Heterocycles from intramolecular acylation

The 1,2,4-triazine core is a synthetically important scaffold because it could be readily transformed into a range of different heterocyclic systems such as pyridines (Sect. 3.1) via intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions with acetylenes. 1,2,4-Triazines have been synthesized by the condensation of 1,2-diketones with acid hydrazides in the presence of NH4OH in acetic acid for up to 24 h at reflux temperature. Microwave dielectric heating in closed vessels allowed the reaction to be performed at 180 °C (60 °C above the boiling point of acetic acid). As a result, the reaction time was reduced to merely 5 minutes. Subsequently, a 48-membered library of 1,2,4-triazines was generated from diverse acyl hydrazides and a-diketones [139]. Two thirds of the desired heterocycles precipitated from the reaction mixture upon cooling with > 75% purity, while the remaining part of the library was purified by preparative LCMS (Scheme 56). 

The importance of radical processes in the chemistry of pyrroles and indoles remain vital in expanding the repertoire of reaction processes available to these heterocycles. For example, Allin and Mclnally have devised a novel approach lo (l,2-a -fused pyrroles 76 via intramolecular acyl radical cyclization of Al-(oi-acyl)-radicals 75 generated from acyl-selenide precursors 74 <01TL7887>. This reaction can be conducted even in the absence of CO and has also been shown feasible on electron rich pyrrole rings. 

The nitrene 28 is not produced from the azide precursor, but from heterocycles via photolysis and thermolysis as shown in Sch. 11 [20]. Iminoacyl nitrenes react intramolecularly giving benzimidazoles with good yields (Sch. 11), and, dependending on the precursor used and the reaction conditions, varying amounts of carbodiimides are obtained. The reactivity of the acyl nitrenes is influenced by the substituent connected to the acyl group (see Sch. 10), however all acyl nitrenes are quite reactive and therefore rather unselective. Apart from cycloaddition reactions with Tt-bonds, insertion reactions into a-bonds, additions to lone pair electrons of... 

Thio- and selenoacetals and esters are excellent substrates for mild Friedel-Crafts reactions, because of the affinity of sulfur and selenium for copper (Sch. 23). Anisole was readily acylated with methylselenoesters 94 at room temperature with activation by CuOTf to affordpnra-substituted (> 95 %) derivatives 95 [50,51]. Mercury(II) and copper(II) salts, which were effective for the activation of selenyl esters for reaction with alcohols, amines, and water, were not effective for the Friedel-Crafts reaction. Aromatic heterocycles 96 could be acylated in high yields, and the alkylation product 100 was obtained from dibutylthioacetal 99 and anisole. Vedejs has utilized this methodology in the cyclization of 101 to afford 102 in 77 % yield [52]. This intramolecular variant did not require the use of the more reactive bis copper triflate-benzene complex. 

McFadyen and Stevens (cf. Bayer344h) obtained aldehydes from the corresponding carboxylic acids in yields of up to 60% by intramolecular disproportionation of aromatic and heterocyclic l-acyl-2-(benzenesulfonyl)hydrazines induced by an alkali carbonate in ethylene glycol at 160° but this method fails for aliphatic and, / -unsaturated carboxylic acids. 

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