CsF-Mediated Reaction of Trifluorodiazoethane with 3-Nitroindoles Enables Access to Trifluoromethylpyrazolo[4,3-b]indoles.

A mild and metal-free strategy for the construction of trifluoromethylated pyrazolo[4,3-b]indoles through the reaction of N-substituted 3-nitroindoles with trifluorodiazoethane is reported. This operationally simple transformation involves a [3 + 2] cycloaddition of trifluorodiazoethane with 3-nitroindole, followed by the elimination of the nitro group to furnish pyrazole-fused indoles. The synthetic utility of this method is further demonstrated by applying it to other heterocycles, such as 3-nitrobenzothiophene and 2-nitrobenzofuran.

Recent advances in pyrazole synthesis employing diazo compounds and synthetic analogues.

Pyrazole is an essential structural component of many pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. The synthesis of pyrazoles has been a subject of intense research for several decades. Many transformations are now available to conveniently access pyrazoles from readily available starting materials. Conventionally, the synthesis of pyrazoles involves the condensation reaction of hydrazines with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds or their synthetic equivalents and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of diazo compounds with dipolarophiles. The present review provides comprehensive information on the development of synthetic approaches to access pyrazoles via [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of diazo compounds and their synthetic equivalents.

Organocatalytic asymmetric nitroso aldol reaction of α-substituted malonamates.

A practical enantioselective N-selective nitroso aldol reaction of α-methylmalonamates with a nitrosoarene is reported. The reaction employs the Takemoto thiourea catalyst for the induction of enantioselectivity, and the corresponding optically active oxyaminated malonamates were obtained in reasonably good yields.

Base-Mediated Intramolecular Cyclization of α-Nitroethylallenic Esters as a Synthetic Route to 5-Hydroxy-3-pyrrolin-2-ones.

An unprecedented Cs2CO3-mediated intramolecular cyclization/rearrangement cascade that transforms α-nitroethylallenic esters to functionalized pyrrolin-2-ones has been uncovered. This reaction provides a new and practical approach for the synthesis of medicinally privileged 5-hydroxy-3-pyrrolin-2-ones under mild conditions. The broad potential of this new method was demonstrated by an efficient Au/Ag-catalyzed heteroarylation of 5-hydroxy-3-pyrrolin-2-ones employing electron-rich heteroarenes to furnish heteroaryl-lactam derivatives.

The Bestmann-Ohira Reagent and Related Diazo Compounds for the Synthesis of Azaheterocycles.

Azaheterocycles are one of the most prevalent classes of compounds present in numerous bioactive compounds, natural products, and agrochemicals, and undoubtedly, new methods to access them are always in high demand. Among the methods available, the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions involving diazo compounds are particularly attractive because of their ability to rapidly construct densely functionalized azaheterocycles in a regioselective manner. In this context, the Bestmann-Ohira reagent has become a well-known reagent for the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions to produce phosphonylated heterocycles, besides its widespread use as a homologating agent for the conversion of aldehydes to alkynes. This account details our efforts toward broadening the synthetic utility of the Bestmann-Ohira reagent and related compounds for the preparation of azaheterocycles such as pyrazoles, spirooxindoles, triazoles, triazolines, and spiropyrazolines, emphasizing on domino multicomponent reactions employing readily available feedstock reagents.

Additive-Free Three-Component Synthesis of Spiro-isoxazolidine-oxindoles Employing Trifluorodiazoethane.

An efficient three-component protocol for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated spiro-isoxazolidine-oxindoles has been developed. This approach employs the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of trifluoromethyl nitrone, generated in situ from trifluorodiazoethane and nitrosoarene, with phenacylideneoxindoles. A range of phenacyclideneoxindoles and nitrosoarenes can be subjected to this reaction to generate the spiro-isoxazolidine-oxindole derivatives. The reductive ring-opening reaction of isoxazolidines carried out to demonstrate the synthetic potential of our strategy resulted in an interesting rearrangement to yield pyrroloquinoline derivatives.

Fluoride-Mediated α-Selective 1,6-Conjugate Addition of Allenic Esters to p-Quinone Methides.

An efficient and expedient fluoride-mediated α-selective 1,6-conjugate addition of allenic esters to para-quinone methides has been developed. The reaction exhibited an excellent substrate scope, and a wide range of α-diarylmethylated allenic esters were obtained in good to excellent yields. It was further shown that the strategy could be extended to isatin-derived quinone methides yielding allenic esters containing 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles. The tert-butyl ester of α-diarylmethylated allenoate was effectively converted into γ-butenolide through a Au/Ag catalyzed cyclization strategy.

Base-mediated 1,6-conjugate addition of the Seyferth-Gilbert reagent to para-quinone methides.

A 1,6-conjugate addition reaction of the Seyferth-Gilbert reagent (SGR) to p-quinone methides is reported. This base-mediated protocol allows rapid access to diarylmethylated diazomethylphosphonates. The reaction proceeds under mild basic conditions, making it a practical approach for the synthesis of diarylmethylated diazomethylphosphonates with a broad substrate scope. Interestingly, the treatment of the conjugate adduct with a catalytic amount of rhodium acetate resulted in the 1,2-aryl migration of the rhodium carbenoid intermediate to generate the corresponding 1,2-diaryl alkenylphosphonates in excellent yields.

Rapid and selective synthesis of spiropyrazolines and pyrazolylphthalides employing Seyferth-Gilbert reagent.

An unexpected product-selectivity in the reaction of 2-arylideneindane-1,3-dione with dimethyl diazomethylphosphonate leading to the formation of two different types of products is reported. The reaction carried out in acetone in the presence of catalytic amount of cesium fluoride afforded spiropyrazoline phosphonates via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction, whereas the reaction in methanol yielded an interesting class of pyrazolylphthalides. This strategy provides an efficient alternative method for the construction of pyrazolylphthalides, and moreover, the process is general, works under mild conditions, and exhibits high functional group compatibility.

Domino reaction involving the Bestmann-Ohira reagent and α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes: efficient synthesis of functionalized pyrazoles.

A mild, efficient and rapid domino reaction involving the Bestmann-Ohira reagent (BOR) and α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes has been developed for the synthesis of densely functionalized vinylpyrazoles. This reaction demonstrates the dual reactivity of BOR as a homologation reagent as well as a cycloaddition partner, thus constituting a domino reaction in an operationally simple procedure. The application of this efficient synthesis of pyrazoles has been demonstrated for the synthesis of phosphonyl analogues of pyrrolopyrazole alkaloids.

Substrate-controlled product-selectivity in the reaction of the Bestmann-Ohira reagent with N-unprotected isatin-derived olefins.

A mild and efficient reaction of the Bestmann-Ohira reagent with N-unprotected isatin-derived olefins has been developed for the selective synthesis of spiro-pyrazoline-oxindoles and tricyclic pyrazoles. The reaction features an attractive product-selectivity depending on the substituent on isatin-derived olefin. Treatment of 3-aryl/alkylideneoxindoles with BOR afforded spiropyrazoline-oxindoles, whereas 3-phenacylideneoxindoles furnished pyrazoloquinazolinones via a unique ring expansion reaction.

Temporary intramolecular generation of pyridine carbenes in metal-free three-component C-H bond functionalisation/aryl-transfer reactions.

Nucleophilic addition of pyridines to benzyne generates zwitterionic adducts that evolve by a rapid intramolecular proton shift to produce the corresponding pyridine carbenes, N-phenyl pyrid-2-ylidenes. In the presence of electrophilic ketones (isatin derivatives), the pyridylidenes can further react by an original bis-arylation reaction of the carbonyl compounds involving a formal pyridine C-H bond functionalisation. The overall transformation is an unprecedented three-component reaction featuring a carbene intermediate. The mechanism of this transformation was examined in detail by using both experimental and theoretical approaches. It was found that the generation of N-phenyl pyrid-2-ylidene from pyridine and benzyne is energetically favoured, and that the corresponding carbene dimer can also form easily. Under the three-component reaction conditions, the pyridylidene preferentially adds to the ketone group of the isatin derivative to produce a zwitterionic adduct amenable to an intramolecular aryl transfer reaction by a concerted nucleophilic aromatic substitution. This peculiar reactivity for a carbene was compared to possibly competitive known reactions of stable carbenes with carbonyl compounds, and the reaction was found to be under thermodynamic control. The reported method of generation of N-phenyl pyrid-2-ylidenes and their reactivity with carbonyl compounds unlock new perspectives in organic synthesis.

Ag-Catalyzed Annulation of o-Alkynylaryl Aldehydes, Amines, and Diazo Compounds: Construction of Trifluoromethyl- and Cyano-Functionalized Benzo[d]azepines.

A Ag-catalyzed three-component annulation protocol, which uses o-alkynylaryl aldehydes, amines, and trifluorodiazoethane or diazoacetonitrile, to forge a new class of trifluoromethyl- and cyano-functionalized benzo[d]azepine is presented in this Letter. The key transformations involved in this reaction are the transient formation of the isoquinolinium intermediate and the subsequent ring-expansive addition of in situ-formed silver trifluorodiazoethylide to this intermediate. The practicality of this protocol is illustrated by realizing access to a wide range of densely functionalized benzo[d]azepines.

Direct Access to Trifluoromethylated Benzo[d]oxepines from o-Alkynylaryl Aldehydes and Trifluorodiazoethane.

Reported in this Letter is a silver-catalyzed reaction between o-alkynylaryl aldehydes and trifluorodiazoethane that enables an expedient synthesis of trifluoromethylated benzo[d]oxepines. The reaction works through a silver-promoted 6-endo-dig cyclization of o-alkynylbenzaldehydes for the generation of an isochromenylium intermediate, which upon a ring-expansive addition of trifluorodiazoethane delivers a novel class of trifluoromethylated benzoxepine frameworks. This strategy was applied to the synthesis of phosphonylated benzo[d]oxepines using the Seyferth-Gilbert reagent.

Trapping of Arynes with In Situ Generated Aryltrifluoromethylnitrones Enables Access to Trifluoromethylated Benzoxazolines.

Herein, we report a rare example of trapping arynes using in situ generated aryltrifluoromethylnitrone to access an important class of trifluoromethylated benzoxazolines. This three-component strategy involves a nitrone formation/[3 + 2] cycloaddition/thermal rearrangement cascade and furnishes trifluoromethylated benzoxazolines in high yields. The scope of the reaction is quite broad with respect to aryltrifluorodiazoethanes, nitrosoarenes, and arynes. The proposed reaction pathway is supported through the isolation and characterization of the key reaction intermediates phenyltrifluoromethylnitrone and benzisoxazoline.

Additive-free synthesis of fused tricyclic cyanoisoxazolidines using in situ formed cyanonitrones.

Herein, we disclose the first report on the generation of cyanonitrone in situ from diazoacetonitrile and nitrosoarene, and its subsequent [3+2] cycloaddition with oxabicyclic alkenes to access fused tricyclic cyanoisoxazolidines. Further, this methodology could be extended to access fused tricyclic trifluoromethylated and phosphonylated isoxazolidines. Surprisingly, the reductive ring-opening of cyanoisoxazolidines was followed by a spontaneous lactonization to produce fused tricyclic amino lactones. Moreover, the N-O bond of the obtained tricyclic trifluoromethylated isoxazolidines could be cleaved to obtain 1,3-amino alcohols.

Incorporation of Trifluoromethyltriazoline in the Side Chain of 4-Aminoquinolines: Synthesis and Evaluation as Antiplasmodial Agents.

Reported herein is the identification of a novel class of 4-aminoquinoline-trifluormethyltriazoline compounds as possible antiplasmodial agents. The compounds were accessed through a silver-catalyzed three-component reaction of trifluorodiazoethane with in situ generated Schiff base from corresponding quinolinylamine and aldehydes. While attempting to incorporate a sulfonyl moiety, the triazoline formed underwent spontaneous oxidative aromatization to afford triazole derivatives. All synthesized compounds were tested for their antimalarial potential in vitro and in vivo. Out of 32 compounds, four showed the most promising antimalarial activity with IC50 values ranging from 4 to 20 nM against Pf3D7 (chloroquine-sensitive) and from 120 to 450 nM against PfK1 (chloroquine-resistant) strains. One of these compounds was also found to be effective in animal studies; it showed a 99.9 % decrease in parasitic load on day 7 post-infection along with a 40 % cure rate and longest host life span.

Catalyst- and halogen-free regioselective Friedel-Crafts α-ketoacylations.

Fast, efficient and green! Highly regioselective and efficient catalyst- and halogen-free Friedel-Crafts α-ketoacylation reactions leading to heterocycles functionalized with a very versatile 1,3-diketone moiety are described. The reactions rely on microwave-assisted domino Wolff rearrangement/Friedel-Crafts sequences from 2-diazo-1,3-diketones via transient, highly reactive α-keto ketene intermediates.

Development of small-molecule PCSK9 inhibitors for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

When secreted into the circulation, proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) blocks the low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDL-R) and, as a consequence, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels increase. Therefore, PCSK9 has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for lowering LDL-C levels and preventing atherosclerosis. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against PCSK9, but the expensive manufacturing process limits their use. Subsequently, there have been tremendous efforts to develop cost-effective small molecules specific to PCSK9 over the past few years. These small molecules are promising therapeutics that act by preventing the synthesis of PCSK9, its secretion from cells, or the PCSK9-LDRL interaction. In this review, we summarize recent developments in the discovery of small-molecule PCSK9 inhibitors, focusing on their design, therapeutic effects, specific targets, and mechanisms of action.

Substrate-controlled product divergence in the reaction of α-fluoro-ß-ketoamides with arynes.

An interesting substrate-controlled reactivity switch has been observed in the reaction of α-fluoro-ß-ketoamides with arynes. The reaction of secondary α-fluoro-ß-ketoamides with arynes provided access to α-aryl-α-fluoroacetamides through an arylation/deacylation sequence. Interestingly, the reaction of tertiary α-fluoro-ß-ketoamides resulted in the C-C σ-bond insertion reaction to afford 1,2-disubstituted arenes.