An expedient synthesis of thienylacetic acids using the Willgerodt-Kindler reaction under PTC conditions

Article abstract of DOI:10.24820/ark.5550190.p009.901

Novel (5-aryl-2-methylthiophen-3-yl)acetic acids were synthesized starting from 3-aryl-3-chloroacrylaldehydes via corresponding thienylcarbaldehydes and thienylethanones using Willgerodt-Kindler reaction under phase-transfer conditions. Their structures w

Full text of DOI:10.24820/ark.5550190.p009.901

General Papers
ARKIVOC 2016 (vi) 72-78
An expedient synthesis of thienylacetic acids using
the Willgerodt-Kindler reaction under PTC conditions
Vitaly A. Podshibyakin,a Evgenii N. Shepelenko,b Karina S. Tikhomirova,a
Alexander D. Dubonosov,*b Vladimir A. Bren,a and Vladimir I. Minkina,b
a Institute of Physical and Organic Chemistry, Southern Federal University, 194/2, Stachka Av.,
344 090 Rostov on Don, Russian Federation
b Southern Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences,41, Chekhov Pr.,
344 006 Rostov on Don, Russian Federation
E-mail: aled@ipoc.sfedu.ru
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24820/ark.5550190.p009.901
Abstract
Novel (5-aryl-2-methylthiophen-3-yl)acetic acids were synthesized starting from 3-aryl-3-
chloroacrylaldehydes via corresponding thienylcarbaldehydes and thienylethanones using
Willgerodt-Kindler reaction under phase-transfer conditions. Their structures were established
based on the data of 1H, 13C NMR, IR spectroscopy and mass-spectrometry.
Keywords: 3-Thienylacetic acids, Willgerodt–Kindler reaction, phase-transfer catalysis
Introduction
Derivatives of 3-thienylacetic acids are important intermediates in the synthesis of drugs,1
pesticides2 and multifunctional photochromic molecular systems possessing fluorescent,3-5
magnetic6 and complexing properties.7 The basic methods used for the synthesis of these
compounds are based on hydrolysis of the corresponding nitriles,8 the reduction of ketoacids,9
Arndt-Eistert10 and Willgerodt–Kindler11 reactions. The Willgerodt–Kindler reaction is usually
applied for the preparation of (thio)amides, carboxylic acids, and heterocycles.12 At the same time
because of the low yields of the targeted compounds and formation of complex reaction mixtures13
this reaction has not been more widely employed in organic synthesis. Only a few papers have
been published on application of this method for the synthesis of arylacetic acids performed under
conditions of the phase-transfer catalysts (PTC).14 Herein we report an expedient procedure for the
synthesis of 5-arylsubstituted 3-thienylacetic acids starting from 3-aryl-3-chloroacrylaldehydes via
corresponding thienylcarbaldehydes and thienylethanones based on the Willgerodt-Kindler
reaction under PTC conditions.
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Results and Discussion
No convenient and unequivocally characterized method for the preparation of 5-arylthiophene-2-
carbaldehydes has yet been developed.15-19 Aldehyde 1a was previously synthesized by the
Vilsmeier formylation of 5-(4-chlorophenyl)thiophene,16 but no spectral data on the prepared
compound were presented. The usually used Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of thienylboronic
acids with bromothienyl compounds requires an inert gas atmosphere, palladium catalyst
Pd(PPh3)4 and takes a long reaction time.20 Thus, this reaction for the synthesis of aldehyde 1b
proceeds in 47 h (yield 31%). Our approach to the synthesis of 5-arylthiophene-2-carbaldehydes
involves interaction of 3-chloro-3-arylacrylaldehydes with sodium sulfide and chloroacetaldehyde
in DMF to give the compounds 1a,b in 44-59% yields (Scheme 1). The reaction time of the general
procedure for preparation of 1a,b has been shortened to 6.5 hours.
Scheme 1. Synthesis of 3-thienylacetic acids 4a,b.
2-Methyl-5-(4-chlorophenyl)thiophene 2a was previously obtained by the treatment of 2-
methyl-5-(4-chlorophenyl)furan with hydrogen sulfide under conditions of acid catalysis.21 The
reaction time was 48.5 h and the yield 54%. A significant drawback of this reaction is the presence
in the reaction mixture of products of hydrolytic cleavage of the furans. We reduced aldehydes
1a,b by hydrazine hydrate via Kishner-Wolff reaction which led to 2-methyl-5-arylthiophenes
2a,b in 30-40% yields after 3h reflux of diethylene glycol solution. Acylation of 2a,b with acetic
anhydride in toluene in the presence of SnCl4 gave rise to 1-(2-methyl-5-(arylthiophen-3-
yl)ethanones 3a,b in 41-84% yields. Then these compounds were exposed to the Willgerodt-
Kindler reaction with sulfur and morpholine followed by the treatment of aqueous sodium
hydroxide in the presence of a phase-transfer catalyst (benzyltriethylammonium chloride, TEBA)
which produced 2-(2-methyl-5-(4-chlorophenyl)thiophen-3-yl)acetic acids 4a,b in moderate 53-
64% yields. The described synthetic protocol (Scheme 1) allows preparation of various
functionalized 5-aryl substituted thienylacetic acids starting from the corresponding 3-aryl-3-
chloroacrylaldehydes.
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To evaluate the effectiveness of the Willgerodt-Kindler reaction under PTC conditions, we
synthesized the known 2-(2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)acetic acid (4c) and 2-(5-(4-bromophenyl)-
2-methylthiophen-3-yl)acetic acid (4d). These compounds were previously obtained from 1-(2,5-
dimethylthiophen-3-yl)ethanone22 and 1-(5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-methylthiophen-3-yl)ethanone,13
correspondingly, in two steps including isolation of 2-(2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)-1-
morpholinoethanethione
and
2-(5-(4-bromophenyl)-2-methylthiophen-3-yl)-1-morpholino-
ethanethione and there subsequent hydrolysis. The above-described one-pot synthetic procedure
led to acids 4c and 4d in good yields. The structures of the synthesized compounds 1-4 were
confirmed by the data of 1H, 13C NMR and IR spectra.
Conclusions
We report on the expedient synthetic protocol which allows to prepare various novel 5-
arylsubstituted 3-thienylacetic acids starting from 3-aryl-3-chloroacrylaldehydes via
corresponding thienylcarbaldehydes and thienylethanones under phase-transfer conditions.
Experimental Section
General. The 1H and 13C NMR spectra in CDCl3 were recorded on a Bruker DPX-250 (250 MHz
for 1H, 62.9 MHz for 13C) spectrometer, the signals were referred with respect to the signals of
residual protons of deutero-solvent (7.24 ppm), δ values were measured with precision 0.01 ppm.
The IR spectra were recorded on a Varian Excalibur 3100 FT-IR instrument using the attenuated
total internal reflection technique (ZnSe crystal). Mass spectra were recorded on a Shimadzu
GCMS-QP2010SE instrument with direct sample entry into the ion source (EI, 70 eV). Elemental
analysis was performed on a KOVO CHN-analyzer. Melting points were determined on a PTP (M)
instrument.
General procedure for the synthesis of 1a,b.
A
solution of 3-chloro-3-(4-
chlorophenyl)acrylaldehyde (32 mmol, 6.5 g) or 3-([1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-3-chloroacrylaldehyde
(32 mmol, 7.8 g) in 100 mL of dry DMF was added dropwise with stirring to a suspension of
Na2S.9H2O (33 mmol, 7.9 g) in 40 mL of dry DMF at 60 oС within 1 h. The reaction mixture was
o
stirred for 2 h at 60 С. 50% aqueous chloroacetaldehyde (36 mmol, 6 mL) was added dropwise
and the reaction mixture was stirred for 3 h at 60 oС. A solution of K2CO3 (60 mmol, 8.3 g) in 10
mL of water was added and the stirring at the same temperature was continued for 0.5 h. The
reaction mixture was then poured into 1000 mL of water. The precipitate was filtered, washed with
water, dried and recrystallized from ethanol with the charcoal.
5-(4-Chlorophenyl)thiophene-2-carbaldehyde (1a). Yield 4.2 g (59%), light yellow solid, mp
88-89 °C [lit.16 mp 87 °C]. IR (νmax, cm-1): 1655 (C=O), 1599 (C=C), 1491, 1431. 1H NMR (250
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MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.36-7.40 (m, 3H), 7.59 (d, J 8.40 Hz, 2H), 7.73 (d, J 3.80 Hz, 1H), 9.88 (s, 1Η,
CHO). EIMS, 70 eV, m/z: 222 [M]+. Anal. Calcd. for С11H7СlOS: C, 59.33; H, 3.17. Found: C,
59.23; H, 3.15 %.
5-([1,1'-Biphenyl]-4-yl)thiophene-2-carbaldehyde (1b). Yield 3.7 g (44%), light yellow solid,
1
mp 194-195 °C [lit.19 mp 193-194 °C]. IR (νmax, cm-1): 1664 (C=O), 1608(C=С). H NMR (250
MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.32–7.85 (m, 11H, arom. H, thioph. H), 9.92 (s, 1H, CHO). MS (EI, 70 eV), m/z:
264 [M]+. Anal. Calcd. for C17H12OS: C, 77.24; H, 4.58. Found: C, 77.41; H, 4.35 %.
General procedure for the synthesis of 2a,b. A mixture of 1a (10 mmol, 2.2 g) or 1b (10 mmol,
2.6 g), 85% hydrazine hydrate (135 mmol, 6.75 g) and KOH (75 mmol, 4.2 g) in 50 mL of
diethylene glycol was stirred at reflux for 3 h. The solution was then diluted with water (150 mL).
The crude product was filtered, dried and recrystallized from ethanol.
2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-5-methylthiophene (2а). Yield 0.84 g (40%), light yellow solid, mp 107-
109 °C [lit.20 mp 108-109 °C]. IR (νmax, cm-1): 1599, 1491, 1431. 1H NMR (250 MHz, CDCl3): δ
2.54 (s, 3H, Me), 6.68-7.50 (m, 6H, arom. H, thioph. H). MS (EI, 70 eV), m/z: 208 [M]+. Anal.
Calcd. for С11H9СlS: C, 63.30; H, 4.35. Found: C, 63.43; H, 4.45 %.
2-([1,1’-Biphenyl]-4-yl)-5-methylthiophene (2b). Yield 0.75 g (30%), light yellow solid, mp
144-145 °C. IR (νmax, cm-1): 3058, 1598, 1497. 1H NMR (250 MHz, CDCl3): δ 2.54 (s, 3H, Me),
6.84-6.86 (m, 1H, thioph. H), 7.32-7.74 (m, 10H, arom. H). 13C NMR (62.9 MHz, CDCl3): δ 17.15;
124.95; 127.58; 127.59; 128.30; 128.67; 128.68; 128.99; 129.30; 129.31; 130.75; 130.76; 135.62;
141.51; 141.76; 142.34; 143.31. MS (EI, 70 eV), m/z: 250 [M]+. Anal. Calcd. for С17H14S: C,
81.56; H, 5.64. Found: C, 81.43; H, 5.49 %.
General procedure for the synthesis of 3a,b. A solution of 2а (10 mmol, 2.1 g) or 2b (10 mmol,
2.5 g) in 75 mL of dry toluene was cooled to 0-5 °C. Acetic anhydride (20 mmol, 2.0 g) and then
SnCl4 (20 mmol, 5.2 g) were added under stirring at this temperature. The reaction mixture was
heated to 20°С, stirred for 4 h and then acidified with 10% aqueous HCl (100 mL). The organic
layer was separated and dried (Na2SO4). The solvent was removed using a rotary evaporator to
give a crude residue which was recrystallized from ethanol.
1-(5-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-methylthiophen-3-yl)ethanone (3a). Yield 1.0 g (41%), light yellow
1
solid, mp 114-115 °С. IR (νmax, cm-1): 1800 (С=О), 1750 (C=С), 1431. H NMR (250 MHz,
CDCl3): δ 2.51 (s, 3H, Me), 2.73 (s, 3H, Me), 7.24 (s, 1H, thioph. H), 7.31-7.34 (d, 2H, arom. H),
7.44-7.47 (d, 2H, arom. H). 13C NMR (62.9 MHz, CDCl3): δ 16.30; 29.82; 124.60; 124.61; 126.78;
126.79; 129.15; 129.16; 133.56; 137.04; 138.15; 148.73; 193.88. MS (EI, 70 eV), m/z: 250 [M]+.
Anal. Calcd. for С13H11СlOS: C, 62.27; H, 4.42. Found: C, 62.34; H, 4.45 %.
1-(5-(1,1’-Biphenyl-4-yl)-2-methylthiophen-3-yl)ethanone (3b). Yield 2.45 g (84%), light
yellow solid, mp 153-154 °С. IR (νmax, cm-1): 1801 (С=О), 1747 (C=С), 1428. 1H NMR (250 MHz,
CDCl3): δ 2.53 (s, 3H, Me), 2.75 (s, 3H, Me), 7.37-7.65 (m, 10H, arom. H, thioph. H). 13C NMR
(62.9 MHz, CDCl3): δ 16.03; 29.68; 41.41; 124.37; 125.84; 125.85; 126.79; 126.80; 127.52;
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127.54; 128.87; 128.88; 132.53; 137.19; 138.92; 140.19; 140.33; 148.14; 193.75. MS (EI, 70 eV),
m/z: 292 [M]+. Anal. Calcd. for С19H16OS: C, 78.05; H, 5.52. Found: C, 78.13; H, 5.45 %.
General procedure for the synthesis of 4a,b. A mixture of 3a (0.4 mmol, 0.1 g) or 3b (0.68
mmol, 0.20 g), sulfur (0.8 mmol, 0.026 g), p-toluenesulfonic acid (0.14 mmol, 0.024 g) and
o
morpholine (1.2 mmol, 0.11 g) was heated while stirring in an oil bath at 130 С for 6 h. The
reaction mixture was cooled to ambient temperature and then 5 mL of 20% aqueous NaOH and
benzyltriethylammonium chloride (TEBA) (0.02 mmol, 0.005 g,) were added. The reaction
mixture was heated at reflux while stirring for 8 h, diluted with 5 mL of water and cooled to
ambient temperature. The solution was filtered and acidified with 10% aqueous HCl up to рН =
6. The precipitate was filtered. The filtrate was further acidified with 10% aqueous HCl up to рН
= 2 and the new portion of precipitate was filtered. The combined precipitate was washed with
water, dried and recrystallized from CCl4.
2-(5-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-methylthiophen-3-yl)acetic acid (4a). Yield 0.68 g (64%), light yellow
solid, mp 134-135 °С. IR (νmax, cm-1): 3061, 2559, 1705. 1H NMR (250 MHz, CDCl3): δ 2.39 (s,
3H, Me), 3.55 (s, 2H, CH2), 7.18 (s, 1H, thioph. H), 7.31-7.39 (d, 2H, arom. H), 7.50-7.54 (d, 2H,
13
arom. H), 10.50-11.60 (br. s, 1H, ОН). C NMR (62.9 MHz, CDCl3): δ 11.74; 33.20; 125.69;
126.13; 126.14; 128.57; 128.58; 131.40; 132.28; 133.12; 133.50; 138.03; 173.52. MS (EI, 70 eV),
m/z: 266 [M]+. Anal. Calcd. for С13H11СlO2S: C, 58.54; H, 4.16. Found: C, 58.43; H, 4.25 %.
2-(5-([1,1’-Biphenyl-4-yl)-2-methylthiophen-3-yl)acetic acid (4b). Yield 0.11 g (53%), light
yellow solid, mp 105-106 °С. IR (νmax, cm-1): 3058, 2555, 1700. 1H NMR (250 MHz, CDCl3): δ
2.46 (s, 3H, Me), 3.60 (s, 2H, CH2), 7.33-7.36 (m, 1H, thioph. H), 7.39-7.71 (m, 9H, arom. H),
13
10.50-11.50 (br. s, 1H, ОН). C NMR (62.9 MHz, CDCl3): δ 21.13; 31.75; 33.94; 125.43; 125.44;
125.69; 126.57; 126.65; 127.34; 127.38; 127.48; 128.88; 128.92; 131.69; 133.44; 135.11; 139.56;
140.23; 169.83. MS (EI, 70 eV), m/z: 308 [M]+. Anal. Calcd. for С19H16O2S: C, 74.00; H, 5.23.
Found: C, 74.13; H, 5.35 %.
(2,5-Dimethylthiophen-3-yl)acetic acid (4c). The general procedure above described was applied
using 1-(2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)ethanone (10 mmol, 1.54 g). Yield 0.92 g (54%), light yellow
1
solid, mp 68-69 °С [lit.22 mp 69-70 °C]. IR (νmax, cm-1): 3068, 2565, 1705. H NMR (250 MHz,
CDCl3) δ (ppm): 2.26 (s, 3H, Me), 2.34 (s, 3H, Me), 3.39 (s, 2H, CH2), 6.56 (s, 1H, thioph. H),
10.30-11.20 (br. s, 1H, ОН). MS (EI, 70 eV), m/z: 170 [M]+. Anal. Calcd. for С8H10O2S: C, 56.44;
H, 5.92. Found: C, 56.43; H, 5.85 %.
2-(5-(4-Bromophenyl)-2-methylthiophen-3-yl)acetic acid (4d). The general procedure above
described
was
applied
using
2-(5-(4-bromophenyl)-2-methylthiophen-3-yl)-1-
morpholinoethanethione (10 mmol, 2.95 g). Yield 2.15 g (69%), light brown solid, mp 162-163
°С [lit.13 mp 161-162 °C]. IR (νmax, cm-1): 3062, 2558, 1704. 1H NMR (250 MHz, CDCl3): δ 2.41
(s, 3H, Me), 3.56 (s, 2H, CH2), 7.12 (s, 1H, thioph. H), 7.21-7.48 (m, 4H, arom. H), 10.60-11.50
(br. s, 1H, ОН). MS (EI, 70 eV), m/z: 311 [M]+. Anal. Calcd. for С13H11BrO2S: C, 50.17; H, 3.56.
Found: C, 50.08; H, 3.66 %.
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Supplementary Material
1H and 13C spectra for all novel obtained compounds.
Acknowledgements
This research was financially supported by Grant of President of Russian Federation (No. MK-
6738.2016.3). E.Sh. and A.D. worked in the framework of the State Order for 2016 No. 007-
01114-16 PR 0256-2014-0009.
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