Alcohol is ubiquitous with unparalleled structural diversity and thus has wide applications as a native functional group in organic synthesis. It is highly prevalent among biomolecules and offers promising opportunities for the development of chemical libraries. Over the last decade, alcohol has been extensively used as an environmentally friendly chemical for numerous organic transformations. In this review, we collectively discuss the utilisation of alcohol from 2015 to 2023 in various organic transformations and their application toward intermediates of drugs, drug derivatives and natural product-like molecules. Notable features discussed are as follows: (i) sustainable approaches for C-X alkylation (X = C, N, or O) including O-phosphorylation of alcohols, (ii) newer strategies using methanol as a methylating reagent, (iii) allylation of alkenes and alkynes including allylic trifluoromethylations, (iv) alkenylation of N-heterocycles, ketones, sulfones, and ylides towards the synthesis of drug-like molecules, (v) cyclisation and annulation to pharmaceutically active molecules, and (vi) coupling of alcohols with aryl halides or triflates, aryl cyanide and olefins to access drug-like molecules. We summarise the synthesis of over 100 drugs via several approaches, where alcohol was used as one of the potential coupling partners. Additionally, a library of molecules consisting over 60 fatty acids or steroid motifs is documented for late-stage functionalisation including the challenges and opportunities for harnessing alcohols as renewable resources.
Alcohols , Alcohols/chemistry , Alcohols/chemical synthesis , Pharmaceutical Preparations/chemistry , Pharmaceutical Preparations/chemical synthesis , Biological Products/chemistry , Biological Products/chemical synthesis , Indicators and Reagents/chemistry , Alkylation , Molecular Structure , Alkenes/chemistry , Alkenes/chemical synthesis , Green Chemistry Technology
N-Heteroarenes are widely used for numerous medicinal applications, lifesaving drugs and show utmost importance as intermediates in chemical synthesis. This feature article highlights the recent advances, from 2015 to August 2021, on sp2 and sp3 C-H bond functionalization reactions of various N-heteroarenes catalyzed by non-precious transition metals (Mn, Co, Fe, Ni, etc.). The salient features of the report are: (i) the development of newer catalysis for Csp2-H activation of N-heteroarenes and categorized into alkylation, alkenylation, borylation, cyanation, and annulation reactions, (ii) recent advances on Csp3-H bond functionalization of N-heteroarenes considering newer approaches for alkylation as well as alkenylation processes, and (iii) synthetic applications and practical utility of the catalytic protocols utilized for late-stage drug development; (iv) scope for the development of newer catalytic protocols along with mechanistic studies and detail mechanistic findings of various important processes.
(1,n) annulation reactions using (de)-hydrogenative coupling with alcohols or diols represent a straightforward technique for the synthesis of cyclic moieties. Utilization of such renewable resources for chemical transformations in a one-pot manner is the main focus, which avoids generation of stoichiometric waste. Application of such (1,n) annulation approaches drives the catalysis research in a more sustainable way and generates dihydrogen and water as by-products. This feature article highlights the recent (from 2015 to March 2021) progress in the synthesis of stereo-selective cycloalkanes and cycloalkenes, saturated and unsaturated N-heterocycles (cyclic amine, imide, lactam, tetrahydro ß-carboline, quinazoline, quinazolinone, 1,3,5-triazines etc.) and other N-heterocycles with the formation of multiple bonds in a one pot operation. Mechanistic studies, new catalytic approaches, and synthetic applications including drug synthesis and post-drug derivatization, scope, and limitations are discussed.
Alcohols/chemistry , Transition Elements/chemistry , Alkanes/chemical synthesis , Alkanes/chemistry , Alkenes/chemical synthesis , Alkenes/chemistry , Catalysis , Heterocyclic Compounds/chemical synthesis , Heterocyclic Compounds/chemistry , Hydrogenation , Molecular Structure
The first Fe-catalysed alkylation of 2-methyl and 4-methyl-azaarenes with a series of alkyl and hetero-aryl alcohols is reported (>39 examples and up to 95% yield). Multi-functionalisation of pyrazines and synthesis of anti-malarial drug (±) Angustureine significantly broaden the scope of this methodology. Preliminary mechanistic investigation, deuterium labeling and kinetic experiments including trapping of the enamine intermediate 1a' are of special importance.
Herein an operationally simple alkylation of methylene ketones with primary alcohols is reported. Use of an inexpensive and earth abundant Mn/1,10-phenanthroline system enables direct access to a series of functionalised branched ketones including one-pot sequential double alkylation and Alzheimer's drug donepezil. Preliminary mechanistic investigation, determination of the rate and order of reactions and deuterium labeling experiments support the participation of the hydrogen-borrowing strategy for the ketone alkylation.
Herein, nickel-catalyzed sustainable strategy for the synthesis of N-substituted pyrroles using butene-1,4-diols and butyne-1,4-diols with a series of aryl-, alkyl-, and heteroarylamines is reported. The catalytic protocol is tolerant of free alcohol, halide, alkyl, alkoxy, oxygen heterocycles, activated benzyl, and the pyridine moiety and resulted in up to 90% yield. Initial mechanistic studies involving defined nickel catalyst, determination of rate, and order of reaction including deuterium-labeling experiments were performed for pyrrole synthesis.
