Synlett 2023; 34(11): 1253-1258
DOI: 10.1055/a-2028-9454
letter

Regioselective Synthesis of 3,4-Disubstituted Isoxazoles by Using a Chalcone-Rearrangement Strategy

,
Tohko Kine
,
Haruna Uenishi
,
Yuri Maki
,
Yasuhito Kase
,
Mayo Takagi
,

This work was financially supported by JSPS KAKENHI (Grants Numbers 19K16329 and 18K05132) and by 2021 Kindai University Research Enhancement Grants (KD2106 and SR09).
 


Abstract

We have developed a regioselective synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoles by using a chalcone-rearrangement strategy. The reaction of β-ketoacetals with hydroxylamine hydrochloride and pyridine afforded the corresponding 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoles via isoxazolines or oximes. Depending on the substrate, another disubstituted isomer was also obtained under our optimized conditions, and a reaction mechanism for each transformation is proposed.


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Isoxazoles are a class of important heterocyclic frameworks with multiple applications in biological and pharmacological science.[1] There has been recent interest in functionalized isoxazoles,[2] and the synthesis of isoxazole derivatives is attractive; numerous methods have been reported.[3]

Our research focuses on the development of methods for synthesizing various heterocycles by using β-ketoacetals,[4] which are easily obtained by the rearrangement of chalcones.[5] We have reported methods for synthesizing 3-acylindoles[6] and for the highly selective synthesis of two benzofuran isomers.[7] In this study, we investigated the synthesis of isoxazoles by using a chalcone-rearrangement strategy. With this heterocyclic synthesis approach, 4,5-disubstituted isoxazoles were selectively synthesized in two different ways (Scheme [1]). Kamal and co-workers synthesized 4,5-diarylisoxazoles by using the corresponding chalcones via ditosylate intermediates (Scheme [1a]).[8] The Semenov group’s method involved the construction of 4,5-disubstituted isoxazoles through the reaction of hydroxylamine with β-ketoacetals (Scheme [1b]).[9] Although there are several methods for synthesizing 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoles,[10] a method starting from chalcones has not been developed, and different sources are needed to supply regioisomers. Consequently, 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoles had to be synthesized from nitrostilbenes in the Semenov group’s biological investigation (Scheme [1c]).[9c] [11]

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Scheme 1 Regioselective synthesis of disubstituted isoxazoles

However, 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoles were obtained when hydroxylamine reacted with the carbonyl group instead of the acetal moiety in β-ketoacetals (Scheme [1d]). The selective synthesis of regioisomers from chalcones would simplify the supply of isoxazole derivatives. We therefore examined the reaction conditions needed to control the selective synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoles, and we achieved conversion via two groups of intermediates (oximes or isoxazolines), followed by a cyclization reaction.[12]

We began to investigate the conditions required to form 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoles by using the β-ketoacetal 1a, which is easily obtained by the oxidative rearrangement of the corresponding chalcone, as the substrate (Table [1]). Initially, we used hydroxylamine hydrochloride and sodium acetate in EtOH under reflux conditions as general conditions for oxime formation, but only a trace of the target 3,4-disubstituted isoxazole 2a was obtained, and 1a was recovered (Table [1], entry 1). When LiOH, a stronger base, was used, decomposition occurred, although small amounts of 2a and 3a were isolated (entry 2). The reaction became complicated when K2CO3 was used (entry 3). Isoxazoles were not detected with pyridine, but a precursor of 2a, the isoxazoline 4a, was isolated in 20% yield (entry 4). When the reaction was performed with excess pyridine, 4a was obtained as the major product (entry 5). After screening the reagent amount and solvent concentration, 4a was finally obtained in 92% yield by using 1.5 equivalents of hydroxylamine hydrochloride and 3.0 equivalents of pyridine in 0.5 M MeOH (entry 6).

Table 1 Optimization of reaction conditions

Entry

Base (equiv)

ROH (M)

Temp (°C)

Time (h)

Yielda (%)

2a

3a

4a

1

AcONa (2.0)

EtOH (0.1)

80

24

trace

2

LiOH·H2O (2.0)

MeOH (0.1)

60

10

12

8

3

K2CO3 (2.0)

MeOH (0.1)

80

 4

4

pyridine (2.0)

MeOH (0.1)

80

24

20

5

pyridine (6.0)

MeOH (0.1)

80

24

10

75

6

pyridine (3.0)

MeOH (0.5)

80

24

trace

92

a Isolated yield.

We next examined the conditions required for the formation of isoxazole 2a (Table [2]). The reaction did not occur in the presence of pyridine or K2CO3, even under reflux conditions, and 4a was recovered completely (Table [2], entries 1 and 2). When 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) was used in EtOH with heating, 2a was isolated in 92% yield (entry 3). The conversion also proceeded with NaH, and afforded 2a in 95% yield (entry 4). We conducted additional experiments under acidic conditions. Aromatization did not proceed using TsOH at room temperature, but 2a was obtained in 84% yield on increasing the temperature to 80 °C (entry 5). TFA, a weaker acid, was ineffective for the conversion of 4a (entry 6).

Table 2 Survey of reaction conditions for the aromatizationa

Entry

Reagent

Solvent

Temp (°C)

Time (h)

Yieldb (%)

1

pyridine

THF

65

24

2

K2CO3

THF

65

24

3

DBU

EtOH

80

 3

92

4

NaH

THF

rt

 1

95

5

TsOH

toluene

80

 7

79

6

TFA

toluene

80

24

a Reaction conditions: 4a (0.1 mmol), solvent (1.0 mL).

b Isolated yield.

After optimizing the formation of 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoles, we investigated the substrate scope of the β-ketoacetal 1 (Table [3]). For β-ketoacetals with two electron-rich aromatic rings (1b and 1c), the cyclization reaction worked well, affording isoxazolines 4b and 4c in yields of 71 and 53%, respectively (Table [3], entries 1 and 2). When halogens or electron-withdrawing groups were attached to the aromatic rings (1dh), isoxazolines 4dh and oximes 5dh were obtained in moderate yields (entries 3–7). Substrates carrying an alkyl group, 1i and 1j, gave the corresponding isoxazolines 4i and 4j in yields of 69 and 79%, respectively (entries 8 and 9).

Table 3 Substrate scope of β-ketoacetals 1

Entry

Substrate

R

Ar

Yield (%)a of 4

Yield (%)a of 5

1

1b

4-MeOC6H4

4-MeOC6H4

71

2

1c

4-MeOC6H4

1-naphthyl

53

3

1d

4-O2NC6H4

4-MeOC6H4

57

18

4

1e

4-MeOC6H4

4-ClC6H4

29

51

5

1f

4-ClC6H4

4-MeOC6H4

32

43

6

1g

4-BrC6H4

4-MeC6H4

42

38

7

1h

4-IC6H4

4-MeOC6H4

30

41

8

1i

cyclohexyl

4-MeOC6H4

69

9

1j

Et

4-MeOC6H4

79

a Isolated yield.

We next examined the substrate scope of 3,4-isoxazole formation under basic and acidic conditions (Scheme [2]). First, we examined the reaction to give isoxazoline 4 as the major product (Table [3]). Isoxazolines 4b and 4c reacted smoothly under basic conditions, affording isoxazoles 2b and 2c, respectively, in yields of 99 and 97%. Whereas some decomposition occurred in the conversion of 4i and 4j under basic conditions, the yields of both 2i and 2j increased significantly under acidic conditions.

Zoom Image
Scheme 2 Substrate scope of isoxazolines 4

We also evaluated the conversion of oximes 5, and we found that isoxazoles formed smoothly compared with the conversion from the isoxazolines 4 (Scheme [3]). When one equivalent of TsOH was used, the reaction of oxime 5d at room temperature gave isoxazole 2d in 30 minutes. Under these conditions, all the oximes 5eh were efficiently converted into the corresponding isoxazoles 2eh in high yields.

Zoom Image
Scheme 3 Substrate scope of oximes 5

Another isoxazole isomer was obtained when screening some β-ketoacetals 1. The reaction of β-ketoacetal 1k bearing an ortho-substituent on the benzene ring gave the 4,5-disubstituted isoxazole 3k as the major product (52%) (Scheme [4]). The reaction of isoxazoline 4k gave the 3,4-disubstituted isoxazole 2k under aromatization conditions, thus confirming that the main isoxazole obtained from 1k was the regioisomer 3k. Other β-ketoacetals showed similar regioselectivities, and 1l gave isoxazole 3l in 55% yield. In comparison, the presence of a bromo or nitro group tended to increase the yields of 4,5-disubstituted isoxazoles (3m: 97% yield; 3n: 72% yield).

Zoom Image
Scheme 4 Substrate scope of β-ketoacetals with an ortho-substituted aryl group

To gain insight into the formation of 4,5-disubstituted isoxazoles, we next performed a control experiment by using enone 6, prepared from β-ketoacetal 1a (Scheme [5]). The reaction of 6 with NH2OH·HCl and pyridine under our optimized conditions led to the 4,5-disubstituted product 3a in 69% yield. Because 3a was isolated directly from 1a only when a relatively strong base was used (Table [1], entry 2), an enone might be an intermediate in the formation of 3.

Zoom Image
Scheme 5 Control experiments. Reaction conditions: (a) t-BuOK (1.5 equiv), THF (0.1 M), 0 °C, 0.5 h; (b) NH2OH·HCl (1.5 equiv), pyridine (3.0 equiv), MeOH (0.5 M), 80 °C, 24 h.

Based on our investigation, possible pathways for isoxazole formation depending on the nature of the β-ketoacetal 1 are outlined in Scheme [6]. For the synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted isoxazole 2, hydroxylamine preferentially undergoes a 1,2-addition reaction with the carbonyl group in 1. The transformation then proceeds by different pathways, via either the isoxazoline 4 or the oxime 5. As shown in path A, isoxazoline 4 might be generated by cyclization followed by dehydration. The resulting 4 is aromatized to isoxazole 2 under acidic or basic conditions. In contrast, 4 was not detected in the transformation of oxime 5, and isoxazole 2 was formed under acidic conditions without heating, suggesting that the conversion of 5 into 2 does not occur via 4. The presumed reaction mechanism is that the geometric isomer of 4, the cis-form 4′,[13] is formed as a result of cyclization from oxime 5. Methanol elimination occurs quickly due to the steric hindrance between the adjacent methoxy group and the aromatic ring (path B). The results in Table [3] suggest that two pathways compete in the reactions of 1dh, and that stable intermediates 4 or 5 were isolated from each pathway. In the presence of an ortho-substituent on the benzene ring, Michael-type addition of the hydroxylamine generates a hemiaminal intermediate that transforms into the 4,5-disubstituted isoxazole 3 through a sequence of cyclization and aromatization (path C).

Zoom Image
Scheme 6 Proposed mechanism

In summary, we investigated the synthesis of isoxazoles by using a chalcone-rearrangement strategy and we obtained 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoles, unlike the regioisomers obtained from reported chalcone transformations.[14] Under our optimized conditions, β-ketoacetals were converted into isoxazolines or oximes, whereas 4,5-disubstituted isoxazoles were formed directly from β-ketoacetals with steric hindrance at positions adjacent to the carbonyl group.[15] Combining this study with reported isoxazole syntheses will permit a more diverse range of isoxazoles to be obtained from chalcones.


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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgment

We thank the Kindai University Joint Research Center for use of their facilities.

Supporting Information

  • References and Notes

  • 1 Arya GC, Kaur K, Jaitak V. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2021; 221: 113511
  • 5 Moriarty RM, Khosrowshahi JS, Prakash O. Tetrahedron Lett. 1985; 26: 2961
  • 6 Nakamura A, Tanaka S, Imamiya A, Takane R, Ohta C, Fujimura K, Maegawa T, Miki Y. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2017; 15: 6702
  • 7 Nakamura A, Imamiya A, Ikegami Y, Rao F, Yuguchi H, Miki Y, Maegawa T. RSC Adv. 2022; 12: 30426
  • 8 Kamal R, Sharma D, Wadhwa D, Prakash O. Synlett 2012; 93
  • 11 Chernysheva NB, Maksimenko AS, Andreyanov FA, Kislyi VP, Strelenko YA, Khrustalev VN, Semenova MN, Semenov VV. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2018; 146: 511
  • 13 The trans-relationship between the aromatic ring and the methoxy group was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis of 4a. See the Supporting Information for the details of the X-ray analysis.
  • 14 Isoxazoles; General Procedure NaH (2.0 equiv) was added to a solution of the appropriate isoxazoline (1.0 equiv) in THF (0.1 M), and the mixture was stirred at r.t. until the reaction was complete. The reaction was then quenched with aq NH4Cl and the organic layer was extracted with EtOAc, washed with brine, dried (Na2SO4), and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography [silica gel, hexane–EtOAc (10:1)]. 3-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-4-(p-tolyl)isoxazole (2a) White solid; yield: 95%; mp 141–142 °C. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 8.45 (s, 1 H), 8.45 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2 H), 7.16 (s, 4 H), 6.89 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2 H), 3.83 (s, 3 H), 2.37 (s, 3 H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 160.8, 160.0, 156.2, 138.0, 130.2, 129.6, 128.9, 126.3, 121.1, 120.2, 114.2, 55.4, 21.3. HRMS (ESI): m/z [M + H]+ calcd for C17H16NO2: 266.1181; found: 266.1168.
  • 15 4,5-Disubstituted Isoxazoles; General Procedure NH2OH·HCl (1.5 equiv) and pyridine (3.0 equiv) were added to a solution of the appropriate β-ketoacetal 1 (1.0 equiv) in MeOH (0.5 M), and the mixture was stirred at 80 °C for 24 h, then cooled to r.t. The reaction was then quenched with aq NH4Cl, and the organic layer was extracted with EtOAc, washed with brine, dried (Na2SO4), and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography [silica gel, hexane–EtOAc (10:1)]. 5-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-4-(p-tolyl)isoxazole (3k) Pale-yellow oil; yield: 98%. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 8.48 (s, 1 H), 7.48–7.43 (m, 2 H), 7.15 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2 H), 7.10 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2 H), 7.03 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 1 H), 6.95 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H), 3.54 (s, 3 H), 2.33 (s, 3 H). 13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 162.4, 157.2, 150.7, 137.2, 131.8, 131.1, 129.3, 127.8, 127.2, 120.8, 117.8, 117.4, 111.7, 55.4, 21.3. HRMS (ESI): m/z [M + H]+ calcd for C17H16NO2: 266.1176; found: 266.1174.

Corresponding Author

Tomohiro Maegawa
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kindai University
3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka, 577-8502
Japan   

Publication History

Received: 07 January 2023

Accepted after revision: 06 February 2023

Accepted Manuscript online:
06 February 2023

Article published online:
01 March 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved

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  • References and Notes

  • 1 Arya GC, Kaur K, Jaitak V. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2021; 221: 113511
  • 5 Moriarty RM, Khosrowshahi JS, Prakash O. Tetrahedron Lett. 1985; 26: 2961
  • 6 Nakamura A, Tanaka S, Imamiya A, Takane R, Ohta C, Fujimura K, Maegawa T, Miki Y. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2017; 15: 6702
  • 7 Nakamura A, Imamiya A, Ikegami Y, Rao F, Yuguchi H, Miki Y, Maegawa T. RSC Adv. 2022; 12: 30426
  • 8 Kamal R, Sharma D, Wadhwa D, Prakash O. Synlett 2012; 93
  • 11 Chernysheva NB, Maksimenko AS, Andreyanov FA, Kislyi VP, Strelenko YA, Khrustalev VN, Semenova MN, Semenov VV. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2018; 146: 511
  • 13 The trans-relationship between the aromatic ring and the methoxy group was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis of 4a. See the Supporting Information for the details of the X-ray analysis.
  • 14 Isoxazoles; General Procedure NaH (2.0 equiv) was added to a solution of the appropriate isoxazoline (1.0 equiv) in THF (0.1 M), and the mixture was stirred at r.t. until the reaction was complete. The reaction was then quenched with aq NH4Cl and the organic layer was extracted with EtOAc, washed with brine, dried (Na2SO4), and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography [silica gel, hexane–EtOAc (10:1)]. 3-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-4-(p-tolyl)isoxazole (2a) White solid; yield: 95%; mp 141–142 °C. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 8.45 (s, 1 H), 8.45 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2 H), 7.16 (s, 4 H), 6.89 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2 H), 3.83 (s, 3 H), 2.37 (s, 3 H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 160.8, 160.0, 156.2, 138.0, 130.2, 129.6, 128.9, 126.3, 121.1, 120.2, 114.2, 55.4, 21.3. HRMS (ESI): m/z [M + H]+ calcd for C17H16NO2: 266.1181; found: 266.1168.
  • 15 4,5-Disubstituted Isoxazoles; General Procedure NH2OH·HCl (1.5 equiv) and pyridine (3.0 equiv) were added to a solution of the appropriate β-ketoacetal 1 (1.0 equiv) in MeOH (0.5 M), and the mixture was stirred at 80 °C for 24 h, then cooled to r.t. The reaction was then quenched with aq NH4Cl, and the organic layer was extracted with EtOAc, washed with brine, dried (Na2SO4), and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography [silica gel, hexane–EtOAc (10:1)]. 5-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-4-(p-tolyl)isoxazole (3k) Pale-yellow oil; yield: 98%. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 8.48 (s, 1 H), 7.48–7.43 (m, 2 H), 7.15 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2 H), 7.10 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2 H), 7.03 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 1 H), 6.95 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H), 3.54 (s, 3 H), 2.33 (s, 3 H). 13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 162.4, 157.2, 150.7, 137.2, 131.8, 131.1, 129.3, 127.8, 127.2, 120.8, 117.8, 117.4, 111.7, 55.4, 21.3. HRMS (ESI): m/z [M + H]+ calcd for C17H16NO2: 266.1176; found: 266.1174.

Zoom Image
Scheme 1 Regioselective synthesis of disubstituted isoxazoles
Zoom Image
Scheme 2 Substrate scope of isoxazolines 4
Zoom Image
Scheme 3 Substrate scope of oximes 5
Zoom Image
Scheme 4 Substrate scope of β-ketoacetals with an ortho-substituted aryl group
Zoom Image
Scheme 5 Control experiments. Reaction conditions: (a) t-BuOK (1.5 equiv), THF (0.1 M), 0 °C, 0.5 h; (b) NH2OH·HCl (1.5 equiv), pyridine (3.0 equiv), MeOH (0.5 M), 80 °C, 24 h.
Zoom Image
Scheme 6 Proposed mechanism