted hydantoin ring to be obtained. The hydrazone side chain introduced by the conjugated heterodiene system at the 5-position of the heterocycle represents a valuable functionality for accessing novel 5-acyl derivatives difficult to obtain by other methods.

Electrophilic reactivities of 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes.

The kinetics of the reactions of 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes 1 with acceptor-substituted carbanions 2 have been studied at 20 °C. The reactions follow a second-order rate law, and can be described by the linear free energy relationship log k(20 °C)=s(N+E) [Eq. (1)]. With Equation (1) and the known nucleophile-specific parameters N and s for the carbanions, the electrophilicity parameters E of the 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes 1 were determined. With E parameters in the range of -13.3 to -15.4, the electrophilic reactivities of 1a-d are comparable to those of benzylidenemalononitriles, 2-benzylideneindan-1,3-diones, and benzylidenebarbituric acids. The experimental second-order rate constants for the reactions of 1a-d with amines 3 and triarylphosphines 4 agreed with those calculated from E, N, and s, indicating the applicability of the linear free energy relationship [Eq. (1)] for predicting potential nucleophilic reaction partners of 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes 1. Enamines 5 react up to 10(2) to 10(3) times faster with compounds 1 than predicted by Equation (1), indicating a change of mechanism, which becomes obvious in the reactions of 1 with enol ethers.

Efficient synthesis and environmentally friendly reactions of PEG-supported 1,2-diaza-1,3-butadiene.

[reaction: see text] Here, we report the protocol for the preparation of new poly(ethylene glycol)-supported 1,2-diaza-1,3-butadiene. In addition, we discuss an application of this supported reagent in an efficient and environmentally friendly one-pot synthesis of 2-thiazol-4-one derivatives by reaction with thioamides.

Solvent-free reaction of some 1,2-diaza-1,3-butadienes with phosphites: environmentally friendly access to new diazaphospholes and E-hydrazonophosphonates.

[structures: see text] The present article describes the reaction between 1,2-diaza-1,3-butadienes and trialkyl phosphites, under an atmosphere of nitrogen and under solvent-free conditions, to give alkyl 3,3-dialkoxy-2H-1,2,3lambda5-diazaphosphole-4-carboxylates that, in turn, are converted into corresponding E-hydrazonophosphonates by treatment with THF:water (95:5). These latter compounds are obtained directly by the reaction of 1,2-diaza-1,3-butadienes with trialkyl phosphites in the presence of air. These compounds are useful for the further preparation of dialkyl (5-methyl-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-4-pyrazolyl)phosphonates and 2-dialkoxyphosphoryl-1,2,3-thiadiazoles.