Tryptamine cyclization

Tryptamine cyclization can also be conducted at the amide oxidation level, which is an example of Bischler-Napieralski reaction. The usual reagent is POCI3, which generates a chloroiminium ion intermediate. The immediate products of cycUzatiOTi are iminium ions, which are typically then reduced. 

A special application of the Japp-Klingemann/Eischer sequence is in the preparation of tryptamines from piperidone-3-carboxylate salts, a method which was originally developed by Abramovitch and Shapiro[2]. When the piperidone is subjected to Japp-Klingemann coupling under mildly alkaline conditions decarboxylation occurs and a 3-hydrazonopiperidin-2-one is isolated. Fischer cyclization then gives 1-oxotetrahydro-p-carbolines which can be hydrolysed and decarboxylated to afford the desired tryptamine. 

The Bischler-Napieralski reaction involves the cyclization of phenethyl amides 1 in the presence of dehydrating agents such as P2O5 or POCI3 to afford 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline products 2. This reaction is one of the most commonly employed and versatile methods for the synthesis of the isoquinoline ring system, which is found in a large number of alkaloid natural products. The Bischler-Napieralski reaction is also frequently used for the conversion of N-acyl tryptamine derivatives 3 into p-carbolines 4 (eq 2). 

The salt 55 (R = H) did not cyclize on reduction with metal hydrides, but instead yielded the tryptamine derivative 58 (R = H) as the sole... 

The interesting work of Hahn and Hansel, who prepared a tetracyclic lactam by intramolecular cyclization of the condensation product of tryptamine and a-ketoglutaric acid, is referred to in Section IV, B, 2. Condensation of tryptamine with a,a -diketopimelic acid (403) led, presumably by way of the 1-substituted tetrahydro-)S-carboline (404), which could not be isolated, to a product to which the tetracyclic structure 405 was assigned. 

In a recently published report by MacMillan s group [121] on the enantioselective synthesis of pyrroloindoline and furanoindoline natural products such as (-)-flustramine B 2-219 [122], enantiopure amines 2-215 were used as organocatalysts to promote a domino Michael addition/cyclization sequence (Scheme 2.51). As substrates, the substituted tryptamine 2-214 and a, 3-unsaturated aldehydes were used. Reaction of 2-214 and acrolein in the presence of 2-215 probably leads to the intermediate 2-216, which cyclizes to give the pyrroloindole moiety 2-217 with subsequent hydrolysis of the enamine moiety and reconstitution of the imidazolid-inone catalyst. After reduction of the aldehyde functionality in 2-217 with NaBH4 the flustramine precursor 2-218 was isolated in very good 90 % ee and 78 % yield. 

The formation of an iminium ion as 2-530 is also proposed by Heaney and coworkers in the synthesis of a tetrahydro- 3-carboline 2-531 (Scheme 2.120) [282]. Herein, heating a solution of tryptamine (2-526) and the acetal 2-527 in the presence of 10 mol% of Sc(OTf)3 gives in the first step the N, O-acetal 2-528, which then leads to the lactam 2-529 and further to the iminium ion 2-530 by elimination of methanol. The last step is a well-known Pictet-Spengler type cyclization to give the final product 2-531 in 91% yield. 

In the course of our successful synthesis, we identified several limitations of our new method and associated strategy (1) the harsh conditions of the bicyclization reaction do not tolerate base-sensitive functionality such as vinyl halides (2) post-cyclization manipulations such as iododesilylation reactions are complicated by the sensitive/ reactive functionality of the products (a,p-unsaturated aldehyde, indoline, etc.) and (3) the incorporation of the required functionality into the Zincke aldehyde requires the synthesis of a complex tryptamine derivative, resulting in a lengthy, non-convergent route. In order to develop a concise route to strychnine, we would have to address each of these issues, and a straightforward solution to obviate all of these is described below. 

For a Lewis-acid-mediated cyclization reaction of a tryptamine-derived vinylogous amide that affords the Aspidosperma skeleton, see Huizenga RH, Pandit UK (1991) Tetrahedron 47 4155 1164... 

Takano s group reported the first enantioselective total synthesis of (—)-anti-rhine as well (146). Chiral product 235 was prepared via a number of stereoselective reactions. Reductive condensation of 235 with tryptamine, using sodium cyanoborohydride at pH 6, supplied lactam 236, which was reduced by di-isobutylalminum hydride to hemiacetal 237. The latter could be cyclized to (-)-antirhine by simple acid treatment (146). 

Similarly to 8-lactone 260, y-lactone 263, prepared also from ( )-norcamphor (228), proved to be another useful intermediate for the synthesis of all four corynantheidol stereoisomers as well as of the corresponding 18,19-didehydro derivatives. Cleavage of the a-diketone monothioketal moiety in 263 and the formation of amide 265 by its reaction with tryptamine, followed by Bischler-Napieralski cyclization and sodium borohydride reduction, resulted in a mixture... 

The total synthesis of ( )-geissoschizine (30) was reported by Yamada et al. (156) in 1974. The geometrically pure p-nitrophenyl ester 272 was condensed with tryptamine, and then the resulting amide 273 was transformed to lactam aldehyde 274 by hydroxylation with osmium tetroxide, metaperiodate oxidation, and Pictet-Spengler cyclization. 

Lactam 299 was prepared from tryptamine and cyano diester 298 by reductive alkylation in about 12% yield. Phosphorus oxychloride cyclization of 299, followed by catalytic reduction, resulted in the corresponding trans disubstituted indolo[2,3-a]quinolizine 300. After transesterification, formylation and methyla-tion were carried out in two subsequent steps with ethyl formate in the presence of triphenylmethylsodium and with an excess of diazomethane to supply ( )-dihydrocorynantheine (163). 

The first total synthesis of D/E-trans annellated yohimbines, e.g., ( )-yohim-bine (74) and ( )-pseudoyohimbine (88), was published in preliminary form by van Tamelen and co-workers (218) in 1958, while full details (219) appeared only in 1969. Key building block 393, prepared from butadiene and p-quinone, was condensed with tryptamine, yielding unsaturated amide 394, which was subsequently transformed to dialdehyde derivative 396. Cyclization of the latter resulted in pseudoyohimbane 397. Final substitution of ring E was achieved via pyrolysis, oxidation, and esterification steps. As a result of the reaction sequence, ( )-pseudoyohimbine was obtained, from which ( )-yohimbine could be prepared via C-3 epimerization. 

The reaction can effect cyclization of the side chain of tryptamine (1) to form a substituted piperidine ring (2).3... 

Groves and Swan tried unsuccessfully to cyclize Af-2-(indol-3-yl)ethyl aminomethylenemalonate (1413) to tetrah ydro-/3-carboline-1 -acetate (1414) by the action of an acid or base. Instead of cyclization, hydrolysis of 1413 occurred to yield tryptamine (52JCS650). Later, Maclaren obtained 3,4-dihydro-/3-carboline when he treated 1413 with trifluoroacetic acid or boron trifluoride (87AJC1617). 

Photo-irradiation of the tryptamine (166) produces an intermediate diradical cation that leads to the formation of an azonino[c f]indole. This is the first example of a vinylogous Witkop cyclization. 

Cascade Addition-Cyclization Reactions Given the importance of cascade reactions in modem chemical synthesis, the MacMillan group has proposed expansion of the realm of iminium catalysis to include the activation of tandem bond-forming processes, with a view toward the rapid constraction of natural products. In this context, the addition-cyclization of tryptamines with a,p-unsaturated aldehydes in the presence of imidazolidinone catalysts 11 or 15 has been accomplished to provide pyrroloindoline adducts in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities (Scheme 11.3a). This transformation is successful... 

The Pictet-Spengler reaction is the method of choice for the preparation of tetrahydro-P-carbolines, which represent structural elements of several natural products such as biologically active alkaloids. It proceeds via a condensation of a carbonyl compound with a tryptamine followed by a Friedel-Crafts-type cyclization. In 2004, Jacobsen et al. reported the first catalytic asymmetric variant [25]. This acyl-Pictet-Spengler reaction involves an N-acyliminium ion as intermediate and is promoted by a chiral thiourea (general Brpnsted acid catalysis). 

List and coworkers reasoned that BINOL phosphates (specific Brpnsted acid catalysis) could be suitable catalysts for an asymmetric direct Pictet-Spengler reaction [26], Preliminary experiments revealed that unsubstituted tryptamines do not undergo the desired cyclization. Introduction of two geminal ester groups rendered the substrates more reactive which might be explained by electronic reasons and a Thorpe-Ingold effect. Tryptamines 39 reacted with aldehydes 40 in the presence of phosphoric acid (5)-3o (20 moI%, R = bearing 2,4,6-triisopropyI-... 

In 2007, Hiemstra et al. established a catalytic asymmetric Pictet-Spengler reaction that proceeds via (V-sulfenyliminium ions (Scheme 15) [27], Treatment of iV-sulfenylated tryptamines 42 with aldehydes 40 and BINOL phosphate (R)-3f (5 mol%, R = 3,5-(CF3)2-CgH3) afforded tetrahydro-P-carbohnes. After completion of the cyclization the sulfenyl group was cleaved by the use of HCl. This one-pot... 

Several azepine ring constructions have been reported using palladium catalyzed C-C bond formation. Palladium catalyzed cyclizations of substituted tryptamine derivatives 73 lead to benzo[d]pyrrolo[l,2-a]azepinones 74 (Equation (8) (2000JMC1050)). 

Based on the previous findings by Koomen [21], the Hiemstra group subsequently reported the Pictet-Spengler reaction of N-tritylsulfenyl tryptamines and various aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes by 11 (Scheme 5.11) [22]. Notably, the authors found that stabilization of the N-sulfenyliminium ion by the sulfenyl substituent facilitated preferential cyclization over enamine formation. 

The principal reason that DMT must be administer parenterally is its rapid and efficient metabolism. It can be oxidized to the N-oxide. It can be cyclized to b-carbolines, both with and without an N-methyl group. It can be N-dealkylated to form NMT and simple tryptamine itself. Best known is its oxidative destruction, by the monoamine oxidase system, to the inactive indoleacetic acid. There is a wild biochemical conversion process known for tryptophan that involves an enzymatic conversion to kynurenine by the removal of the indole-2-carbon. A similar product, N,N-dimethylkynuramine or DMK, has been seen with DMT, when it was added to whole human blood in vitro. 

Specific substrates such as diethyl a -acetylglutarate, 2-ethoxycarbonylcyclopentanone and 3-carboxypiperidone are useful for the synthesis of special classes of functionally substituted indoles, as shown in Scheme 10. When cyclization is followed by hydrolytic decarboxylation of the C-2 substituent, these cyclizations provide indoleacetic acids, indolepropionic acids and tryptamines, and 3-(2-aminoethyl)indoles, respectively <72HC(25-1)236). 

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