Convenient synthesis of disubstituted tacrine derivatives via electrophilic and copper induced reactions

Abstract

The bromination of 2-aminobenzonitrile (2) with molecular bromine (2 equiv) furnished 2-amino-3,5-dibromobenzonitrile (7) in 98% yield. One-pot syntheses are described for dibromotacrine derivatives (6,14-18) utilizing Friedlander reactions. A convenient route is described for disubstituted derivatives of tacrines from dibromotacrine 6 and 15 by various substitution reactions. Several disubstituted tacrines were synthesized by treatment of dibromo 6 and 15 derivatives with n-BuLi followed by trapping with an electrophile [Si(Me)(3)Cl, S-2(Me)(2)]. Both were converted to the corresponding cyano derivatives (21-23) via copper-assisted nucleophilic substitution reactions in moderate yields (30%, 50%, and 60%, respectively). Copper-induced nucleophilic substitution of dibromide 15 with NaOMe afforded mono methoxide 31 in 25% yield. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.