Xinying Zhang

Tandem reactions leading to bicyclic pyrimidine nucleosides and benzopyran-4-ones.

A novel, rapid, and efficient synthesis of bicyclic pyrimidine nucleosides and benzopyran-4-ones through oxidation of homopropargyl alcohols and subsequent isomerization, intramolecular addition of enol to allenic ketone has been developed. This methodology provides an efficient and promising approach to the structurally and pharmaceutically interesting pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,5-dione nucleoside and benzopyran-4-one derivatives.

Tandem reactions of 1,2-allenic ketones leading to substituted benzenes and α,β-unsaturated nitriles.

One-pot double Michael addition/intramolecular aldol reaction/decarboxylation of 1,2-allenic ketones with cyanoacetate offers an efficient and convenient approach to highly functionalized benzenes. With 2-substituted cyanoacetates, the reaction proceeds via a different tandem process to afford α,β-unsaturated nitriles effectively.

Selective Access to 3-Cyano-1H-indoles, 9H-Pyrimido[4,5-b]indoles, or 9H-Pyrido[2,3-b]indoles through Copper-Catalyzed One-Pot Multicomponent Cascade Reactions

Novel and selective synthetic approaches toward indole derivatives via copper-catalyzed one-pot multicomponent cascade reactions of 1-bromo-2-(2,2-dibromovinyl)benzenes with aldehydes and aqueous ammonia are presented. Intriguingly, the concentration of ammonia, the molar ratio of reagents, and the structural features of the aldehyde substrate serve as key factors in controlling the selective formation of 3-cyano-1H-indoles, 9H-pyrimido[4,5-b]indoles, or 9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indoles. Compared with literature procedures, the synthetic approaches reported herein have advantages such as readily available starting materials, mild reaction conditions, and divergent reaction patterns toward different products with easily tunable selectivity.

Tunable synthesis of 3-acyl-2-naphthols and 3-substituted isocoumarins via Jones reagent promoted cascade reactions of 2-(4-hydroxy-but-1-ynyl)benzaldehydes.

Novel and efficient synthesis of 3-acyl-2-naphthols and 3-substituted isocoumarins via the tunable cascade reactions of 2-(4-hydroxy-but-1-ynyl)benzaldehydes have been developed. Treatment of 2-(4-hydroxy-but-1-ynyl)benzaldehydes with 0.7 equiv of Jones reagent in CH3CN and subsequent purification through column chromatography on silica gel pre-eluted with Et3N afforded 3-acyl-2-naphthols with high efficiency. When the same substrates were treated with 3 equiv of Jones reagents in acetone, on the other hand, 3-substituted isocoumarins could be obtained in good yields.

Synthesis of Naphthoquinolizinones through Rh(III)-Catalyzed Double C(sp2)–H Bond Carbenoid Insertion and Annulation of 2-Aryl-3-cyanopyridines with α-Diazo Carbonyl Compounds

An unprecedented Rh(III)-catalyzed double C(sp2)-H bond carbenoid insertion and annulation of 2-aryl-3-cyanopyridines with α-diazo carbonyl compounds is presented. Through this cascade reaction, a series of naphthoquinolizinone derivatives with a large π-system were efficiently prepared. The reactions could selectively afford naphthoquinolizinones with either an amine or an amide unit attached on the 11-position depending on the nature of the solvent and the additive used. Compared with literature methods, this is a more efficient, convenient, and atom-economic way to provide polycyclic heteroaromatic compounds through direct π-extension of simple aromatics via inert C-H bond activation and functionalization.

One-Pot Cascade Reactions Leading to Pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c][1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]quinolines under Bimetallic Relay Catalysis with Air as the Oxidant

In this paper, we report an efficient one-pot synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole/quinoline-fused imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines starting from 2-(2-bromophenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, alkynes, and sodium azide. This novel method involves a one-pot bimetallic relay-catalyzed cascade process combining azide-alkyne cycloaddition, C-N coupling between 1,2,3-triazole and aryl bromide, and intramolecular cross dehydrogenative C-C coupling between 1,2,3-triazole and imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine. Notable features of this protocol include simple starting materials, sustainable oxidants, reduced synthetic steps, and high efficiency.

Regioselective Synthesis of Indolo[1,2-c]quinazolines and 11H-Indolo[3,2-c]quinolines via Copper-Catalyzed Cascade Reactions of 2-(2-Bromoaryl)-1H-indoles with Aldehydes and Aqueous Ammonia.

Highly selective and convenient synthesis of indolo[1,2-c]quinazolines and 11H-indolo[3,2-c]quinolines through copper-catalyzed one-pot cascade reactions of 2-(2-bromoaryl)-1H-indoles with aldehydes and aqueous ammonia has been achieved. Notably, the regioselectivity was easily controlled by tuning the reaction conditions. Compared with literature methods, the present protocol features easily controlled selectivity, readily available starting materials, good functional group tolerance, and simple operation procedures.

Synthesis of Pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoindoles and Pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoindole-3-carboxamides through One-Pot Cascade Reactions of 1-(2-Bromophenyl)buta-2,3-dien-1-ones with Isocyanide and Hydrazine or Acetohydrazide

A novel and efficient method for the construction of the pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoindole scaffold via a one-pot three-component cascade reaction of 1-(2-bromophenyl)buta-2,3-dien-1-one with hydrazine and isocyanide promoted by a Pd catalyst is described. This cascade process proceeds through initial condensation of the allenic ketone with hydrazine followed by Pd-catalyzed isocyanide insertion into the C-Br bond and intramolecular C-N bond formation. Interestingly, when acetohydrazide was used in place of hydrazine, a more sophisticated procedure involving condensation, isocyanide insertion into C-H and C-Br bonds, deacetylation, and formation of C-C, C-O, and C-N bonds occurred to afford pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoindole-3-carboxamides with good efficiency.

Synthesis of Ketones through Microwave Irradiation Promoted Metal-Free Alkylation of Aldehydes by Activation of C(sp3)–H Bond

In this paper, a novel methodology for the synthesis of ketones via microwave irradiation promoted direct alkylation of aldehydes by activation of the inert C(sp(3))-H bond has been developed. Notably, the reactions were accomplished under metal-free conditions and used commercially available aldehydes and cycloalkanes as substrates without prefunctionalization. By using this novel method, an alternative synthetic approach toward the key intermediates for the preparation of the pharmaceutically valuable oxaspiroketone derivatives was successfully established.

Samarium chloride catalysed Biginelli reaction: one-pot synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones

An efficient synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one derivatives using samarium chloride as a catalyst from aldehyde, β-keto ester and urea or thiourea in ethanol is described; compared to the classical Biginelli method, this new method has the advantages of good yields and milder reaction conditions.