Synthesis of substituted 3,4-dihydroquinazolinones via a metal free Leuckart-Wallach type reaction.

The 3,4-dihydroquinazolinone (DHQ) moiety is a highly valued scaffold in medicinal chemistry due to the vast number of biologically-active compounds based on this core structure. Current synthetic methods to access these compounds are limited in terms of diversity and flexibility and often require the use of toxic reagents or expensive transition-metal catalysts. Herein, we describe the discovery and development of a novel cascade cyclization/Leuckart-Wallach type strategy to prepare substituted DHQs in a modular and efficient process using readily-available starting materials. Notably, the reaction requires only the addition of formic acid or acetic acid/formic acid and produces H2O, CO2 and methanol as the sole reaction byproducts. Overall, the reaction provides an attractive entry point into this important class of compounds and could even be extended to isotopic labelling via the site-selective incorporation of a deuterium atom.

Microwave-Assisted aza-Friedel-Crafts Arylation of N-Acyliminium Ions: Expedient Access to 4-Aryl 3,4-Dihydroquinazolinones.

A one-pot microwave-assisted aza-Friedel-Crafts arylation of N-acyliminium ions, generated in situ from o-formyl carbamates and different amines, is reported. This metal-free protocol provides rapid access to diverse 4-aryl 3,4-dihydroquinazolinones in excellent yield without any aqueous workup. A solvent-directed process for the selective aza-Friedel-Crafts arylation of electron-rich aryl/heteroaryl/butenyl-tethered N-acyliminium ions is also described.

Acetic acid-promoted cascade N-acyliminium ion/aza-Prins cyclization: stereoselective synthesis of functionalized fused tricyclic piperidines.

A novel acetic acid-promoted metal-free cascade N-acyliminium ion/aza-Prins cyclization of o-formyl carbamates and homoallylamines is reported. This one-pot protocol provides efficient and rapid access to masked cis-hydroxyhexahydropyrido[1,2-c]quinazolin-6-ones with concomitant generation of two stereogenic centers, four C-C/C-O/C-N bonds and two new rings in good yield and excellent diastereoselectivity.

Microwave-Assisted Branching Cascades: A Route to Diverse 3,4-Dihydroquinazolinone-Embedded Polyheterocyclic Scaffolds.

A novel metal-free microwave-assisted branching cascades strategy for the efficient synthesis of 3,4-dihydroquinazolinone-embedded polyheterocyclic scaffolds is reported. Starting from in situ generated key N-acyliminium ion precursors, 12 distinct and skeletally diverse polycyclic frameworks were accessed in a single step/pot via adjustment of the nucleophile(s) and reaction conditions. Postcascade functionalization of these compounds was also demonstrated, proving the utility of this method in accessing structurally diverse chemical entities.

A microwave-assisted multicomponent synthesis of substituted 3,4-dihydroquinazolinones.

A microwave-assisted, multicomponent protocol for the synthesis of substituted 3,4-dihydroquinazolinones via a novel cascade imine/cyclization/aza-Henry reaction sequence is reported. Starting from o-formyl carbamates, a series of structurally diverse 3,4-dihydroquinazolinones was synthesized via a cyclic iminium ion intermediate in moderate to excellent yields. Notably, the reaction is fast, flexible, simple to perform and tolerates a variety of functional groups.

Synthesis of sulfonyl azides via diazotransfer using an imidazole-1-sulfonyl azide salt: scope and ¹5N NMR labeling experiments.

Imidazole-1-sulfonyl azide hydrogen sulfate is presented as an efficient reagent for the synthesis of sulfonyl azides from primary sulfonamides. The described method is experimentally simple and high-yielding and does not require the addition of Cu salts. Furthermore, (15)N NMR mechanistic studies show the reaction proceeds via a diazo transfer mechanism. Imidazole-1-sulfonyl azide hydrogen sulfate provides a considerable advantage over existing diazo transfer reagents in terms of impact stability, cost, and ease of use.