Nickel Catalyzed Selective Arylation of Geminal Dinitriles: Direct Access to α-Cyano Carbonyl Compounds.

The catalytic intermolecular arylation of disubstituted geminal dinitriles with in situ generated arylnickel complexes is disclosed. This method efficiently provides various all-carbon substituted α-cyanocarbonyl compounds without additives and an inert atmosphere. It also demonstrates the arylation of R-BINOL and S-BINOL derived geminal dinitriles, preserving optical purity. Mechanistic studies proved that the in situ generated organonickel complex is involved in arylation.

Nickel-Catalyzed Domino Reaction of α-Aryloxyacetonitriles with Arylboronic Acids: Synthesis of 2-Aroylbenzo[b]furans.

We disclose the first catalytic domino reaction of α-(2-formylaryloxy)acetonitriles with arylboronic acids, yielding a range of 2-aroylbenzo[b]furans with yields of up to 93%. Ni(acac)2 serves as an effective dual catalyst. The protocol is also applicable to α-(2-acetylphenoxy)acetonitrile, giving rise to 3-methyl-2-aroylbenzo[b]furans. This domino process is efficient, additive-free, and compatible with a variety of aryl boronic acids, including those with CF3, NO2, CN, and CO2Me groups. Mechanistic studies highlight the dual activation facilitated by the nickel catalyst.

Cu(OTf)2 Enhanced Intramolecular Nucleophilic N-Arylation of 2-Amino-3-arylquinolines.

In the presence of Cu(OTf)2 (5 mol %) and KOtBu, a synergistic effect of the N-arylation process on 2-amino-3-arylquinolines is observed. Within 4 h, this method provides a wide variety of norneocryptolepine analogues with good to excellent yields. Overall, a double heteroannulation strategy for the synthesis of indoloquinoline alkaloids from nonheterocyclic precursors is demonstrated. Mechanistic investigations establish that the reaction proceeds via the SNAr pathway. Despite moderate yields, the one-pot, two-step double heteroannulation illustrates that this procedure is highly atom-efficient. Neocryptolepine, a natural product, is also synthesized from indoloquinoline. A brief study of the photophysical properties of selected norneocryptolepine analogues is also discussed.

2,3-Difunctionalized Benzo[b]thiophene Scaffolds Possessing Potent Antiangiogenic Properties.

A new class of 2-anilino-3-cyanobenzo[b]thiophenes (2,3-ACBTs) was studied for its antiangiogenic activity for the first time. One of the 2,3-ACBTs inhibited tubulogenesis in a dose-dependent manner without any toxicity. The 2,3-ACBTs significantly reduced neovascularization in both ex vivo and in vivo angiogenic assays without affecting the proliferation of endothelial cells. Neovascularization was limited through reduced phosphorylation of Akt/Src and depolymerization of f-actin and ß-tubulin filaments, resulting in reduced migration of cells. In addition, the 2,3-ACBT compound disrupted the preformed angiogenic tubules, and docking/competitive binding studies showed that it binds to VEGFR2. Compound 2,3-ACBT had good stability and intramuscular profile, translating in suppressing the tumor angiogenesis induced in a xenograft model. Overall, the present study suggests that 2,3-ACBT arrests angiogenesis by regulating the Akt/Src signaling pathway and deranging cytoskeletal filaments of endothelial cells.

Chemoselective Ullmann Reaction of α-Trisubstituted Thioamides: Synthesis of Novel 2-Iminobenzothiolanes.

New classes of unexplored benzo[b]thiolanes are synthesized from trisubstituted thioamides through copper-catalyzed intramolecular S-arylation of thioamides for the first time. This method provides good to excellent yields with fully controlled chemoselectivity. Unusually, iminobenzo[b]thiolanes are very stable under mild acidic conditions. A plausible mechanism is proposed for the chemoselective S-arylation process.

Copper Catalyzed Intramolecular N-Arylation of Ketene Aminals at Room Temperature: Synthesis of 2-Amino-3-cyanoindoles.

Various 2-amino-3-cyanoindoles are synthesized through copper catalyzed intramolecular N-arylations of ketene aminals at room temperature for the first time with 60-99% yields within 0.1-2 h. Controlled regioselective N-arylations of unsymmetrical ketene aminals are also studied. Further, a new double heteroannulation approach is demonstrated for the synthesis of 11-aminoindolo[2,3- b]quinolines from acyclic and nonheterocyclic precursors.

The Ti-BINOLate-catalyzed, enantioselective ring-opening of meso-aziridines with amines.

The titanium-BINOLate-catalyzed, highly enantioselective ring-opening reaction of meso-aziridines has been developed which furnishes trans-1,2-diamines in typically good yields and excellent enantioselectivities. N-Aryl aziridines attached to a 5- or 6-membered carbocyclic ring are among the best substrates for this process providing the products in up to >99% ee. The chiral catalyst is easily prepared in situ from commercially available components and does not require any laborious ligand synthesis. Structural investigations into the catalyst composition reveal an oligomeric structure of the active Ti-complex.

Titanium binolate catalyzed aminolysis of meso aziridines: a highly enantioselective and direct access to 1,2-diamines.

It's as simple as that: An in situ prepared chiral catalyst from the commercially available compounds Ti(OiPr)(4) and (R)-binol catalyzes the highly enantioselective ring-opening of meso-aziridines 1 with anilines 2 and furnishes valuable chiral 1,2-diamines 3 in high yields and up to 99 % ee.(R)-binol=(R)-2,2'-dihydroxy-1,1'-binaphthyl.

A novel anionic domino process for the synthesis of o-cyanoaryl-methylthio/alkyl/aryl/heteroaryl acetylenes.

A novel unexpected anionic domino process involving n-BuLi-induced rearrangement of 3,3-bis(methylthio) or 3-methylthio-3-aryl/heteroaryl/alkyl-o-bromoarylacrylonitriles to o-cyanoarylacetylenes in synthetically useful yields has been reported. The scope and generality of the reaction has been examined, and a possible mechanism has been proposed.