Synthesis and biological evaluation of some 1-naphthol derivatives as antioxidants, acetylcholinesterase, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

A series of some naphthol derivatives 4a-f, 5a,f, 6a, and 7a,b (six novel ones: 4c,d, 5a, 6a, 7a,b) bearing F, Cl, Br, OMe, and dioxole substituents at different positions of the aromatic rings was designed, synthesized, and characterized. The naphthol derivatives were synthesized in three steps, namely the addition reaction of furan via Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction, copper(II) trifluoromethanesulfonate (Cu(OTf)2 )-catalyzed aromatization reaction, and the bromination reaction, respectively. The structures of the newly obtained compounds (4c,d, 5a, 6a, 7a,b) were characterized by spectroscopic techniques. In addition, some biological activity studies were investigated under in vitro conditions. Inhibition studies of these compounds were performed on human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) I and II isoenzymes purified from human erythrocytes as a biological evaluation. Moreover, their potential antioxidant and antiradical activities were studied by analytical methods like ABTS•+ and DPPH• scavenging, and it was determined that some molecules showed good activity. Also, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is a marker of many degenerative neurological diseases, was tested and the results were discussed. Excellent enzyme inhibition results were recorded for most of the molecules. These 1-naphthol derivatives were found as effective inhibitors for hCA I, hCA II, and AChE with K i values ranging from 0.034 ± 0.54 to 0.724 ± 0.18 µM for hCA I, 0.172 ± 0.02 to 0.562 ± 0.21 µM for hCA II, and 0.096 ± 0.01 to 0.177 ± 0.02 µM for AChE.

Gold(I)-catalyzed furan-yne cyclizations involving 1,2-rearrangement: efficient synthesis of functionalized 1-naphthols and its application to the synthesis of wailupemycin†G.

Gold-catalyzed cascade cyclization/1,2-rearrangement of 1-(2-furanyl)phenyl propargyl alcohols has been developed, which provides a rapid and efficient access to multisubstituted 1-naphthols bearing an enal or enone moiety with high stereoselectivity. The (Z)- or (E)-stereochemistry can be easily controlled by choosing protected- or non-protected substrates. The utility of the methodology has been illustrated in the first total synthesis of wailupemycin G.

Oxidative Coupling of 1-Naphthols over Noble and Base Metal Catalysts.

Bismuth-promoted platinum catalysts were tested for the oxidative coupling of 2- and 4-substituted 1-naphthols at different temperatures and ambient pressure. The principal final products are the 3,3'-substituted 1,1'-binaphthalenylidene-4,4'-diones and the 4,4'-substituted 2,2'-binaphthalenylidene-1,1'-diones, respectively. Hydrogen peroxide was used as the oxidant. Only naphthols with electron-donating substituents reacted. The corresponding binaphthalenyl diols can be considered as reaction intermediates. Yields of up to 99 % were obtained from 2-methyl-1-naphthol as the starting material within 20 minutes. Probably for steric reasons, the diol is the final product obtained from 2-ethyl-1-naphthol. For 4-methoxy-1-naphthol the outcome is determined by the reaction temperature. At 25 °C the expected 1,1'-dione is the major product, whereas at 60 °C 1'-hydroxy-4'-methoxy-2,2'-binaphthalenyl-1,4-dione is formed; the loss of one methoxy unit and the preservation of the hydroxy group can be explained by the competitive cleavage of one of the two OMe bonds at higher temperature. Unpromoted platinum and a range of other metallic catalysts, including gold and Raney nickel, were also found to be active. The products obtained are brightly colored solids that could be used as dyes. The method described is truly catalytic and environmentally benign. The potential of the technique justifies further research to expand on the applicability of this novel method.