PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Ian W Davies

Publications and source records attributed to Ian W Davies.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Superior reactivity of thiosemicarbazides in the synthesis of 2-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazoles.

A facile and general protocol for the preparation of 2-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazoles is reported. This method relies on a tosyl chloride/pyridine-mediated cyclization of a thiosemicarbazide, which is readily prepared by acylation of a given hydrazide with the appropriate isothiocyanate. Cyclization of the thiosemicarbazide consistently outperforms the analogous semicarbazide cyclization under these conditions, for 18 distinct examples. Utilizing this protocol, we have prepared 5-alkyl- and 5-aryl-2-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazoles in 78-99% yield.

Oxazoles↗

Stereoselective preparation of a cyclopentane-based NK1 receptor antagonist bearing an unsymmetrically substituted sec-sec ether.

A highly efficient synthesis of the potent and selective NK-1 receptor antagonist 1 is described. The key transformation involved the etherification reaction between cyclopentanol 12 and chiral imidate 30 which was catalyzed by HBF4 to initially give ether 14 as a 17:1 mixture of diastereomers and in 75% combined yield. The diastereoselectivity was upgraded to 109:1 by crystallization of the triethylamine solvate 44 which was isolated in 54% yield from 12. Mechanistic studies confirmed that the etherification reaction proceeds through an unprecedented S(N)2 reaction pathway under typical S(N)1 reaction conditions.

Cyclopentanes↗

Efficient access to azaindoles and indoles.

[Structure: see text] An expedient, catalytic method for the synthesis of diverse azaindoles and indoles, starting from readily available and inexpensive starting materials, is described. Conditions were developed for effective reductive alkylation of electron-deficient o-chloroarylamines, substrates previously viewed as poor partners in this reaction. The derived N-alkylated o-chloroarylamines were elaborated to N-alkylazaindoles and N-alkylindoles via a novel one-pot process comprising copper-free Sonogashira alkynylation and a base-mediated indolization reaction.

Alkylation↗

Efficient access to cyclic ureas via Pd-catalyzed cyclization.

[Structure: see text] An efficient regioselective method for the preparation of structurally diverse imidazopyridinones and benzoimidazolones starting from readily available and economical starting materials is described. High-yielding reductive alkylation of electron-deficient o-haloarylamines followed by treatment with inexpensive N-chlorosulfonyl isocyanate afforded primary ureas in good overall yields. A Pd-catalyzed urea cyclization reaction furnished imidazopyridinones and benzoimidazolones in excellent yields. Overall, the developed chemistry provides rapid access to pharmaceutically important heterocyclic compounds with high efficiency.

Benzimidazoles↗

A rapid synthesis of 2-aryl-5-substituted-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans.

[reaction: see text] An effective strategy has been developed for the rapid and efficient one-pot synthesis of 2-aryl-5-substituted-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans from readily available o-nitrotoluenes and aromatic aldehydes. This strategy allows access to a structurally diverse array of products for further manipulation.

Benzofurans↗

Synthesis of 5-substituted-1H-indol-2-yl-1H-quinolin-2-ones: a novel class of KDR kinase inhibitors.

[reaction: see text] A number of approaches for the synthesis of the 1H-indol-2-yl-1H-quinolin-2-one ring system found in the potent and selective KDR kinase inhibitor 1 are described. The preparation and reaction of trimethylsilylnitrobenzene 26 with 2-methoxy-3-quinolinecarboxaldehyde 28 afforded alcohol 30, which was the key intermediate for the preparation of the target compounds. Conversion of alcohol 30 to either nitroketone 36 or nitrostyrene 45 set the stage for reductive cyclization and the formation of indole 25. The quinolin-2-one functionality was unmasked in the last step to provide compound 1 in 56-60% overall yield from readily available starting materials.

Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Stereoselective enol tosylation: preparation of trisubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated esters.

[Reaction: see text] The stereoselective preparation of (E)- or (Z)-trisubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated esters in three steps from N-protected glycine is presented. The key step in the synthesis is the highly selective enol tosylation of gamma-amino beta-keto esters. The enol tosylates are stable, crystalline compounds that undergo smooth and effective Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction with a variety of aryl boronic acids.

Aldehydes↗

Computational studies on the electrocyclizations of 1-amino-1,3,5-hexatrienes.

Electrocyclizations of 1,3,5-hexatrienes containing up to four electron-donating and/or electron withdrawing substituents have been studied computationally using the hybrid density functional, B3LYP. Electron donating substituents at positions C-1 and C-5 decrease activation barriers by 0.3 to 2.3 kcal/mol. Introducing of an electron-withdrawing group, CO(2)Me, at C-4 further decreases the activation energy by 7 kcal/mol. Electron-withdrawing groups (NO(2), SO(2)Ph and C=N(+)Me(2)) at C-2 have a profound effect of 17-25 kcal/mol on the activation energy.

Journal Article↗

Synthesis of novel KDR kinase inhibitors through catalytic reductive cyclization of o-nitrobenzylcarbonyl compounds.

An efficient synthesis of o-nitrobenzylcarbonyl compounds is demonstrated through the Swern-type oxidation of readily accessible phenethanol analogues. Reductive cyclization of o-nitrobenzylcarbonyl 3 using catalytic Raney nickel gives 1H-indol-2-yl-1H-quinoline 2 in 95% yield. Hydrolysis of 2 affords the KDR kinase inhibitor 1 in quantitative yield. The examination of the reductive cyclization reaction and optimization of conditions is described.

Catalysis↗

Synthesis of disubstituted imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ones.

Regioselective palladium-catalyzed amination of 2-chloro-3-iodopyridine followed by a subsequent palladium-catalyzed amination leads to 2,3-diaminopyridines. Treatment with triphosgene affords highly functionalized unsymmetrical imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ones in just three synthetic steps. A two-step synthesis of pseudosymmetrically disubstituted imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ones, 1,4-disubstituted pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazinediones, and 1,3-disubstituted thiadiazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-2-ones is also described.

Chemistry, Organic↗

Theoretical evidence for oxygenated intermediates in the reductive cyclization of nitrobenzenes.

Deoxygenation of nitroaromatics is a classic synthetic method for the construction of nitrogen heterocycles. The generally accepted mechanism involves exhaustive deoxygenation to a singlet nitrene. We present theoretical evidence for an alternative, 6pi-electron 5-atom electrocyclization of nitroso-styrenes, -stilbenes, and -biphenyls to nitronates. A downstream 1,5-H shift and tautomerization leads to N-hydroxy heterocycles. [reaction: see text]

Journal Article↗

Demonstrating the synergy of synthetic, mechanistic, and computational studies in a regioselective aniline synthesis.

Tri- and tetrasubstituted anilines are formed in good to excellent yields by the addition of ketones to vinamidinium salts (up to 98%). The reaction proceeds via the formation of dienone intermediates, which react to form an enamine with the liberated amine. In the case of a nitro, or dimethylaminomethylene substituent, the enamines undergo a facile electrocyclic ring closure to form a cyclohexadiene, which goes on to form anilines with a high degree of selectivity (up to 50:1) with a minor competing pathway proceeding via the enol providing phenols. Competition experiments using isotopic substitution reveal that the rate determining step en route to dienone is enol/enolate addition to the vinamidinium salt, which is characterized by an inverse secondary isotope effect (k(H/D) 0.7-0.9). Computational studies have been used to provide a framework for understanding the reaction pathway. The original proposal for a [1,5]-H shift was ruled out on the basis of the calculations, which did not locate a thermally accessible transition state. The minimum energy conformation of the enamine is such that a facile electrocyclic ring closure is ensured, which is corroborated by the experimental studies. A framework for understanding the reaction pathway is presented.

Journal Article↗

A general synthesis of N-hydroxyindoles.

A general method for the formation of N-hydroxyindoles is demonstrated through a lead-promoted intramolecular reductive cyclization of o-nitrobenzyl ketones and aldehydes under transfer hydrogenation conditions. The N-hydroxyindoles are isolated in high purity and excellent yield (>90%) in an operationally simple procedure. This new method is exemplified by a two-step synthesis of the naturally occurring 1-methoxyindole-3-carboxaldehyde, which is pivotal in many alkaloid total syntheses.

Aldehydes↗

Reactive resin facilitated preparation of an enantiopure fluorobicycloketone.

A facile preparation of enantiopure ethyl (1S,5S,6S)-6-fluoro-2-oxobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-6-carboxylate is described. The key feature of the synthesis involves copper-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular cyclopropanation of a diazoketone to form endo-fluorocyclopropane in a single operation. Removal of a problematic chloroketone impurity using a reactive resin treatment enabled a high throughput enantiopurity upgrade by chiral HPLC. The development of a scalable synthesis of is presented, including details of the selection of catalyst and ligand optimization, incorporation of a reactive resin treatment and selection of chiral HPLC media and conditions.

Journal Article↗