Indium-Catalyzed Annulation of o-Acylanilines with Alkoxyheteroarenes: Synthesis of Heteroaryl[b]quinolines and Subsequent Transformation to Cryptolepine Derivatives.

We disclose herein the first synthetic method that is capable of offering heteroaryl[b]quinolines (HA[b]Qs) with structural diversity, which include tricyclic and tetracyclic structures with (benzo)thienyl, (benzo)furanyl, and indolyl rings. The target HA[b]Q is addressed by the annulation of o-acylanilines and MeO-heteroarenes with the aid of an indium Lewis acid that effectively works to make two different types of the N-C and C-C bonds in one batch. A series of indolo[3,2-b]quinolines prepared here can be subsequently transformed to structurally unprecedented cryptolepine derivatives. Mechanistic studies showed that the N-C bond formation is followed by the C-C bond formation. The indium-catalyzed annulation reaction thus starts with the nucleophilic attack of the NH2 group of o-acylanilines to the MeO-connected carbon atom of the heteroaryl ring in an SNAr fashion, and thereby the N-C bond is formed. The resulting intermediate then cyclizes to make the C-C bond through the nucleophilic attack of the heteroaryl-ring-based carbon atom to the carbonyl carbon atom, providing the HA[b]Q after aromatizing dehydration.

Naked d-orbital in a centrochiral Ni(II) complex as a catalyst for asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition.

Chiral metal catalysts have been widely applied to asymmetric transformations. However, the electronic structure of the catalyst and how it contributes to the activation of the substrate is seldom investigated. Here, we report an empirical approach for providing insights into the catalytic activation process in the distorted Ni(II)-catalysed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of α-ketoesters. We quantitatively characterize the bonding nature of the catalyst by means of electron density distribution analysis, showing that the distortion around the Ni(II) centre makes the dz2 orbital partially 'naked', wherein the labile acetate ligand is coordinated with electrostatic interaction. The electron-deficient dz2 orbital and the acetate act together to deprotonate the α-ketoester, generating the (Λ)-Ni(II)-enolate. The solid and solution state analyses, together with theoretical calculations, strongly link the electronic structure of the centrochiral octahedral Ni(II) complex and its catalytic activity, depicting a cooperative mechanism of enolate binding and outer sphere hydrogen-bonding activation.

Indium-Catalyzed Regioselective ß-Alkylation of Pyrroles with Carbonyl Compounds and Hydrosilanes and Its Application to Construction of a Quaternary Carbon Center with a ß-Pyrrolyl Group.

Treatment of N-substituted pyrroles with carbonyl compounds and nucleophiles under indium catalysis was found to be a promising method for preparing ß-alkylpyrroles without contamination by α-alkylpyrroles. With this methodology, a variety of alkyl groups, which are primary, secondary, and tertiary as well as cyclic and functionalized types, can be introduced in place onto the pyrrole ring. The simplicity performable as a catalytic one-step process is one of the important features of this reaction. The substituent on the nitrogen atom of the product ß-alkylpyrrole can be removed easily by literature procedures. Therefore, the indium-catalyzed ß-alkylation plus the N-deprotection is a powerful system for all six variations, which are N-substituted and N-unsubstituted ß-alkylpyrroles having primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl groups. Our method is applicable to synthesizing, albeit in two steps, ß-pyrrolyl-group-connected unsymmetrical tetraarylmethanes that have not been addressed thus far. Mechanistic studies showed the following three aspects: (1) dipyrrolylalkanes produced in situ from the pyrrole and carbonyl compound are key intermediates, (2) the selective ß-alkylation is attributed to the selective elimination of an α-pyrrolyl group from the dipyrrolylalkane intermediates, and (3) the indium Lewis acid catalyst is indispensable for the progress of both stages.

RE12 derivatives displaying Vaccinia H1-related phosphatase (VHR) inhibition in the presence of detergent and their anti-proliferative activity against HeLa cells.

New derivatives of Vaccinia H1-related phosphatase (VHR) inhibitor RE12 (5) were designed by replacing the long straight alkyl chain with other hydrophobic functionalities containing two aromatic rings, with the aim of obtaining potent, cell-active inhibitors. We established a direct coupling reaction between tetronic acid derivative and thioimidate to prepare the RE derivatives 6a-6i efficiently. These compounds all showed VHR-inhibitory activity in the presence of 0.001% NP-40, whereas RE12 (5) was inactive under this condition, even at 100 µM. Further structure-activity studies focused on terminal substitution afforded trifluoromethyl derivative 6k (RE176) and nitro derivative 6l (RE177). The IC50 value of 6l in the presence of NP-40 was almost equivalent to that of RE12 (5) in its absence. Compound 6k (RE176) potently inhibited proliferation of HeLa cells.

Indium-catalyzed annulation of 3-aryl- and 3-heteroarylindoles with propargyl ethers: synthesis and photoluminescent properties of aryl- and heteroaryl[c]carbazoles.

Treatment of 3-aryl- and 3-heteroarylindoles with propargyl ethers under indium catalysis successfully provided aryl- and heteroaryl[c]carbazoles, which were found to be more efficient emitters compared with the corresponding [a]-analogs.

Homogeneous dihydroxylation of olefins catalyzed by OsO(4)(2-) immobilized on a dendritic backbone with a tertiary nitrogen at its core position.

OsO(4)(2-) immobilized on a poly(benzyl ether) dendrimer with a tertiary nitrogen at its core position efficiently catalyzed the homogeneous dihydroxylation of olefins with a low level of osmium leaching. The dendritic osmium catalyst could be applied to the wide range of olefins. Furthermore, the dendritic osmium catalyst was recovered by reprecipitation and then reused up to five times.

Selective synthesis of ß-alkylpyrroles.

ß-Alkylpyrroles are key structural motifs found in many natural products and biologically active compounds as well as functional organic materials. For this reason, synthetic chemists continue to be interested in construction of the framework of ß-alkylpyrroles. Due to sufficient aromaticity and π-excessive nature of pyrroles, a straightforward approach to ß-alkylpyrroles should be electrophilic aromatic substitution (S(E)Ar) toward the pyrrole ring. However, since a primary nucleophilic site of pyrroles is an α-position, some "trick" is required to direct incoming alkyl electrophiles toward a ß-position. This Concept article focuses on presenting previous efforts that have been devoted to the synthesis of ß-alkylpyrroles, mainly through the S(E)Ar route.

Reductive alkylation of indoles with alkynes and hydrosilanes under indium catalysis.

Under Indium catalysis, diverse alkylindoles were successfully prepared with a flexible combination of indoles and alkynes in the presence of hydrosilanes. In addition to the hydrosilane, carbon nucleophiles are also available. This new method generates alkylindoles in yields over 70% with a broad scope of functional group compatibility.

Indium-catalyzed reductive alkylation of pyrroles with alkynes and hydrosilanes: selective synthesis of beta-alkylpyrroles.

Mixing readily available alkynes, pyrroles, and triethylsilane along with an indium catalyst was found to be an efficient procedure to introduce alkyl groups onto a beta-position of pyrroles in a complete regioselective manner. This is the first demonstration of catalytic beta-alkylation of pyrroles in a single step.

Indium-catalyzed annulation of 2-aryl- and 2-heteroarylindoles with propargyl ethers: concise synthesis and photophysical properties of diverse aryl- and heteroaryl-annulated[a]carbazoles.

Treatment of 2-aryl- and 2-heteroarylindoles with propargyl ethers in the presence of a catalytic amount of indium nonafluorobutanesulfonate [In(ONf)(3)] gave aryl- and heteroaryl-annulated[a]carbazoles in good yields. The synthetically attractive feature is reflected by its applicability to a wide range of 2-aryl- and 2-heteroarylindoles. In the annulation reaction, propargyl ethers act as C3 sources (HC[triple bond]C-CH(2)OR). Among these, two carbon atoms are incorporated into the product as members of a newly constructed aromatic ring and the remaining carbon atom forms a methyl group on the aromatic ring, where the methyl group is always located next to the C3 position of the indole nucleus. The methyl group can be easily removed through SeO(2) oxidation followed by decarbonylation with RhCl(CO)(PPh(3))(2)-Ph(2)P(CH(2))(3)PPh(2) as a catalyst. The new annulation strategy is applicable also to symmetrical dimers such as bithiophene and bifuran derivatives. Mechanistic studies suggest that the first step is addition reaction initiated by regioselective nucleophilic attack of the C3 of 2-aryl- and 2-heteroarylindoles to the internal carbon atom of the C[triple bond]C bond in propargyl ethers. The next stage is ring-closing S(N)2 process kicking out the alkoxy group and then aromatization via a 1,3-hydrogen shift is the final step. The two carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions achieved in one-pot contribute largely to the reduction in the number of steps for the synthesis of aryl- and heteroaryl-annulated[a]carbazoles. Furthermore, utilization of the Fischer indole synthesis for efficient supply of the substrates, 2-aryl- and 2-heteroarylindoles, is another important factor shortening the overall process. The development of the annulation with a wide substrate scope provided a unique opportunity to evaluate photophysical properties of a series of aryl- and heteroaryl-annulated[a]carbazoles. Almost all the compounds evaluated in this study were found to emit purple to green light in the visible region. Some interesting structure-property correlations are also described.

Alkynes as activators in the nickel-catalysed addition of organoboronates to aldehydes.

Alkynes act not as substrates but as co-catalysts in the presence of a nickel catalyst, an organoboronate and an aldehyde to promote the addition reaction between the substrates in combination with H2O.

Synthesis of multisubstituted 1,3-butadienes using the ruthenium-catalysed double addition of trimethylsilyldiazomethane to alkynylboronates.

The ruthenium-catalysed double addition of trimethylsilyldiazomethane to alkynes developed by Dixneuf and co-workers was applied to the synthesis of 2-alkyl- or 2-aryl-3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-butadienes by use of alkynylboronates instead of alkynes. Di- and tetrasubstituted 1,3-butadienes were prepared from a 2-boryl-1,4-disilyl-1,3-butadiene, using the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction, iodolysis of the alkenylsilane moieties with N-iodosuccinimide and hydrolysis of the carbon-silicon bonds with trifluoroacetic acid. The same compound was converted also to a bicyclic compound, a trisubstituted 1,3-butadiene and a dienone through the Diels-Alder reaction, oxidation of the alkenylboronate moiety and the Mukaiyama aldol reaction.

A p-phosphinophenolate ligand for the palladium-catalysed arylation of alkenes.

A triphenylphosphine having a strong electron-donating group, an oxyanion, at the para position of one of the benzene rings was found to show much higher efficiency compared with other structurally related triarylphosphines in the palladium-catalysed arylation of alkenes.

Ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogenation of alkynylstannanes with migration of the stannyl group.

Molecular hydrogen adds to aliphatic and aromatic alkynylstannanes in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst, pushing the stannyl group to the adjacent carbon atom to give alpha-substituted vinylstannanes. This is the first achievement of hydrogenation of alkynylstannanes, which is applicable also to the deuteration affording precursors for an important class of deuterium-labeled compounds.