Julia Poletto

The Front Cover shows the contribution of the SINTHET research group to the synthesis and discovery of new antiprotozoal compounds. The synthetic methodology allowed 60 new diversified isoxazole derivatives with structural variations on the 3-, 4-, and 5-positions. The authors acknowledge Ms. Jeniffer Ascencio de Camargo and Ms. Julia Caroline Manzano Willig for the creation of the cover image. More information can be found in the Full Paper by Fernanda Andreia Rosa et al.

A simple and efficient methodology for highly regioselective synthesis of azomethine pyrazoles and isoxazoles containing a trifluoromethyl group is reported. The cyclocondensation of trifluoromethylated β-enamino diketones (TBED) with phenylhydrazine and hydroxylamine hydrochloride, in the presence of BF₃, provided 5-aryl-4-[(tert-butyl)iminomethyl]-3-trifluoromethylazoles by aza-Michael-type 1,2-addition. The scope of the reaction was expanded by transimination with arylamines in a one-pot method starting from TBED. Thus, 83 novel 4-[(alkyl/aryl)iminomethyl]-3-trifluoromethylazoles were obtained with high regioselectivity and in yields of 51 to 89%.

An efficient one-pot method is described for the highly regioselective synthesis of α-ketoamide N-arylpyrazoles from secondary β-enamino diketones. For this, the key intermediate, 4-acyl 3,5-dihydroxypyrrolone, was generated in situ and underwent bimolecular nucleophilic substitution at C-5 by arylhydrazine, with subsequent heterocyclization at the carbonyl carbon of the acyl group. This strategy allowed for regiochemical control of α-ketoamide N-arylpyrazoles from β-enamino diketones and arylhydrazines.

An alternative highly regioselective synthetic method for the preparation of 3,5-disubstituted 4-formyl-N-arylpyrazoles in a one-pot procedure is reported. The methodology developed was based on the regiochemical control of the cyclocondensation reaction of β-enamino diketones with arylhydrazines. Structural modifications in the β-enamino diketone system allied to the Lewis acid carbonyl activator BF₃ were strategically employed for this control. Also a one-pot method for the preparation of 3,5-disubstituted 4-hydroxymethyl-N-arylpyrazole derivatives from the β-enamino diketone and arylhydrazine substrates is described.