Takahiro Ohishi

Preparation of novel (Z)-4-ylidenebenzo[b]furo[3,2-d][1,3]oxazines and their biological activity.

Abstract A reaction of 2-acetyl-3-acylaminobenzo[b]furans (9d–o) with Vilsmeier (VM) reagent afforded a mixture of (E)- and (Z)-{(E)-2-aralkenylbenzo[b]furo[3,2-d][1,3]oxazin-4-ylidene}acetaldehydes (5) with a characteristic exo-formylmethylene group on the oxazine ring. The Z-isomer was more stable than the E-isomer. The Z-isomers ((Z)-5) were reacted with phosphonate reagents under two different conditions to obtain various butadiene derivatives (12) containing benzo[b]furo[3,2-d][1,3]oxazine skeleton. Typical compounds (5 and 12) were evaluated for their anti-osteoclastic bone resorption activity, antagonistic activity for the cysLT1 receptor and growth inhibitory activity for MIA PaCa-2 and MCF-7. Compounds 12f and 12j showed potent anti-osteoclastic bone resorption activity comparable to E2 (17β-estradiol).

Synthesis and biological activities of novel furo[2,3,4-jk][2]benzazepin-4(3H)-one derivatives.

A novel seven-membered lactam formation method has been established by intramolecular ring closure reaction of 4-bromo-(E)-3-[(2-alkylvinyl)carbonylamino]benzo[b]furans under Heck coupling conditions. A number of furo[2,3,4-jk][2]benzazepin-4(3H)-ones, tricyclicbenzo[b]furans, have been prepared by this method and evaluated for their leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) receptor and poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP-1) inhibitory activities.

Efficient C–H activation of alkylbenzenes and methylcyclohexenes to benzyl esters by Pd(OAc)2/Sn(OAc)2 catalyst system

Selective activation of the side-chain C–H bond of alkylbenzenes and methylcyclohexenes is achieved by a Pd(OAc)2/Sn(OAc)2 catalyst system. Under an oxygen atmosphere, various benzyl esters were obtained from the substrates and carboxylic anhydrides. The esters were obtained in more than 100% yield based on the amount of benzoic anhydride, and consumption of oxygen was observed. This suggests that oxygen may be incorporated to produce two moles of the benzoxyl group from one mole of benzoic anhydride. It is interesting that either 1-, 3- or 4-methylcyclohexene reacted with benzoic anhydride to give benzyl benzoate. These carboxylations proceeded at the side-chain alkyl group with high selectivity and no ring-carboxylated product or coupling product was detected. From these results, a mechanism involving the formation of a η3-benzylpalladium complex was proposed.