Search Results (8)

The one-pot multicomponent aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) reaction was performed under green conditions using 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) and Amberlyst^® 15 as a co-catalyst, at ambient temperature and under negligible amounts of non-hazardous solvent. A number of α-methylene-β-amino acid derivatives were produced in good to excellent yields from different arylaldehydes, p-toluenesulfonamide and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. The environmental benignity of the process is accounted by the low E-factor (0.7) and high atom economy (95%) values obtained. Full article

Chiral pincer complexes, characterized by their rigid tridentate coordination framework, have emerged as powerful catalysts in asymmetric synthesis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the development of chiral pincer-type ligands and their corresponding transition metal complexes. We highlight the latest progress in their application across a range of catalytic asymmetric reactions, including the (transfer) hydrogenation of polar and non-polar bonds, hydrophosphination, alkynylation, Friedel-Crafts reactions, enantioselective reductive cyclization of alkynyl-tethered cyclohexadienones, enantioselective hydrosilylation, as well as Aza–Morita–Baylis–Hillman reactions. The structural rigidity and tunability of chiral pincer complexes enable precise control over stereoselectivity, resulting in high enantioselectivity and efficiency in complex molecular transformations. As the field advances, innovations in ligand design and the exploration of new metal centers are expected to expand the scope and utility of these catalysts, bearing significant implications for the synthesis of enantioenriched compounds in pharmaceuticals, materials science, and beyond. Full article

A novel method for synthesizing 1,2,4-triazole- and tetrazole-containing 4H-thiopyrano[2,3-b]quinolines using a new combination of the thio-Michael and aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman reactions was developed. Target compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicities and antiviral activities against influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 virus in MDCK cells. The compounds showed low toxicity and some exhibited moderate antiviral activity. Molecular docking identified the M2 channel and polymerase basic protein 2 as potential targets. We observed that the antiviral activity of thiopyrano[2,3-b]quinolines is notably affected by both the nature and position of the substituent within the tetrazole ring, as well as the substituent within the benzene moiety of quinoline. These findings contribute to the further search for new antiviral agents against influenza A viruses among derivatives of thiopyrano[2,3-b]quinoline. Full article

The catalytic enantioselective ketimine Mannich and its related reactions provide direct access to chiral building blocks bearing an α-tertiary amine stereogenic center, a ubiquitous structural motif in nature. Although ketimines are often viewed as challenging electrophiles, various approaches/strategies to circumvent or overcome the adverse properties of ketimines have been developed for these transformations. This review showcases the selected examples that highlight the benefits and utilities of various ketimines and remaining challenges associated with them in the context of Mannich, allylation, and aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman reactions as well as their variants. Full article

An efficient synthetic route to highly substituted dihydroquinolines and dihydronaphthyridines has been developed using a domino reaction of Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) acetates with primary aliphatic and aromatic amines in DMF at 50–90 °C. The MBH substrates incorporate a side chain acetate positioned adjacent to an acrylate or acrylonitrile aza-Michael acceptor as well as an aromatic ring activated toward S_NAr ring closure. A control experiment established that the initial reaction was an S_N2′-type displacement of the side chain acetate by the amine to generate the alkene product with the added nitrogen nucleophile positioned trans to the S_NAr aromatic ring acceptor. Thus, equilibration of the initial alkene geometry is required prior to cyclization. A further double bond migration was observed for several reactions targeting dihydronaphthyridines from substrates with a side chain acrylonitrile moiety. MBH acetates incorporating a 2,5-difluorophenyl moiety were found to have dual reactivity in these annulations. In the absence of O₂, the expected dihydroquinolines were formed, while in the presence of O₂, quinolones were produced. All of the products were isolated in good to excellent yields (72–93%). Numerous cases (42) are reported, and mechanisms are discussed. Full article

Leishmaniases are a group of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) caused by protozoan parasites from >20 Leishmania species. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala‐aza, is the most severe form of leishmaniasis, usually fatal in the absence of treatment in 95% of cases. The Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman adducts (MBHAs) are being explored as drug candidates against several diseases, one of them being leishmaniasis. We present here the design, synthesis and in vitro screening against Leishmania donovani of sixteen new molecular hybrids from analgesic/antiinflammatory tetrahydropyrans derivatives and Morita˗Baylis˗Hillman adducts. First, acrylates were synthesized from analgesic/anti‐inflammatory tetrahydropyrans using acrylic acid under TsOH as a catalyst (70–75% yields). After the 16 new MBHAs were prepared in moderate to good yields (60–95%) promoted by microwave irradiation or low temperature (0 °C) in protic and aprotic medium. The hybrids were evaluated in vitro on the promastigote stage of Leishmania donovani by determining their inhibitory concentrations 50% (IC₅₀), 50% hemolysis concentration (HC₅₀), selectivity index (HC₅₀/IC₅₀,), and comparing to Amphotericin B, chosen as the anti‐leishmanial reference drug. The hybrid which presents the bromine atom in its chemical structure presents high leishmanicide activity and the high selectivity index in red blood cells (SI_rb > 180.19), compared with the highly‐toxic reference drug (SI_rb = 33.05), indicating that the bromine hybrid is a promising compound for further biological studies. Full article

Conscious of the importance that stereochemical issues may have on the design of efficient organocatalyts for both Morita-Baylis-Hillman and aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction we have analyzed them in this minireview. The so-called standard reactions involve “naked” enolates which therefore should lead to the syn adducts as the major products, irrespective of the E, Z stereochemistry of the enolate. Accordingly, provided the second step is rate determining step, the design of successful bifunctional or polyfunctional catalysts has to consider the geometrical requirements imposed by the transition structures of the second step of these reactions. On the other hand, MBH and aza-MBH reactions co-catalyzed by (S)-proline and a secondary or tertiary amine (co-catalyst) involve the aldol-type condensation of either a 3-amino-substituted enamine, dienamine, or both, depending on the cases. A Zimmerman-Traxler mechanism defines the stereochemical issues regarding these co-catalyzed condensations which parallel those of the well established (S)-proline catalyzed aldol-like reactions. Full article