DBU-Promoted Cyclizations of Cyclopentyl-Substituted Oxazapolyenes to Cyclopentapyridones and Hydroxypyrroles: Experimental and DFT Study.

1,1-Di(alkoxycarbonyl)-4-cyclopentyl-2-azabuta-1,3-dienes react with DBU to form two types of heterocyclic products: 1-cyclopenta[]pyrid-1-ones and 3-hydroxy-1-pyrroles. These previously unobserved transformations proceed through the formation of 1-azapentadienyl anion which undergoes 1,6-shift of the alkoxycarbonyl group to the cyclopentyl moiety followed by 1,6-cyclization to form the cyclopentapyridone (path ) and 1,5-cyclization accompanied by 1,3-shift of the methoxy group followed by dialkyl carbonate elimination to afford the hydroxypyrrole (path ). The mechanisms of the reactions were studied using DFT calculations.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Double Dearomatization of 1,2,3-Triazole-Isoxazole Dyads: Synthesis of Nonfused 1-1,3-Diazepines.

A double dearomatization of dyads consisting of 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles and 3-aryl-5-methoxyisoxazoles was applied for the efficient synthesis of nonfused 1-1,3-diazepines. The plausible mechanism of the cascade reaction includes transformation of the 1,2,3-triazole to rhodium azavinyl carbene, the -selective hydride shift to form the 1-azabuta-1,3-diene moiety, rhodium-catalyzed ring contraction of the isoxazole to azirine, and pseudopericyclic four-atom ring expansion of the azirine. The synthetic utility and antiproliferative activity of the 1,3-diazepines obtained have been demonstrated.

Triethylamine-Promoted Oxidative Cyclodimerization of 2-Azirine-2-carboxylates to Pyrimidine-4,6-dicarboxylates: Experimental and DFT Study.

An unprecedented oxidative cyclodimerization reaction of 2-azirine-2-carboxylates to pyrimidine-4,6-dicarboxylates under heating with triethylamine in air is described. In this reaction, one azirine molecule undergoes formal cleavage across the C-C bond and another across the C=N bond. According to the experimental study and DFT calculations, the key steps of the reaction mechanism include nucleophilic addition of ,-diethylhydroxylamine to an azirine to form an (aminooxy)aziridine, generation of an azomethine ylide, and its 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to the second azirine molecule.

Gold vs Light: Chemodivergent Reactivity of Diazoesters toward 2-Azirine-2-carboxylic Acids.

An orthogonal reactivity of diazo compounds toward azirine-2-carboxylic acids, switching with the reaction conditions, is demonstrated. A gold-catalyzed reaction is N-selective and produces 1,3-oxazin-6-ones, whereas a blue light activation leads to O-H insertion products, azirine-2-carboxylic esters. The observed chemodivergence is explained by the metal-bound and metal-free carbenes exhibiting different electronic properties in these reactions.

Selective and Reversible 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of 2-(2-Oxoindoline-3-ylidene)acetates with Nitrones in the Synthesis of Functionalized Spiroisoxazolidines.

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 2-(2-oxoindoline-3-ylidene)acetates with functionalized aldo- and ketonitrones proceeds with good selectivity to provide new highly functionalized 5-spiroisoxazolidines. A characteristic feature of these reactions is reversibility that allows for the control of the diastereoselectivity of cycloaddition. The reduction of obtained adducts using zinc powder in acetic acid leads to 1,3-aminoalcohols or spirolactones.

Copper(II)-Catalyzed (3+2) Cycloaddition of 2-Azirines to Six-Membered Cyclic Enols as a Route to Pyrrolo[3,2-]quinolone, Chromeno[3,4-]pyrrole, and Naphtho[1,8-]indole Scaffolds.

A method for the [2+3] pyrroline annulation to the six-membered non-aromatic enols using 3-aryl-2-azirines as annulation agents is developed in the current study. The reaction proceeds as a formal (3+2) cycloaddition via the N1-C2 azirine bond cleavage and is catalyzed by both Cu(II) and Cu(I) compounds. The new annulation method can be applied to prepare pyrrolo[3,2-]quinoline, chromeno[3,4-]pyrrole, and naphtho[1,8-]indole derivatives in good to excellent yields from enols of the quinolin-2-one, 2-chromen-2-one, and 1-phenalen-1-one series.

One-Pot Synthesis of Multifunctionalized 1-Pyrrolines from 2-Alkyl-2-azirines and Diazocarbonyl Compounds.

A novel strategy for the synthesis of 1-pyrrolines based on formal [4 + 1] annulation of 2-alkyl-2-azirines with diazocarbonyl compounds has been developed. This one-pot approach includes the Rh(II)-catalyzed formation of 4-alkyl-2-azabuta-1,3-dienes, followed by the DBU-promoted cyclization, and features a good substrate tolerance. The 1-pyrrolines containing an ester group at the C3 were prepared in a three-step one-pot procedure starting from 5-alkoxyisoxazoles.

Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2-]pyridines via Near UV Light-Induced Cyclization of Azirinylpyridinium Salts.

An efficient one-pot synthesis of imidazo[1,2-]pyridines from 2-bromoazirines and pyridines has been developed. The construction of the bicyclic framework of imidazo[1,2-]pyridines occurs in two steps through the formation of (2-azirin-2-yl)pyridinium bromides followed by dehydrobrominative UV light-induced cyclization. The method can also be applied for the synthesis of imidazo[2,1-]isoquinolines.

Blue Light-Promoted Cross-Coupling of α-Diazo Esters with Isocyanides: Synthesis of Ester-Functionalized Ketenimines.

A metal-free scalable synthesis of functionalized ketenimines from alkyl α-(aryl/heteroaryl)-α-diazoacetates and alkyl isocyanides induced by blue light irradiation has been developed. The reaction proceeds at room temperature without any photocatalyst and provides ketenimines in moderate to good yields. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and the experimental study showed that aryl(alkoxycarbonyl)carbenes in both singlet and triplet states can react with isocyanides but only the reaction of the former leads to the smooth formation of ketenimines.

Synthesis of 2-(2-Pyridyl)-2-azirines via Metal-Free C-C Cross-Coupling of Bromoazirines with 2-Stannylpyridines.

A high-yield method for the introduction of a 2-pyridyl substituent in the C2 position of the three-membered ring of 2-bromo-2-azirine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives by the direct cross-coupling with 2-(trialkylstannyl)pyridines has been described. The reaction works well with 3-, 4-, or 5-substituted 2-stannylpyridines and can be also employed for the synthesis of 2-(thiazol-2-yl)-2-azirines. According to DFT calculations, the reaction proceeds through the sequence of S2'-substitution of bromine, 1,4-stannyl shift, and [2,3]-sigmatropic shift of the pyridine ring.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Synthesis of 2-Aroylpyrimidines via Cascade Heteropolyene Rearrangement.

A one-step synthesis of cytotoxic 2-aroylpyrimidines by the denitrogenative reaction of 1-tosyl-1,2,3-triazoles with isoxazoles under rhodium catalysis has been developed. According to the density functional theory calculations and control experiments, the disclosed reaction proceeds via the rearrangement of an oxadiazatetraene intermediate involving a cascade of intramolecular aza-Diels-Alder and retro-aza-Diels-Alder reactions. The presence of a substituent at C4 of the isoxazole is a prerequisite for the formation of the pyrimidines.

A Hydroxypyrrole Approach to 2,2'-Bi(4-pyrrolin-3-ones) and Pyrrolone-Based α-Amino Esters.

A high yield synthesis of 2-amino-4-pyrrolin-3-ones including 4-pyrrolin-3-one-based amino esters by the NBS- or TfCl-mediated reaction of 3-hydroxypyrroles with amines has been developed. The reaction of 3-hydroxypyrroles with triflyl chloride in the absence of amine affords 2,2'-bi(4-pyrrolin-3-ones) in excellent yields and diastereoselectivity. The relative configuration of stereocenters in these compounds can be changed from (2,2') to (2,2') by the action of NaH in THF, while the reverse stereoisomerization occurs in the presence of 2,5-lutidine in MeCN.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Denitrogenative Diazole-Triazole Coupling toward Aza-Bridged Structures and Imidazole-Based Chelating Ligands.

1,4,8-Triazaocta-1,3,5,7-tetraenes, generated in situ by Rh(Piv)-catalyzed denitrogenative coupling of pyrazoles with 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles, smoothly form 2,6,8-triazabicyclo[3.2.1]octa-3,6-dienes via intramolecular aza-Diels-Alder cycloaddition.

Azirine-containing dipeptides and depsipeptides: synthesis, transformations and antibacterial activity.

Azirine-containing dipeptides and depsipeptides with a wide range of substituents have been synthesized in high yields via the Passerini and Ugi multicomponent reactions (MCRs) using 2H-azirine-2-carboxylic acids as the acid component. The obtained MCR adducts have been transformed to lactam-fused aziridines, as well as pyrrole, imidazole, aziridine, and other derivatives, containing the dipeptide or depsipeptide moiety. The azirine-containing depsipeptides exhibit antibacterial activity against the ESKAPE pathogens, especially Gram-positive bacterial strains (E.

Synthesis of 3-Alkoxy-4-Pyrrolin-2-ones via Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed Denitrogenative Transannulation of 1-1,2,3-Triazoles with Diazo Esters.

A method for the synthesis of densely substituted 4-pyrrolin-2-ones by Rh(II)-catalyzed denitrogenative transannulation of 1-alkyl-4-aryl-1-1,2,3-triazoles with diazo esters has been developed. The reaction proceeds via an attack of the rhodium-bound carbene at the N2 atom of the triazole and the formation of unstable 3,4-dihydro-1,2,4-triazine, which further undergoes ring contraction to a 4-pyrrolin-2-one under rhodium catalysis. The method is inapplicable to 1,2,3-triazoles with primary alkyl substituent at C4, which afford stable 1,2,3-triazol-3-ium ylides as the main products.

Light-induced one-pot synthesis of pyrimidine derivatives from vinyl azides.

A one-pot procedure for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted dihydropyrimidine and pyrimidine derivatives from α-azidocinnamates was developed. The synthesis is based on the finding that the outcome of LED photolysis of α-azidocinnamates depends on the light wavelength employed. Blue light (455 nm) leads to the formation of 2H-azirines only, but violet light (395 nm), UV-A light (365 nm), or sunlight result in the transformation of the in situ formed 2H-azirines to 1,3-diazabicyclo[3.

Regiodivergent Synthesis of Butenolide-Based α- and β-Amino Acid Derivatives via Base-Controlled Azirine Ring Expansion.

A method for the preparation of 5-aminobutenolides from 2-bromo-2-azirine-2-carboxylic esters/amides with arylacetic acids has been developed. The reaction regioselectivity can be switched by a change of the basic catalyst, making it possible to prepare both butenolide-based α- and β-amino acid derivatives. The change in the regioselectivity is interpreted in terms of the stability and reactivity of the enolates formed during the S2' substitution of the bromine in the azirine by the carboxylate ion.

Non-natural 2-azirine-2-carboxylic acids: an expedient synthesis and antimicrobial activity.

Non-natural 2-azirine-2-carboxylic acids were obtained in high yields by FeCl-catalyzed isomerization of 5-chloroisoxazoles to azirine-2-carbonyl chlorides followed by their hydrolysis. The 3-aryl- and 3-heteroaryl-substituted acids are stable during prolonged storage, exhibit antibacterial activity against ESKAPE pathogens and show a low level of cytotoxicity.

[2 + 1 + 1] Assembly of spiro β-lactams by Rh(ii)-catalyzed reaction of diazocarbonyl compounds with azirines/isoxazoles.

A domino synthesis of dispiro-fused N-vinyl β-lactams from diazo-Meldrum's acid and 2H-azirines or 5-alkoxyisoxazoles via the "2-azabuta-1,3-diene formation/Staudinger ketene-imine cycloaddition" sequence is described. The Rh2(Piv)4-catalyzed formation of the 2-azabuta-1,3-diene intermediates in the first stage of the reaction sequence proceeds via addition of the rhodium carbenoid to the azirines/isoxazoles and provides the first example of the generation of iminium-type ylides from diazo-Meldrum's acid. This methodology was extended to monospiro-β-lactams, which were synthesized in two steps using acyclic α-diazocarbonyl compounds in the stage of the formation of 2-azabuta-1,3-dienes.

2 H-Azirines as C-C Annulation Reagents in Cu-Catalyzed Synthesis of Furo[3,2- c]quinolone Derivatives.

A method of furo-annulation of 4-hydroxy-2-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylates with 3-arylazirines under Cu(II) catalysis was developed to synthesize a variety of 2,3-dihydrofuro[3,2- c]quinolones bearing a carbamate group at the C2 position. The reaction involves an azirine ring opening across the N-C2 bond and formation of a dihydrofuran ring with the inclusion of two azirine carbon atoms, accompanied by a shift of the ester group to the nitrogen. The discovered reaction is the first example of the use of 2 H-azirines for furo-annulation.

Synthesis of 1-(2-Aminovinyl)indoles and 1,3'-Biindoles by Reaction of 2,2-Diaryl-Substituted 2 H-Azirines with α-Imino Rh(II) Carbenoids.

An effective and operationally simple method for the preparation of 1-(2-(sulfonamido)vinyl)indoles (SAV-indoles) by the Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction of 2,2-diaryl-2 H-azirines with 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles has been developed. This method enables the stereoselective synthesis of a variety of 1,2,3-trisubstituted indoles having a Z configuration of the (1-aryl-2-(sulfonamido)vinyl) substituent. The reaction mechanism, supported by DFT calculations, involves the formation of 1,4-diazahexa-1,3,5-trienes, which rapidly cyclize to 2,2-diaryl-1-sulfonyl-1,2-dihydropyrazines.

Synthesis of 2-(Di/tri/tetraazolyl)-2 H-azirine-2-carboxylates by Halogen Substitution: Evidence for an S2'-S2' Cascade Mechanism.

An effective and operationally simple method for the preparation of methyl 2-(di/tri/tetraazol-1-yl)-2 H-azirine-2-carboxylates from accessible methyl 2-halo-2 H-azirine-2-carboxylates and NH-azoles has been developed. The azoles having enhanced NH acidity, react with 2-halo-2 H-azirines in the presence of EtN in a deprotonated form, while the azoles having highly nucleophilic sp nitrogen react in neutral form. According to the DFT calculations, the substitution of the halogen by the azole proceeds via an S2'-S2' cascade, with the initial conjugate substitution of the halogen being the rate-determining step.

Rh(II)-Catalyzed Transannulation of 1,2,4-Oxadiazole Derivatives with 1-Sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles: Regioselective Synthesis of 5-Sulfonamidoimidazoles.

An effective method for the synthesis of fully substituted 5-sulfonamidoimidazoles by Rh(II)-catalyzed transannulation of 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives with N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles is reported. The reaction works well with both aromatic 1,2,4-oxadiazoles and 1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-ones providing a flexible approach to N-(alkoxy/amino)carbonyl- and N-alkyl-substituted imidazoles. Both the disclosed reactions are completely regioselective and provide the first examples of a carbenoid-mediated transformation of N,N,O-heterocycles.

Rh(II)-Catalyzed Ring Expansion of Pyrazoles with Diazocarbonyl Compounds as a Method for the Preparation of 1,2-Dihydropyrimidines.

A high yield synthesis of 1,2-dihydropyrimidines by the Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction of diazocarbonyl compounds with 1,4-di- and 1,4,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles is reported. This reaction represents the first example of a carbenoid insertion into a N-N bond and provides a novel approach to 4-unsubstituted 1,2-dihydropyrimidines with a broad range of functional group tolerance. According to DFT calculations, the pyrazole ring expansion proceeds via the sequential formation of the metal-bound pyrazolium ylide, metal-free pyrazolium ylide, and 1,5-diazahexatriene followed by 1,6-cyclization.

Facile access to 2-acyloxy-, aryloxy- and alkenyloxy-2H-azirines via an S2'-S2' cascade in 2-halo-2H-azirines.

Various 2-oxygen-substituted 2H-azirine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives were synthesized in high yields under mild conditions from readily available precursors, 2-halo-2H-azirines and OH-reagents having pKa values in the range of 3-10. This reaction is the first example of substitution at the azirine carbon atom for which an unusual SN2'-SN2' cascade mechanism was revealed.