A novel Pd-catalysed sequential carbonylation/cyclization approach toward bis-N-heterocycles: rationalization by electronic structure calculations.

An unprecedented palladium-catalysed sequential aminocarbonylation/cyclization synthetic strategy, using carbon monoxide and structurally different aliphatic diamines as N-nucleophiles, gives access, in one pot, to a new family of indole-based N-heterocyclic derivatives (hydropyrazinones, benzodiazepinones and hydroquinoxalines). Optimization of the reaction conditions towards double carbonylation (P CO = 30 bar, T = 80°C, iodoindole/diamine ratio = 1 : 1.5, toluene as solvent) allowed the target cyclic products, which are formed in situ via intramolecular cyclization of the ketocarboxamide intermediates, to be obtained through a nucleophilic addition/elimination reaction with the pendant terminal amine groups. The structure of the diamine nucleophile was revealed to affect the reaction's selectivity, with the best yields for the cyclic products being obtained in the presence of (1S,2S)-(+)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (a) as the nucleophile, using either 5- or 7-iodoindole as the substrate. The reaction's selectivity was rationalized based on electronic structure calculations, which explain the effect of the diamine structure on the predominant formation of the cyclic products.

Introduction

Of all the known nitrogen-ben class="Chemical">aring heterocycles, those containing an indole scaffold hold special relevance in synthetic organic chemistry [1-4]. Scientific interest in this family of alkaloids stems from a number of factors, including their bioactivity and biomedical applications [4-6]. Therefore, the synthesis and functionalization of the indole nucleus has been a topic of increasing interest [7-16]. In some of the recent literature, the synthesis of indole derivatives was reported via direct 2,3-disubstitutions [17,18], C–H activations of the heterocyclic system [19,20] and Pd-catalysed couplings [21-24], while other studies have used oxidations [25] or cyclization [26,27] reactions. In addition, Pd-catalysed carbonylation of halo-indoles [28] along with other N-heterocycles, such as halo-quinolines [29] and halo-pyridines [30], using cheap and widely available carbon monoxide as a building block, has been applied as an effective approach to the functionalization of N-heterocycles [18,31-33]. More recently, we reported the first Pd-catalysed double carbonylation of 5-iodo- and 7-iodoindole using monoamines as the nucleophiles, which allowed the synthesis of a new family of indole-based ketocarboxamides [34]. We also described the aminocarbonylation of 7-iodoindole in the presence of diamines [34], leading to indole-based mono- and/or dicarboxamides (scheme 1a).

Scheme 1.

Scope of Pd-catalysed diaminocarbonylation reactions of iodoindoles: (a) previous work; (b) this work.

Scope of n class="Disease">Pd-catalysed diaminocarbonylation reactions of iodoindoles: (a) previous work; (b) this work.

In spite of the recent developments in efficient synthetic procedures for complex n class="Chemical">indole-derived molecules, the synthesis of indole-based pyrazinones and benzodiazepinones, which are commonly found in many natural products and pharmaceuticals, still remains a great challenge [35-38]. Furthermore, their preparation is often accomplished through laborious experimental procedures involving numerous synthetic steps and difficult isolation/purification of intermediates, leading to expensive and low-yielding global synthesis [39-41]. Therefore, prompted by our previous investigation into the potential and synthetic applications of Pd-catalysed aminocarbonylation [34,42-44], the seminal works of Yamamoto's group on the double carbonylation of aryl halides [45-50] and the review on the synthesis of 2-ketoamides in catalytic reactions [51], herein we report a novel one-pot synthetic route towards bis-N-heterocyclic derivatives (indole-based hydropyrazinones, benzodiazepinones and hydroquinoxalines), through a sequential Pd-catalysed amino double carbonylation/cyclization strategy, using carbon monoxide and structurally different aliphatic diamines as N-nucleophiles. Electronic structure calculations were carried out to rationalize the reaction selectivity for indole-based cyclic molecules with the different amines.

Experimental

Materials and methods

All moisture-sensitive reagents were manipulated under a nitrogen atmosphere using Schlenk and syringe techniques. Glasswn class="Chemical">are was dried in an oven at 200°C and cooled under a nitrogen atmosphere. Palladium(II) acetate, triphenylphosphine, the diamines and the iodoindole substrates (7-iodoindole and 5-iodoindole) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich and were used without further purification. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were recorded on a Bruker Avance 400 spectrometer, operating at 400.13 MHz for 1H NMR and 100.62 MHz for 13C NMR. Chemical shifts (δ) are reported in ppm relative to CDCl3 (7.26 and 77.16 ppm for 1H and 13C, respectively) or tetramethylsilane (TMS). High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analysis was carried out on a Bruker Microtof apparatus, equipped with a selective electrospray ionization (ESI) detector. The specific rotation [α] was measured using an electrical polarimeter (Optical Activity AA-5). Melting points, with uncorrected values, were determined with a capillary microscope electrothermal melting point apparatus. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra were measured in KBr pellets using a Thermo Scientific Nicolet 380 spectrometer.

Computational studies

Quantum chemical calculations were carried out in order to rationalize the reaction selectivity with the different n class="Chemical">amines. The conformations of the different ketocarboxamide intermediates were inspected by performing relaxed potential energy surface scans at the semi-empirical PM3 level, around the dihedrals considered to be more relevant to cyclization. The selected dihedrals were stepped using a step size of 90°. Two different structures of ketocarboxamide intermediate 4b were explored, one containing the NH2 group in the equatorial position and the other with the group substituted in the axial position. Both structures were fully optimized at the density functional theory (DFT) level using the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G(d,p) basis set. Additionally, the structures of the final products, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and 6a, were fully optimized at the same level of theory. All the calculations were performed using Gaussian 03 [52] and Gamess [53] program packages. Graphical representations were obtained with Gaussview and Molden 5.0. The potential energy surface scans with the graphical representations obtained for the conformers are presented in the electronic supplementary material.

General procedure of aminocarbonylation reactions

In a typical reaction, Pd(OAc)2 (2.8 mg, 0.0125 mmol), n class="Chemical">triphenylphosphine (6.56 mg, 0.025 mmol), the substrate (0.5 mmol) and the diamine nucleophile (0.75 mmol) were placed in an autoclave. After three cycles of CO/vacuum, Et3N (0.25 ml) and toluene (5 ml) were added via a cannula. After three cycles of CO/vacuum, the autoclave was pressurized to the desired CO pressure. The reaction was stirred for 24 h at 80°C. Following this, the autoclave was cooled and slowly depressurized. The mixture was then concentrated and evaporated to dryness with the crude being analysed by NMR spectroscopy. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane (20 ml) and washed with brine (3 × 20 ml) and water (3 × 20 ml). The organic phase was dried over Na2SO4, filtered and evaporated to a solid material or to a waxy residue. All compounds were purified by column chromatography (Silicagel 60 (Merck), 0.063–0.200 mm), using EtOAc, EtOAc/n-hexane mixtures or ethanol as the eluent (specified below for each compound).

Characterization of products

(4aS,8aS)-3-(1H-indol-7-yl)-4a,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydroquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (2a)

Rf (70% EtOAc, 30% n class="Chemical">n-hexane) 0.58; brown solid: 57 mg, 43% yield; mp 203–205°C; [α]D20 = +5.5 (c 0.1, CH2Cl2); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz): δ (ppm) = 10.91 (s, 1H), 8.36 (d, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H), 7.78 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.29 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.17 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 6.65 (s, 1H), 6.58 (t, J = 7.4 Hz, 1H), 3.39–3.29 (m, 1H), 3.19–3.10 (m, 1H), 2.49 (d, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H), 2.00 (d, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H), 1.93 (d, J = 11.6 Hz, 1H), 1.84 (d, J = 12.8 Hz, 1H), 1.59–1.32 (m, 4H); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 100.6 MHz): δ (ppm) = 161.4, 158.6, 134.9, 128.9, 126.1, 124.6, 124.5, 119.2, 117.0, 102.7, 63.1, 53.9, 32.3, 30.9, 25.2, 23.8; IR (KBr, ν (cm−1)): 3347, 3186, 1679; HRMS (ESI) m/z: calcd for C16H17N3O [M + H]+ 268.1444; found: 268.1442.

N,N-dimethyl-1H-indole-7-carboxamide (2.1)

Rf (75% CHCl3, 25% EtOAc) 0.26; dn class="Chemical">ark red solid: 25 mg, 15% yield; mp 100–102°C; 1H NMR (TMS, 400 MHz): δ (ppm) = 9.42 (sl, 1H), 7.70 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.27–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.08 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H), 6.54 (dd, J = 3.1, 2.2 Hz, 1H), 3.16 (s, 6H); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 100.6 MHz): δ (ppm) = 170.7, 134.9, 129.2, 125.4, 123.1, 121.5, 118.4, 117.4, 102.4, 39.9–36.1 (br s); elemental analysis: calcd (%) for C11H12N2O (188.2): C 70.2, H 6.43, N 14.88; found C 71.1, H 6.1, N 13.7.

(4aS,8aR)-3-(1H-indol-7-yl)-4a,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydroquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (2b)

Rf (70% EtOAc, 30% n class="Chemical">n-hexane) 0.58; brown solid: 27 mg, 20% yield; mp 180–184°C; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz): δ (ppm) = 10.96 (s, 1H), 8.40 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.78 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.30 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.17 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.15 (br s, 1H), 6.60 (t, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H), 4.12–4.05 (m, 1H), 3.71 (br s, 1H), 2.01–1.90 (m, 1H), 1.86 (br s, 1H), 1.78–1.65 (m, 3H), 1.65–1.54 (m, 1H), 1.46 (m, 2H); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 100.6 MHz): δ (ppm) = 160.8, 158.5, 134.9, 128.9, 125.9, 124.5, 124.5, 119.1, 117.3, 102.6, 57.6, 49.0, 29.8, 28.6, 22.6, 21.3; IR (KBr, ν (cm−1)): 3350, 3177, 1679; HRMS (ESI) m/z: calcd for C16H17N3O [M + H]+ 268.1444; found: 268.1442.

3-(1H-indol-7-yl)-5,6-dihydropyrazin-2(1H)-one (2c)

Rf (EtOAc) 0.54; light brown solid: 25 mg, 23% yield; mp 155–157°C; n class="Chemical">1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz): δ (ppm) = 10.82 (s, 1H), 8.34 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.78 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H), 7.30–7.27 (m, 1H), 7.15 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H), 6.69 (br s, 1H), 6.60–6.57 (m, 1H), 4.04 (t, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H), 3.54–3.48 (m, 2H); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 100.6 MHz): δ (ppm) = 162.4, 157.8, 134.8, 128.9, 126.0, 124.7, 124.6, 119.1, 117.3, 102.7, 48.4, 39.2; IR (KBr, ν (cm−1)): 3323, 1652; HRMS (ESI) m/z: calcd for C12H12N3O [M + H]+ 214.0975; found 214.0975.

3-(1H-indol-7-yl)-6,7-dihydro-1H-1,4-diazepin-2(5H)-one (2d)

Rf (80% EtOAc, 20% n class="Chemical">n-hexane) 0.38; beige solid: 25 mg, 22% yield; mp 173–175°C; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz): δ (ppm) = 10.90 (s, 1H), 7.78 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.66 (d, J = 7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.31 (t, J = 7.4 Hz, 1H), 7.15 (t, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H), 6.80 (s, 1H), 6.60 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 3.93 (br s, 2H), 3.23–3.14 (m, 2H), 2.09–2.03 (m, 2H); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 100.6 MHz): δ (ppm) = 167.8, 167.0, 134.5, 129.0, 125.0, 124.7, 124.7, 119.3, 116.7, 102.5, 48.5, 37.6, 29.1; IR (KBr, ν (cm−1)): 3368, 3187, 1667; HRMS (ESI) m/z: calcd for C13H13N3O [M + H]+ 228.1131; found 228.1132.

N,N′-(propane-1,3-diyl)bis(2-(1H-indol-7-yl)-2-oxoacetamide) (3d)

Rf (80% EtOAc, 20% n class="Chemical">n-hexane) 0.68; light brown solid: 19 mg, 18% yield; mp 157–159°C; 1H NMR (acetone-d6, 400 MHz): δ (ppm) = 11.04 (br, 2H), 8.46 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 2H), 8.27 (br, 2H), 7.99 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.49 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2H), 7.19 (td, J = 7.7, 2.6 Hz, 2H), 6.63 (d, J = 2.4 Hz, 2H), 3.66–3.52 (m, 4H), 2.01–1.95 (m, 1H), 1.82–1.75 (m, 1H); 13C NMR (acetone-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ (ppm) = 190.7, 165.3, 136.0, 130.9, 129.4, 129.2, 127.7, 119.6, 117.8, 103.3, 37.2, 32.7; IR (KBr, ν (cm−1)): 3392, 3276, 1663, 1633; HRMS (ESI) m/z: calcd for C23H20N4NaO4+ [M + Na]+ 439.1377; found 439.1377.

N-(6-aminohexyl)-2-(1H-indol-7-yl)-2-oxoacetamide (4e)

Rf (EtOH) 0.17; brown solid: 89 mg, 62% yield; mp 147–149°C; 1H NMR (n class="Chemical">CDCl3, 400 MHz): δ (ppm) = 10.41 (br s, 1H), 8.80 (d, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H), 7.96 (d, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H), 7.32 (t, J = 5.8 Hz, 1H), 7.23 (br s, 1H), 7.20 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 6.65–6.60 (m, 1H), 3.45 (q, J = 14.8 Hz, 2H), 1.71–1.64 (m, 4H), 1.51–1.45 (m, 4H), 1.30–1.18 (m, 4H); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 100.6 MHz): δ (ppm) = 188.1, 162.9, 136.0, 132.2, 129.6, 128.8, 125.6, 119.5, 116.9, 103.3, 39.4, 29.3, 26.6; IR (KBr, ν (cm−1)): 3429, 1670, 1633; HRMS (ESI) m/z: calcd for C16H21N3O2 [M + H]+ 288.1707; found 288.1706.

(4aS,8aS)-3-(1H-indol-5-yl)-4a,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydroquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (6a)

Rf (70% EtOAc, 30% n class="Chemical">n-hexane) 0.51; beige solid: 59 mg, 44% yield; mp 147–149°C; [α]D20 = +2.25 (c 0.6, CH2Cl2); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz): δ (ppm) = 8.34 (s, 1H), 8.29 (s, 1H), 7.78 (dd, J = 8.6, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.35 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 1H), 7.17 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H), 6.60–6.56 (m, 1H), 6.30 (s, 1H), 3.25–3.19 (m, 2H), 2.45 (d, J = 11.8 Hz, 1H), 2.01–1.76 (m, 4H), 1.53–1.38 (m, 3H); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 100.6 MHz): δ (ppm) = 162.1, 158.9, 137.2, 127.7, 127.2, 124.9, 122.9, 122.8, 110.8, 104.0, 63.1, 54.2, 32.1, 31.2, 25.3, 23.9; IR (KBr, ν (cm−1)): 3403, 3269, 1675; HRMS (ESI) m/z: calcd for C16H17N3O [M + H]+ 268.1444; found: 268.1442.

Results and discussion

As a starting point, the amino double n class="Chemical">carbonylation/cyclization reaction of 7-iodoindole was investigated (1) with the cycloaliphatic diamine (1S,2S)-(+)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (a), in the presence of CO and a Pd(0) catalyst formed in situ by the addition of palladium(II) acetate to triphenylphosphine (PPh3). Following a standard procedure, the substrate 1 and the diamine nucleophile a were introduced in the autoclave, with the palladium precursor, the phosphine ligand and triethylamine (Et3N) used as a base (scheme 2).

Scheme 2.

Pd-catalysed amino double carbonylation/cyclization of 7-iodoindole (1), using (1S,2S)-(+)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (a) as the N-nucleophile.

Pd-catalysed amino double n class="Chemical">carbonylation/cyclization of 7-iodoindole (1), using (1S,2S)-(+)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (a) as the N-nucleophile.

The reaction was initially performed in dimethylformamide (n class="Chemical">DMF), at 100°C and 10 bar CO, using an excess of iodoindole substrate with respect to the diamine (1/a molar ratio = 2 : 1) (scheme 3). Under these conditions, a full conversion in 24 h was observed by 1H NMR analysis of the crude reaction mixture. However, besides a mixture of the expected carboxamide and ketocarboxamide products, the formation of N,N-dimethyl-1H-indole-7-carboxamide (2.1) was observed as a side-product (15% isolated yield), which results from DMF in situ decomposition [34,54]. This problem was overcome by replacing DMF with toluene in the following experiments. Nevertheless, using toluene under the same reaction conditions (10 bar CO, 100°C, 0.5 eq diamine), the target cyclized product 2a was barely formed, with the dicarboxamide derivative 3a being identified as the major product [34]. The reaction was then performed using an excess of diamine with respect to the iodoindole substrate (1/a molar ratio = 1 : 1.5). However, the dicarboxamide derivative 3a remained as a major product. An increase in CO pressure from 10 to 30 bar (keeping all other parameters unchanged) resulted in a substantial increase in the target cyclic compound 2a, evidenced by the relative intensification of the 1H NMR signals at δ = 8.36 ppm (Ar–H6) and δ = 10.91 ppm (Ar–NH), and by the 13C NMR signals at δ = 161.4 ppm and δ = 158.6 ppm, typical of C=N and C=O, respectively.

Scheme 3.

Optimization of the reaction conditions (solvent, temperature, pressure).

Finally, the decrease in temperature to 80°C resulted in almost exclusive formation of the target product 2a, showing that the n class="Chemical">combination of a moderate CO pressure (30 bar), a temperature of 80°C and diamine excess (substrate/diamine molar ratio = 1 : 1.5) is crucial to achieve the predominant formation of 2a, resulting from the cyclization of the amino-ketocarboxamide intermediate via an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution/elimination reaction between the free NH2 group and the keto-functionality. It is worth nothing that the amino-ketocarboxamide intermediate, i.e. the ketocarboxamide with a pendant amino group, could not be detected in the NMR spectra of the crude reaction mixture, which means that the cyclization reaction toward 2a is highly favoured using diamine a as the nucleophile.

In order to demonstrate the synthetic potential of this sequential double amino n class="Chemical">carbonylation/cyclization strategy, the procedure was applied to other aliphatic diamines and to a differently substituted iodoindole substrate (5-iodoindole (5)), under the previously optimized conditions. After work-up, the target products were isolated and purified by column chromatography in silica gel using ethyl acetate/n-hexane mixtures as the eluent. The results are presented in table 1.

Table 1.

Pd-catalysed aminocarbonylation/cyclization of iodoindoles using aliphatic diamines as nucleophiles.a

entry	substrate	diamine	major productb
1
2
3
4
5			—c
6

aReaction conditions: substrate (0.5 mmol), diamine (0.75 mmol), Pd(OAc)2 (0.0125 mmol), PPh3 (0.025 mmol), Et3N (0.25 ml), toluene (5 ml); T = 80°C, PCO = 30 bar, t = 24 h.

bIsolated yields.

cKetocarboxamide 4e was obtained (62% isolated yield).

Pd-catalysed aminon class="Chemical">carbonylation/cyclization of iodoindoles using aliphatic diamines as nucleophiles.a

aReaction n class="Chemical">conditions: substrate (0.5 mmol), diamine (0.75 mmol), Pd(OAc)2 (0.0125 mmol), PPh3 (0.025 mmol), Et3N (0.25 ml), toluene (5 ml); T = 80°C, PCO = 30 bar, t = 24 h.

The Pd-catalysed diaminon class="Chemical">carbonylation of 7-iodoindole (1) was performed using the diastereomeric cycloaliphatic diamines (1S,2S)-(+)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (a) and (1S,2R)-cis-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (b), as well as the linear aliphatic diamines such as ethane-1,2-diamine (c), propane-1,3-diamine (d) and hexane-1,6-diamine (e) as the N-nucleophiles. The reactions using diamines a, c, d and e proceeded with ca. 100% conversion, as demonstrated by 1H NMR and 13C NMR analysis of the crude reaction's mixtures, which showed the shift and disappearance of the proton and carbon resonance signals at δ = 8.18 ppm (Ar–NH) ppm and at δ = 76.5 ppm (C–I), respectively.

When the cyclic diamine a was used as the n class="Chemical">nucleophile, the reaction proceeded with high selectivity for the target cyclic compound 2a, this being isolated with a 43% yield (table 1, entry 1). However, the reaction with the cis diastereoisomer b gave significantly lower conversion (56%), with the cyclic product 2b being isolated with only a 20% yield (table 1, entry 2). The different yields observed with the two diastereoisomers were further analysed on the basis of computational studies (see below). The use of less rigid linear diamines c and d, containing aliphatic chains with two or three carbon atoms, respectively, led also to ca. 100% conversions. Nevertheless, in these cases, a complex mixture of compounds was obtained from which the target cyclization products 2c (23%) and 2d (22%) were isolated (table 1, entries 3 and 4). Moreover, the formation of dimeric indole carboxamides and ketocarboxamides as secondary products was confirmed by NMR analysis of the crude reaction mixtures, suggesting that, in these cases, the mono-ketoamide intermediates might undergo a second carbonylation of the free amine, with insertion of an additional iodoindole moiety. However, it was only possible to isolate the bis-ketocarboxamide 3d with a 18% yield (figure 1). From these results, we conclude that the diamine structure has a significant influence on the reaction selectivity, with the cyclization being favoured with the more rigid cyclic diamine (a) and less favoured with linear diamines. In the presence of 1,6-diaminohexane (e), the reaction is highly selective towards the double aminocarbonylation, with ketocarboxamide 4e (figure 1) being predominantly formed and isolated with a 62% yield (table 1, entry 5). However, in this case, the subsequent intramolecular cyclization does not occur, probably because of a less favourable formation of a highly unstable 10-member. Furthermore, analysis of the crude reaction mixture by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy indicated the residual presence of dimeric ketocarboxamides, which were not isolated.

Figure 1.

Isolated side products.

The reaction was further expanded to 5-iodoindole (5), using n class="Chemical">diamine a as the nucleophile, and, similar to that observed with 7-iodoindole, the cyclic product 6a, which was the result of the nucleophilic attack of the amine group to the keto-carbon atom, was obtained with a 44% isolated yield (table 1, entry 6).

Computational studies: rationalization of the reaction's selectivity

Quantum chemical calculations were carried out to investigate the cyclization step and rationalize the selectivity for the cyclic products with the different n class="Chemical">diamines. The conformations of the ketocarboxamide intermediates 4a and 4c were examined by performing relaxed potential energy surface scans at the semi-empirical PM3 level, around the most relevant dihedrals to the cyclization step (figure 2).

Figure 2.

Geometries of ketocarboxamide derivatives 4a and 4c, with an indication of the scanned dihedrals. Colour code: grey refers to carbon, red to oxygen, blue to nitrogen and white to hydrogen.

Geometries of ketocarboxamide derivatives 4a and 4c, with an indication of the scanned dihedrals. n class="Chemical">Colour code: grey refers to carbon, red to oxygen, blue to nitrogen and white to hydrogen.

The potential energy surface (PES) obtained shows a wide range of conformations with small energy differences. Figure 3 shows the PES obtained for 4a, while that n class="Chemical">corresponding to 4c is included in figure S.1 in the electronic supplementary material. The higher flexibility of diamine c leads to an increased number of possible conformations and a higher energy penalty for bringing together the groups involved in the cyclization step (NH2 and CO) (figure S.1 in the electronic supplementary material).

Figure 3.

PES of ketocarboxamide intermediate 4a, indicating the lowest energy conformer (ΔE = 0 kJ mol−1) and the lowest energy conformer with d(NH2–CO) < 3 Å, favouring cyclization. PES (blue line) and NH2–CO distance (red line) as a function of the scan step (step size = 90°). At each point, all the internal coordinates were relaxed at the PM3 level. Colour code: grey refers to carbon, red to oxygen, blue to nitrogen and white to hydrogen atoms.

PES of ketocarboxamide intermediate 4a, indicating the lowest energy n class="Chemical">conformer (ΔE = 0 kJ mol−1) and the lowest energy conformer with d(NH2–CO) < 3 Å, favouring cyclization. PES (blue line) and NH2–CO distance (red line) as a function of the scan step (step size = 90°). At each point, all the internal coordinates were relaxed at the PM3 level. Colour code: grey refers to carbon, red to oxygen, blue to nitrogen and white to hydrogen atoms.

An estimation of the energy barrier for the cyclization was obtained n class="Chemical">considering, in each case, the energy difference between the global minimum and the lowest energy conformations, in which the groups involved in cyclization are closer to each other (d(NNH–CCO) ≤ 3 Å).

The results show that the lowest energy conformers n class="Chemical">are, for the two ketocarboxamide intermediates, those with the more distended backbones in which the groups involved in the cyclization step are away from each other. In comparison with the global minimum, the proximity of the NH2 and CO groups requires a change in Φ1 from 150° to −30° and Φ2 from −60° to −150° in 4a; and a change from −30° to 60° in Φ1 in 4c. In this case, Φ2 and Φ3 remain unaltered at −90° and 60°, respectively. These rotations lower the NH2–CO distance from 5.29 to 2.91 Å in 4a and from 3.78 to 2.99 Å in 4c. An estimation of the folding penalty can thus be obtained by considering the energy difference between the global minimum and the lowest energy conformations in which the NH2 and CO groups are close to each other. Accordingly, an estimation of the energy barrier for cyclization is 15.3 kJ mol−1 in 4a and 49.3 kJ mol−1 in 4c. These findings are in agreement with the results obtained experimentally in which the higher isolated yield was obtained for the cyclic product resulting from the reactions of the iodoindoles with the more rigid cyclic diamine a (43% isolated yield of 2a), while the reaction between 7-iodoindole and diamine c afforded the cyclic product 2c with just 23% isolated yield (table 1, entry 3).

Another aspect that we explored, using PES scans, was the viability of the cyclization process to occur from 4b (cis diastereoisomer) (scheme 4). To this end, and following the procedure previously described, the results gathered from the PES at the PM3 level for 4a and 4b were n class="Chemical">compared (see figure S.2 in the electronic supplementary material). It was found that for 4a (trans diastereoisomer) the folding of the structure has an energy penalty of ca 15 kJ mol−1, while the value rises to 41 kJ mol−1 for the cis diastereoisomer. This result is in good agreement with the experimental results, in which higher isolated yields were obtained with the trans diastereoisomer (43% of 2a) than with the cis diastereoisomer (20% of 2b) (scheme 4).

Scheme 4.

Effect of diamine stereoconfiguration in Pd-catalysed amino double carbonylation/cyclization of 7-iodoindole (1), using (1S,2S)-(+)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (a) or (1S,2R)-cis-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (b) as nucleophiles.

Effect of diamine stereon class="Chemical">configuration in Pd-catalysed amino double carbonylation/cyclization of 7-iodoindole (1), using (1S,2S)-(+)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (a) or (1S,2R)-cis-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (b) as nucleophiles.

Still regarding the cyclization of the cis diastereoisomer town class="Chemical">ards the final cyclic product 2b, further studies were performed in order to evaluate and determine the most favourable position of the NH2 group involved in the cyclization process. Thus, two different structures of ketocarboxamide intermediate 4b, one containing the free NH2 group in the equatorial position and the other with this group in the axial position, were optimized at the DFT level, using the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G(d,p) basis set (figure 4). Full optimization showed that the structure with the free NH2 group in the axial position (figure 4a) is (50 kJ mol−1) more stable than that with the free amine group in the equatorial position (figure 4b). Both structures show the possibility of hydrogen bond occurrence between the indole NH and the CO groups, with the orientation of both groups and the donor–acceptor distance being slightly more favourable for the cis diastereoisomer (4b) with the NH2 group in the axial position than when it is in the equatorial position. This structure additionally benefits from the possibility of establishing another H-bond between the indole NH and the NH2 groups of (1S,2S)-(+)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (a). The parameters characterizing each H-bond are depicted in figure 4.

Figure 4.

Optimized geometries at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of the cis diastereoisomer (4b) with the NH2 group in the axial position (a) and in the equatorial position (b). Colour code: grey refers to carbon, red to oxygen, blue to nitrogen and white to hydrogen atoms.

Optimized geometries at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of the cis diastereoisomer (4b) with the NH2 group in the axial position (a) and in the equatorial position (b). n class="Chemical">Colour code: grey refers to carbon, red to oxygen, blue to nitrogen and white to hydrogen atoms.

Characterization of the final products

The structures of the new indole-based n class="Chemical">imine–amide cyclic compounds (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 6a) (table 1) were fully optimized at the DFT level, using the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The resulting structures are presented in figure 5.

Figure 5.

Optimized geometries at the B3LYP/6–31G(d,p) level of the final products 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and 6a. Right column shows the molecules oriented with the indol moiety in plane. Colour code: grey refers to carbon, red to oxygen, blue to nitrogen and white to hydrogen atoms.

Optimized geometries at the B3LYP/6–31G(d,p) level of the final products 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and 6a. Right column shows the molecules oriented with the n class="Chemical">indol moiety in plane. Colour code: grey refers to carbon, red to oxygen, blue to nitrogen and white to hydrogen atoms.

The structures of the cyclic products are chn class="Chemical">aracterized, mostly, by an almost planar arrangement of the imine–amide cyclic moieties relative to the indole group. Moreover, the possibility of a hydrogen bond between the indole NH group and the oxygen atom of the imine-amide moiety is demonstrated. The values of the dihedral angles that define the orientation of the imine–amide cyclic moieties relative to the indole group are compiled in table 2, as well as the bond orders and the parameters characterizing the H-bonds established in each molecule. Figure 6 includes the atom numbering of compound 2c.

Table 2.

Structural parameters characterizing the optimized structures of the cyclic products presented in figure 5. Atom numbering is given in figure 6.

	structure
	2a	2b	2c	2d	6a
dihedrals
C5C6C16N20/°	24.8	−22.2	25.9	−28.3	−16.0
C6C16N20C22/°	−173.6	176.2	−173.3	175.3	178.7
C16N20C22C21/°	36.6	−36.5	35.2	−75.7	35.7
C5C6C16C17/°	−152.9	155.3	−151.9	148.7	161.4
C6C16C17N19/°	152.9	−156.3	153.6	−121.5	164.3
H-bonds
α(N14H15O18)/°	141.9	142.2	141.4	142.5	—
d(H15….O18)/Å	1.79	1.78	1.80	1.85	—
bond order
C6–C16	1.018	1.017	1.017	1.019	1.037
C16–N20	1.691	1.686	1.712	1.740	1.703
C16–C17	0.898	0.902	0.900	0.870	0.894
C17–N19	1.141	1.146	1.141	1.157	1.092

Figure 6.

Atom numbering for the common part of the cyclic products optimized at the DFT level.

Atom numbering for the common pn class="Chemical">art of the cyclic products optimized at the DFT level.

Structural parameters chn class="Chemical">aracterizing the optimized structures of the cyclic products presented in figure 5. Atom numbering is given in figure 6.

The results presented in table 2 show that compound 2d, with a seven-atom ring, is the one with a more pronounced deviation from plann class="Chemical">arity. By contrast, 6a is the most planar, thus favouring some degree of electron delocalization to the C6–C16 bond and increasing the respective bond order. In this structure, the different position of the imine–amide cyclic moieties in the indole group prevents the occurrence of intramolecular H-bonds, present in all the other structures.

Regarding structures 2a and 2b, which result from n class="Chemical">ketocarboxamide intermediates 4a and 4b, respectively, despite the similarity in the parameters reported in table 2, figure 5 shows that the orientation of the cyclohexyl ring relatively to the imine–amide groups is quite different. In fact, structure 2a, in which the NH groups are both in the equatorial positions, is globally a much more planar structure than 2b, and ca. 4 kJ mol−1 more stable than the latter.

Conclusion

We have implemented a new one-pot Pd-catalysed aminon class="Chemical">carbonylation/intramolecular cyclization methodology, which provided an efficient, atom-economic and versatile synthetic strategy to gain access to a family of new cyclic/bicyclic indole-based imine–carboxamide derivatives with unprecedented structures. Our investigation shows that indole-based bis-N-heterocycles (hydropyrazinones, benzodiazepinones and hydroquinoxalines) are obtained under optimized conditions towards double carbonylation (PCO = 30 bar, T = 80°C, iodoindole/diamine ratio = 1 : 1.5, toluene as solvent), via an intramolecular cyclization of the ketocarboxamide intermediates, by the nucleophilic addition/elimination of the terminal amine to the keto-carbon atom, which is favoured using the rigid cyclic diamine (1S,2S)-(+)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (a) as the nucleophile. Quantum chemical calculations showed that, using cyclic diamine (a) as the nucleophile, the lowest energy conformers, in which the NH2 and CO groups are close to each other, have lower energy barriers for cyclization (less than 18 kJ mol−1). Instead, if a linear aliphatic diamine is used, the energy barrier for cyclization increased to 49 kJ mol−1, which corroborates the low isolated yield obtained experimentally.

The versatility of this novel sequential synthetic approach is demonstrated by the set of n class="Chemical">aliphatic diamines and the iodo-substituted indole derivatives in different positions. Therefore, it can be regarded as a promising tool for preparation of value-added indole-based molecules, whose bioactivity is currently under evaluation.