benzofurans and carbene

A variety of substituted indoles and benzofurans are accessed via a platinum catalyzed annulation and vinylogous addition of enol nucleophiles. Several β-dicarbonyl compounds participate in the reaction, as do α-nitro and α-cyano carbonyl species. Subjecting the indole products to acidic conditions results in the formation of fused heterocycles.

Topics: Benzofurans; Catalysis; Indoles; Lewis Acids; Methane; Molecular Structure; Platinum

Well-defined palladium N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes were employed in the one-pot tandem Heck alkynylation/cyclization sequence for preparing biologically relevant benzofuran compounds under copper-free conditions in a time-efficient step-reduced fashion. In particular, a series of binuclear palladium complexes, 1b-1e and 2b-2e, of the alkyl-bridged NHC ligands, namely, {1,1'-di-R1-4,4'-R2-di-1,2,4-triazoline-5,5'-diylid-2-ene] (R1 = i-Pr; R2 = -(CH2)2-, -(CH2)3-), and their mononuclear analogues, trans-(NHC)PdBr2(pyridine) (3b) and cis-(NHC)PdBr2(PPh3) (3c), successfully catalyzed the one-pot tandem Heck alkynylation/cyclization reaction of 2-iodophenol with a variety of terminal alkyne substrates, yielding 2-substituted benzofuran derivatives. The mononuclear complexes 3b and 3c were nearly half as active as the representative dinuclear analogue 1c under analogous reaction conditions, thereby implying that, at the same mole percent of the palladium loading, the monometallic 3b and 3c and the bimetallic 1c complexes were equally effective as catalysts. The two sites of the bimetallic complex 1c performed as two separate independent catalytic sites, displaying no cooperativity effect in the catalysis. Finally, the practical utility of the aforementioned catalysts was demonstrated for a representative catalyst 1c through the convenient synthesis of a key intermediate, 3-[2-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-7-methoxybenzofuran-5-yl]propan-1-ol, in a total-synthesis protocol of the natural product Egonol.

Topics: Alkynes; Benzofurans; Cyclization; Heterocyclic Compounds; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Methane; Models, Molecular; Palladium; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

The controllable synthesis of 3-methylene-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans 2 and 3-methylene-2,3-dihydroindoles 5 has been developed through Rh-catalyzed intramolecular annulation of aromatic rings with azavinyl carbenes.

Topics: Benzofurans; Catalysis; Coordination Complexes; Cyclization; Indoles; Methane; Rhodium; Triazoles

An N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed domino reaction triggered by a δ-LUMO activation of α,β-γ,δ-diunsaturated enal has been developed for the formal [4 + 2] construction of multisubstituted arenes and 3-ylidenephthalide. These two products, formed in a highly chemo- and regioselective manner, were obtained via different catalytic pathways due to a simple change of the substrate. The activation of the remote δ-carbon of unsaturated aldehydes expands the synthetic potentials of NHC organocatalysis.

Topics: Aldehydes; Benzene Derivatives; Benzofurans; Carbon; Catalysis; Cyclization; Heterocyclic Compounds; Methane; Molecular Structure; Stereoisomerism

We report the catalytic addition of C-H bonds at the C2 position of heteroarenes, including pyrroles, indoles, benzofurans, and furans, to unactivated terminal and internal alkenes. The reaction is catalyzed by a combination of Ni(COD)2 and a sterically hindered, electron-rich N-heterocyclic carbene ligand or its analogous Ni(NHC)(arene) complex. The reaction is highly selective for anti-Markovnikov addition to α-olefins, as well as for the formation of linear alkylheteroarenes from internal alkenes. The reaction occurs with substrates containing ketones, esters, amides, boronate esters, silyl ethers, sulfonamides, acetals, and free amines.

Topics: Alkenes; Benzofurans; Catalysis; Furans; Indoles; Methane; Molecular Structure; Nickel; Organometallic Compounds; Pyrroles

An efficient NHC-catalyzed domino oxidation/oxa-Michael addition reaction of 2-alkenylbenzaldehydes has been developed to afford 3-substituted phthalides bearing a C3-stereogenic center with a broad substrate scope and wide functional group tolerance. The preliminary results of the asymmetric process have been provided as well.

Topics: Benzofurans; Catalysis; Cyclization; Heterocyclic Compounds; Methane; Oxidation-Reduction

A series of six- and seven-membered expanded-ring N-heterocyclic carbene (er-NHC) gold(I) complexes has been synthesized using different synthetic approaches. Complexes with weakly coordinating anions [(er-NHC)AuX] (X(-) = BF4(-), NTf2(-), OTf(-)) were generated in solution. According to their (13)C NMR spectra, the ionic character of the complexes increases in the order X(-) = Cl(-) < NTf2(-) < OTf(-) < BF4(-). Additional factors for stabilization of the cationic complexes are expansion of the NHC ring and the attachment of bulky substituents at the nitrogen atoms. These er-NHCs are bulkier ligands and stronger electron donors than conventional NHCs as well as phosphines and sulfides and provide more stabilization of [(L)Au(+)] cations. A comparative study has been carried out of the catalytic activities of five-, six-, and seven-membered carbene complexes [(NHC)AuX], [(Ph3 P)AuX], [(Me2S)AuX], and inorganic compounds of gold in model reactions of indole and benzofuran synthesis. It was found that increased ionic character of the complexes was correlated with increased catalytic activity in the cyclization reactions. As a result, we developed an unprecedentedly active monoligand cationic [(THD-Dipp)Au]BF4 (1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydrodiazepin-2-ylidene gold(I) tetrafluoroborate) catalyst bearing seven-membered-ring carbene and bulky Dipp substituents. Quantitative yields of cyclized products were attained in several minutes at room temperature at 1 mol % catalyst loadings. The experimental observations were rationalized and fully supported by DFT calculations.

Topics: Acids; Alkynes; Benzofurans; Catalysis; Cations; Cyclization; Gold; Heterocyclic Compounds; Indoles; Methane

The N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed annulation of benzofuran-2,3-diones and enals via homoenolate intermediates is described. The reaction provided a direct and efficient method for the synthesis of spiro-bis-lactones. The ketone-carbonyl group annulated products and the ester-carbonyl group annulated products can be obtained as major products with good yields by convenient catalyst regulation. Furthermore, commercially available thiazolium salt can also catalyze this reaction with modest yield.

Topics: Aldehydes; Benzofurans; Catalysis; Crystallography, X-Ray; Heterocyclic Compounds; Lactones; Methane; Models, Molecular; Molecular Structure; Spiro Compounds

Topics: Benzofurans; Catalysis; Heterocyclic Compounds; Hydrogenation; Methane; Molecular Structure; Organometallic Compounds; Ruthenium

Topics: Alkynes; Benzofurans; Catalysis; Crystallography, X-Ray; Cyclization; Gold; Methane; Molecular Conformation; Silanes

A N-heterocyclic carbene/base-catalyzed cascade reaction leading to the formation of functionalized benzofuranones is reported. The reaction proceeds via an intramolecular hydroacylation of unactivated alkynes followed by an intermolecular Stetter reaction and a base-catalyzed chromanone to benzofuranone rearrangement.

Topics: Alkynes; Benzofurans; Catalysis; Methane; Molecular Structure