Deproto-metallation of N-arylated pyrroles and indoles using a mixed lithium-zinc base and regioselectivity-computed CH acidity relationship.

The synthesis of N-arylated pyrroles and indoles is documented, as well as their functionalization by deprotonative metallation using the base in situ prepared from LiTMP and ZnCl2·TMEDA (1/3 equiv). With N-phenylpyrrole and -indole, the reactions were carried out in hexane containing TMEDA which regioselectively afforded the 2-iodo derivatives after subsequent iodolysis. With pyrroles and indoles bearing N-substituents such as 2-thienyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-methoxyphenyl and 4-bromophenyl, the reactions all took place on the substituent, at the position either adjacent to the heteroatom (S, N) or ortho to the heteroatom-containing substituent (OMe, Br). The CH acidities of the substrates were determined in THF solution using the DFT B3LYP method in order to rationalize the experimental results.

Synthesis of C,N'-linked bis-heterocycles using a deprotometalation-iodination-N-arylation sequence and evaluation of their antiproliferative activity in melanoma cells.

Benzothiophene, benzofuran, benzothiazole and benzoxazole were deprotometalated using the lithium-zinc combination prepared from ZnCl2·TMEDA (TMEDA=N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine, 1equiv) and lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (LiTMP, 3equiv). Subsequent interception of the 2-metalated derivatives using iodine as electrophile led to the iodides in 81%, 82%, 67% and 42% yields, respectively. These yields are higher (10% more) than those obtained using ZnCl2·TMEDA (0.5equiv) and LiTMP (1.5equiv), except in the case of benzoxazole (10% less). The crude iodides were involved in the N-arylation of pyrrole, indole, carbazole, pyrazole, indazole, imidazole and benzimidazole in the presence of Cu (0.2equiv) and Cs2CO3 (2equiv), and using acetonitrile as solvent (no other ligand) to provide after 24h reflux the expected N-arylated azoles in yields ranging from 33% to 81%. Using benzotriazole also led to N-arylation products, but in lower 34%, 39%, 36% and 6% yields, respectively. A further study with this azole evidenced the impact of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine on the N-arylation yields. Most of the C,N'-linked bis-heterocycles thus synthesized (in particular those containing benzimidazole) induced a high growth inhibition of A2058 melanoma cells after a 72h treatment at 10(-5)M.

ortho-Lithium/magnesium carboxylate-driven aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions on unprotected naphthoic acids.

Substitution of an ortho-fluoro or methoxy group in 1- and 2-naphthoic acids furnishing substituted naphthoic acids occurs in good to excellent yields upon reaction with alkyl/vinyl/aryl organolithium and Grignard reagents, in the absence of a metal catalyst without the need to protect the carboxyl (CO(2)H) group. This novel nucleophilic aromatic substitution is presumed to proceed via a precoordination of the organometallic with the substrate, followed by an addition/elimination.

Experimental and theoretical study of the [3 + 2] cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides with alkynes.

The [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between carbonyl ylides generated from epoxides and alkynes (phenylacetylene, methyl propiolate, methyl but-2-ynoate and methyl 3-phenylpropiolate) to give substituted 2,5-dihydrofurans was investigated. The effect of indium(III) chloride on the outcome of the reaction was studied in the case of phenylacetylene and methyl propiolate. The thermal reaction between the carbonyl ylide coming from 2,2-dicyano-3-phenyloxirane and both methyl propiolate and methyl but-2-ynoate was theoretically investigated using DFT methods in order to explain the reactivity and regioselectivity observed.

A combined experimental and theoretical study of the thermal cycloaddition of aryl azides with activated alkenes.

Reactions were performed from aryl azides on the one hand, and activated alkenes coming from ß-dicarbonyl compounds or malonodinitrile on the other hand, either with recourse to conventional heating or to microwave activation, to afford 1-aryl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles. The mechanism and the regioselectivity of the reactions involving ß-dicarbonyl compounds have been theoretically studied using DFT methods at the B3LYP/6-31G* level: they are domino processes comprising a tautomeric equilibrium of the ß-dicarbonyl compounds with their enol forms, a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the enol forms with the aryl azides (high activation energy), and a dehydration process (lower activation energy). The effect of non-conventional activation methods on the degradation of 1,2,3-triazolines was next studied experimentally. Finally, some of the 1,2,3-triazoles such synthesized were evaluated for their bactericidal and cytotoxic activities.

Direct metalation of heteroaromatic esters and nitriles using a mixed lithium-cadmium base. Subsequent conversion to dipyridopyrimidinones.

All pyridine nitriles and esters were metalated at the position next to the directing group using (TMP)(3)CdLi in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature. The 2-, 3-, and 4-cyanopyridines were treated with 0.5 equiv of base for 2 h to afford, after subsequent trapping with iodine, the corresponding 3-iodo, 2-iodo, and 3-iodo derivatives, respectively, in yields ranging from 30 to 61%. Cyanopyrazine was similarly functionalized at the 3 position in 43% yield. Ethyl 3-iodopicolinate and -isonicotinate were synthesized from the corresponding pyridine esters in 58 and 65% yield. Less stable ethyl 4-iodonicotinate also formed under the same conditions and was directly converted to ethyl 4-(pyrazol-1-yl)nicotinate in a two-step 38% yield. All three ethyl iodopyridinecarboxylates were involved in a one-pot palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction/cyclization using 2-aminopyridine to afford new dipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]pyrimidin-11-one, dipyrido[1,2-a:4',3'-d]pyrimidin-11-one, and dipyrido[1,2-a:3',4'-d]pyrimidin-5-one in yields ranging from 50 to 62%. A similar cross-coupling/cyclization sequence was applied to methyl 2-chloronicotinate using 2-aminopyridine, 2-amino-5-methylpyridine, and 1-aminoisoquinoline to give the corresponding tricyclic or tetracyclic compounds in 43-79% yield. Dipyrido[1,2-a:4',3'-d]pyrimidin-11-one and dipyrido[1,2-a:3',4'-d]pyrimidin-5-one showed a good bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeroginosa . Dipyrido[1,2-a:2',3'-d]pyrimidin-5-one and pyrido[2',3':4,5]pyrimidino[2,1-a]isoquinolin-8-one showed a fungicidal activity against Fusarium and dipyrido[1,2-a:4',3'-d]pyrimidin-11-one against Candida albicans . Ethyl 4-(pyrazol-1-yl)nicotinate and dipyrido[1,2-a:2',3'-d]pyrimidin-5-one have promising cytotoxic activities, the former toward a liver carcinoma cell line (HEPG2) and the latter toward a human breast carcinoma cell line (MCF7).

Deprotonative metalation of functionalized aromatics using mixed lithium-cadmium, lithium-indium, and lithium-zinc species.

In situ mixtures of CdCl(2)TMEDA (0.5 equiv; TMEDA = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) or InCl(3) (0.33 equiv) with [Li(tmp)] (tmp = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidino; 1.5 or 1.3 equiv, respectively) were compared with the previously described mixture of ZnCl(2)TMEDA (0.5 equiv) and [Li(tmp)] (1.5 equiv) for their ability to deprotonate anisole, benzothiazole, and pyrimidine. [(tmp)(3)CdLi] proved to be the best base when used in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature, as demonstrated by subsequent trapping with iodine. The Cd-Li base then proved suitable for the metalation of a large range of aromatics including benzenes bearing reactive functional groups (CONEt(2), CO(2)Me, CN, COPh) or heavy halogens (Br, I), and heterocycles (from the furan, thiophene, pyrrole, oxazole, thiazole, pyridine, and diazine series). Five-membered heterocycles benefiting from doubly activated positions were similarly dideprotonated at room temperature. The aromatic lithium cadmates thus obtained were involved in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions or simply quenched with acid chlorides.

Deprotonative magnesation and cadmation of [1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines.

[1,2,3]Triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine and 3-substituted derivatives were regioselectively metalated at the 7 position using either Bu3MgLi or (TMP)3CdLi, the former at -10 degrees C and the latter at room temperature. The lithium arylmagnesates (R = H, Me, Ph) proved to react with iodine (34-75%) or 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde (32-51%). Attempts to obtain the cross-coupling products using 2-bromopyridine under palladium catalysis failed, a result attributed to the low stability of these compounds. The corresponding lithium arylzincates reacted in 17-60% yield under the same reaction conditions. The lithium arylcadmates were either trapped with iodine (38-76%, R = H, Me, Ph, CN, 2-thienyl) or involved in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with 2-bromopyridine (26-67%, R = H, Me, Ph). For R = 2-pyridyl, 3-(6-iodo-2-pyridyl)-[1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine was isolated in 73% yield. (TMP)3CdLi also proved suitable for the clean dideprotonation of two substrates (R = H, 2-thienyl), a result demonstrated by quenching with iodine (66-75%).

A combined experimental and theoretical study of the polar [3 + 2] cycloaddition of electrophilically activated carbonyl ylides with aldehydes and imines.

Numerous 2,5-diaryl-1,3-dioxolane-4,4-dicarbonitriles and 2,4-diphenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5,5-dicarbonitriles have been synthesized by [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions between carbonyl ylides generated from epoxides and aldehydes or imines. In contrast to the use of aldehydes (3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde, piperonal, 1-naphthaldehyde, indole-3-carboxaldehyde, furan-2-carboxaldehyde, and thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde), the reactions performed with imines (N-(phenylmethylene)methanamine, N-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethylene)propylamine, N-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethylene)butylamine, and N-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethylene)benzylamine) proceed diastereoselectively. The effect of microwave irradiation on the outcome of the reaction was studied. The mechanism of these [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions has been theoretically investigated using DFT methods. These cycloadditions, which have one-step mechanisms, consist of the nucleophilic attack of the aldehyde oxygen or imine nitrogen on the carbonyl ylide. For the reaction with aldehydes, a back-donation effect is responsible for the unexpected reverse charge transfer found at the transition structure. The analysis of the reactivity indexes indicates that the large electrophilic character of the carbonyl ylides induces them to act as strong electrophiles in these polar [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions.

Direct metallation of thienopyrimidines using a mixed lithium-cadmium base and antitumor activity of functionalized derivatives.

A series of thieno[2,3-d]- and thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines have been easily synthesized using as key step a deproto-cadmiation-trapping sequence. Some of the compounds thus synthesized were screened for anticancer (cytotoxic) activities, and (S)-2-(6-iodo-2-phenylthieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-ylamino)-3-phenylpropanoic acid proved to have a significant activity towards liver, human breast and cervix carcinoma cell lines.

Deprotonative cadmation of functionalized aromatics.

This communication describes the deproto-metalation of a large range of aromatics including heterocycles using a newly developed lithium-cadmium base; the reaction proceeds at room temperature with an excellent chemoselectivity and efficiency, and proved to be regioselective in most cases.

Polar [3 + 2] cycloaddition of ketones with electrophilically activated carbonyl ylides. Synthesis of spirocyclic dioxolane indolinones.

The [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between carbonyl ylides generated from epoxides and ketones (ethyl pyruvate, ethyl phenylglyoxylate, isatin, N-methylisatin and 5-chloroisatin) to give substituted dioxolanes and spirocyclic dioxolane indolinones was investigated. The effect of microwave irradiation on the outcome of the reaction was studied. The thermal reaction between 2,2-dicyano-3-phenyloxirane and N-methylisatin was theoretically studied using DFT methods. This reaction is a domino process that comprises two steps. The first is the thermal ring opening of the epoxide to yield a carbonyl ylide intermediate, whereas the second step is a polar [3 + 2] cycloaddition to yield the final spiro cycloadducts. The cycloaddition presents a low stereoselectivity and a large regio- and chemoselectivity. Analysis of the electrophilicity values and the Fukui functions of the reagents involved in the cycloaddition step allowed the chemical outcome to be explained.

Solventless lactam synthesis by intramolecular cyclizations of alpha-iminoester derivatives under microwave irradiation.

We have previously reported a new synthesis of amides from esters and amines under microwave irradiation, offering much higher yields than those achieved with conventional heating [1]. We have now extended these studies to the ring closure of neat iminoesters I2, I3 and I4-I6 to give five- and six-membered ring lactams L5, L6 and larger lactams L7-L9 (where I means imine and L means lactam), respectively, under both classical heating conditions and microwave irradiation.

One step regioselective synthesis of 5-aminoisoxazoles from nitrile oxides and alpha-cyanoenamines.

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to 1-cyanoenamines gives 5-aminoisoxazoles regioselectively. Moderate to good yields could be obtained depending on the method used to generate the nitrile oxides. The intermediate isoxazolines could not be isolated.

Investigation of structure-surface properties relationship of semi-fluorinated polymerizable cationic surfactants.

Novel hybrid hydrocarbon/fluorocarbon ammonium type surfactant monomers (surfmers) of the general formula RF (CH2)l N(CH3)2(CH2)mOCOCH=CH2 with (RF=C4F9, C6F13, C8F17, l=4, 6, 11, and m=2-11) were synthesized and characterized. They exhibit very low surface tension as well as low critical micellar concentrations down to 1.39×10(-5)mol/L. Special attention was focused on theeffect of the polymerizable moiety, the length of the hydrocarbon spacers, and the fluorinated chains on surface activities of the reactive surfactants as compared to hydrocarbon surfmer analogs. Results indicate that the acrylic function has a pronounced effect on increasing the hydrophobic micelle character. This was confirmed by surface tensions and average surfaces occupied by these molecules at the water-gas interface. The micellar sizes were investigated by dynamic light scattering.

Synthesis of N-aryl and N-alkyl anthranilic acids via S(N)Ar reaction of unprotected 2-fluoro- and 2-methoxybenzoic acids by lithioamides.

Substitution of the fluoro or methoxy group in unprotected 2-fluoro- and 2-methoxybenzoic acids to afford N-aryl and N-alkyl anthranilic acids occurs upon reaction with lithioamides under mild conditions in the absence of a metal catalyst.

Evidence for the intermediacy of arylbenzylnitrenium ions in the thermal rearrangement of isoxazolidines derived from C,N-diarylnitrones and 2-morpholin-4-yl-acrylonitrile.

In contrast to the diaryl, dialkyl, alkylaryl, and parent series, nothing is known about the generation and chemical behavior of arylbenzylnitrenium ions. Herein, we report that these species can be generated by a process involving an unprecedented thermal rearrangement of isoxazolidines derived from C,N-diarylnitrones and 2-morpholin-4-yl-acrylonitrile. The products from these reactions are dramatically dependent upon the nature of the nitrone. Most of the observed chemistry originates from the singlet state.