One-Pot Preparation of (NH)-Phenanthridinones and Amide-Functionalized [7]Helicene-like Molecules from Biaryl Dicar-boxylic Acids

A one-pot transformation of biaryl dicarboxylic acids to (NH)-phenanthridinone derivatives based on a Curtius rearrangement and subsequent basic hydrolysis was developed. This method is also applicable for the preparation of optically active amide-functionalized [7]helicene-like molecules. Furthermore, aza[5]helicene derivatives with a phosphate moiety were isolated as a product of the Curtius rearrangement step in the case of substrates that bear chalcogen atoms. The stereostructures of these products, revealed by X-ray diffraction analysis, suggested that chalcogen-bonding and pnictogen-bonding interactions might contribute to their stabilization. The configurational stability of the helicene-like molecules and their chiroptical properties were further investigated.

Dihydroxylation Studies of Isoquinolinones: Synthesis of the EF-Ring of Lysolipin I

Inspired by the potent polycyclic xanthone antibiotic Lysolipin I, a general study on asymmetric dihydroxylation reactions of variously substituted isoquinolinones was performed. Different isoquinolinones were efficiently prepared, either by a Pomeranz-Fritsch type condensation or a Curtius rearrangement. Under a broad variety of conventional oxygenation procedures they proved very unreactive. However, either by suitable substitution of the appending aromatic ring or more forcing conditions a dihydroxylation could finally be performed, which allowed for synthesis of the EF-ring of Lysolipin I.

N-Acylbenzotriazole as Proficient Substrate for an Easy Access of Urea, Acyl urea, Carbamates and Thiocarbamates via Curtius Rearrangement Using DPPA as Azide Donor

A diverse range of urea, N-acyl urea, and thiocarbamates has been synthesized in good to excellent yields by reacting N-acylbenzotriazoles individually with amines or amides or thiols or phenols in presence of diphenylphosphorylazide (DPPA) as a suitable azide donor in anhydrous toluene at 110 oC for 3-4 hours. In this route, DPPA is found to be a well alternative of trimethylsilylazide and NaN3 for the azide donor in Curtius degradation. The high reaction yields, one-pot and metal-free condition, straight-forward nature, easy to handling, use of readily available reagents, and in many cases avoid of the column chromatography are the notable features of the devised protocol.

Synthesis of New Dialkyl 2,2′-[Carbonylbis(azanediyl)]dibenzoates via Curtius Rearrangement

The 2-(alkylcarbonyl)benzoic acids obtained by esterification of phthalic anhydride are converted into azide derivatives: alkyl 2-[(azidocarbonyl)amino]benzoates and to ureas: dialkyl 2,2′-[carbonylbis(azanediyl)]dibenzoates. These transformations were carried out using classical Curtius rearrangement conditions in the presence of diphenylphosphoryl azide (DPPA) in a basic medium, followed by hydrolysis. Subsequently, a final condensation reaction of these urea derivatives enabled us to obtain, for the first time, the new alkyl derivatives, alkyl 2-[2,4-dioxo-1,2-dihydroquinazolin-3(4H)-yl]benzoates. All the new compounds obtained in satisfactory yields were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, and by X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Diastereoselective Reduction of Selected α-substituted β-keto Esters and the Assignment of the Relative Configuration by 1H-NMR Spectroscopy

Background:: Chiral β-hydroxy esters and α-substituted β-hydroxy esters represent versatile building blocks for pheromones, β-lactam antibiotics and 1,2- or 1,3-aminoalcohols. Objective:: Synthesis of versatile α-substituted β-keto esters and their diastereoselective reduction to the corresponding syn- or anti-α-substituted β-hydroxy esters. Assignment of the relative configuration by NMR-spectroscopy after a CURTIUS rearrangement of α-substituted β-keto esters to 4-substituted 5-methyloxazolidin-2-ones. Method:: Diastereoselective reduction was achieved by using different LEWIS acids (zinc, titanium and cerium) in combination with complex borohydrides as reducing agents. Assignment of the relative configuration was verified by 1H-NMR spectroscopy after CURTIUS-rearrangement of α-substituted β-hydroxy esters to 4-substituted 5-methyloxazolidin-2-ones. Results:: For the syn-selective reduction, titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) in combination with a pyridine-borane complex (py BH3) led to diastereoselectivities up to 99% dr. High anti-selective reduction was achieved by using cerium trichloride (CeCl3) and steric hindered reducing agents such as lithium triethylborohydride (LiEt3BH). After CURTIUS-rearrangement of each α-substituted β-hydroxy ester to the corresponding 4-substituted 5-methyloxazolidin-2-one, the relative configuration was confirmed by 1H NMR-spectroscopy. Conclusion:: We have expanded the procedure of LEWIS acid-mediated diastereoselective reduction to bulky α-substituents such as the isopropyl group and the electron withdrawing phenyl ring.