Functionalization of Alkenes with Difluoromethyl Nitrile Oxide to Access the Difluoromethylated Derivatives.

Electron-rich, electron-deficient, and non-activated alkenes can be rapidly functionalized by in situ-generated difluoromethyl nitrile oxide. The (3+2) cycloaddition proceeds at room temperature, has broad functional group tolerance, and can be used for the late-stage modification of bioactive molecules (finasteride and carbamazepine). The obtained CF2H-isoxazolines can be easily transformed into CF2H-containing building blocks for medicinal chemistry: amines, amino acids, amino alcohols, and spirocyclic scaffolds.

Polymorphic transition due to grinding: the case of 3-[1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)azetidin-3-yl]-1,2-oxazole-4-carboxylic acid.

A polymorphic transition as a result of grinding was found for 3-[1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)azetidin-3-yl]-1,2-oxazole-4-carboxylic acid. The thorough study of polymorphic structures before and after crystal structure transformation has revealed some pre-conditions for a polymorphic transition and regularities of changes in molecular and crystal structure. In metastable polymorph 1a, the conformationally flexible molecule adopts a conformation with the higher energy and forms a less preferable linear supramolecular synthon. Additional energy imparted to a crystal structure during the grinding process proved to be enough to overcome low energy barriers for the nitrogen inversion and rotation of the oxazole ring around the sp3-sp2 single bond. As a result, polymorph 1b with a molecule adopting conformation with lower energy and forming a more preferable centrosymmetric supramolecular synthon was obtained. The study of pairwise interaction energies in the two polymorphs has shown that metastable polymorph 1a is organized by molecular building units and has a columnar-layered structure. A centrosymmetric dimer should be recognized as a complex building unit in more stable polymorph 1b, which has a layered structure.

Reductive Recyclization of sp3-Enriched Functionalized Isoxazolines into α-Hydroxy Lactams.

An efficient synthesis (up to a 200 g scale) of 3-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-ones bearing alkyl substituents or functional groups at the C-5 position is described. The reaction sequence started from 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of in situ generated nitrile oxides with (meth-)acrylates into 3-substituted isoxazoline-5-carboxylates. The catalytic hydrogenolysis of the isoxazoline N-O bond was optimal upon using H2 (1 atm) at rt, with the following order of the catalyst activity: Pd-C > Pd(OH)2-C > Pt-C. The reactions with Pt-C were more selective for the synthesis of pyrrolidones, while Pd-C provided the fastest conversion rates. The stirring efficiency had a positive impact on conversion rather than elevated temperatures (up to 40 °C) or pressure (up to 50 atm). The diastereoselectivity was governed mainly by steric factors, with a dr of 1:1 to 3:1 (cis- and trans-isomers could be separated). Higher homologues (isoxazolinylacetates and -propanoates) were suitable for the synthesis of 6- or 7-substituted 4-hydroxypiperidones and 5-hydroxyazepanones, respectively. The proposed methods are tolerant to functional groups, including CF3 (but not CHF2 or CH2Cl), ester, and most N-Boc-protected amines. The utility of hydroxyl groups in lactams was shown by functional group transformations. Hydrogenolysis of C(5)-functionalized isoxazolines, bearing trimethylsilyl, phosphonate, or sulfone groups, was also studied to demonstrate limitations.

Bicyclic Pyrrolidines for Medicinal Chemistry via [3 + 2]-Cycloaddition.

A general approach to bicyclic fused pyrrolidines via [3 + 2]-cycloaddition between nonstabilized azomethyne ylide and endocyclic electron-deficient alkenes was elaborated. "Push-pull" alkenes and CF3-alkenes did not react with the azomethyne ylide under the previously reported conditions, and we developed a superior protocol (LiF, 140 °C, no solvent). Among obtained products were medchem-relevant bicyclic sulfones, monofluoro-, difluoro-, and trifluoromethyl-substituted pyrrolidines. This approach not only allowed preparation of novel molecules but also significantly simplified synthesis of the existing ones (e.g., sofinicline).

Synthesis of 5-(Fluoroalkyl)isoxazole Building Blocks by Regioselective Reactions of Functionalized Halogenoximes.

A comprehensive study on the synthesis of 5-fluoroalkyl-substituted isoxazoles starting from functionalized halogenoximes is reported. One-pot metal-free [3 + 2] cycloaddition of CF3-substituted alkenes and halogenoximes bearing ester, bromo, chloromethyl, and protected amino groups was developed for the preparation of 5-trifluoromethylisoxazoles. The target 3,5-disubstituted derivatives were obtained in a regioselective manner in good to excellent yield on up to 130 g scale. 5-Fluoromethyl- and 5-difluoromethylisoxazoles were synthesized by late-stage deoxofluorination of the corresponding 5-hydroxymethyl or 5-formyl derivatives, respectively, in turn prepared via metal-free cycloaddition of halogenoximes and propargylic alcohol. An alternative approach based on nucleophilic substitution in 5-bromomethyl derivatives was found to be more convenient for the preparation of 5-fluoromethylisoxazoles. Reaction of isoxazole-5-carbaldehydes with the Ruppert-Prakash reagent was used for the preparation of (ß,ß,ß-trifluoro-α-hydroxyethyl)isoxazoles. Utility of described approaches was shown by multigram preparation of side-chain functionalized mono-, di-, and trifluoromethylisoxazoles, for example, fluorinated analogues of ABT-418 and ESI-09.

Regioselective Synthesis of Functionalized 3- or 5-Fluoroalkyl Isoxazoles and Pyrazoles from Fluoroalkyl Ynones and Binucleophiles.

A facile synthetic route toward either 3- or 5-fluoroalkyl-substituted isoxazoles or pyrazoles containing an additional functionalization site was developed and applied on a multigram scale. The elaborated approach extends the scope of fluoroalkyl substituents for introduction into the heterocyclic moiety, and uses convenient transformations of the side chain for incorporation of fluoroalkyl-substituted azoles into the structures of biologically active molecules. The utility of the obtained building blocks for isosteric replacement of alkyl-substituted isoxazole and pyrazole was shown by the synthesis of fluorinated Isocarboxazid and Mepiprazole analogues.

Regioselective synthesis of isoxazole and 1,2,4-oxadiazole-derived phosphonates via [3 + 2] cycloaddition.

The results of the study on reactions of halogenoximes bearing (protected) functional groups or fluorinated substituents with various phosphorus-containing dipolarophiles are described. To control the regioselectivity of the reaction, vinylphosphonates bearing a leaving group (i.e. bromine or dialkylamino group) in the α or ß position were used; 3,5- and 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoles were obtained in 47-80% and 63-75% yields, respectively. The reaction was also effective for the parent vinyl phosphonate and cyanophosphonate; in this case, the corresponding isoxazoline- and 1,2,4-oxadiazole-derived phosphonates were isolated in 55-69% and 34-73% yields, respectively. The utility of the products obtained was demonstrated by the preparation of direct conformationally restricted analogues of phosphohistidine.

Synthesis of Spirocyclic Pyrrolidines: Advanced Building Blocks for Drug Discovery.

In the context of drug discovery, novel spirocyclic pyrrolidines have been synthesized in two steps from common three- to seven-membered-ring (hetero)alicyclic ketones. The key transformation is a reaction between an electron-deficient exocyclic alkene and an in situ generated N-benzyl azomethine ylide. The developed method has been used to synthesize the central diamine core of the known antibacterial agents Sitafloxacin and Olamufloxacin.