Ekaterina E. Galenko

Domino transformation of isoxazoles to 2,4-dicarbonylpyrroles under Fe/Ni relay catalysis

The domino reaction of 5-alkoxy- or 5-aminoisoxazoles, under metal relay catalysis, with symmetric 1,3-diketones gives 4-acylpyrrole-2-carboxylic acid derivatives in high yield. Esters and amides of acylacetic acids react regioselectively, giving derivatives of pyrrole-2,4-dicarboxylic acid as the main products.

Isoxazole-azirine isomerization as a reactivity switch in the synthesis of heterocycles

This review contains a generalized and systematically arranged data about thermal, photochemical, and catalytic transformations of isoxazole–2-carbonyl-2H-azirine that were published in the period from 1969 to 2015, and considers the possibilities for using these compounds in the synthesis of nitrogen heterocycles. Radical and pericyclic steps of isomerization reactions have been discussed. Density functional theory calculations of the relative thermodynamic stability of isomeric isoxazoles and azirines have been performed. A total of 76 references are given.

Synthesis and Intramolecular Azo Coupling of 4-Diazopyrrole-2-carboxylates: Selective Approach to Benzo and Hetero [c]-Fused 6H-Pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyridazine-5-carboxylates

A high yield synthesis of fluorescent benzo, thieno, and furo [c]-fused methyl 7-aryl-6H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyridazine-5-carboxylates, including unprecedented heterocyclic skeletons, was performed by the transformation of methyl 4-aminopyrrole-2-carboxylate into the corresponding diazo compound, followed by intramolecular azo coupling under acid conditions onto a nucleophilic aryl or hetaryl group in the 3-position. Azo coupling is completely regioselective and, according to DFT calculations, a kinetically controlled reaction. N-Methylation of 1,3-disubstituted 2H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]cinnolines occurs selectively at N5 under kinetic control, leading exclusively to 5-methyl-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]cinnoline derivatives.

Isoxazolium N-ylides and 1-oxa-5-azahexa-1,3,5-trienes on the way from isoxazoles to 2H-1,3-oxazines

Summary Theoretical and experimental studies of the reaction of isoxazoles with diazo compounds show that the formation of 2H-1,3-oxazines proceeds via the formation of (3Z)-1-oxa-5-azahexa-1,3,5-trienes which undergo a 6π-cyclization. The stationary points corresponding to the probable reaction intermediates, isoxazolium N-ylides, were located by DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level only for derivatives without a substituent in position 3 of the isoxazole ring. These isoxazolium N-ylides are thermodynamically and kinetically very unstable. According to the calculations and experimental results 2H-1,3-oxazines are usually more thermodynamically stable than the corresponding open-chain isomers, (3Z)-1-oxa-5-azahexa-1,3,5-trienes. The exception are oxaazahexatrienes derived from 5-alkoxyisoxazoles, which are thermodynamically more stable than the corresponding 2H-1,3-oxazines. Therefore, the reaction of diazo esters with 5-alkoxyisoxazoles is a good approach to 1,4-di(alkoxycarbonyl)-2-azabuta-1,3-dienes. The reaction conditions for the preparation of aryl- and halogen-substituted 2H-1,3-oxazines and 1,4-di(alkoxycarbonyl)-2-azabuta-1,3-dienes from isoxazoles were investigated.

Fe(II)/Et3N-Relay-catalyzed domino reaction of isoxazoles with imidazolium salts in the synthesis of methyl 4-imidazolylpyrrole-2-carboxylates, its ylide and betaine derivatives

Summary A simple approach was developed for the synthesis of methyl 4-imidazolylpyrrole-2-carboxylates from easily available compounds, 5-methoxyisoxazoles and phenacylimidazolium salts under hybrid Fe(II)/Et3N relay catalysis. The products were easily transformed into the corresponding 3-(5-methoxycarbonyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium-3-yl)pyrrol-1-ides, which in turn can be hydrolyzed under basic conditions into the corresponding betaines. A carbene tautomeric form of the 4-methoxycarbonyl-substituted imidazolylpyrrolides was trapped by reaction with sulfur affording the corresponding imidazolethiones under very mild conditions.

Fe(II)-Catalyzed Isomerization of 4-Vinylisoxazoles into Pyrroles

The first synthesis of pyrroles by Fe(II)-catalyzed isomerization of 4-vinylisoxazoles is reported. 5-Alkoxy, amino, and N,N-dialkylamino-3-aryl/alkyl-4-(2-R-vinyl)isoxazoles afford 2-aryl/alkyl-5-aryl/alkyl/methoxycarbonyl-1H-pyrrol-3-carboxylic acid derivatives typically under mild conditions with cheap and available FeCl2·4H2O as a catalyst. The isomerization of 5-alkoxy/amino-3-arylisoxazoles, bearing unsaturated carbo and heterocyclic substituents at the position 4, gives the corresponding fused pyrrolecarboxylic acid derivatives in high yields. DFT calculations were used to elucidate a probable mechanism of the isomerization and explain the influence of steric congestion of the vinyl moiety on the isomerization pathway.

Fe(II)/Au(I) Relay Catalyzed Propargylisoxazole to Pyridine Isomerization: Access to 6-Halonicotinates

An efficient synthesis of methyl nicotinates/6-halonicotinates by the domino isomerization of 4-propargyl/(3-halopropargyl)-5-methoxyisoxazoles under Fe(II)/Au(I) relay catalysis was developed. It was found that FeNTf2 is an effective catalyst for first step of the domino isomerization, transformation of isoxazole to 2H-azirine, which is compatible with Ph3PAuNTf2, catalyzing the second step.

Fe(II)-Catalyzed Isomerization of 5-Chloroisoxazoles to 2H-Azirine-2-carbonyl Chlorides as a Key Stage in the Synthesis of Pyrazole–Nitrogen Heterocycle Dyads

2-(1 H-Pyrazol-1-ylcarbonyl)-2 H-azirines were synthesized by in situ trapping of 2 H-azirine-2-carbonyl chlorides, generated by Fe(II)-catalyzed isomerization of 5-chloroisoxazoles, with pyrazoles. According to DFT calculations, the selectivity of nucleophilic substitution at the carbonyl group of 2 H-azirine-2-carbonyl chloride by a pyrazole nucleophile, which is a mixture of two tautomers, is controlled by thermodynamic factors. 2-(1 H-Pyrazol-1-ylcarbonyl)-2 H-azirines are excellent precursors for the preparation of two other pyrazole-nitrogen heterocycle dyads: 5-(1 H-pyrazol-1-yl)oxazoles by photolysis and 1-(1 H-pyrrol-2-ylcarbonyl)-1 H-pyrazoles by a Ni(II)-catalyzed reaction with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. 5-(1 H-Pyrazol-1-yl)oxazoles show strong emission in acetonitrile at 360-410 nm with high quantum yields.

Metalated Ir(III) Complexes Based on the Luminescent Diimine Ligands: Synthesis and Photophysical Study

A series of novel diimine (N∧N) ligands containing developed aromatic [2,1- a]pyrrolo[3,2- c]isoquinoline system have been prepared and used in the synthesis of Ir(III) luminescent complexes. In organic solvents, the ligands display fluorescence which depends strongly on the nature of solvents to give moderate to strong orange emission in aprotic solvents and shows a considerable blue shift and substantial increase in emission intensity in methanol. Insertion of electron-withdrawing and -donating substituents into peripheral phenyl fragment has nearly no effect onto emission parameters. The ligands were successfully used to prepare the metalated [Ir(N∧C)2(N∧N)]+ complexes (where N∧C = phenylpyridine (N∧C-1), p-tolylpyridine (N∧C-2), 2-(benzo[ b]thiophen-2-yl)pyridine (N∧C-3), 2-benzo[ b]thiophen-3-yl)pyridine (N∧C-4), and methyl 2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylate (N∧C-5)) using standard synthetic procedures. The complexes obtained display moderate to strong phosphorescence in organic solvents; the emission characteristics is determined by the nature of emissive triplet state, which varies substantially with the variations in the structure and donor properties of the C- and N-coordinating functions in metalating ligands. TD-DFT calculations show that for complexes 1, 2, and 4 the emission originates from the mixed 3MLCT/3LLCT excited states with the major contribution from the aromatic moiety of the diimine ligand, whereas in 3 the emissive triplet manifold is mainly located at the N∧C ligand to give structured emission band typical for the ligand centered (LC) excited state. In the case of 5, the phosphorescence may be also assigned to the mixed 3MLCT/3LLCT excited state; however, the major contribution is attributed to the aromatic moiety of the metalating N∧C ligand.