Isocyanide Heterodimerization-Triggered Three-Component Reaction: Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of Quinoxalines.

Known isocyanide-based multicomponent reactions (IMCRs) are usually triggered by addition of the isocyano group to the strong electrophilic component. We herein report a new isocyanide-based three-component reaction, in which an unprecedented quinoxaline-based zwitterionic intermediate is generated from the chemoselective heterodimerization of weak electrophilic ortho-diisocyanoarenes and common isocyanides. This reactive zwitterion could react in situ with various trapping agents to furnish a range of structurally diverse quinoxalines.

Divergent Synthesis of Chromenoindoles and Spiroindolines via Domino Reaction of Indolyl-Substituted Isocyanides with Quinone Esters.

A dearomative spirocyclization of tryptamine-derived isocyanides with quinone esters is developed for the divergent synthesis of structurally complex chromeno[2,3-b]indole and polycyclic spiroindoline scaffolds. This domino reaction features the formation and conversion of the six-membered dihydropyran ring with an amendable N,O-aminal moiety.

Diastereodivergent synthesis of chromeno[2,3-b]chromenes by tuning all of the reactivity centers of isocyanoacetate.

A novel diastereodivergent tricyclization of isocyanoacetates with o-quinone methides was accomplished for the efficient synthesis of chromeno[2,3-b]chromene derivatives. All three reactive centers of isocyanoacetate reacted sequentially with two o-QMs, affording the products with four adjacent stereocenters in a diastereoselective manner. The asymmetric version was preliminarily investigated.

Ionic Reactivity of 2-Isocyanoaryl Thioethers: Access to 2-Halo and 2-Aminobenzothia/Selenazoles.

An ionic cascade insertion/cyclization reaction of thia-/selena-functionalized arylisocyanides has been successfully developed for the efficient and practical synthesis of 2-halobenzothiazole/benzoselenazole derivatives. This synthetic protocol, incorporating a halogen atom when forming the five-membered ring of benzothia/selenazoles, is different from the existing ones, where halogenation of the preformed benzothia/selenazole precursors happens. Additionally, a facile access to 2-aminobenzothiazoles is also achieved by the one-pot cascade reaction of 2-isocyanoaryl thioethers, iodine, and amines.

Chemoselective Trimerization of Isocyanides: De Novo Synthesis of 2-Indole-Substituted Quinolines and Pyridines.

A catalyst-free chemoselective trimerization reaction of readily available isocyanides is described. This domino reaction provides facile access to a wide range of 2-(indol-2-yl)-quinolines and 2-(indol-2-yl)-pyridines in moderate to excellent yields. A "head to head" heterodimerization of two isocyanides is proposed as the key step of this reaction.

Cu/base co-catalyzed [3+3] cycloaddition for the synthesis of highly functionalized 4-fluoropyridines.

An efficient, straightforward and general method for the de novo synthesis of highly functionalized 4-fluoropyridines was developed via a cooperative copper- and base-catalyzed [3+3] cycloaddition of active methylene isocyanides with difluorocyclopropenes. The resulting 4-fluoropyridines can be readily diversified by various nucleophiles.

Dinucleophilic Reactivity of Isocyanoacetate: Base-Catalyzed One-Pot Access to 4-Azafluorenes and 4-Azafluorenones.

A base-catalyzed double annulation of isocyanoacetates with various enynones has been developed for the expeditious synthesis of 4-azafluorene and 4-azafluorenone derivatives. Against the well-known 1,3-dipolar reactivities, the active methylene and isocyano groups of isocyanoacetate serve as nucleophiles in this domino transformation.

Constructing Stable and Porous Covalent Organic Frameworks for Efficient Iodine Vapor Capture.

Covalent organic frameworks (COF) with periodic porous structures and tunable functionalities are a new class of crystalline polymers connected via strong covalent bonds. Constructing COF materials with high stability and porosity is attracting and essential for COFs' further functional exploration. In this work, two new covalent organic frameworks (TTA-TMTA-COF and TTA-FMTA-COF) with high surface area, large pore volume, and excellent chemical stability toward harsh conditions are designed and synthesized by integrating the methoxy functional groups into the networks. Both two COFs are further employed for iodine removal since radioactive iodine in nuclear waste has seriously threatened the natural environment and human health. TTA-TMTA-COF and TTA-FMTA-COF can capture 3.21 and 5.07 g g-1 iodine, respectively. Notably, the iodine capture capacity for iodine of TTA-FMTA-COF does not show any decline after being recycled five times. These results demonstrate both COFs possess ultrahigh capacity and excellent recyclability.

[1 + 2 + 3] Annulation as a General Access to Indolo[3,2- b]carbazoles: Synthesis of Malasseziazole C.

A formal [1 + 2 + 3] annulation of methyleneindolinones with o-alkenyl arylisocyanides has been developed for the general and efficient synthesis of both symmetrical and unsymmetrical indolo[3,2- b]carbazoles. The chemoselectivity of this domino reaction was tuned by a tethered alkenyl group, which enables successive formation of three new bonds and two rings from readily accessible starting materials in a single operation. Furthermore, this methodology was used as a key step in the synthesis of the alkaloid malasseziazole C.

Metal-Free Triple Annulation of Ene-Yne-Ketones with Isocyanides: Domino Access to Furan-Fused Heterocycles via Furoketenimine.

A new furoketenimine intermediate from the coupling of ene-yne-ketones and o-alkenyl arylisocyanides, which enables the efficient synthesis of a wide range of tetracyclic and pentacyclic furan-fused heterocycles in a one-pot domino process under catalyst-free conditions, is disclosed. Based on the control experiments, a cascade of 1,6-addition, cyclization, intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction, and oxidative aromatization was proposed for the mechanism.

Formal [1 + 2 + 3] Annulation: Domino Access to Carbazoles and Indolocarbazole Alkaloids.

A new formal [1 + 2 + 3] annulation of o-alkenyl arylisocyanides with α, ß-unsaturated ketones under metal-, base-, and acid-free conditions is disclosed. This domino reaction provides a general protocol for the efficient and practical synthesis of a wide range of carbazole derivatives from readily available starting materials in a single operation. Furthermore, this methodology was used as the key step in a protecting-group-free synthesis of indolocarbazole alkaloids arcyriaflavin A and racemosin B.

Anion Relay Enabled [3 + 3]-Annulation of Active Methylene Isocyanides and Ene-Yne-Ketones.

A new anion relay enabled [3 + 3]-annulation of active methylene isocyanides and conjugated ene-yne-ketones was developed for the efficient and straightforward synthesis of biologically valuable furo[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives. In this transformation, a sequential through-bond and through-space anion relay chemistry cascade is involved, which is initiated by an intermolecular Michael addition. Three new bonds and two rings are sequentially constructed from readily available acyclic precursors.

Bicyclization of Azomethine Ylide: Access to Highly Functionalized 3H-Pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinolines.

A tandem bicyclization of azomethine ylides with methyleneaminochalcones was developed for the straightforward and facile synthesis of 2-substituted polyfunctionalized pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinolines. Both an unusual reactivity profile of azomethine ylide and a novel strategy for the construction of the tricyclic framework by the successive construction of the pyridine and pyrrole rings were exhibited in this domino reaction. Two intermediates are isolated in the control experiments, and thus a tandem bicyclization/elimination/oxidative aromatization process is proposed for the reaction mechanism.

Tandem Synthesis of Pyrrolo[2,3-b]quinolones via Cadogen-Type Reaction.

A tandem [3 + 2] cycloaddition/reductive cyclization of nitrochalcones with activated methylene isocyanides for the efficient synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3-b]quinolones is reported. In this reaction, the in situ generated dihydropyrroline acts as the internal reductant to convert the nitro into an electrophilic nitroso group, which undergoes subsequent C-N bond formation. Transition-metal-free, simple experimental procedure and ready accessibility of starting materials characterize the present transformation.

Chemoselective Double Annulation of Two Different Isocyanides: Rapid Access to Trifluoromethylated Indole-Fused Heterocycles.

An unprecedented chemoselective double annulation of α-trifluoromethylated isocyanides with o-acylaryl isocyanides has been developed. This new reaction provides a rapid, efficient, and complete atom-economic strategy for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated oxadiazino[3,2-a]indoles in a single operation from readily available starting materials. Isocyanide insertion into C═O double bonds is disclosed for the first time as indicated by the results of 18O-labeling experiment. A mechanism for this domino reaction is proposed involving chemoselective heterodimerization of two different isocyanides, followed by indole-2,3-epoxide formation and rearrangement.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Diastereoselective Annulation of Amides with Quinone Monoacetals: Access to Bridged Nine-Membered Heterocycles via C-H Activation.

An unprecedented Rh(III)-catalyzed annulation of various benzamides and acrylamides with quinone monoacetals was developed for the facile and efficient one-pot synthesis of bridged nine-membered benzo[c]azonine-1,5(2H)-diones and 2-azabicyclo[4.3.1]dec-4-ene-3,8-diones. It is the first example of synthesis of nine-membered heterocycles through Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization, and both aryl and vinyl C-H bonds are tolerant in this reaction. A plausible mechanism is proposed on the basis of control experiments.

Organocatalyzed aerobic oxidative Robinson-type annulation of 2-isocyanochalcones: expedient synthesis of phenanthridines.

A DBU-catalyzed aerobic oxidative Robinson annulation of 2-isocyanochalcones with active methylene ketones was developed for the expedient synthesis of phenanthridines in high to excellent yields. This unprecedented multistep domino reaction represents a new strategy for the construction of this tricyclic scaffold by the sequential formation of two rings and three C-C bonds in a single operation at room temperature.

Silver-Catalyzed Chemoselective [4+2] Annulation of Two Isocyanides: A General Route to Pyridone-Fused Carbo- and Heterocycles.

A silver-catalyzed chemoselective [4+2] annulation of aryl and heteroaryl isocyanides with α-substituted isocyanoacetamides was developed for the facile and efficient synthesis of 2-aminoquinolones, naphthyridines, and phenanthrolines. A mechanism for this multistep domino reaction is proposed on the basis of a 13 C-labeling experiment, according to which an unprecedented chemoselective heterodimerization of two different isocyanides generates an α-amidoketenimine intermediate, which undergoes 1,3-amino migration to form an α-imidoylketene, followed by 6 π electrocyclization.

In situ generation and reactions of p-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl electrophiles: an efficient access to p-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl compounds.

A new three-component reaction, namely condensation-anti-Michael addition-aromatization, enabling the construction of benzylic compounds is disclosed. This reaction can not only act as an alternative approach to regioselective Csp2-H trifluoromethylation of arenes through an "aromatic to be" strategy, but also provides a simple, convenient, step-economic, and practical strategy for the in situ generation of electrophilic p-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl species under extremely mild conditions.

4-Trifluoromethyl-p-quinols as dielectrophiles: three-component, double nucleophilic addition/aromatization reactions.

In recent years, numerous methods have emerged for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated arenes based on the late-stage introduction of a trifluoromethyl group onto an aryl ring. In sharp comparison, the synthesis of trifluoromethylated arenes based on the pre-introduction of a trifluoromethyl group onto an "aromatic to be" carbon has rarely been addressed. It has been found that 4-trifluoromethyl-p-quinol silyl ethers, the readily available and relatively stable compounds, can act as dielectrophiles to be applied to multi-component reactions for the synthesis of various trifluoromethylated arenes. Catalyzed by In(OTf)3, 4-trifluoromethyl-p-quinol silyl ethers react with C-, N-, and S-nucleophiles, respectively, in a regiospecific 1,2-addition manner to generate the corresponding highly reactive electrophilic intermediates. Further reaction of the in-situ generated electrophiles with a C-nucleophile followed by spontaneous aromatization enables the construction of functionalized trifluoromethyl arenes. This three-component, double nucleophilic addition/aromatization reaction based on the pre-introduction of a trifluoromethyl group onto an "aromatic to be" carbon provides a divergent strategy for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated arenes under mild reaction conditions in a single operation.