Electrochemically mediated synthesis of cyanated heterocycles from α-amino esters, pyridine-2-carbaldehydes and NH4SCN as cyano group source.

The electrochemically mediated cyanation/annulation process with in situ cyanide ion generation from NH4SCN and multi-step oxidative construction of CN-functionalized heterocycles from easily available α-amino esters and pyridine-2-carbaldehydes has been discovered. Depending on the nature of the α-amino ester, 1-cyano-imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine-3-carboxylates, 3-alkyl- and 3-aryl-imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines-1-carbonitriles, and the first reported 4-oxo-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrazine-1-carbonitriles were obtained. The electrosynthesis is carried out in an undivided electrochemical cell under constant current conditions.

FeCl-Mediated Rearrangement of Aminoperoxides into Functionalized Tetrahydrofurans: Dynamic Non-innocence of O-Ligands at an Fe Center Coordinates a Radical Cascade.

The selective reaction of cyclic aminoperoxides with FeCl proceeds through a sequence of O-O and C-C bond cleavages, followed by intramolecular cyclization, yielding functionalized tetrahydrofurans in 44-82% yields. Replacing the peroxyacetal group in the peroxide structure with a peroxyaminal fragment fundamentally alters the reaction pathway. Instead of producing linear functionalized ketones, this modification leads to the formation of hard-to-access substituted tetrahydrofurans.

Electrochemically Induced Synthesis of -Allyloxyphthalimides via Cross-Dehydrogenative C-O Coupling of -Hydroxyphthalimide with Alkenes Bearing the Allylic Hydrogen Atom.

The electrochemically induced reaction between alkenes, bearing an allylic hydrogen atom, and -hydroxyphthalimide was investigated. Cross-dehydrogenative C-O coupling with phthalimide--oxyl radical, derived from -hydroxyphthalimide, occurs instead of oxidation of the allylic site, with the formation of a carbonyl group or functionalization of the double C=C bond. The discovered transformation proceeds in an undivided electrochemical cell equipped with a carbon felt anode and a platinum cathode.

Ammonium Dinitramide as a Prospective N-NO Synthon: Electrochemical Synthesis of Nitro--Azoxy Compounds from Nitrosoarenes.

In this study, the electrochemical coupling of nitrosoarenes with ammonium dinitramide is discovered, leading to the facile construction of the nitro--azoxy group, which represents an important motif in the design of energetic materials. Compared to known approaches to nitro--azoxy compounds involving two chemical steps (formation of azoxy group containing a leaving group and its nitration) and demanding expensive, corrosive, and hygroscopic nitronium salts, the presented electrochemical method consists of a single step and is based solely on nitrosoarenes and ammonium dinitramide. The dinitramide salt plays the roles of both the electrolyte and reactant for the coupling.

Synthesis of ω-functionalized ketones from strained cyclic alcohols by ring-opening and cross-recombination between alkyl and -oxyl radicals.

Radical ring-opening oxyimidation of cyclobutanols and cyclopropanols with the formation of ω-functionalized ketones was discovered. The oxidative C-O coupling proceeds the interception of a primary alkyl radical generated from a cyclic alcohol with a reactive radical generated , which is an electron-deficient -oxyl radical. The developed conditions allow for the balanced generation rates of carbon- and -oxyl radicals, which are necessary for their selective cross-recombination.

C═N Bond Ozonolysis and β-Scission: A Breakthrough Approach to the Synthesis of ω-Functionalized Compounds from Carbonyl Derivatives.

This work discloses a two-step, one-pot approach to ω-functionalized esters via cleavage of the alicyclic fragment of cycloalkanone semicarbazones. This approach is based on a combination of the synthesis of various alkoxyhydroperoxides via cycloalkanone semicarbazone ozonolysis and interaction of these peroxides with transition metal salts, leading to cleavage of the aliphatic cycle and subsequent ω-functionalized ester formation. A broad series of ω-halogen or pseudohalogen esters have been successfully synthesized in yields ranging from 23 to 73% per starting semicarbazone.

Secosteroid diacylhydrazines as novel effective agents against hormone-dependent breast cancer cells.

This research aimed to develop novel selective secosteroids that are highly active against hormone-dependent breast cancer. A simple and convenient approach to N'-acylated 13,17-secoestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-oic acid hydrazides was disclosed and these novel types of secosteroids were screened for cytotoxicity against the hormone-dependent human breast cancer cell line MCF7. Most secosteroid N'-benzoyl hydrazides have demonstrated high cytotoxicity against MCF7 cells with IC values below 5 μM, which are superior to that of the reference drug cisplatin.

Electrochemical hydrocarboxylation of enol derivatives with CO: access to β-acetoxycarboxylic acids.

Electrochemical hydrocarboxylation of enol acetates with CO is developed. The disclosed process provides β-acetoxycarboxylic acids in 25-66% yields, in contrast to the electrolysis of ketones, silyl enol ethers and vinyl tosylates with CO, which leads mainly to alcohols.

Interrupted Dance of Five Heteroatoms: Reinventing Ozonolysis to Make Geminal Alkoxyhydroperoxides from C═N Bonds.

Four heteroatoms dance in the cascade of four pericyclic reactions initiated by ozonolysis of C═N bonds. Switching from imines to semicarbazones introduces the fifth heteroatom that slows this dance, delays reaching the thermodynamically favorable escape path, and allows efficient interception of carbonyl oxides (Criegee intermediates, CIs) by an external nucleophile. The new three-component reaction of alcohols, ozone, and oximes/semicarbazones greatly facilitates synthetic access to monoperoxyacetals (alkoxyhydroperoxides).

Photocatalytic Sulfonyl Peroxidation of Alkenes via Deamination of -Sulfonyl Ketimines.

A photocatalytic three-component sulfonyl peroxidation of alkenes with -sulfonyl ketimines and -butyl hydroperoxide is reported. The reaction takes place via the photoinduced EnT process, which allows the efficient synthesis of a variety of β-peroxyl sulfones under mild reaction conditions in the absence of a transition metal catalyst. The downstream derivatizations of the peroxides were also performed.

Electrochemical Generation of Peroxy Radicals and Subsequent Peroxidation of 1,3-Dicarbonyls in an Undivided Cell.

The generation of peroxy radicals from hydroperoxides with subsequent selective peroxidation of 1,3-dicarbonyls in an undivided electrochemical cell under constant current conditions is reported. The method provides a variety of peroxy-containing barbituric acids and 4-hydroxy-2(5)-furanones with yields of up to 74%. Only the combination of anodic and cathodic processes provides efficient peroxidation by generating a set of alkoxy and peroxy radicals.

Peroxide derivatives as SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Host cell invasion is mediated by the interaction of the viral spike protein (S) with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) through the receptor-binding domain (RBD). In this work, bio-layer interferometry (BLI) was used to screen a series of fifty-two peroxides, including aminoperoxides and bridged 1,2,4 - trioxolanes (ozonides), with the aim of identifying small molecules that interfere with the RBD-ACE2 interaction.

C-O Coupling of Hydrazones with Diacetyliminoxyl Radical Leading to Azo Oxime Ethers-Novel Antifungal Agents.

Selective oxidative C-O coupling of hydrazones with diacetyliminoxyl is demonstrated, in which diacetyliminoxyl plays a dual role. It is an oxidant (hydrogen atom acceptor) and an O-partner for the oxidative coupling. The reaction is completed within 15-30 min at room temperature, is compatible with a broad scope of hydrazones, provides high yields in most cases, and requires no additives, which makes it robust and practical.

Two-Component versus Three-Component Condensations in the Race between Hydrazide, Triketone, and Hydrogen Peroxide-How do All Six Reactive Centers Cooperate to Incorporate the Most Diverse Set of Heteroatomic Bridges in a Tricyclic Frame?

Relief of stereoelectronic frustration drives the acid-catalyzed three-component condensation of β,δ'-triketones with hydrazides and HO to the direction where both nucleophiles and all three electrophilic carbons are involved in the formation of a tricyclic sp-rich ring system that includes four heteroatoms. The otherwise inaccessible tricyclic N-substituted aminoperoxides are prepared rapidly and selectively from relatively simple substrates in good to high yields.

The diacetyliminoxyl radical in oxidative functionalization of alkenes.

The intermolecular oxime radical addition to CC bonds was observed and studied for the first time. The diacetyliminoxyl radical was proposed as a model radical reagent for the study of oxime radical reactivity towards unsaturated substrates, which is important in the light of the active development of synthetic applications of oxime radicals. In the present work it was found that the diacetyliminoxyl radical reacts with vinylarenes and conjugated dienes to give radical addition products, whereas unconjugated alkenes can undergo radical addition or allylic hydrogen substitution by diacetyliminoxyl depending on the substrate structure.

Secosteroid thiosemicarbazides and secosteroid-1,2,4-triazoles as antiproliferative agents targeting breast cancer cells: Synthesis and biological evaluation.

A convenient and selective approach to 13,17-secoestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-oic acid [N'-arylcarbothioamido]hydrazides and hybrid molecules containing secosteroid and 1,2,4-triazole fragments was disclosed and these novel types of secosteroids were screened for cytotoxicity against hormone-dependent human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Most of secosteroid-1,2,4-triazole hybrids showed significant cytotoxic effect comparable or superior to that of the reference drug cisplatin. Hit secosteroid-1,2,4-triazole hybrids 4b and 4h were characterized by high cytotoxicity and good selectivity towards MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Free Radicals in the Queue: Selective Successive Addition of Azide and -Oxyl Radicals to Alkenes.

The selective successive addition of azide (•N) and -oxyl radicals to alkenes is demonstrated, despite each of the two radicals being known to attack C═C bonds and the mixture of radical adducts possibly being expected. The proposed radical mechanism was supported by density functional theory calculations, electron paramagnetic resonance, and radical trapping experiments. The reaction proceeds at room temperature with the available reagents: NaN, -hydroxy compounds, and PhI(OAc) as the oxidant.

Multicomponent Assembly of Bicyclic Aza-peroxides Catalyzed by Samarium Complexes and Their Cytotoxic Activity.

An original strategy toward bridged tetraoxazaspirobicycloalkanes was developed. The synthesis is based on a three-component condensation-cyclization reaction of primary arylamines with 1,1'-peroxybis (1-hydroperoxycycloalkanes) and pentane-1,5-dial catalyzed by Sm(NO)·6HO. The structures and conformations of the products were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis and H and C NMR spectroscopy.

Bridged 1,2,4-Trioxolanes: SnCl-Catalyzed Synthesis and an In Vitro Study against .

A synthesis of bridged 1,2,4-trioxolanes (bridged ozonides) from 1,5-diketones and hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by SnCl was developed. It was shown that the ratio of target ozonides can be affected by the application of SnCl as a catalyst and varying the solvent. A wide range of bridged 1,2,4-trioxolanes (ozonides) was obtained in yields from 50 to 84%.

Two Discoveries in One Crystal: σ-Type Oxime Radical as an Unforeseen Building Block in Molecular Magnetics and Its Spatial Structure.

In the present work, the study of the unusual interaction between copper hexafluoroacetylacetonate and the diacetyliminoxyl radical resulted in two discoveries from different fields: the determination of the oxime radical spatial structure and the introduction of an oxime radical into the field of molecular magnetic material design. Oxime radicals are key plausible intermediates in the processes of oxidative CH-functionalization and in the synthesis of functionalized isoxazolines from oximes. Due to the lack of X-ray diffraction data for oxime radicals, the knowledge about their structure is based mainly on indirect approaches, spectroscopic methods (electron paramagnetic resonance and IR), and quantum chemical calculations.

Pyridine Derivative of Succinic Acid Hydroxylamide Enhances the Cytotoxic Effect of Cisplatin and Actinomycin D.

We studied the possibility of inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDAC) in the nuclear extract of HeLa cells by N1-hydroxy-N4-(pyridin-4-yl)succinamide (compound 1). Compound 1 inhibits HDAC and showed low toxicity for A-172, HepG2, HeLa, MCF-7, and Vero cells. HeLa cells were most sensitive to the compound.

The Ozone and Hydroperoxide Teamwork: Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Geminal Bisperoxides from Alkenes.

Alkene ozonolysis is mostly known as a textbook reaction, resulting in carbonyl compounds. The combination of ozone and hydroperoxide was found to lead to the construction of more oxygen-rich compounds, unsymmetrical geminal bisperoxides, avoiding as well further oxidation with ozone, hydroperoxide, and oxygen as peroxide rearrangements. The discovered three-component synthesis provided alkylperoxy hydroperoxides in 41-63% yield from alkenes.

An environmentally benign way to synthesize 2-thiocyano-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with high antifungal activity: a key role of solvent.

The introduction of thiocyano groups into organic molecules is important for the preparation of many active ingredients and synthetic intermediates. A commonly used and attractive strategy is the nucleophilic substitution of halogens with the SCN anion or oxidative thiocyanation using an excess amount of external oxidants. A sustainable alternative to stoichiometric reagents is electrochemistry based on anodic oxidation of the SCN anion and other intermediates.

Heterogeneous Photocatalysis as a Potent Tool for Organic Synthesis: Cross-Dehydrogenative C-C Coupling of -Heterocycles with Ethers Employing TiO/-Hydroxyphthalimide System under Visible Light.

Despite the obvious advantages of heterogeneous photocatalysts (availability, stability, recyclability, the ease of separation from products and safety) their application in organic synthesis faces serious challenges: generally low efficiency and selectivity compared to homogeneous photocatalytic systems. The development of strategies for improving the catalytic properties of semiconductor materials is the key to their introduction into organic synthesis. In the present work, a hybrid photocatalytic system involving both heterogeneous catalyst (TiO) and homogeneous organocatalyst (-hydroxyphthalimide, NHPI) was proposed for the cross-dehydrogenative C-C coupling of electron-deficient -heterocycles with ethers employing -BuOOH as the terminal oxidant.