An Accesss to 4,5,6-Trisubstituted Pyrimidines from 2H-Azirines and α-Isocyanoacetates or α-Isocyanoacetamides Enabled by 1,3-Dipolar [3 + 2] Cycloaddition/Ring-Expanding/Oxidative Aromatization Process.

The products containing pyrimidine scaffolds exhibit various important physiological and biological activities. To date, the strategies to generate 4,5,6-trisubstituted pyrimidines were not reported. Here, a copper-catalyzed reaction of 2H-azirines with α-isocyanoacetates or α-isocyanoacetamides has been developed, rapidly preparing 4,5,6-trisubstituted pyrimidines. The mechanistic results reveal that this strategy underwent a formal 1, 3-dipolar [3 + 2] cycloaddition/ring-expanding/oxidative aromatization procedure to construct the desired pyrimidines.

Cu(I)-Catalyzed Three-Component Annulation for the Synthesis of 3-Acyl Imidazo[1, 5-a]Pyridines from 2-Pyridinyl-Substituted p-Quinone Methides, Terminal Alkynes, and TsN3 Using O2 as the Oxygen Source.

Currently, most conventional methods to achieve imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines have limitations for the synthesis of 3-acyl imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines. Herein, a novel and efficient Cu(I)-catalyzed three-component annulation method for the synthesis of valuable 3-acyl imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines by the reaction of 2-pyridinyl-substituted p-QMs, terminal alkynes, and TsN3 in the presence of O2 under mild conditions have successfully been developed. The investigation indicated that molecular oxygen (O2) and TsN3, respectively, serving as oxygen and nitrogen sources, were essential for the successful completion of the reaction system.

One-pot formal [3 + 2] annulation of 2-pyridinyl-substituted p-quinone methides and arynes for the synthesis of 3-aryl pyrido[1,2-a]indoles.

An efficient and metal-free method for the synthesis of 3-aryl pyrido[1,2-a]indoles from aryne intermediates and 2-pyridinyl-substituted p-QMs was successfully developed under ambient conditions. The reaction offered a novel and practical protocol to access some diverse functional molecules in good to excellent yields. The proposed mechanism indicated that the reaction proceeded via a formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition step.

One-Step Protocol for the Synthesis of Cyanoacrylates Promoted by Elemental Sulfur from p-Quinone Methides and Cyanoacetates under Basic Conditions.

Cyanoacrylates have a wide range of biological activities and are extensively applied in production and daily life. Classic synthetic routes to cyanoacrylates have many limitations. Herein, we demonstrate an elemental sulfur-promoted method for the synthesis of ß,ß-diaryl cyanoacrylates by a tandem 1,6-Michael addition/oxidation/elimination process from p-QMs and cyanoacetates under optimal conditions. The effective protocol has good substrate scopes and yields, and the ratio of inseparable E/Z isomers of cyanoacrylates is also determined by 1HNMR.

DMSO-promoted direct δ-selective arylation of p-quinone methenylpiperidine bearinides to generate fuchsones under metal-free conditions by employing p-QMs themselves or substituted phenols as aryl sources.

Fuchsones have wide applications in modern society. Present methods for generating fuchsones have many disadvantages and there are significant limitations for further exploration of fuchsone applications. Herein, we describe a DMSO-promoted direct δ-selective arylation of p-QMs to synthesize symmetrical and unsymmetrical fuchsones under metal-free conditions by employing p-QMs themselves or substituted phenols as aryl sources. As unprecedented methods, these novel strategies present a great advantage and significance for further exploration of fuchsones and the development of new applications.

Terminal Alkyne-Assisted One-Pot Synthesis of Arylamidines: Carbon Source of the Amidine Group from Oxime Chlorides.

A terminal alkyne-assisted protocol for the one-pot formation of a diverse range of arylamidines from a novel cascade reaction of in situ generated nitrile oxides, sulfonyl azides, terminal alkynes, and water by [3 + 2] cycloaddition and ring opening sequence was developed. The use of aryl oxime chlorides as the carbon source of the amidine group and the addition of water proved to be critical for the reaction. Moreover, terminal alkynes, which can lead to high yields of products by employing a less amount, may play a catalytic role in the reaction. A broader range of substrates was investigated.

Reactivity of Tp(Me2) -supported yttrium alkyl complexes toward aromatic N-heterocycles: ring-opening or C-C bond formation directed by C-H activation.

Unusual chemical transformations such as three-component combination and ring-opening of N-heterocycles or formation of a carbon-carbon double bond through multiple C-H activation were observed in the reactions of Tp(Me2) -supported yttrium alkyl complexes with aromatic N-heterocycles. The scorpionate-anchored yttrium dialkyl complex [Tp(Me2) Y(CH2 Ph)2 (THF)] reacted with 1-methylimidazole in 1:2 molar ratio to give a rare hexanuclear 24-membered rare-earth metallomacrocyclic compound [Tp(Me2) Y(µ-N,C-Im)(η(2) -N,C-Im)]6 (1; Im=1-methylimidazolyl) through two kinds of C-H activations at the C2- and C5-positions of the imidazole ring. However, [Tp(Me2) Y(CH2 Ph)2 (THF)] reacted with two equivalents of 1-methylbenzimidazole to afford a C-C coupling/ring-opening/C-C coupling product [Tp(Me2) Y{η(3) -(N,N,N)-N(CH3 )C6 H4 NHCHC(Ph)CN(CH3 )C6 H4 NH}] (2). Further investigations indicated that [Tp(Me2) Y(CH2 Ph)2 (THF)] reacted with benzothiazole in 1:1 or 1:2 molar ratio to produce a C-C coupling/ring-opening product {(Tp(Me2) )Y[µ-η(2) :η(1) -SC6 H4 N(CHCHPh)](THF)}2 (3). Moreover, the mixed Tp(Me2) /Cp yttrium monoalkyl complex [(Tp(Me2) )CpYCH2 Ph(THF)] reacted with two equivalents of 1-methylimidazole in THF at room temperature to afford a trinuclear yttrium complex [Tp(Me2) CpY(µ-N,C-Im)]3 (5), whereas when the above reaction was carried out at 55 °C for two days, two structurally characterized metal complexes [Tp(Me2) Y(Im-Tp(Me2) )] (7; Im-Tp(Me2) =1-methyl-imidazolyl-Tp(Me2) ) and [Cp3 Y(HIm)] (8; HIm=1-methylimidazole) were obtained in 26 and 17 % isolated yields, respectively, accompanied by some unidentified materials. The formation of 7 reveals an uncommon example of construction of a CC bond through multiple C-H activations.

Versatile Reactivity of Scorpionate-Anchored Yttrium-Dialkyl Complexes towards Unsaturated Substrates.

A series of unusual chemical-bond transformations were observed in the reactions of high active yttrium-dialkyl complexes with unsaturated small molecules. The reaction of scorpionate-anchored yttrium-dibenzyl complex [Tp(Me2)Y(CH2Ph)2(thf)] (1, Tp(Me2)=tri(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) with phenyl isothiocyanate led to C=S bond cleavage to give a cubane-type yttrium-sulfur cluster, {Tp(Me2)Y(µ3-S)}4 (2), accompanied by the elimination of PhN-C(CH2Ph)2. However, compound 1 reacted with phenyl isocyanate to afford a C(sp(3)) H activation product, [Tp(Me2)Y(thf){µ-η(1):η(3)-OC(CHPh)NPh}{µ-η(3):η(2)-OC(CHPh)NPh}YTp(Me2)] (3). Moreover, compound 1 reacted with phenylacetonitrile at room temperature to produce γ-deprotonation product [(Tp(Me2))2Y](+)[Tp(Me2)Y(N=C=CHPh)3](-) (6), in which the newly formed N=C=CHPh ligands bound to the metal through the terminal nitrogen atoms. When this reaction was carried out in toluene at 120 °C, it gave a tandem γ-deprotonation/insertion/partial-Tp(Me2)-degradation product, [(Tp(Me2)Y)2(µ-Pz)2{µ-η(1):η(3)-NC(CH2Ph)CHPh}] (7, Pz=3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl).

Me-Si bond cleavage of anionic bis(trimethylsilyl)amide in scorpionate-anchored rare earth metal complexes.

A novel Tp(Me2)-supported (Tp(Me2) = tri(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) rare earth metal complex promoted Me-Si cleavage of the bis(trimethylsilyl) amide ligand ([(Me(3)Si)(2)N](-)) was observed. Reaction of Tp(Me2)LnCl(2) with 2 equiv of K[(RN)(2)CN(SiMe(3))(2)] (KGua) gave the methylamidinate complexes Tp(Me2)Ln[(RN)(2)CMe][N(SiMe(3))(2)] (R = isopropyl, Ln = Y (1(Y)), Er (1(Er)); R = cyclohexyl, Ln = Y (2(Y))) in moderate yields. In contrast, Tp(Me2)YCl(2)(THF) reacted with 1 equiv of KGua to afford a C-N cleavage product Tp(Me2)Y(Cl)N(SiMe(3))(2)(THF) (4), indicating that this guanidinate ligand is not stable in the yttrium complex with the Tp(Me2) ligand, and a carbodiimide deinsertion takes place easily. The mechanism for the formation of complexes 1 and 2 was also studied by controlling the substrate stoichiometry and the reaction sequence and revealed that the bis(trimethylsilyl)amine anion N(SiMe(3))(2)(-) can undergo two routes of γ-methyl deprotonation and Si-Me cleavage for its functionalizations. All these new complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods, and their solid-state structures were also confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Synthesis, structures, and reactivity of yttrium alkyl and alkynyl complexes with mixed Tp(Me2)/Cp ligands.

The structurally characterized Tp(Me2)-supported rare earth metal monoalkyl complex (Tp(Me2))CpYCH(2)Ph(THF) (1) was synthesized via the salt-metathesis reaction of (Tp(Me2))CpYCl(THF) with KCH(2)Ph in THF at room temperature. Treatment of 1 with 1 equiv of PhC≡CH under the same conditions afforded the corresponding alkynyl complex (Tp(Me2))CpYC≡CPh(THF) (2). Complex 1 exhibits high activity toward carbodiimides, isocyanate, isothiocyanate, and CS(2); treatment of 1 with such substrates led to the formation of a series of the corresponding Y-C(benzyl) σ-bond insertion products (Tp(Me2))CpY[(RN)(2)CCH(2)Ph] (R = (i)Pr(3a), Cy(3b), 2,6-(i)Pr-C(6)H(3)(3c)), (Tp(Me2))CpY[SC(CH(2)Ph)NPh] (4), (Tp(Me2))CpY[OC(CH(2)Ph)NPh] (5), and (Tp(Me2))CpY(S(2)CCH(2)Ph) (6) in 40-70% isolated yields. Carbodiimides and isothiocyanate can also insert into the Y-C(alkynyl) σ bond of 2 to yield complexes (Tp(Me2))CpY[(RN)(2)CC≡CPh] (R = (i)Pr(7a), Cy(7b)) and (Tp(Me2))CpY[SC(C≡CPh)NPh] (9). Further investigation results indicated that 1 can effectively catalyze the cross-coupling reactions of phenylacetylene with carbodiimides. However, treatment of o-allylaniline with a catalytic amount of 1 gave only the benzyl abstraction product (Tp(Me2))CpY(NHC(6)H(4)CH(2)CH═CH(2)-o)(THF) (10), without observation of the expected organic hydroamination/cyclization product. All of these new complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic properties, and their solid-state structures were also confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Gamma-deprotonation of anionic bis(trimethylsilyl)amidolanthanide complexes with a countered [(Tp(Me2))2Ln]+ cation.

Tp(Me2)LnCl(2) (1) reacts with 2 equiv of KN(SiMe(3))(2) in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature to yield the ligand redistribution/gamma-deprotonation products [(Tp(Me2))(2)Ln](+)[((Me(3)Si)(2)N)(2)Ln(CH(2))SiMe(2)N(SiMe(3))](-) [Ln = Er (2), Y (3)]. Complex 2 can also be obtained by reacting [(Me(3)Si)(2)N](2)ErCl with KTp(Me2). However, 1 reacts with 1.5 and 1 equiv of KN(SiMe(3))(2) to yield [(Tp(Me2))(2)Er](+)[((Me(3)Si)(2)N)(3)ErCl](-) (4) and [(Tp(Me2))(2)Er](+){[(Me(3)Si)(2)N)Tp(Me2)ErCl](2)(mu-Cl)(2)K}(-) (5), respectively. Furthermore, it is found that 2 reacts with 2 equiv of CyN=C=NCy (Cy = cyclohexyl) to give the tandem HN(SiMe(3))(2) elimination and Ln-C insertion product (Tp(Me2))Er[(CyN)(2)CCH(2)SiMe(2)N(SiMe(3))] (6) in 71% isolated yield. The results reveal that the gamma-deprotonation degree of advancement increases with an increase of the steric hindrance around the central metal ion. All new complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic properties, and their solid-state structures have also been determined through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Direct intramolecular double cross-dehydrogentive-coupling (CDC) cyclization of N-(2-pyridyl)amidines under metal-free conditions.

A facile transition-metal-free protocol to form 2-iminoimidazo[1, 2-a]-pyridines bearing a -CHBr2 group and an aza-quaternary carbon center at the 3 position from N-(2-pyridyl)amidines substrates, in which the new heterocyclic skeletons constructed from amidines via radical reactions or nucleophilic substitution reactions are promoted only by CBr4 under mild conditions, is demonstrated. The reactions were realized by intramolecular CDC reaction involving C-N and C-C bond formation via the sequential C(sp3)-H bifunctionalization mode on the same carbon atom under mild conditions. Moreover, this work also provides an excellent and representative example for CBr4 as an efficient reagent to initiate radical reactions under initiator-free conditions or to give rise to nucleophilic substitution reactions only by base.

Oxidation and chalcogenylative disproportionation of anionic phosphide ligands in yttrium complexes with elemental sulfur and selenium.

The oxidation and disproportionation of anionic phosphide ligands in yttrium complexes with elemental sulfur and selenium are reported. The mixed TpMe2/Cp supported yttrium phosphide complex TpMe2CpYPPh2(THF) (1) reacted with one equiv. of elemental S or Se in THF at room temperature to deliver two structurally characterized yttrium dithio- or monoseleno-phosphinates TpMe2CpYS2PPh2(THF) (2) and TpMe2CpYSePPh2(THF) (4Se), respectively. Further investigations showed that the yttrium thiophosphinate TpMe2CpYSPPh2(THF) (4S) can be isolated from the reactions of 2 and 1 or 1 and elemental S in a short reaction time. Moreover, after keeping 4S or 4Se in THF solution for some days, 2 or [(TpMe2)2Y]+[Se2PPh2]- (5) was obtained by a disproportionation process. The mechanism for the construction of the Ph2PE- and Ph2PE2- (E = S, Se) ligands has been discussed based on the in situ NMR experiments and some designed reactions.

Room temperature C-N bond cleavage of anionic guanidinate ligand in rare-earth metal complexes.

The dissociation of the anionic guanidinate ligand N=C(NMe2)2 promoted by rare-earth metal complexes at room temperature is described. Treatment of CpLnCl2(THF)3 with two equiv. of Li[N=C(NMe2)2] in THF at room temperature affords [Cp2Ln(µ-η(1):η(2)-L2)]2 (Ln = Y; L = N=C(NMe2)N=C(NMe2)2) and CpLn[N=C(NMe2)2](µ-η(1):η(2)-L)2LnCp2 (Ln = Dy) in moderated yields, respectively. YCl3 reacts with three equiv. of Li[N=C(NMe2)2] under the same conditions to give a trinuclear yttrium guanidinate [(Me2N)2C=N]5Y3[µ-N=C(NMe2)2]2(µ-η(1):η(2)-L)2 in 63% yield. These reactions show that rare-earth metals can promote a C-N bond cleavage of the guanidine anion [N=C(NMe2)2](-) at room temperature. All new complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic properties, and their solid-state structures were determined through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Synthesis, biological assay in vitro and molecular docking studies of new imidazopyrazinone derivatives as potential dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors.

A series of novel imidazopyrazinone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated with regard to their ability to inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) in vitro. Of these compounds (2R)-4-oxo-4-[2-(3-carbamoylbenzyl)-hexahydro-3-oxoimidazo [1,5-a]pyrazin-7(8H)-yl]-1-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butan-2-amine fumaric acid (17h, IC(50)=78 nM) was shown to effectively inhibit the activity of the dipeptidyl peptidase IV enzyme. Molecular docking studies were also performed to illustrate the binding mode of compounds 15c and 17h. Favorable interactions were identified from the binding of inhibitor 15c with DPP-IV. By analogy to the binding mode of compound 15c, it seems that the introduction of a substituted benzyl moiety onto the imidazopyrazinone could remarkably improve the inhibitory activity of compound 17h.