Mechanochemical arylative detrifluoromethylation of trifluoromethylarenes.

The stoichiometric defluorinative functionalization of ArCF3 is a conceptually appealing research target. It enables the challenging late-stage functionalization of CF3-containing aromatic molecules and contributes to the remedy of environmental risks resulting from the accumulation of relatively inert ArCF3-containing molecules. Similarly, Ar-CN bond features limit their utilization in cross-coupling reactions. Thus, the employment of benzonitriles in decyanative Suzuki-Miyaura type coupling remains in high demand in the field of C-C bond formation. Herein, we report mechanochemically induced and ytterbium oxide (Yb2O3)-mediated defluorinative cyanation of trifluoromethylarenes. In addition, we describe a facile mechanochemically facilitated and nickel-catalyzed decyanative arylation of benzonitriles to access biphenyls. Combining both processes in a one-pot multicomponent protocol to achieve a concise direct arylative detrifluoromethylation of ArCF3 is described herein. This work is the first hitherto realization of C-C coupling with CF3 as a formal leaving group.

Mechanochemical Defluorinative Arylation of Trifluoroacetamides: An Entry to Aromatic Amides.

The amide bond is prominent in natural and synthetic organic molecules endowed with activity in various fields. Among a wide array of amide synthetic methods, substitution on a pre-existing (O)C-N moiety is an underexplored strategy for the synthesis of amides. In this work, we disclose a new protocol for the defluorinative arylation of aliphatic and aromatic trifluoroacetamides yielding aromatic amides. The mechanochemically induced reaction of either arylboronic acids, trimethoxyphenylsilanes, diaryliodonium salts, or dimethyl(phenyl)sulfonium salts with trifluoroacetamides affords substituted aromatic amides in good to excellent yields. These nickel-catalyzed reactions are enabled by C-CF3 bond activation using Dy2O3 as an additive. The current protocol provides versatile and scalable routes for accessing a wide variety of substituted aromatic amides. Moreover, the protocol described in this work overcomes the drawbacks and limitations in the previously reported methods.

Mechanochemical Conversion of Aromatic Amines to Aryl Trifluoromethyl Ethers.

Increased interest in the trifluoromethoxy group in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry has induced a demand for new, selective, general, and faster methods applicable to natural products and highly functionalized compounds at a later stage of hit-to-lead campaigns. Applying pyrylium tetrafluoroborate, we have developed a mechanochemical protocol to selectively substitute the aromatic amino group with the OCF3 functionality. The scope of our method includes 31 examples of ring-substituted anilines, including amides and sulfonamides. Expected SNAr products were obtained in excellent yields. The presented concise method opens a pathway to new chemical spaces for the pharmaceutical industry.

Structure, optical and electro-physical properties of tetramerized anion-radical salt (N-Xy-Qn)(TCNQ)2.

The (N-Xy-Qn)(TCNQ)2 anion-radical salt characterized by tetramerized stacks of the TCNQ acceptor molecules has been synthesized and characterized using vibrational spectroscopy and electrical resistivity measurements. The bond lengths analysis based on the crystal structure data, indicates that the TCNQ molecules are non-uniformly charged with -0.83 e localized on the inner B molecules and -0.33 e on the outer A molecules within ABBA tetramers. Both infrared and Raman spectra of (N-Xy-Qn)(TCNQ)2 are dominated by vibrational modes of TCNQ and display splitting related to the tetramerized structure. Many of these features are affected by the strong electron-molecular vibration (EMV) coupling. Other charge-sensitive modes allowed estimation of charge localized on TCNQ, with the results that confirm the charges estimated on basis of the crystal data. Electrical measurements revealed the low-conducting behavior with room temperature conductivity value of 2.6 mS cm-1 and temperature dependence of resistivity that can be explained within the band conduction model. The calculated activation energies range from 0.169 eV to 0.187 eV, depending on the crystallographic direction and thermal history of the sample.

Mechanochemical synthesis of aromatic sulfonamides.

A three-component Pd-catalysed aminosulfonylation reaction of K2S2O5 and amine with aryl bromides or aromatic carboxylic acids was developed. This strategy was developed to utilise mechanical energy and accommodate primary as well as secondary aliphatic and aromatic amines to provide a new shortcut to a wide range of sulfonamides. Studies on the scope and limitations of the reaction indicated its tolerance of a vast range of functional groups and many structural patterns. The reactions were scaled up to gram quantities.

Cu-Catalyzed Arylation of Bromo-Difluoro-Acetamides by Aryl Boronic Acids, Aryl Trialkoxysilanes and Dimethyl-Aryl-Sulfonium Salts: New Entries to Aromatic Amides.

We describe a mechanism-guided discovery of a synthetic methodology that enables the preparation of aromatic amides from 2-bromo-2,2-difluoroacetamides utilizing a copper-catalyzed direct arylation. Readily available and structurally simple aryl precursors such as aryl boronic acids, aryl trialkoxysilanes and dimethyl-aryl-sulfonium salts were used as the source for the aryl substituents. The scope of the reactions was tested, and the reactions were insensitive to the electronic nature of the aryl groups, as both electron-rich and electron-deficient aryls were successfully introduced. A wide range of 2-bromo-2,2-difluoroacetamides as either aliphatic or aromatic secondary or tertiary amides were also reactive under the developed conditions. The described synthetic protocols displayed excellent efficiency and were successfully utilized for the expeditious preparation of diverse aromatic amides in good-to-excellent yields. The reactions were scaled up to gram quantities.

Arylation of ortho-Hydroxyarylenaminones by Sulfonium Salts and Arenesulfonyl Chlorides: An Access to Isoflavones.

Herein we disclose three new methods for the straightforward and efficient synthesis of 3-arylchromones following the arylation of ortho-hydroxyarylenaminones by vast diversities of bench-stable and easy-to-use sulfonium salts and arenesulfonyl chlorides. Both developed methods, namely the light-mediated photoredox and electrophilic arylation, showed good efficiency, and are feasible for the preparation of 3-arylchromones in good-to-excellent yields. This work showcases the first described attempt where the sulfonium salts and arenesulfonyl chlorides were successfully utilized for the construction of the chromone heterocycle system.

Photoredox Functionalization of 3-Halogenchromones, 3-Formylchromones, and Chromone-3-carboxylic Acids: Routes to 3-Acylchromones.

This work describes a set of new and efficient synthetic routes toward 3-acyl-substituted chromones ranging from readily available chromone precursors, namely 3-halogenchromones, 3-formylchromones, and chromone-3-carboxylic acids by means of visible-light photoredox catalysis. The operationally simple protocols transform a wide variety of chromone derivatives into challenging 3-acyl-substituted chromones in excellent yield. This research also aimed at comparing the developed methodologies by using as the key evaluation criteria the efficiency of the reaction and general availability of the starting materials. The application of all developed methods for the gram-scale preparation of the title chromones was also demonstrated.

Visible-light-mediated arylation of ortho-hydroxyarylenaminones: direct access to isoflavones.

In this work we highlight two new methods for the synthesis of isoflavones through consecutive domino arylation of ortho-hydroxyarylenaminones with in situ photogenerated aryl radicals. As precursors for aryl radicals we used aryl onium reagents such as diazonium and diaryliodonium salts. Notably, the photo-Meerwein arylation by aryl diazonium tetrafluoroborates demonstrated high efficiency in terms of yields and can be considered as a method of choice for the straightforward assembly of 3-aryl-substituted chromones. Ultimately, 26 compounds were prepared in good to excellent yields using the developed synthetic protocols.

Copper-catalyzed direct C-H arylselenation of 4-nitro-pyrazoles and other heterocycles with selenium powder and aryl iodides. Access to unsymmetrical heteroaryl selenides.

A one-pot, Cu-catalyzed direct C-H arylselenation protocol using elemental Se and aryl iodides was developed for nitro-substituted, N-alkylated pyrazoles, imidazoles and other heterocycles including 4H-chromen-4-one. This general and concise method allows one to obtain a large number of unsymmetrical heteroaryl selenides bearing a variety of substituents. The presence of the nitro group was confirmed to be essential for the C-H activation and can also be used for further functionalisation and manipulation. Several examples of heteroannulated benzoselenazines were also synthesized using the developed synthetic protocol.

Application of Silicon-Initiated Water Splitting for the Reduction of Organic Substrates.

The use of water as a donor for hydrogen suitable for the reduction of several important classes of organic compounds is described. It is found that the reductive water splitting can be promoted by several metalloids among which silicon shows the best efficiency. The developed methodologies were applied for the reduction of nitro compounds, N-oxides, sulfoxides, alkenes, alkynes, hydrodehalogenation as well as for the gram-scale synthesis of several substrates of industrial importance.

Synthesis, alkaline phosphatase inhibition studies and molecular docking of novel derivatives of 4-quinolones.

New and convenient methods for the functionalization of the 4-quinolone scaffold at positions C-1, C-3 and C-6 were developed. The 4-quinolone derivatives were evaluated for their inhibitory potential on alkaline phosphatase isozymes. Most of the compounds exhibit excellent inhibitory activity and moderate selectivity. The IC50 values on tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) were in the range of 1.34 ± 0.11 to 44.80 ± 2.34 µM, while the values on intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) were in the range of 1.06 ± 0.32 to 192.10 ± 3.78 µM. The most active derivative exhibits a potent inhibition on IAP with a ≈14 fold higher selectivity as compared to TNAP. Furthermore, molecular docking calculations were performed for the most potent inhibitors to show their binding interactions within the active site of the respective enzymes.

Copper-Catalyzed O-Difluoromethylation of Functionalized Aliphatic Alcohols: Access to Complex Organic Molecules with an OCF2H Group.

A two-step synthetic strategy toward difluoromethyl ethers via a CuI-catalyzed reaction of the alcohols, bearing additional protected functionalities, with FSO2CF2CO2H has been developed. The high potential of the developed protocol has been shown by preparing novel OCF2H-analogues of GABA and l-proline. The described transformation has good functional group compatibility and can serve as a powerful synthetic tool for late-stage preparation of complex OCF2H-containing organic compounds as well as building blocks for drug discovery.

Synthesis of 3,3'-carbonyl-bis(chromones) and their activity as mammalian alkaline phosphatase inhibitors.

Hitherto unknown 3,3'-carbonyl-bis(chromones) 8, dimeric chromones bridged by a carbonyl group, were prepared by reaction of chromone-3-carboxylic acid chloride with 3-(dimethylamino)-1- (2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propen-1-ones 9. The method is generally applicable for the synthesis of novel symmetrical or non-symmetrical products which were found to inhibit mammalian alkaline phosphatases.

Transition-metal-catalyzed arylation of nitroimidazoles and further transformations of manipulable nitro group.

Pd- or Ni-catalyzed C-H arylation of 4-nitroimidazole derivatives directed by a manipulable nitro group was developed. The reaction tolerates a wide range of substituted aryl halides and 4-nitroimidazoles. The experiments indicated that the nitro group has influence on regioselectivity of the reaction. In addition, we have shown that the efficiency of the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of nitroimidazoles is slightly lower in comparison to the direct C-H arylation. The exploration of the chemical potential of the nitro group and a putative reaction mechanism are discussed.

Synthesis of functionalized 2-salicyloylfurans, furo[3,2-b]chromen-9-ones and 2-benzoyl-8H-thieno[2,3-b]indoles by one-pot cyclizations of 3-halochromones with ß-ketoamides and 1,3-dihydroindole-2-thiones.

Functionalized 2-salicyloylfurans and 2-benzoyl-8H-thieno[2,3-b]indoles were prepared under mild conditions by reaction of 3-halochromones with ß-ketoamides and 1,3-dihydroindole-2-thiones, correspondently. The subsequent oxidative cyclization of the products resulted in formation of the corresponding furo[3,2-b]chromen-9-ones. These molecules could also be directly prepared from 3-halochromones using a one-pot protocol. The cyclization reactions reported herein are mechanistically surprising as they proceed via the oxygen and not via the (more nucleophilic) nitrogen atom of the ß-ketoamide.

Endo-selective Pd-catalyzed silyl methyl Heck reaction.

A palladium (Pd)-catalyzed endo-selective Heck reaction of iodomethylsilyl ethers of phenols and aliphatic alkenols has been developed. Mechanistic studies reveal that this silyl methyl Heck reaction operates via a hybrid Pd-radical process and that the silicon atom is crucial for the observed endo selectivity. The obtained allylic silyloxycycles were further oxidized into (Z)-alkenyldiols.

Regioselective and guided C-H activation of 4-nitropyrazoles.

A divergent and regioselective approach to 5-aryl-4-nitro-1H-pyrazoles was developed by guided transition-metal-catalyzed arylation of 4-nitro-1H-pyrazoles. This method provides a convenient tool for the functionalization of the pharmacologically relevant pyrazole scaffold. The scope and limitations of the methodology were studied.

Synthesis and reactivity of 5-polyfluoroalkyl-5-deazaalloxazines.

Reaction of 6-arylamino-1,3-dialkyluracils with anhydrides of polyfluorocarboxylic acids in the presence of pyridine and subsequent cyclization with concentrated H2SO4 gave the corresponding 1,3-dialkyl-5-(polyfluoroalkyl)pyrimido[4,5-b]quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones (5-polyfluoroalkyl-5-deazaalloxazines). The reactivity of these compounds towards nucleophilic reagents, such as sodium cyanoborohydride, acetophenone, nitromethane, potassium cyanide, indole and p-thiocresol, as well as Suzuki and Sonogashira couplings are described. The nucleophilic addition takes place at the 5-position of the 5-deazaalloxazine system and is in many cases irreversible to give 5,10-dihydropyrimido[4,5-b]quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione derivatives in good to excellent yields.

Tandem dinucleophilic cyclization of cyclohexane-1,3-diones with pyridinium salts.

The cyclization of cyclohexane-1,3-diones with various substituted pyridinium salts afforded functionalized 8-oxa-10-aza-tricyclo[7.3.1.0(2,7)]trideca-2(7),11-dienes. The reaction proceeds by regioselective attack of the central carbon atom of the 1,3-dicarbonyl unit to 4-position of the pyridinium salt and subsequent cyclization by base-assisted proton migration and nucleophilic addition of the oxygen atom to the 2-position, as was elucidated by DFT computations. Fairly extensive screening of bases and additives revealed that the presence of potassium cations is essential for formation of the product.