Regioselective C-H sulfenylation of N-sulfonyl protected 7-azaindoles promoted by TBAI: a rapid synthesis of 3-thio-7-azaindoles.

This paper describes the regioselective C-3 sulfenylation of N-sulfonyl protected 7-azaindoles with sulfonyl chlorides. In this transformation, dual roles of TBAI serving as both promoter and desulfonylation reagent have been demonstrated. The reaction proceeded smoothly under simple conditions to afford 3-thio-7-azaindoles in moderate to good yields with broad substrate scopes. This protocol refrains from using transition-metal catalysts, strong oxidants or bases, and shows its practical synthetic value in organic synthesis. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Introduction

Indole core structures are the most important nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocycles, which are widely distributed in organic synthesis,[1] medicinal chemistry,[2] natural products,[3] pharmaceutical agents,[4] and others.[5] Among them, 7-azaindoles and their synthetic analogues which possess the same [4.3]-bicyclic indene architecture as indoles (Fig. 1), have become one of the most widely studied organic templates, in part probably because of their prevalence in many bio-active structures[6] and functional molecules[7] (Fig. 1a–c).

Fig. 1

Biological activity and material applications of 7-azaindole derivatives.

Due to the significance of such sub-structures in various fields, chemists are showing an increased interest in developing effective methods to form 7-azaindole derivatives.[8] Traditionally, 7-azaindole derivatives are synthesized starting from aminopyridines through the construction of pyrrole ring.[8] However, these methodologies suffer from some drawbacks such as toxic and foul-smelling reagents, prolonged reaction steps and low atom efficiency, which limit their wide applications. With the aim to functionalize the 7-azaindoles in a mild and atom-economical manner, transition-metal catalyzed C–H bonds activation has been described as an attractive strategy (Scheme 1a).[10] For example, Sames,[11] Fagnou,[12] DeBoef,[13] Das,[14] Cao,[15] and Laha[16] reported independently the palladium-catalyzed C-2 arylation of 7-azaindole by using aryl iodide or benzene as coupling partners under different conditions. In addition, the N-oxide-assisted palladium-catalyzed C6–H arylation of 7-azaindoles has also been achieved by Fagnou and co-workers.[12] Das's group[17] realized the oxidative C3–H alkenylation of 7-azaindoles under palladium catalysis. However, the use of transition-metals may cause potential contamination of the products, which is particularly significant in the pharmaceutical industry and advanced functional materials. Among others, the C–H bonds activation reaction under transition-metal-free conditions has emerged as promising protocols because of their environmental friendliness. For instance, Liu[18] and co-workers developed a regioselective deoxygenative C–H thiolation of 7-azaindole N-oxides with I2/PEG as the efficient and reusable catalytic system (Scheme 1b). Some other specific examples on C-3 sulfenylation of free 7-azaindole have also been achieved by Zhang,[19] Wang,[20] Liu[21] and Sinha.[22] Despite this progress, direct C-3 sulfenylation of N-sulfonyl protected 7-azaindoles using TBAI (tetrabutylammonium iodide) both as the promoter and as the desulfonylation reagent has not yet been documented. Based on our ongoing interest in the formation of C–S bond,[23] herein, we want to disclose the regioselective C–H bond sulfenylation of N-sulfonyl protected 7-azaindoles promoted by TBAI (Scheme 1c).

Scheme 1

Regioseletive C–H functionalization of 7-azaindoles.

Results and discussion

At the outset of this investigation, we commenced our study on the model reaction of N-Ts protected 7-azaindole (1a) with tosyl chloride (2a) to optimize various reaction parameters. The results were summarized in Table 1. Initially, C-3 sulfenylation took place in the presence of TBAI (3 equiv.) in DMF under air, affording product 3a in 35% yield (entry 1, Table 1). The molecular structure of 3a was confirmed by NMR and HRMS spectra. Inspired by this result, various additives such as NaI, KI, I2 and TBAB were screened (entries 2–5, Table 1), however, no better results were observed with these experiments. The effect of solvent was also examined, and the results showed that DMAc gave lower yield of 3a (entry 6 vs. entry 1, Table 1) while no desired product was observed with 1,4-dioxane, acetonitrile, toluene and DCE (entries 7–10, Table 1). Gratifyingly, increasing the reaction temperature resulted in a significant improving of the product yield (entries 11–13, Table 1) and the highest yield (79%) product 3a was observed when the reaction was conducted at 120 °C for 18 h. The reaction time was also examined (entries 14 and 15, Table 1), and 6 h was found to be the best choice. The nitrogen protected reaction was also carried out, and a similar result was obtained in this reaction compared with the reaction in air (entry 17 vs. entry 15, 83% vs. 86%, Table 1). Based on the detailed investigations, we confirmed that the optimal conditions: TBAI (3.0 equiv.) as the additive in DMF at 120 °C under air atmosphere for 6 h (entry 15, Table 1).

Optimization of the reaction conditionsa

Entry	Additive	Solvent	Yieldb (%)
1	TBAI	DMF	35
2	NaI	DMF	17
3	KI	DMF	14
4	I2	DMF	N.R.
5	TBAB	DMF	N.R.
6	TBAI	DMAc	23
7	TBAI	1,4-Dioxane	N.R.
8	TBAI	Acetonitrile	N.R.
9	TBAI	Toluene	N.R.
10	TBAI	DCE	N.R.
11c	TBAI	DMF	72
12d	TBAI	DMF	79
13e	TBAI	DMF	82
14d,f	TBAI	DMF	84
15d,g	TBAI	DMF	86
16d,h	TBAI	DMF	80
17d,g,i	TBAI	DMF	83

Reaction conditions: 1a (0.15 mmol), 2a (0.45 mmol), additive (3.0 equiv.) and solvent (1 mL), 80 °C, 18 h.

Isolated yields.

Run at 100 °C.

Run at 120 °C.

Run at 140 °C.

Run for 12 h.

Run for 6 h.

Run for 3 h.

Run under N2 atmosphere. N.R. = no reaction.

Based on the optimized conditions presented above, we subsequently focused on examining the generality and limitations of this protocol (Tables 2 and 3). Firstly, various protecting groups were surveyed for this transformation, and the results were summarized in Table 2. Both aryl sulfonyl and alkyl sulfonyl protected 7-azaindole underwent the reaction smoothly to provide the corresponding products in moderate to good yields (3a – 1–6, 54–86%, Table 2). Generally, different type of protecting groups have some appreciable influence on the outcome of the reaction, and tosyl group was confirmed as the best one. Next, a wide range of substituted aryl sulfonyl chlorides was subjected to the reaction with N-Ts protected 7-azaindole (1a) to produce the corresponding product 3b–3n in moderate to good yields (65–96%). Notably, benzenesulfonyl chloride and the monosubstituted (Me, OMe, t-Bu) benzenesulfonyl chlorides have proven to be suitable substrates for the reaction to provide the corresponding products (3b–c, 3g and 3j) in synthetic acceptable yields (73–91%). Substrates bearing electron-withdrawing substituents also resulted in good yields. Halides such as F, Cl, and Br afforded the desired products in 80–96% yields (3d–e, 3h–i, 3k–l), even strong electron-withdrawing groups (CF3) gave quite good yield of 3f (93%). Aryl sulfonyl chlorides containing a sterically hindered groups, bicyclic moiety naphthalene and substituted pyridine ring showed good compatibility (3m–p, 62–87%). Ethanesulfonyl chloride and cyclopropanesulfonyl chloride reacted as well to give the desired products 3q and 3r with yields of 52% and 46%, respectively. These results greatly expanded the substrate scope of this reaction.

Substrate scope of protecting groups and sulfonyl chlorides for the sulfenylation reactionsa,b,c

Reaction conditions: 1 (0.15 mmol), 2 (0.45 mmol), TBAI (3 equiv.), DMF 1 mL, 120 °C, 6 h, under air.

Isolated yields.

R1 = p-tolyl for products 3b–3r.

Substrate scope of N-Ts protected 7-azaindoles for the sulfenylation reactionsa,b

Reaction conditions: 1 (0.15 mmol), 2a (0.45 mmol), TBAI (3 equiv.), DMF 1 mL, 120 °C, 6 h, under air.

Isolated yields.

The compatibility of 7-azaindole derivatives was subsequently evaluated in this transformation (Table 3). Not surprisingly, the reaction of substrate 2a with several substituted N-Ts protected 7-azaindoles furnished the corresponding products (4a–d) in moderate yields. It is noteworthy that although relatively low yields were obtained when the halogenated 7-azaindoles were subjected to the reaction, it may provide a significant opportunity for their further transformation by transition-metal-catalyzed coupling reactions, especially in pharmacological demand.

Considering the experimental results and previously reports,[24] a plausible mechanism was proposed and illustrated in Scheme 2. We envisioned that the formation of sulfonyl iodide A by anion exchange of sulfonyl chloride and TBAI would be the initial step of this transformation. Then, sulfonyl iodide A is continuously reduced into the intermediates B,[21,25] which undergoes homolytic cleavage to produce the active sulfur radical C.[24] Subsequently, the addition of sulfur radical to 7-azaindole occurs chemoselectively and generates a key intermediate D, which captured by the iodine radical from intermediates B affording intermediate E. Next, HI elimination takes place to provide 3-thio-7-azaindole F, which readily undergoes N-desulfonylation[16] to provide the desired products 3.

Scheme 2

Plausible reaction mechanism.

Conclusions

In summary, we have described an efficient approach for the production of 3-thio-7-azaindoles via C–H bond activation under transition-metal-free conditions. In this protocol, dual roles of TBAI serving as both promoter and desulfonylation reagent have been demonstrated, and a series of 3-thio-7-azaindoles were obtained in moderate to good yields with high regioselectivity and good functional group tolerance. Further studies on extending the substrate scope and the application of the obtained products are underway, and the results will be forthcoming soon.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts to declare.