Pyrido indole precursor

To assess the trapping of biological nucleophiles, the pyrido[l,2-a]indole cyclopropyl quinone methide was generated in the presence of 5 -dGMP. The reaction afforded a mixture of phosphate adducts that could not be separated by reverse-phase chromatography (Fig. 7.16). The 13C-NMR spectrum of the purified mixture shown in Fig. 7.16 reveals that the pyrido [1,2-a] indole was the major product with trace amounts of azepino[l,2-a] indole present. Since the stereoelec-tronic effect favors either product, steric effects must dictate nucleophilic attack at the least hindered cyclopropane carbon to afford the pyrido[l,2-a]indole product. Both adducts were stable with elimination and aromatization not observed. In fact, the pyrido [1,2-a] indole precursor (structure shown in Scheme 7.14) to the pyrido [l,2-a]indole cyclopropyl quinone methide possesses cytotoxic and cytostatic properties not observed with the pyrrolo [1,2-a] indole precursor.47... 

This indole C-7 Heck cyclization strategy was employed by Shao and Cai in a synthesis of anhydrolycorine-7-one from the requisite N-aroylindoline [275], by Miki in syntheses of pratosine and hippadine from substrates like 262 [276], and by Rigby to synthesize anhydrodehydrolycorine from an N-benzylhydroindolone [277, 278]. Thai and co-workers constructed examples of the new ring systems, pyrido[2 ,3-d ]pyridazino[2,3-a]indole (264) and pyrido[2 ,3 -Heck cyclizations on the appropriate 2-bromopyridine precursors (e.g., 263) at C-2 or C-7, respectively [279, 280]. Compound 264 undergoes oxidative-addition with methyl acrylate at the C-3 position. This resulting product (not shown) can also be obtained from 263 in a tandem Heck sequence with methyl acrylate (62% yield). 

The (i-carbolinc skeleton with its 9H-pyrido[ 3,4-fr ]indole (29) is frequently encountered in pharmacology due to its activity in the central nervous system at serotonin receptors. It also shows prominent biological properties at the benzodiazepine receptor (BzR) [45]. ZK 93423 (30) remarkably amplifies the agonist activity of such compounds towards BzR. 1,2,3>9-Telrahydro-(>-carbolines are common precursors of (i-carbolines [46]. 1,3.4,9-Tetrahydro-... 

Attention was centered on radical precursors in which the 3-pyridyl moiety was attached at the indole-3-position with the aim of directly producing the pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole skeleton of ellipticine by regioselective cyclization upon the 4-position of the pyridine ring. Satisfactorily, A-methyl and A-benzyl selenoesters 52a and 52b led to the ellipticine quinones 53a and 53b in acceptable yields (60 and 42% yield, respectively), after the radical cyclization and the in situ oxidation at the interannular methylene group. The cyclization was clearly less efficient from A-(methoxymethyl) selenoester 52c and no reaction was observed... 

Examples of migratory insertion to aromatic rings also include the total syntheses of anhydrolycorine-7-one (217) [102] and the f-azaebutnane series [103]. As illustrated in Scheme 38, an intramolecular Heck reaction of Af-acylindoline 216 installed the six-membered lactam in anhydrolycorine-7-one (217). In a similar process, the tetracyclic pyrido-[2 ,3 -prepared from bromopyridine 218 under phase-transfer catalysis conditions. Pyridyl indole 219 is a precursor of the pentacyclic skeleton of the E-azaeburnane series. 

Tryptophan was also found to be the precursor in tobacco of two other A-heterocyclic compounds, namely harman (l-methyl-9A-pyrido[3,4-(i]indole) and norharman (9A-pyrido[3,4- ]indole), in tobacco smoke. These compounds were originally identified in tobacco and tobacco smoke by Philip Morris R D personnel in 1961 and 1962 [Poindexter and Carpenter (2972)] and in 1963 [Poindexter et al. (2972)]. That tryptophan was indeed a precursor in tobacco of the two barmans in smoke was demonstrated by addition of radiolabeled tryptophan to cigarette tobacco and identification of radiolabeled harman and norharman in the MSS. 

Annulation Reactions. Larock et al. have described the synthesis of different heterocyclic systems using a [3+2] annulation approach. For instance, pharmaceutically important pyrido[l,2-fl]indole derivatives such as 93 are easily accessible from 2-substituted pyridines and aryne precursors (Scheme 12.48) [83]. More recently, the 1/f-indazole skeleton has been accessed through a [3+2] annulation from arynes and hydrazones. The reaction with Al-arylhy-drazones leads to 1,3-disubstituted indazoles 94 through an annulation-oxidation process (Scheme 12.48). The use of iV-tosylhydrazones also affords 3-substituted-Ai(H)-indazoles, although probably via a [3+2] cycloaddition (see Scheme 12.18) with in situ generated diazo compounds [84]. 

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