Phenalenannulations: Three-Point Double Annulation Reactions that Convert Benzenes into Pyrenes.

3-Point annulations, or phenalenannulations, transform a benzene ring directly into a substituted pyrene by "wrapping" two new cycles around the perimeter of the central ring at three consecutive carbon atoms. This efficient, modular, and general method for π-extension opens access to non-symmetric pyrenes and their expanded analogues. Potentially, this approach can convert any aromatic ring bearing a -CH2 Br or a -CHO group into a pyrene moiety. Depending upon the workup choices, the process can be directed towards either tin- or iodo-substituted product formation, giving complementary choices for further various cross-coupling reactions. The two-directional bis-double annulation adds two new polyaromatic extensions with a total of six new aromatic rings at a central core.

Negative Charge as a Lens for Concentrating Antiaromaticity: Using a Pentagonal "Defect" and Helicene Strain for Cyclizations.

Incorporation of a five-membered ring into a helicene framework disrupts aromatic conjugation and provides a site for selective deprotonation. The deprotonation creates an anionic cyclopentadienyl unit, switches on conjugation, leads to a >200 nm red-shift in the absorbance spectrum and injects a charge into a helical conjugated π-system without injecting a spin. Structural consequences of deprotonation were revealed via analysis of a monoanionic helicene co-crystallized with {K+ (18-crown-6)(THF)} and {Cs+ 2 (18-crown-6)3 }. UV/Vis-monitoring of these systems shows a time-dependent formation of mono- and dianionic species, and the latter was isolated and crystallographically characterized. The ability of the twisted helicene frame to delocalize the negative charge was probed as a perturbation of aromaticity using NICS scans. Relief of strain, avoidance of antiaromaticity, and increase in charge delocalization assist in the additional dehydrogenative ring closures that yield a new planarized decacyclic dianion.

Alkynes as Synthetic Equivalents of Ketones and Aldehydes: A Hidden Entry into Carbonyl Chemistry.

The high energy packed in alkyne functional group makes alkyne reactions highly thermodynamically favorable and generally irreversible. Furthermore, the presence of two orthogonal π-bonds that can be manipulated separately enables flexible synthetic cascades stemming from alkynes. Behind these "obvious" traits, there are other more subtle, often concealed aspects of this functional group's appeal. This review is focused on yet another interesting but underappreciated alkyne feature: the fact that the CC alkyne unit has the same oxidation state as the -CH2C(O)- unit of a typical carbonyl compound. Thus, "classic carbonyl chemistry" can be accessed through alkynes, and new transformations can be engineered by unmasking the hidden carbonyl nature of alkynes. The goal of this review is to illustrate the advantages of using alkynes as an entry point to carbonyl reactions while highlighting reports from the literature where, sometimes without full appreciation, the concept of using alkynes as a hidden entry into carbonyl chemistry has been applied.

Copper-Catalyzed Three-Component Annulations of Alkenes, Nitrosoarenes, and N-Hydroxyallylamines To Form Fused Oxazinane/Isoxazolidine Heterocycles.

One-pot cascade annulations among nitrosoarenes, alkenes, and N-hydroxyallylamines have been achieved with CuCl/O2 catalysts, forming fused oxazinane/isoxazolidine heterocycles with excellent diastereoselectivity (d.r. >20:1). To enhance the synthetic utility, we developed a successive cleavage of the two N-O bonds of the resulting heterocycles. A mechanism involving dipolar [3+2] cycloadditions of nitrone intermediates with their tethered alkenes is postulated for formation of these heterocycles.

Copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidations of 3-N-hydoxyaminoprop-1-ynes to form 3-substituted 3-amino-2-en-1-ones: oxidative Mannich reactions with a skeletal rearrangement.

Cu-catalyzed aerobic oxidations of readily available 3-N-hydroxyaminopro-1-ynes with water, alcohols, or thiols to form diverse 3-substituted 3-amino-2-en-1-ones are described. The utility of this catalysis is manifested by a wide scope of applicable N-hydroxyl propargylamines and nucleophiles, thus enabling the design of one-pot cascade or two-step sequential reactions. Besides synthetic significances, such oxidative Mannich reactions are mechanistically interesting because structurally reorganized products were obtained. Our mechanistic studies reveal that the aerobic oxidations involve initial formation of nitrone intermediates, followed by the attack of nucleophiles. Herein, water and MeOH implement the conversion of nitrone intermediates to reaction products in two distinct pathways.

Gold-catalyzed annulations of allenes with N-hydroxyanilines to form indole derivatives with benzaldehyde as a promoter.

Gold-catalyzed syntheses of 2,3-disubstituted indole derivatives from N-hydroxyanilines and allenes are described; these reactions require benzaldehyde as an additive to generate nitrones in situ. Our control experiments indicate that nitrones and water were indispensable in the reactions whereas N-hydroxyanilines alone were inactive nucleophiles. This synthetic method is compatible with allenes and N-hydroxyanilines with a reasonable range, further highlighting its synthetic utility.

Regioselective synthesis of 2-(2-hydroxyaryl)pyridines from the reactions of benzynes with pyridine N-oxides.

By modifying the conditions from those in Larock's reported synthesis of 3-(2-hydroxyaryl)pyridines from benzynes, and pyridine N-oxides, we altered the regioselectivity of the reaction toward an efficient synthesis of 2-substituted pyridines. The presence of ethyl propiolate altered the regioselectivity to afford 3-substituted pyridine products instead. We conducted appropriate control experiments that enable a full understanding of the mechanism.

Cu-catalyzed oxidative Povarov reactions between N-alkyl N-methylanilines and saturated oxa- and thiacycles.

Cu-catalyzed oxidative Povarov reactions between N,N-dialkylanilines and saturated oxa- or thiacycles with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) are described; notably, the reactions use neither [4π] nor [2π]-motifs as the initial reagents. The use of cheap alkane-based substances as building units is of mechanistic and practical interest as two inert sp(3) C-H bonds are activated.

Gold-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of 4-allenyl-1-ynes with 8-methylquinoline oxide.

Gold-catalyzed oxidative cyclizations of 4-allenyl-1-ynes with 8-methylquinoline oxide are described; diverse products are produced depending on the allenyl substituents. This reaction comprises initial formation of α-oxo gold carbenes that are attacked by allene to form allyl cation intermediates.