Electrochemically Enabled Intramolecular Amino- and Oxysulfonylation of Alkenes with Sodium Sulfinates to Access Sulfonylated Saturated Heterocycles.

A practical and efficient electrochemical intramolecular amino- or oxysulfonylation of internal alkenes equipped with pendant nitrogen or oxygen-centered nucleophiles with sodium sulfinate was developed. Under undivided electrolytic cell conditions, a variety of sulfonylated N-heterocycles and O-heterocycles, such as tetrahydrofurans, tetrahydropyrans, oxepanes, tetrahydropyrroles, piperidines, δ-valerolactones, etc., were efficiently prepared from easily accessible unsaturated alcohols, carboxylic acids, and N-tosyl amines without the need for additional metal or exogenous oxidant. The robust electrochemical transformation features excellent redox economy, high diastereoselectivity, and broad substrate specificity, which provide a general and practical access to sulfone-containing heterocycles and would facilitate the related synthetic and biological studies based on this electrosynthesis.

Enantiocomplementary synthesis of ß-adrenergic blocker precursors via biocatalytic nitration of phenyl glycidyl ethers.

Enantiopure ß-nitroalcohols, as an important class of nitro-containing compounds, are essential building blocks in pharmaceutical and organic chemistry, particularly for the synthesis of ß-adrenergic blockers. In this study, we present the successful protein engineering of halohydrin dehalogenase HHDHamb for the enantioselective bio-nitration of various phenyl glycidyl ethers to the corresponding chiral ß-nitroalcohols, using the inexpensive, commercially available, and safer nitrite as a nitrating agent. The chiral (R)- and (S)-1-nitro-3-phenoxypropan-2-ols were synthesized by the several enantiocomplementary HHDHamb variants through the whole-cell biotransformation, which showed good catalytic efficiency (up to 43% isolated yields) and high optical purity (up to >99% ee). In addition, we also demonstrated that the bio-nitration method was able to tolerate the substrate at a high concentration of 1000 mM (150 g/L). Furthermore, representative synthesis of two optically active enantiomers of the ß-adrenergic blocker metoprolol was successfully achieved by utilizing the corresponding chiral ß-nitroalcohols as precursors.

The synthesis of cycloalka[b]furans via an Au(i)-catalyzed tandem reaction of 3-yne-1,2-diols.

An Au(i)-catalyzed cyclization/1,2-rearrangement/aromatization cascade of 3-yne-1,2-diols has been successfully realized. This reaction not only provides a new and efficient strategy for the synthesis of substituted cycloalka[b]furan compounds as well as their derivatives, but might also facilitate related biological studies.

Anti-inflammatory activity effect of 2-substituted-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole on TPA-induced skin inflammation in mice.

2-Substituted-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole, a key structural moiety exiting in many bioactive molecules, has been shown to have excellent selective activity on COX-2. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory activity and the underlying molecular mechanism of 2-substituted-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole on skin inflammation were assessed by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced skin inflammation in mice. Most of the compounds showed anti-inflammatory activity on TPA-induced skin inflammation. The anti-inflammatory activity of compound 4 showed higher anti-inflammatory activity than celecoxib (3.2-fold). Compound 4 pretreatment resulted in markedly suppression of TPA-induced IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and COX-2, respectively. Furthermore, the mechanical study indicated that the anti-inflammatory activity of compound 4 was associated with its ability to inhibit activation of factor kappa-κB (NF-κB) by blocking IκB kinase (IKK) activities. Accordingly, compound 4 could be used as a potential anti-inflammatory agent for skin inflammation.

2,2'-Bipyridine-Enabled Photocatalytic Radical [4+2] Cyclization of N-Aryl-α-amino Acids for Synthesizing Polysubstituted Tetrahydroquinolines.

A facile photocatalytic radical [4+2] cyclization of N-aryl-α-amino acids with various alkenes to access structurally polysubstituted tetrahydroquinolines has been developed. Using a simple bipyridine as a catalyst, different N-aryl-α-amino acids could be utilized as the radical precursors to react with diverse electrophilic alkenes, including exocyclic terminal alkenes, acyclic terminal alkenes, and cycloalkenes, producing 10 types of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds fused in multiple frameworks in generally moderate yields with good diastereoselectivities. Scale-up synthesis and transformations of the products further demonstrated the synthetic application of this protocol. Moreover, a decarboxylative radial pathway via a proton-coupled electron transfer process for illustration of this [4+2] cyclization was proposed on the basis of the control experiments. This process is highlighted by a simple bipyridine photocatalysis, mild reaction conditions, various N-aryl-α-amino acids and alkene materials, and application for the modification of natural products.

Iron(II)-Catalyzed Radical [3 + 2] Cyclization of N-Aryl Cyclopropylamines for the Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Cyclopentylamines.

A facile iron(II)-catalyzed radical [3 + 2] cyclization of N-aryl cyclopropylamines with various alkenes to access the structurally polyfunctionalized cyclopentylamine scaffolds has been developed. Using low-cost FeCl2·4H2O as catalyst, N-aryl cyclopropylamines could be utilized to react with a wide range of alkenes including exocyclic/acyclic terminal alkenes, cycloalkenes, alkenes from the natural-occurring compounds (Alantolactone, Costunolide), and known drugs (Ibuprofen, l-phenylalanine, Flurbiprofen) to obtain a variety of cyclopentylamines fused with different useful motifs in generally good yields and diastereoselectivities. The highlight of this protocol is also featured by no extra oxidant, no base, EtOH as the solvent, gram-scale synthesis, and further diverse transformations of the synthetic products. More importantly, an iron(II)-mediated hydrogen radical dissociation pathway was proposed based on the mechanism research experiments.

Complementary Copper-Catalyzed and Electrochemical Aminosulfonylation of O-Homoallyl Benzimidates and N-Alkenyl Amidines with Sodium Sulfinates.

A complementary copper-catalyzed and electrochemical aminosulfonylation of O-homoallyl benzimidates and N-alkenyl amidines with sodium sulfinates was developed. The terminal alkene substrate produced sulfone-containing 1,3-oxazines and tetrahydropyrimidines in the presence of Cu(OAc)2, Ag2CO3, and DPP, and under similar reaction conditions, sulfonylated tetrahydro-1,3-oxazepines were prepared from 1-aryl-substituted O-homoallyl benzimidates in moderate to good yields. For certain electron-rich 1,1-diaryl-substituted alkene substrates, the corresponding tetrahydro-1,3-oxazepines could also be obtained in similar or even higher yields via a green electrochemical technique.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Intramolecular Aminotrifluoromethylation of O-Homoallyl Benzimidates.

In the present paper, the Cu(I)-catalyzed intramolecular aminotrifluoromethylation of O-homoallyl benzimidates with Togni reagent I was reported. O-Homoallyl benzimidates equipped with terminal alkenes produced chiral 1,3-oxazines with high enantioselectivity in the presence of a chiral BOX ligand, and racemic tetrahydro-1,3-oxazepines were obtained in high yields from internal alkene derivatives with a monoprotected amino acid additive under similar conditions.

Radical-mediated intramolecular ß-C(sp3)-H amidation of alkylimidates: facile synthesis of 1,2-amino alcohols.

A new radical-mediated intramolecular ß-C(sp3)-H amidation reaction of O-alkyl trichloro- or arylimidates is reported. Various oxazolines were efficiently prepared from easily accessible alcohol starting materials. The trichloro-oxazoline products can be hydrolyzed under mild conditions to give valuable 1,2-amino alcohols. This amidation reaction exhibits a broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance, and offers a powerful means for the C(sp3)-H functionalization of alcohols. Mechanistic studies suggest that a sequence of 1,5-HAT of an imidate radical, iodination and cyclization might be operative.

Radical C-H Arylation of Oxazoles with Aryl Iodides: dppf as an Electron-Transfer Mediator for Cs2CO3.

A radical C-H arylation reaction of oxazoles with (hetero)aryl iodides using Cs2CO3 as base/electron donor and 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino) ferrocene (dppf) as a catalytic SET mediator is reported. The overall reaction likely follows the general base-promoted homolytic aromatic substitution mechanism through a radical-chain pathway. DFT calculations suggest that dppf forms a complex with CsCO3-, enhancing its SET reducing ability to generate an aryl radical from ArI.

Zinc-promoted cyclization of tosylhydrazones and 2-(dimethylamino)malononitrile: an efficient strategy for the synthesis of substituted 1-tosyl-1H-pyrazoles.

A Zn(OTf)2-promoted cyclization reaction of tosylhydrazones with 2-(dimethylamino)malononitrile has been successfully developed providing an efficient strategy for the synthesis of substituted 1-tosyl-1H-pyrazoles.

The Synthesis of Multisubstituted Pyrroles via a Copper-Catalyzed Tandem Three-Component Reaction.

An unprecedented nucleophilic addition/cyclization/aromatization cascade of basic chemicals, i.e., aromatic alkenes/alkynes, trimethylsilyl cyanide and N,N-disubstituted formamide, has been developed to give a series of multisubstituted pyrroles in moderate to good yields with high regioselectivities. This reaction not only reveals a new reaction mode for α-aminonitriles, but also provides a new and efficient cyclization pattern for the synthesis of multisubstituted pyrroles as well as their derivatives, which might facilitate related biological studies.

A Tin(IV) Chloride Promoted Tandem C-O Bond Cleavage/Nazarov Cyclization/Nucleophilic Addition Reaction of 1,1-Disubstituted Allylic Ethers toward the Synthesis of Multisubstituted Indenes.

A novel SnCl4-promoted tandem reaction toward multisubstituted indenes via a sequential C-O bond cleavage/Nazarov cyclization/nucleophilic addition reaction has been developed to afford a series of multisubstituted indenes with an all-carbon quaternary center in moderate to good yields.

An Au(I)-catalyzed rearrangement/cyclization cascade toward the synthesis of 2-substituted-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole.

An Au(I)-catalyzed tandem reaction for the synthesis of 2-phenyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole derivatives from 1-(1-hydroxy-3-phenylprop-2-yn-1-yl)cyclobutanol and primary amines or NH4OAc has been developed to afford a series of polysubstituted pyrroles in moderate to good yields.

Copper-catalyzed intermolecular azidocyanation of aryl alkenes.

A copper-catalyzed Markovnikov-type intermolecular azidocyanation of aryl alkenes has been developed to give a series of α-azido-propanenitriles in moderate to good yields. This method may provide a potential strategy for the synthesis of corresponding 3-amino-2-arylpropanoic acid.