Synlett 2010(9): 1381-1385  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1219838
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Regioselective 3-Nitration of Flavones: A New Synthesis of 3-Nitro- and 3-Aminoflavones

Diana T. Patoilo, Artur M. S. Silva*, José A. S. Cavaleiro
Department of Chemistry & QOPNA, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Fax: +351(234)370084; e-Mail: artur.silva@ua.pt;

Further Information

Publication History

Received 1 March 2010
Publication Date:
16 April 2010 (online)

Abstract

A new, general, and regioselective method for the 3-nitration of flavones have been developed. The nitration reaction is solvent dependent, proceeds via a nitro radical pathway, and the corresponding 3-nitroflavones have been obtained in moderate to very good yields (up to 81%). The reduction of 3-nitroflavones allowed the preparation of the corresponding 3-aminoflavones in very good yields (up to 96%).

Flavones are a group of oxygen heterocyclic compounds found in a wide variety of plants where they participate in a variety of biological funtions. [¹] Their chemistry as well as their biological and pharmacological properties have been widely studied and reviewed in the last decades. [¹] [²] Among the various pharmacological activities, those related with inflammation, cancer, and heart diseases have aroused substantial interest. [²]

More recently, it has also been demonstrated that nitro- and aminoflavones possess important biological applications. 3′-Nitroflavones are specific high-affinity ligands for central benzodiazepine receptors, having an anxiolitic action in mice and blocking the muscle-relaxant effect of a full benzodiazepine receptor agonist. [³] [4] 3′-Methoxy-4′-nitroflavone is an aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist [5] and 2′,3′-dinitroflavone-8-acetic acid proved to be noncytotoxic with the human U937 cell line, exhibiting an exclusive inhibitory aminopeptidase N/CD13 activity, by reversible binding to the catalytic site of the enzyme. [6] 5,4′-Diaminoflavones exhibit potent antitumor activity against certain types of human cell lines both in vitro and in vivo, [7] and 6-aminoflavones are inhibitors of protein-­tyrosine kinases [8] and α-glucosidase. [9] Certain 3-nitro- and 3-aminoflavones were found to be highly mutagenic through two different mechanisms and might be used as cancer chemopreventive agents. [¹0] Furthermore, some of these flavones inhibit the formation of colon aberrant crypt foci of rats [¹¹] and they have also shown antiproliferative properties. [¹²]

Flavones bearing nitro groups in the A and B rings can be synthesized by the Baker-Venkataraman procedure, [6] [8] [¹³-¹5] starting from the appropriate nitroacetophenones and/or nitrobenzoyl halides, by nitration at the more activated positions of the flavone with nitric acid, [³] [8] [9] or by cyclodehydrogenation of the corresponding nitro-2′-hydroxychalcones. [¹6] Routes for the synthesis of 3-nitro derivatives are scarce, only three methods are known. The first centers on the synthesis of 3-nitroflavone (3a) in poor yield (42%), by a multistep procedure starting from flavanone. [¹7] The second follows a three-step procedure via 3-nitroflavanones, starting from 2′-hydroxy-2-nitroacetophenones and aryl aldehydes and producing 3-nitroflavones in moderate yields. [¹8] The third and the most utilized procedure was established by Dauzonne and co-workers wherein salicylaldehydes and (Z)-β-chloro-β-nitrostyrenes are used as starting materials. [6] [¹0-¹²] [¹9] [²0] The condensation of these reagents in the presence of triethylamine affords 2-aryl-3-chloro-3,4-dihydro-4-hydroxy-3-nitro-2H-1-benzo­pyrans, which are then oxidized to 2-aryl-3-chloro-2,3-dihydro-3-nitro-4H-1-benzopyran-4-ones by pyridinium chlorochromate under sonochemical conditions. These intermediates are easily converted into 3-nitroflavones by a DBU-assisted elimination of hydrogen chloride.

Aminoflavones and their 3-amino derivatives are normally synthesized by reduction of the corresponding nitroflavones with hydrogen/palladium on charcoal or tin/HCl systems. [6] [8] [9] [¹²] [²0] [²¹] However, there are other methods for the synthesis of specific derivatives, such as a palladium-catalyzed 7-amination of 7-triflyloxyflavones, [²²] direct amination of 3-tosyloxy- or 3-mesyloxyflavones with ammonia or primary amines, [²³] and a Claisen condensation of the appropriate aminoacetophenones and ethyl aminobenzoates followed by a cyclization of the obtained 1,3-diketones in acid medium. [7]

The potential applications of 3-nitro- and 3-aminoflavones and the paucity of routes for their synthesis led us to initiate a program to study their synthesis. Several methods are known for nitrating aromatic compounds but they usually require harsh reaction conditions and possess low selectivity, with mixtures of nitrated and dinitrated compounds being obtained depending on substitution of the substrate. [²4] Mixtures of inorganic nitrate salts and strong organic acids or anhydrides have been shown to be a selective and mild system for nitration of aromatic compounds and ipso-nitration of arylboronic acids. [²5] This method was firstly introduced by Crivello, [²6] using ammonium nitrate and trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA), at 25 ˚C, to nitrate benzene and other aromatic substrates producing the corresponding nitro derivatives in good yields. Latter Njoroge and co-workers [²] [7] showed that aromatic nitration with tetrabutylammonium nitrate-TFAA proceed by a free-radical method. These results led us to apply this method to the nitration of flavones 1a-e (Scheme  [¹] ).

In a first attempt 4′-chloroflavone (1b) was treated with an excess of ammonium nitrate (3 equiv) and TFAA (10 equiv), in a CHCl3-MeCN (1:1) mixture, at 40 ˚C for 24 hours (Table  [¹] , entry 1), with 4′-chloro-3-nitroflavone (2b) being obtained in 53% yield. We then studied the ­reaction conditions in terms of solvent, amount of TFAA, and reaction time with the best yield of 2b (72%) being obtained with ammonium nitrate (3 equiv), TFAA (7 equiv), in a CH2Cl2-MeCN (1:1) mixture at 40 ˚C for 1 h (Table  [¹] , entry 3). 4′-Chloro-6-nitroflavone (3b) was obtained as a byproduct, resulting from aromatic nitration at one of the most activated positions of the flavone A ring.

We extended our study to the nitration of flavones 1a,c,d [²8] with the corresponding 3-nitro derivatives 2a,c,d being obtained in moderate to good yields (Scheme  [¹] , Table  [¹] ). From the range of reaction conditions (amounts of reactants and mixture of solvents) attempted, only those giving better yields in the formation of 2a-d are presented in Table  [¹] . These results show a regioselective 3-nitration of flavones even in the presence of an activated aromatic B ring (e.g., 1c).

Scheme 1 Regioselective 3-nitration of flavones 1a-e

The formation of 2a-e is dependent on the B-ring substituents of the starting materials 1a-e. Compound 1c, bearing an electron-donating substituent (OMe), is very reactive, requiring only one molar equivalent of ammonium nitrate to obtain the 3-nitro derivative 2c in good yield (50%), together with byproducts 4′-methoxy-3′-nitro­flavone (4c) and 4′-methoxy-3,3′-dinitroflavone (5c, Figure  [¹] ), resulting from the nitration at their activated aromatic positions (Table  [¹] , entry 6). Using a slight excess of nitrating agent and other solvent mixtures than CHCl3-MeCN the results did not give better results (Table  [¹] , entries 7, 8). Flavone 2d, having an electron-withdrawing substituent (4′-NO2), is less reactive, requiring a great excess (several batches) of nitrating agent for a short reaction time (1 h) to obtain 3,4′-dinitroflavone 1d in moderate yield (33%, Table  [¹] , entry 11). A small amount of nitrating agent and longer reaction times results in a smaller yield of 2d and higher yields of byproducts 3d and 6d (Table  [¹] , entries 9, 10).

Since the result obtained in the nitration of 1d was unsatisfactory and the reduction of dinitro derivative 2d to the corresponding 3-amino derivative was unselective, we decided to perform the reduction of 4′-nitroflavone (1d) and to study the nitration of the 4′-aminoflavone (1e) so obtained. The nitration reaction of 4′-aminoflavone 1e afforded the 3-nitro derivative trifluoroacetylated in the 4′-amino group in good yield [²9] (73%, Table  [¹] , entry 14), although the acetyl group was easily removed in quantitative yield by treatment with KOH in an H2O-EtOH (1:1) mixture. The trifluoroacetylated 4′-aminoflavone derivative 7e [³0] was obtained as byproduct (entries 12-14). Since the 3-nitro-4′-aminoflavone was not found in the reaction mixture, the trifluoroacetylation probably occurs prior to the nitration.

Table 1 Regioselective 3-Nitration of Flavones 1a-e with Ammonium Nitrate and TFAA
Entry Substratea Reagents (equiv) Solventsb Temp (˚C) Time (h) Yield of 2a-e (%) Yield of byproduct (%)
 1 4′-ClFl
1b
NH4NO2 (3)
TFAA (10)
CHCl3
MeCN
40 24 2b [¹9b] (53)c 3b [¹9b] (2)
 2 4′-ClFl
1b
NH4NO2 (3)
TFAA (7)
CCl4
MeCN
40  5 2b [¹9b] (60)c 3b [¹9b] (3)
 3 4′-ClFl
1b
NH4NO2 (3)
TFAA (7)
CH2Cl2
MeCN
40  1 2b [¹9b] (72)c 3b [¹9b] (2)
 4 Fl
1a
NH4NO2 (3)
TFAA (7)
CH2Cl2
MeCN
40  3 2a [¹9b] (57)c 3a [¹²] (2)
 5 Fl
1a
NH4NO2 (3)
TFAA (7)
CCl4
MeCN
40  7 2a [¹9b] (81) 3a [¹²] (4)
 6 4′-OMeFl
1c
NH4NO2 (1.1)
TFAA (2.5)
CH2Cl2
MeCN
r.t.  7 2c [¹9b] (50) 4c [³¹] (31), 5c [¹²] (7)
 7 4′-OMeFl
1c
NH4NO2 (1.1+0.5)
TFAA (2.5)
CCl4
MeCN
r.t.  5 2c [¹9b] (53) 4c [³¹] (27), 5c [¹²] (4)
8 4′-OMeFl
1c
NH4NO2 (1.1 + 0.5)
TFAA (2.5)
TCB
MeCN
r.t.  5 2c (29) 4c [³¹] (31), 5c [¹²] (3)
9 4′-NO2Fl
1d
NH4NO2 (4)
TFAA (10)
CH2Cl2
MeCN
40  4 2d [¹9b] (16) 6d [¹²] (25)
10 4′-NO2Fl
1d
NH4NO2 (4)
TFAA (10)
CCl4
MeCN
40 22 2d [¹9b] (16) 3d [¹5] (14), 6d [¹²] (29)
11 4′-NO2Fl
1d
NH4NO2 (7)
TFAA (14)

MeCN
40  1 2d [¹9b] (33) 6d [¹²] (19)
12 4′-NH2Fl
1e
NH4NO2 (2.2)
TFAA (5)
CCl4
MeCN
40  1 2e (41) 7e (56)
13 4′-NH2Fl
1e
NH4NO2 (2.2)
TFAA (5)
CH2Cl2
MeCN
40  1 2e (27) 7e (23)
14 4′-NH2Fl
1e
NH4NO2 (2.2)
TFAA (5)
TCB
MeCN
40  1 2e (73) 7e (6)

a Fl = flavone
b TCB = 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene.
c Some starting material was recovered.

From Table  [¹] , one can also conclude that the solvent plays an important role in the reaction rate and selectivity, as mentioned by Crivello, [²6] the rate of the reaction seems to be dependent on the solubility of the inorganic salt in ­reaction medium. In substrates bearing electron-withdrawing groups (deactivated substrates) the reactive species formation should be faster in order to be readily available to react with the substrate; thus a more polar solvent is preferred. On the other hand, in substrates bearing electron-donating substituents (activating substrates) a slow formation of the reactive species is better in order to have a more selective reaction and this is favored by a less polar solvent.

Figure 1 Byproducts obtained in the nitration of flavones 1a-e

To determine whether the nitration reaction proceeds through a nitronium ion (NO2 +) or a free-radical mechanism, the nitration of 4′-methoxyflavone (1c) was performed in the presence of a free-radical scavenger (TEMPO). [²7] [³²] Analysis after 24 hours showed that no appreciable amount of 4′-methoxy-3-nitroflavone (4c, 4%) had been obtained and no side products were formed. These results imply that the reaction occurs through a free radical pathway. The proposed mechanism is similar to that proposed by other authors, [²7] [³²] involving the reaction of ammonium nitrate with TFAA to form nitronium tri­fluoroacetate which decomposes to trifluoroacetyl and nitro free radicals; the latter reacts with the substrate to give the nitro derivatives obtained (Scheme  [²] ).

Scheme 2 Proposed mechanism for the regioselective 3-nitration of flavones 1a-e

In the second part of this work, we studied the reduction of 3-nitroflavones 2a-e to the corresponding 3-amino derivatives 8a-e with ammonium formate in the presence of Pd/C (10%), in refluxing acetone (method A) [³³] and/or by using tin (powder) with HCl (37%), in chloroform at room temperature (method B, [³4] Table  [²] ).

We started the reduction study with method A using methanol as solvent. We found that there was no reaction for a period of 5 minutes, and only after the addition of more catalyst did the reaction proceed. Although it has been stated that the catalytic cycle of this reaction is solvent dependent and occurs very quickly when using methanol as solvent; [³5] in our case the methanol proved not to be a good solvent. However, when we changed to acetone, reaction occurred with no need of additional catalyst and 3-aminoflavones 8a-c were obtained in good yields (87-96%, Table  [²] ). Method A did not work for substrates 2d and 2e, where only degradation products have been obtained.

The reduction of the 3-nitroflavones 2a-e using method B afforded the expected 3-aminoflavones 8a-e [³6] in good yields (60-88%), reaction being favored by the presence of an electron-donating group on ring B (Scheme  [³] , Table  [²] ).

Scheme 3 Synthesis of 3-aminoflavones 8a-e

Table 2 Synthesis of 3-Aminoflavones 8a-e by Reduction of 3-Nitroflavones 2a-e
Entry Substrate Methoda Time
(h)
Yield of 8 (%)
 1 3-nitroflavone
2a
A 3 8a [¹²] (88)
 2 3-nitroflavone
2a
B 1 8a [¹²] (80)
 3 4′-Cl-3-nitroflavone
2b
A 3 8b [¹²] (96)
 4 4′-Cl-3-nitroflavone
2b
B 1.5 8b [¹²] (71)
 5 4′-OMe-3-nitroflavone
2c
A 1 8c [¹²] (87)
 6 4′-OMe-3-nitroflavone
2c
B 1 8c [¹²] (88)
 7 3,4′-dinitroflavone
2d
A 3.5 -
 8 3,4′-dinitroflavone
2d
B 1 8d [¹²] (60)
 9 4′-(NHCOCF3)-3-nitroflavone
2e
A 5 -
10 4′-(NHCOCF3)-3-nitroflavone
2e
B 1 8e (83)

a Method A: ammonium formate, Pd/C (10%), acetone, reflux. Method B: Sn (powder), HCl (37%), CHCl3, r.t.

In summary we have developed a new, general, and regio­selective method for the radical 3-nitration of flavones that allows the synthesis of 3-nitroflavones in moderate to very good yields (up to 81%). The reduction of these 3-­nitroflavones permits the synthesis of the corresponding 3-aminoflavones in very good yields (up to 96%).

Acknowledgment

Thanks are due to the University of Aveiro, FCT and FEDER for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit and the grant to ­Diana T. Patoilo.

28

General Procedure for the Nitration of Flavones 1a-e: Synthesis of 3-Nitroflavones 2a-e
To a solution of the appropriate flavone 1a-e (0.38 mmol) in the requisite solvent (20 mL in total), cooled in an ice bath, NH4NO3 and TFAA were added, and the reaction mixture was stirred under conditions indicated in Table  [¹] . After the appropriate reaction time, the reaction mixture was poured into H2O (20 mL), and extracted with CHCl3 (3 × 20 mL). The combined organic extracts were dried over Na2SO4, filtered, and evaporated to dryness. The mixture was purified by silica gel column chromatography eluting with mixtures of CH2Cl2-light PE of increasing polarity to afford the
3-nitroflavones and byproducts (Table  [¹] ).

29

Physical Data for 3-Nitro-4′-trifluoroacetamidoflavone (1e)
Mp 228-230 ˚C. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = 7.65 (ddd, 1 H, J = 8.1, 7.0, 1.0 Hz, H-6), 7.84 (d, 2 H, J = 8.8 Hz, H-3′,5′), 7.86 (d, 1 H, J = 8.4 Hz, H-8), 7.95 (d, 2 H, J = 8.8 Hz, H-2′,6′), 7.98 (ddd, 2 H, J = 8.4, 7.0, 1.6 Hz, H-7), 8.19 (dd, 1 H, J = 8.1, 1.6 Hz, H-5), 11.69 (s, 1 H, 4′-NHCOCF3) ppm. ¹³C NMR (75.47 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = 115.6 (Cq, J = 288.6 Hz, 4′-NHCOCF3), 119.2 (C-8), 121.3 (C-3′,5′), 122.8 (C-10), 124.9 (C-5), 125.5 (C-6), 126.9 (C-1′), 129.2 (C-2′,6′), 136.0 (C-7), 137.5 (C-3), 140.5 (C-4′), 155.0 (Cq, J = 37.0 Hz, 4′-NHCOCF3), 155.2 (C-9), 159.4 (C-2), 168.5 (C-4) ppm. ¹9F NMR (282.40 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = -97.46 (4′-NHCOCF3) ppm. ESI-MS (+): m/z (%) = 417 (22) [M + K]+, 401 (100) [M + Na]+, 379 (88) [M + H]+. Anal. Calcd for C17H9F3N2O5: C, 53.96; H, 2.40; N, 7.41. Found: C, 54.02; H, 2.26; N, 7.25.

30

Physical Data for 4′-Trifluoroacetamidoflavone (7e)
Mp 280-282 ˚C. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = 7.05 (s, 1 H, H-3), 7.51 (ddd, 1 H, J = 8.1, 6.9, 1.4 Hz, H-6), 7.79 (dd, 1 H, J = 8.4, 1.0 Hz, H-8), 7.85 (ddd, 1 H, J = 8.4, 6.8, 1.6 Hz, H-7), 7.90 (d, 2 H, J = 8.9 Hz, H-3′,5′), 8.06 (dd, 1 H, J = 7.9, 1.4 Hz, H-5), 8.18 (d, 2 H, J = 8.9 Hz, H-2′,6′), 11.60 (s, 1 H, 4′-NHCOCF3) ppm. ¹³C NMR (75.47 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = 106.6 (C-3), 115.7 (Cq, J = 288.7 Hz, 4′-NHCOCF3), 118.6 (C-8), 121.1 (C-3′,5′), 123.4 (C-10), 124.9 (C-6), 125.6 (C-5), 127.4 (C-2′,6′), 127.9 (C-1′), 134.4 (C-7), 139.6 (C-4′), 154.8 (Cq, J = 37.3 Hz, 4′-NHCOCF3), 155.7 (C-9), 162.0 (C-2), 177.2 (C-4) ppm. ¹9F NMR (282.40 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = -97.39 (4′-NHCOCF3) ppm. ESI-MS (+): m/z (%) = 356 (21) [M + Na]+, 334 (100) [M + 1]+. Anal. Calcd for C17H10F3NO3: C, 61.27; H, 3.02; N, 4.20. Found: C, 61.06; H, 2.67; N, 4.43.

33

General Procedure for the Reduction of 3-Nitroflavones 2a-c (Method A): Synthesis of 3-Aminoflavones 8a-c
Ammonium formate (215 mg; 3.30 mmol) and Pd/C (33 mg) were added to a solution of the 3-nitroflavone 2a-c (0.33 mmol) in acetone (5 mL), and the reaction mixture was heated at 80 ˚C for 1 h. After cooling to r.t., the reaction mixture was filtered through Celite, and the organic layer was evaporated to dryness. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel and eluted with CH2Cl2 to give the 3-aminoflavones 8a-c (for yield, see Table  [²] ).

34

General Procedure for the Reduction of 3-Nitroflavones 2a-e (Method B): Synthesis of 3-Aminoflavones 8a-e To a solution of the 3-nitroflavone 2a-e (0.33 mmol) in CHCl3 (40 mL), tin(powder) (3.3 g), and HCl (37%, w/v;
11 mL) were added, and the reaction mixture was stirred vigorously for 1 h at r.t. After this period, the reaction mixture was neutralized with NaHCO3, filtered through Celite, and the solid residue washed with H2O and CHCl3. The filtrate was extracted with CHCl3, the organic layer was dried over Na2SO4, filtered, and evaporated to dryness. The mixture was purified by silica gel column chromatography, eluting with CH2Cl2, giving 3-aminoflavones (for yield, see Table  [²] ).

36

Physical Data for 3-Amino-4′-trifluoroacetamido-flavone (8e)
Mp 195-196 ˚C. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = 4.80 (s, 2 H, 3-NH2), 7.43 (ddd, 1 H, J = 8.1, 6.9, 1.2 Hz, H-6), 7.67 (ddd, 1 H, J = 8.6, 1.2, 0.5 Hz, H-8), 7.76 (ddd, 1 H, J = 8.6, 6.9, 1.7 Hz, H-7), 8.04 (d, 2 H, J = 9.0 Hz, H-3′,5′), 7.89 (d, 2 H, J = 9.1 Hz, H-2′,6′), 8.10 (ddd, 1 H, J = 8.1, 1.7, 0.5 Hz, H-5), 11.51 (s, 1 H, 4′-NHCOCF3) ppm. ¹³C NMR (125.67 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = 115.8 (quart, J = 288.6 Hz, 4′-NHCOCF3), 118.3 (C-8), 120.1 (C-10), 121.0 (C-2′,6′), 124.3 (C-6), 125.0 (C-5), 128.2 (C-3′,5′), 128.6 (C-3), 129.6 (C-1′), 133.3 (C-7), 137.2 (C-4′), 142.3 (C-2), 154.7 (quart, J = 37.1 Hz, 4′NHCOCF3), 154.7 (C-9), 172.7 (C-4) ppm. ¹9F NMR (282.40 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = -97.36 (s, 4′-NHCOCF 3) ppm. ESI-MS (+): m/z (%) = 371 (21) [M + Na]+, 349 (100) [M + 1]+. Anal. Calcd for C17H11F3N2O3: C, 58.63; H, 3.18; N, 8.04. Found: C, 58.42; H, 3.49; N, 7.85.

28

General Procedure for the Nitration of Flavones 1a-e: Synthesis of 3-Nitroflavones 2a-e
To a solution of the appropriate flavone 1a-e (0.38 mmol) in the requisite solvent (20 mL in total), cooled in an ice bath, NH4NO3 and TFAA were added, and the reaction mixture was stirred under conditions indicated in Table  [¹] . After the appropriate reaction time, the reaction mixture was poured into H2O (20 mL), and extracted with CHCl3 (3 × 20 mL). The combined organic extracts were dried over Na2SO4, filtered, and evaporated to dryness. The mixture was purified by silica gel column chromatography eluting with mixtures of CH2Cl2-light PE of increasing polarity to afford the
3-nitroflavones and byproducts (Table  [¹] ).

29

Physical Data for 3-Nitro-4′-trifluoroacetamidoflavone (1e)
Mp 228-230 ˚C. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = 7.65 (ddd, 1 H, J = 8.1, 7.0, 1.0 Hz, H-6), 7.84 (d, 2 H, J = 8.8 Hz, H-3′,5′), 7.86 (d, 1 H, J = 8.4 Hz, H-8), 7.95 (d, 2 H, J = 8.8 Hz, H-2′,6′), 7.98 (ddd, 2 H, J = 8.4, 7.0, 1.6 Hz, H-7), 8.19 (dd, 1 H, J = 8.1, 1.6 Hz, H-5), 11.69 (s, 1 H, 4′-NHCOCF3) ppm. ¹³C NMR (75.47 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = 115.6 (Cq, J = 288.6 Hz, 4′-NHCOCF3), 119.2 (C-8), 121.3 (C-3′,5′), 122.8 (C-10), 124.9 (C-5), 125.5 (C-6), 126.9 (C-1′), 129.2 (C-2′,6′), 136.0 (C-7), 137.5 (C-3), 140.5 (C-4′), 155.0 (Cq, J = 37.0 Hz, 4′-NHCOCF3), 155.2 (C-9), 159.4 (C-2), 168.5 (C-4) ppm. ¹9F NMR (282.40 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = -97.46 (4′-NHCOCF3) ppm. ESI-MS (+): m/z (%) = 417 (22) [M + K]+, 401 (100) [M + Na]+, 379 (88) [M + H]+. Anal. Calcd for C17H9F3N2O5: C, 53.96; H, 2.40; N, 7.41. Found: C, 54.02; H, 2.26; N, 7.25.

30

Physical Data for 4′-Trifluoroacetamidoflavone (7e)
Mp 280-282 ˚C. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = 7.05 (s, 1 H, H-3), 7.51 (ddd, 1 H, J = 8.1, 6.9, 1.4 Hz, H-6), 7.79 (dd, 1 H, J = 8.4, 1.0 Hz, H-8), 7.85 (ddd, 1 H, J = 8.4, 6.8, 1.6 Hz, H-7), 7.90 (d, 2 H, J = 8.9 Hz, H-3′,5′), 8.06 (dd, 1 H, J = 7.9, 1.4 Hz, H-5), 8.18 (d, 2 H, J = 8.9 Hz, H-2′,6′), 11.60 (s, 1 H, 4′-NHCOCF3) ppm. ¹³C NMR (75.47 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = 106.6 (C-3), 115.7 (Cq, J = 288.7 Hz, 4′-NHCOCF3), 118.6 (C-8), 121.1 (C-3′,5′), 123.4 (C-10), 124.9 (C-6), 125.6 (C-5), 127.4 (C-2′,6′), 127.9 (C-1′), 134.4 (C-7), 139.6 (C-4′), 154.8 (Cq, J = 37.3 Hz, 4′-NHCOCF3), 155.7 (C-9), 162.0 (C-2), 177.2 (C-4) ppm. ¹9F NMR (282.40 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = -97.39 (4′-NHCOCF3) ppm. ESI-MS (+): m/z (%) = 356 (21) [M + Na]+, 334 (100) [M + 1]+. Anal. Calcd for C17H10F3NO3: C, 61.27; H, 3.02; N, 4.20. Found: C, 61.06; H, 2.67; N, 4.43.

33

General Procedure for the Reduction of 3-Nitroflavones 2a-c (Method A): Synthesis of 3-Aminoflavones 8a-c
Ammonium formate (215 mg; 3.30 mmol) and Pd/C (33 mg) were added to a solution of the 3-nitroflavone 2a-c (0.33 mmol) in acetone (5 mL), and the reaction mixture was heated at 80 ˚C for 1 h. After cooling to r.t., the reaction mixture was filtered through Celite, and the organic layer was evaporated to dryness. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel and eluted with CH2Cl2 to give the 3-aminoflavones 8a-c (for yield, see Table  [²] ).

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General Procedure for the Reduction of 3-Nitroflavones 2a-e (Method B): Synthesis of 3-Aminoflavones 8a-e To a solution of the 3-nitroflavone 2a-e (0.33 mmol) in CHCl3 (40 mL), tin(powder) (3.3 g), and HCl (37%, w/v;
11 mL) were added, and the reaction mixture was stirred vigorously for 1 h at r.t. After this period, the reaction mixture was neutralized with NaHCO3, filtered through Celite, and the solid residue washed with H2O and CHCl3. The filtrate was extracted with CHCl3, the organic layer was dried over Na2SO4, filtered, and evaporated to dryness. The mixture was purified by silica gel column chromatography, eluting with CH2Cl2, giving 3-aminoflavones (for yield, see Table  [²] ).

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Physical Data for 3-Amino-4′-trifluoroacetamido-flavone (8e)
Mp 195-196 ˚C. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = 4.80 (s, 2 H, 3-NH2), 7.43 (ddd, 1 H, J = 8.1, 6.9, 1.2 Hz, H-6), 7.67 (ddd, 1 H, J = 8.6, 1.2, 0.5 Hz, H-8), 7.76 (ddd, 1 H, J = 8.6, 6.9, 1.7 Hz, H-7), 8.04 (d, 2 H, J = 9.0 Hz, H-3′,5′), 7.89 (d, 2 H, J = 9.1 Hz, H-2′,6′), 8.10 (ddd, 1 H, J = 8.1, 1.7, 0.5 Hz, H-5), 11.51 (s, 1 H, 4′-NHCOCF3) ppm. ¹³C NMR (125.67 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = 115.8 (quart, J = 288.6 Hz, 4′-NHCOCF3), 118.3 (C-8), 120.1 (C-10), 121.0 (C-2′,6′), 124.3 (C-6), 125.0 (C-5), 128.2 (C-3′,5′), 128.6 (C-3), 129.6 (C-1′), 133.3 (C-7), 137.2 (C-4′), 142.3 (C-2), 154.7 (quart, J = 37.1 Hz, 4′NHCOCF3), 154.7 (C-9), 172.7 (C-4) ppm. ¹9F NMR (282.40 MHz, DMSO-d 6): δ = -97.36 (s, 4′-NHCOCF 3) ppm. ESI-MS (+): m/z (%) = 371 (21) [M + Na]+, 349 (100) [M + 1]+. Anal. Calcd for C17H11F3N2O3: C, 58.63; H, 3.18; N, 8.04. Found: C, 58.42; H, 3.49; N, 7.85.

Scheme 1 Regioselective 3-nitration of flavones 1a-e

Figure 1 Byproducts obtained in the nitration of flavones 1a-e

Scheme 2 Proposed mechanism for the regioselective 3-nitration of flavones 1a-e

Scheme 3 Synthesis of 3-aminoflavones 8a-e