Hydantoin-bridged medium ring scaffolds by migratory insertion of urea-tethered nitrile anions into aromatic C-N bonds.

ABSTRACT: Bicyclic or tricyclic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic scaffolds were constructed rapidly by intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution of metallated nitriles tethered by a urea linkage to a series of electronically unactivated heterocyclic precursors. The substitution reaction constitutes a ring expansion, enabled by the conformationally constrained tether between the nitrile and the heterocycle. Attack of the metallated urea leaving group on the nitrile generates a hydantoin that bridges the polycyclic products. X-ray crystallography reveals ring-dependant strain within the hydantoin.

SUBMITTER: Millward MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8179327 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature