Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Isoquinoline-Fused Benzimidazoles.

This review includes recent developments in the synthesis of benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines with particular attention given to categorizing protocols based on the structural features of the ring architecture and crystallographically characterized reaction products.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Bicyclic Pyrazolidinones through Alkaloid-Catalyzed [3+2]-Cycloadditions of Ketenes and Azomethine Imines.

A versatile asymmetric synthesis of bicyclic pyrazolidinones through alkaloid-catalyzed formal [3+2]- and [3+2+2]-cycloadditions of ketenes with azomethine imines is described. The methodology was found to be tolerant of ketene and a variety of monosubstituted ketenes (R=alkyl, OAc). The products were formed in good to excellent yields (71-99 % for 24 examples, 39 examples in all), with good to excellent diastereoselectivity in many cases (dr 3 : 1 to 27 : 1 for 22 examples), and with excellent enantioselectivity for most examples (≥93 % ee for 34 products). In the case of most disubstituted ketenes, the reaction proceeded through a [3+2+2]-cycloaddition to form structurally interesting bicyclic pyrazolo-oxadiazepinediones with moderate diastereoselectivity (dr up to 3.7 : 1) and as racemic mixtures (3 examples). The method represents the first unambiguous example of an enantioselective reaction between ketenes and a 1,3-dipole.

Extension of furopyrimidine nucleosides with 5-alkynyl substituent: Synthesis, high fluorescence, and antiviral effect in the absence of free ribose hydroxyl groups.

A novel methodology to access alkynyl nucleoside analogues is elaborated. Highly fluorescent 5-alkynylfuropyrimidines were synthesized (97-46%) and their antiviral properties investigated in vitro. Regiochemistry of the functionalization was achieved with the aid of 5-endo-dig electrophilic halocyclization of acetyl 5-p-tolyl- or 5-p-pentylphenyl-2'-deoxyuridine. Structure of one of the resulting nucleosides, 6-p-tolyl-5-iodo-2'-deoxyribofuranosyl-furo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-one, was confirmed by X-ray crystallography, and its conformation was compared to related nucleosides. Diverse alkynyl substituents were introduced at the heterobicyclic base C-5 position via Sonogashira coupling of 5-iodo-2'-deoxyribofuranosyl-furo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-ones. The resulting compounds had fluorescence emissions of 452-481 nm. High quantum yields of 0.53-0.60 were observed for 9-ethynyl-9-fluorenol and propargyl alcohol/methyl ether-modified furopyrimidines. These modified nucleosides, designed in the form of ribose acetyl esters, are potential tools for fluorescent tagging, studying nucleoside metabolism, 2'-deoxyribonucleoside kinase activity, and antiviral activity. Antiviral assays against a broad spectrum of DNA and RNA viruses showed that in human embryonic lung (HEL) cell cultures some of the compounds posess antiviral activity (EC50 1.3-13.2 µM) against varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The alkynyl furopyrimidine with two p-pentylphenyl substituents emerged as the best compound with reasonable and selective anti-VZV activity, confirming p-pentylphenyl potency as a pharmacophore.