Diversity in Heterocycle Synthesis Using α-Iminocarboxylic Acids: Decarboxylation Dichotomy.

Despite the structural similarity with imines, α-iminocarboxylic acids have seldom been used in heterocycles synthesis. The reactions of -substituted anilines and arylglyoxylic acids in DMSO at 40 °C gave various benzo-fused five- to six-membered N-heterocycles in good to excellent yields. The reaction proceeds via intramolecular Michael addition of α-iminocarboxylic acids, generated in situ, with an -substituted nucleophile, yielding an isolable unprecedented tetrahedral carboxylic acids, which upon decarboxylation without any aid of additional reagents forms the N-heterocycles.

KSO activation by glucose at room temperature for the synthesis and functionalization of heterocycles in water.

While persulfate activation at room temperature using glucose has primarily been focused on kinetic studies of the sulfate radical anion, the utilization of this protocol in organic synthesis is rarely demonstrated. We reinvestigated selected KSO-mediated known organic reactions that invariably require higher temperatures and an organic solvent. A diverse, mild functionalization and synthesis of heterocycles using the inexpensive oxidant KSO in water at room temperature is reported, demonstrating the sustainability and broad scope of the method.

Recent Advances in Functionalization of Pyrroles and their Translational Potential.

Among the known aromatic nitrogen heterocycles, pyrrole represents a privileged aromatic heterocycle ranging its occurrence in the key component of "pigments of life" to biologically active natural products to active pharmaceuticals. Pyrrole being an electron-rich heteroaromatic compound, its predominant functionalization is legendary to aromatic electrophilic substitution reactions. Although a few excellent reviews on the functionalization of pyrroles including the reports by Baltazzi in 1963, Casiraghi and Rassu in 1995, and Banwell in 2006 are available, they are fragmentary and over fifteen years old, and do not cover the modern aspects of catalysis.

Aroylation of Electron-Rich Pyrroles under Minisci Reaction Conditions.

The development of Minisci acylation on electron-rich pyrroles under silver-free neutral conditions has been reported featuring the regioselective monoacylation of (NH)-free pyrroles. Unlike conventional Minisci conditions, the avoidance of any acid that could result in the polymerization of pyrroles was the key to success. The umpolung reactivity of the nucleophilic acyl radical, generated in situ from arylglyoxylic acid, could help explain the mechanism of product formation with electron-rich pyrroles.

Palladium-Catalyzed Serendipitous Synthesis of Arylglyoxylic Amides from Arylglyoxylates and ,-Dialkylamides in the Presence of Halopyridines.

A palladium-catalyzed synthesis of arylglyoxylic amides by the reaction of arylglyoxylates and ,-dialkylamides in the presence of a 2,3-dihalopyridine has been realized for the first time. An anticipated 2,3-diaroylpyridine did not form in this reaction. The current study unveils an unprecedented role of 2,3-dihalopyridine toward this amidation.

Geometry Driven Intramolecular Oxidative Cyclization of Enamides: An Umpolung Annulation of Primary Benzamides with Acrylates for the Synthesis of 3-Methyleneisoindolin-1-ones.

A palladium-catalyzed tandem oxidative annulation of primary benzamides with acrylates via intermolecular N-alkenylation followed by intramolecular C-alkenylation yielded a stereoselective synthesis of (E)-3-methyleneisoindolin-1-ones. The study unveils, for the first time, that only E-enamides could undergo intramolecular oxidative cyclization under the optimized conditions to give isoindolinones. The current strategy represents an umpolung strategy when compared to the literature approaches that use benzamides.

Intramolecular Oxidative Arylations in 7-Azaindoles and Pyrroles: Revamping the Synthesis of Fused N-Heterocycle Tethered Fluorenes.

We revealed intramolecular oxidative arylations in 7-azaindoles and pyrroles that, for the first time, provided direct access to 7-azaindole- or pyrrole-fused isoindolines and tetrahydroisoquinolines. In addition, N-benzylation of 7-azaindoles or pyrroles with sterically hindered sec-benzyl alcohols by Mitsunobu reaction followed by intramolecular oxidative arylation allowed access to chiral congeners of fused isoindolines that have little precedence. A new opportunity in the design and synthesis of fluorene-based organic emitters is demonstrated in the preparation of novel fused N-heterocycle tethered fluorenes, including a chiral fluorene architecture.