Skeletal diverse synthesis of N-fused polycyclic heterocycles via the sequence of Ugi-type MCR and CuI-catalyzed coupling/tandem Pictet-Spengler reaction.

Several diversity-oriented syntheses of N-fused polycyclic heterocycles have been demonstrated but most of them are based on point diversity within the same library and usually involve time-consuming sequential multistep syntheses, which also suffer from low yields and/or poor precursor scopes. We have developed a new strategy for the syntheses of skeletal diverse N-fused polycyclic compounds via an Ugi-type MCR followed by a CuI-catalyzed coupling reaction or tandem Pictet-Spengler reaction. This two-step sequence provides eight distinct skeleton of fused {6-5-5-6}, {5-5-5-6}, {6-5-6-6}, and {5-5-6-6} ring systems that have applications in medicinal chemistry and chemical genetics too.