Synthesis of 3-Tetrazolylmethyl-4H-Chromen-4-Ones Via Ugi-Azide Reaction Catalyzed by ZnO Nanoparticles ^†

Abstract

A serie of novel 3-tetrazolylmethyl-4H-chromen-4-ones were synthesized via Ugi-azide reaction under mild ultrasound-assisted conditions (room temperature, EtOH, 10% mol ZnO nanoparticles). The products containing two privileged heterocyclic frameworks: 1,5- disubstituted-1H-tetrazole and 3-substituted-4H-chromen chromen-4-ones, which are present in a variety of bioactive compounds and commercial drugs

1. Introduction

Chromones are benzoannelated γ-pyrone (4H-chromen-4-one, 4H-1-benzopyran-4-one) heterocycle present in numerous natural and synthetic products is recognized as a privileged structure and a useful template for the design of novel compounds with potential pharmacological interest. This scaffold showing interesting biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-microbial activities (Figure 1) [1,2,3].

Additionally, 1,5-disubstituted-tetrazoles (1,5-DS-T) are bioisosteres of the cis-amide bond in peptides due to their similar physochemical properties in living systems. mimicking their bioactive conformations, for this reason are a privileged class of heterocycles of high interest in medicinal chemistry [4].

In this context, the interest of synthetized of bis-heterocycles containing the 1,5-DS-T moiety lies in their pharmacophoric features and in the ability to improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties like the increase of metabolic resistance and decrease of toxicity [5].

The main rutes for the synthesis of 1,5-DS-T are the [2 + 3] intermolecular cycloaddition and the Ugi-azide (UA) reaction in which the carboxylic acid is replaced by hydrazoic acid in the classical Ugi reaction [6].

The isocyanide-based multicomponent reaction (IMCR) is a powerful tool that plays a central role in the synthesis of heterocycles. In this context, the UA reaction coupling with suitably post-condensation processes have been used to access tetrazoles containing heterocyclic scaffolds allows increase structural complexity [4].

In recent years ultrasound irradiation (USI) has gained more attention in modern synthetic chemistry. The reactions by USI can be accelerates the rate of reaction and reduce reaction times at frecuently took place at ambient temperature in mild conditions. The use of USI in isocyanide-based multicomponent reaction (IMCR) is little reported [7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14].

In this work, we describe the first ultrasound assisted synthesis of 3-tetrazolylmethyl-4H-chromen-4-ones via the UA reaction under mild conditions. The change of indium trichloride as catalyst by ZnO nanoparticles is an useful alternative with low cost to carry out the reaction under mild conditions (Scheme 1) [15,16].

2. Results and Discussion

In order to develop conditions for the UA reaction, we started the synthesis of 3-tetrazolylmethyl-4H-chromen-4-ones analogue 5a by reacting 3-formylchromone, benzylamine, cyclohexyl isocyanide (8) and azidotrimethylsilane (9). Initially we performed the UA under classical conditions in MeOH at room temperature, the 5a product was generated in 37% after 12 h (Entry 1,

Table 1. Reaction optimizing conditions 5a.

Entry a	Solvent b	Aditive c	T (°C)	Time (h)	Yield (%) d
1	methanol	—	rt	12	37
2	ethanol	—	rt	12	33
3	isopropanol	—	rt	12	46
4	isopropanol	ZnO	rt USI	1	45
5	isopropanol	ZnO	rt USI	4	78
6	isopropanol	ZnO	60 USI	4	76
7	isopropanol	NH4Cl	rt USI	6	39
8	isopropanol	TsOH	rt USI	6	49

^a Reactions performed with 1.0 equiv. 3-formylchromone, 1.0 equiv. of benzylamine , 1.0 equiv. of cyclohexyl isocyanide (8) and 1.0 equiv. of azidotrimethylsilane (9). ^b [0.5 M] ^c 10 % mol. ^d Isolated yield. r.t. = room temperature.

). When the reaction was performed in ethanol as solvent the product 5a was generated in 33% after 12 h (Entry 2). Changing the solvent to isopropanol better results were obtained, 5a was obtained in 46%. The use of USI (Entries 4–5) resulted in better yields of 45% and 78%, after 1 and 4 h, respectively. Performing the reaction at 60 °C the yield was of 76%, the reaction proceeds well at room temperature (Entry 6). The use of NH₄Cl and TsOH as catalysts resulted in lower yields of 39% and 49%, respectively (Entries 8–9, Table 1).

Using our optimized conditions, we synthesized the series of 3-tetrazolylmethyl-4H-chromen-4-ones (5a–e) shown in Scheme 2. The versatility of the developed methodology was examined using different amines as benzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl, phenethyl, 4-methoxyphenethyl and cyclohexyl (8a–f). The respective products 5a–f were obtained in moderate to good yields (40–79%).

A plausible reaction mechanism is proposed in the Scheme 3 and two suggested pathways for the activation of the imine are presented.

3. Experimental Section

3.1. General Information, Instrumentation, and Chemicals

¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were acquired on Bruker Avance III spectrometers (500 or 400 MHz). The solvent used was deuterated chloroform (CDCl₃). Chemical shifts are reported in parts per million (δ/ppm). The internal reference for ¹H NMR spectra is trimethylsilane at 0.0 ppm. The internal reference for ¹³C NMR spectra is CDCl₃ at 77.0 ppm. Coupling constants are reported in Hertz (J/Hz). Multiplicities of the signals are reported using the standard abbreviations: singlet (s), doublet (d), triplet (t), quartet (q), and multiplet (m). NMR spectra were analyzed using the MestreNova software version 10.0.1–14719. IR spectra were acquired on a Perkin Elmer 100 spectrometer using an Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) method with neat compounds. The absorbance peaks are reported in reciprocal centimeters (υ_max/cm⁻¹). Reaction progress was monitored by Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) on precoated silica-gel 60 F₂₅₄ plates and the spots were visualized under UV light at 254 or 365 nm. Mixtures of hexane with ethyl acetate (EtOAc) were used to run TLC and for measuring retention factors (R_f). Flash column chromatography was performed using silica gel (230–400 mesh) and mixtures of hexane with EtOAc in different proportions (v/v) as the mobile phase. All reagents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich and were used without further purification. Chemical names and drawings were obtained using the ChemBioDraw Ultra 13.0.2.3020 software package. The purity for all the synthesized products (up to 99%) was assessed by NMR.

3.2. Synthesis and Characterization of the 3-Tetrazolylmethyl-4H-Chromen-4-Ones 5a–e

General procedure 1 (GP1): 3-formylchromone (6) (1.0 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) in anhydrous isopropanol with ZnO nanoparticles (10% mol) at room temperature, corresponding amine (7) (1.0 mmol, 1.0 equiv.), cyclohexyl isocyanides (8) (1.0 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) and azidotrimethylsilane (9) (1.0 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) were sequentially added in a 10 mL sealed vial. The resulting mixture was sonicated at room temperature (45 kHz) for 4 h. Then, the solvent was removed to dryness and the crude was purified by silica-gel column chromatography to afford the products 5a–f.

3-((benzylamino)(1-cyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (5a)

According to GP1, 3-formylchromone (40 mg, 0.230 mmol), ZnO (1.87 mg, 0.22 mmol), benzylamine (25.0 µL, 0.230 mmol), azidotrimethylsilane (29.0 µL, 0.230 mmol) and cyclohexylisocyanide (30.0 µL, 0.230 mmol) were combined to afford compound 5a (64.0 mg, 67%) as yellow solid; Rf = 0.41 (hexanes-AcOEt, 7:3 v/v) ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.30 (s, 1 H), 8.19 (dd, J = 8.0, 1.4 Hz, 1 H), 7.69 (ddd, J = 8.6, 7.1, 1.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.48–7.40 (m, 2 H), 7.22–7.15 (m, 2 H), 6.83–6.76 (m, 1 H), 6.73–6.68 (m, 2 H), 4.98 (d, J = 7.1 Hz, 1 H, NH), 4.75–4.66 (m, 1 H), 2.09–1.88 (m, 8 H), 1.51–1.38 (m, 2 H); 13C-NMR (126 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 176.7, 156.4, 155.3, 154.5, 138.6, 134.1, 129.0, 128.7, 128.3, 127.6, 127.2, 125.8, 125.5, 118.3, 58.0, 51.3, 46.8, 33.1, 32.8, 25.3, 24.9.

3-((1-cyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)((4-methoxybenzyl)amino)methyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (5b)

According to GP1, 3-formylchromone (40 mg, 0.230 mmol), ZnO (1.87 mg, 0.22 mmol), 4-methoxybenzylamine (30.0 µL, 0.230 mmol), azidotrimethylsilane (29.0 µL, 0.230 mmol) and cyclohexylisocyanide (30.0 µL, 0.230 mmol) were combined to afford compound 5b (72.0 mg, 70%) as yellow solid; Rf = 0.28 (hexanes-AcOEt, 7:3 v/v) ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.34 (s, 1 H), 8.17 (dd, J = 8.1, 1.5 Hz, 1 H), 7.69 (ddd, J = 8.6, 7.2, 1.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.50 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 1 H), 7,44–7.40 (m, 1 H), 7.06 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 2 H), 6.81 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 2 H), 5.44 (s, 1 H), 4.54–4.45 (m, 1 H), 3.77 (s, 3 H), 2.04–1.80 (m, 6 H), 1.39–1.27 (m, 2 H); ¹³C-NMR (126 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 176.5, 158.2, 156.3, 154.5, 140.6, 134.1, 131.2, 125.8, 125.5, 123.6, 121.9, 125.8, 125.5, 118.3, 58.8, 58.1, 49.0, 47.8, 35.4, 32.8, 25.4, 24.9, 24.8.

3-((1-cyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)(phenethylamino)methyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (5c)

According to GP1, 3-formylchromone (40 mg, 0.230 mmol), ZnO (1.87 mg, 0.22 mmol), phenethylamine (29.0 µL, 0.230 mmol), azidotrimethylsilane (29.0 µL, 0.230 mmol) and cyclohexylisocyanide (30.0 µL, 0.230 mmol) were combined to afford compound 5c (77.0 mg, 78%) as yellow solid; Rf = 0.39 (hexanes-AcOEt, 7:3 v/v) ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.23 (s, 1 H), 8.16 (dd, J = 8.0, 1.5 Hz, 1 H), 7.73–7.63 (m, 1 H), 7.47 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 1 H), 7.42–7.39 (m, 1 H) 7.39–7.35 (m, 1 H), 7.30–7.23 (m, 5 H), 5.44 (s, 1 H), 4.54–4.45 (m, 1 H), 3.50–3.40 (m, 2 H), 3.88–3.84 (m, 2 H), 2.04–1.80 (m, 6 H), 1.39–1.27 (m, 2 H); ¹³C-NMR (126 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 176.5, 158.2, 156.3, 154.5, 140.6, 134.1, 131.2, 125.8, 125.5, 123.6, 121.9, 125.8, 125.5, 118.3, 58.8, 58.1, 49.0, 47.8, 36.3, 35.4, 32.8, 25.4, 24.9, 24.8.

3-((1-cyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)((4-methoxyphenethyl)amino)methyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (5d)

According to GP1, 3-formylchromone (40 mg, 0.230 mmol), ZnO (1.87 mg, 0.22 mmol), 4-methoxyphenethylamine (33.0 µL, 0.230 mmol), azidotrimethylsilane (29.0 µL, 0.230 mmol) and cyclohexylisocyanide (30.0 µL, 0.230 mmol) were combined to afford compound 5d (78 mg, 74%) as yellow solid; Rf = 0.31 (hexanes-AcOEt, 7:3 V/V) ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.23 (s, 1 H), 8.16 (dd, J = 8.0, 1.5 Hz, 1 H), 7.73–7.63 (m, 1 H), 7.47 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 1 H), 7.42–7.39 (m, 1 H) 7.39–7.35 (m, 1 H), 7.30–7.23 (m, 5 H), 5.44 (s, 1 H), 4.54–4.45 (m, 1 H), 3.50–3.40 (m, 2 H), 3.88–3.84 (m, 2 H),), 3.79 (s, 3 H), 2.04–1.80 (m, 6 H), 1.39–1.27 (m, 2 H); ¹³C-NMR (126 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 176.5, 158.2, 156.3, 154.5, 140.6, 134.1, 131.2, 125.8, 125.5, 123.6, 121.9, 125.8, 125.5, 118.3, 58.8, 58.1, 49.0, 47.8, 43.9, 36.3, 35.4, 32.8, 25.4, 24.9, 24.8.

3-((1-cyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)(cyclohexylamino)methyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (5e)

According to GP1, 3-formylchromone (40 mg, 0.230 mmol), ZnO (1.87 mg, 0.22 mmol), cyclohexylamine (26.0 µL, 0.230 mmol), azidotrimethylsilane (29.0 µL, 0.230 mmol) and cyclohexylisocyanide (30.0 µL, 0.230 mmol) were combined to afford compound 5e (46 mg, 49%) as yellow solid; Rf = 0.48 (hexanes-AcOEt, 8:2 v/v) ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.30 (s, 1 H), 8.19 (dd, J = 8.0, 1.4 Hz, 1 H), 7.69 (ddd, J = 8.6, 7.1, 1.7 Hz, 1 H), 6.73–6.68 (m, 2 H), 4.79–4.63 (m, 2 H), 2.09–1.38 (m, 20 H); ¹³C-NMR (126 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 176.7, 156.4, 155.3, 154.5, 138.6, 58.2, 58.0, 51.3, 50.9, 46.8, 33.6, 33.1, 32.3, 32.8, 25.4, 25.3, 24.9.

4. Conclusions

In conclusion, we have developed an efficient ultrasound-assisted one-pot Ugi-azide for the synthesis of 3-tetrazolylmethyl-4H-chromen-4-ones, the use of ZnO is an alternative to InCl₃ as catalyst. The main contributions of this work are (a) the design and development of novel synthetic strategies based on the Ugi-azide reaction towards complex 1,5-DS-T, and (b) a new I-MCR based methodology to synthesize the finals products under mild conditions.