This case study was provided by Ryan Gorman during his time at the University of York.
Functionalisation and synthesis of substituted nitrogen containing compounds are one of the top chemical transformations used in industrial processes and medicinal chemistry. [1] In addition to this, is the demand for the development of C-H activation methodologies that negate the need for halogenated starting materials. Nitrogen containing heterocycles represent an important class of biologically active molecules. Fused cyclic systems such as oxindoles are common structural motifs in pharmaceuticals such as the anticancer agent Suntinib and the vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist Satavaptan (Figure 1).[2]
3,4-Dihydro-1H-quinolin-2-one ring systems also display potent biological activity and examples of pharmaceuticals carrying this functionality include the dopamine agonist aripiprazole, the renal deficiency drug trigolutesin A and meloscine used to treat meningitis and heart disease.[2] Added to this, is the extensive bioactivity of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines, examples of biologically active molecules include argatroban (potent thrombin inhibitor) and strychnochromine.[2]
The development of synthetic routes to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines has seen considerable interest by the synthetic organic community; there have been some recent representative examples for the formation of the C4-C4a bond in particular and these include a Pd0 catalysed cyclopropane C-H activation, [3][4] Povarov reaction, [5][6][7] intramolecular Heck reaction, [8][9] and Ni0 mediated cross coupling [10] among others. Although these methods involve C-H activation of one of the coupling partners, the efficient and direct synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines remains a challenge.
In an effort to develop such a method in an efficient and sustainable manner, CHEM21 researchers developed a simple copper(II) catalysed method for the synthesis of oxindoles, thio-oxindoles, 3,4-dihydro-1H-quinolin-2-ones and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines from linear starting materials by direct C–H, Ar–H coupling (Scheme 1). The method boasts of broad scope in substrate and is carried out in open air using ambient oxygen as the oxidant and thus does not require air and moisture exclusion. The method is shown to be superior to existing methods including protocols mediated by manganese catalysts. [2]
© Copyright American Chemical Society.