2-(3-Indolyl)acetamides and their oxazoline analogues: Anticancer SAR study.

We previously studied 2-aryl-2-(3-indolyl)acetohydroxamates as potential agents against melanoma. These compounds were ineffective in a mouse melanoma xenograft model, most likely due to unfavorable metabolic properties, specifically due to glucuronidation of the N-hydroxyl of the hydoxamic moiety. In the present work, we prepared a series of analogues, 2-aryl-2-(3-indolyl)acetamides and their oxazoline derivatives, which do not contain the N-hydroxyl group. We investigated the structure-activity relationship in both series of compounds and found that the 2-naphthyl is a preferred group at C-2 of the indole in the amide series, whereas the tetralin moiety is favorable in the same location in the oxazoline series. Overall, three compounds in the amide series have GI50 values as low as 0.2-0.3 µM and the results clearly indicate that the N-hydroxyl group is not necessary for high potency in vitro.

One-Pot Arylative Benzannulation of 2-Carbonyl-3-propargyl Indoles with Boronic Acids Leading to Arylated Carbazoles.

Arylative annulation of 2-carbonyl-3-propargyl indoles with boronic acids under sequential palladium/triflic acid catalysis is described. The present strategy to provide di- and triaryl carbazoles in one pot involves benzannulation through difunctionalization of alkynes. The strategy showed a good substrate scope with respect to boronic acids as well as 2-carbonyl-3-propargyl indoles to afford the corresponding carbazoles in decent yields.

One-Pot Assembly of 3-Hydroxycarbazoles via Uninterrupted Propargylation/Hydroxylative Benzannulation Reactions.

A novel strategy for the synthesis of 3-hydroxycarbazoles involving the consecutive propargylation/palladium-catalyzed hydroxylative benzannulation of indole-2-carbonyls with propargylic alcohols has been exploited. This one-pot procedure leads to a wide range of substituted 3-hydroxycarbazoles in high yield with a broad substrate scope. The method was further extended to access furano-carbazole derivatives from dialkynols via tandem annulations.

Metal-free propargylation/aza-annulation approach to substituted ß-carbolines and evaluation of their photophysical properties.

An efficient acid-catalyzed propargylation/aza-annulation sequence was developed under metal-free reaction conditions, thus leading to a one-pot synthesis of a variety of substituted ß-carbolines starting from propargylic alcohols and indole 2-carbonyls. This versatile strategy was further extended to the synthesis of 5-azaindoles and 5-azabenzothiazoles. Optical properties suggested that manipulation of electron donor and acceptor moieties on ß-carbolines has an impact on their ground and excited state electronic behavior. This leads to blue or green emission and should facilitate the development of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Electrochemical and stability studies revealed that 4a-6 shows ease of redox activity and photostability during illumination.

[4 + 2] Benzannulation of 3-Alkenylpyrroles/Thiophenes with Propargylic Alcohols: Access to Substituted Indoles, Benzothiophenes, and Aza[5]helicenes.

An efficient and practical one-pot [4 + 2] benzannulation method to produce highly substituted indoles and 1-benzothiophenes via sequential acid-catalyzed propargylation/base-mediated cycloisomerization reactions has been developed. This method allows access to differently substituted (mainly on phenyl ring) indoles and 1-benzothiophenes from the reaction of 3-alkenylpyrroles/-thiophenes as C4 synthons with 1-aryl/1-heteroaryl propargylic alcohols as C2 synthons. Interestingly, dialkynyl substrates can undergo tandem benzannulations to give substituted aza[5]helicenes in 82-83% yield.