Efficient synthesis of polyfunctionalized carbazoles and pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles via domino Diels–Alder reaction

The p-TsOH-catalyzed Diels–Alder reaction of 3-(indol-3-yl)maleimides with chalcone in toluene at 60 °C afforded two diastereoisomers of tetrahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles, which can be dehydrogenated by DDQ oxidation in acetonitrile at room temperature to give the aromatized pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles in high yields. On the other hand, the one-pot reaction of 3-(indol-3-yl)-1,3-diphenylpropan-1-ones with chalcones or benzylideneacetone in acetonitrile in the presence of p-TsOH and DDQ resulted in polyfunctionalized carbazoles in satisfactory yields. The reaction mechanism included the DDQ oxidative dehydrogenation of 3-(indol-3-yl)-1,3-diphenylpropan-1-ones to the corresponding 3-vinylindoles, their acid-catalyzed Diels–Alder reaction and sequential aromatization process.

Efficient synthesis of polyfunctionalized carbazoles and pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles via domino Diels-Alder reaction

p-TsOH catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction of 3-(indol-3-yl)maleimides with chalcone in toluene at 60 oC afforded two diastereoisomers of tetrahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles, which can be dehydrogenated by DDQ oxidation in acetonitrile at room temperature to give the aromatized pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles in high yields. On the other hand, the one-pot reaction of 3-(indol-3-yl)-1,3-diphenylpropan-1-ones with chalcones in acetonitrile in the presence of p-TsOH and DDQ resulted in polyfunctionalized carbazoles in satisfactory yields. The reaction mechanism included DDQ oxidative dehydrogenation of 3-(indol-3-yl)-1,3-diphenylpropan-1-ones to the corresponding 3-vinylindoles, its acid-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction and sequential aromatization process.

DDQ-Promoted Mild and Efficient Metal-Free Oxidative α-Cyanation of N-Acyl/Sulfonyl 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinolines

A mild and highly efficient metal-free oxidative α-cyanation of N-acyl/sulfonyl 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQs) has been accomplished at an ambient temperature via DDQ oxidation and subsequent trapping of N-acyl/sulfonyl iminium ions with (n-Bu)3SnCN. Employing readily removable N-acyl/sulfonyl groups as protecting groups rather than N-aryl ones enables a wide range of applications in natural product synthesis. The synthetic utility of the method was illustrated using a short and efficient formal total synthesis of (±)-calycotomine in three steps.

Synthesis of a doubly SO2-fused phlorin: Tuning the structure and properties by the SO2 groups

A doubly SO2-fused phlorin 4 has been synthesized by the [2 + 2] condensation of dipyrromethanecarbinol 2 and SO2-fused dipyrromenthane 3 in the presence of TFA, followed by DDQ oxidation. The SO2-fused phlorin 4 has been characterized by absorption, fluorescence, mass and NMR spectra, as well as X-ray analysis. Compared to the [Formula: see text]-unsubstituted phlorin 5, the SO2-fused phlorin 4 exhibits a red-shifted absorption spectrum (around 12 nm), a more distorted molecular conformation, as well as nice photostability even with an electron-donating meso-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl group. The titration of 4 and 5 with TBAF has been monitored by absorption spectroscopy. The deprotonated phlorin 4 shows a peak at 870 nm which is red shifted by 26 nm compared to that of deprotonated 5.

DDQ-Mediated Oxidation of Allylarenes: Expedient Access to Cinnamaldehyde-Containing Phenylpropanoids

Phenylpropanoid natural products containing a cinnamaldehyde motif were easily synthesized from allylarenes mediated by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) oxidation. Representative examples described herein are five types of 4-hydroxycinnamaldehyde derivatives from monolignols biosynthesis, Boropinal C, and 7-methoxywutaifuranal from plant extracts. Especially, simple synthesis of 7-methoxywutaifuranal was exploited through selective mono-oxidation and subsequent isomerization–ring-closing-metathesis strategy.

A novel route for the preparation of betamethasone from 9α-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (9αOH-AD) by chemical synthesis and fermentation

A novel and efficient synthesis of betamethasone has been developed from the readily available 9α-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (9αOH-AD). The 16α-methyl was introduced stereoselectively with CH3Br and converted to the 16β-methyl, the 17-side chain was installed with 2-chlorovinyl ethyl ether in the place of the toxic KCN/HOAc, and a mild fermentation was employed for the 1,2-dehydrogenation, replacing the DDQ oxidation. By adjustments and improvements of the steps, this route produced betamethasone in 11 steps with a 22.9% overall yield, showing its potential for industrial application with relatively low toxicity and cost.

Unsubstituted quinoidal pyrrole and its reaction with oxygen, charge transfer and palladium(ii) complexes via DDQ oxidation

A new class of reactive quinoidal structure of pyrrole, which forms donor–acceptor and binuclear palladium complexes, and the products of its reaction with O2 only under sunlight are described.

Unprecedented non-aromatic, conformationally locked dibenzohexaphyrin analogs carrying multiple meso-exocyclic double bonds

Acid-catalysed, ‘3+3’ condensation of m-bispyrryl benzene derivatives with acetone afforded new non-aromatic macrocycles that can be converted to meso-alkylidenyl dibenzohexaphyrins carrying four exocyclic double bonds at meso-positions by DDQ oxidation.