Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Urea Derivatives via PhI(OAc)<sub>2</sub> and Application in Late-Stage Drug Functionalization

Unsymmetrical urea derivatives are essential structural motifs in a wide array of biologically significant compounds. Despite the well-established methods for synthesizing symmetrical ureas, efficient strategies for the synthesis of unsymmetrical urea derivatives remain limited. In this study, we pr...

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Main Authors: Subban Kathiravan, Prakriti Dhillon, Tianshu Zhang, Ian A. Nicholls
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5669
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author Subban Kathiravan
Prakriti Dhillon
Tianshu Zhang
Ian A. Nicholls
author_facet Subban Kathiravan
Prakriti Dhillon
Tianshu Zhang
Ian A. Nicholls
author_sort Subban Kathiravan
collection DOAJ
description Unsymmetrical urea derivatives are essential structural motifs in a wide array of biologically significant compounds. Despite the well-established methods for synthesizing symmetrical ureas, efficient strategies for the synthesis of unsymmetrical urea derivatives remain limited. In this study, we present a novel approach for the synthesis of unsymmetrical urea derivatives through the coupling of amides and amines. Utilizing hypervalent iodine reagent PhI(OAc)<sub>2</sub> as a coupling mediator, this method circumvents the need for metal catalysts, high temperatures, and inert atmosphere. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions and demonstrates broad substrate scope, including various primary and secondary amines and primary benzamides. This protocol not only offers a practical and versatile route for synthesizing unsymmetrical ureas but also shows significant potential for the late-stage functionalization of complex molecules in drug development.
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issn 1420-3049
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publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-e30096eae04b4606949402462ce893442025-08-20T02:50:34ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492024-11-012923566910.3390/molecules29235669Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Urea Derivatives via PhI(OAc)<sub>2</sub> and Application in Late-Stage Drug FunctionalizationSubban Kathiravan0Prakriti Dhillon1Tianshu Zhang2Ian A. Nicholls3Bioorganic & Biophysical Chemistry Laboratory, Linnaeus University Centre for Biomaterials Chemistry, Department of Chemistry & Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, SE-39182 Kalmar, SwedenBioorganic & Biophysical Chemistry Laboratory, Linnaeus University Centre for Biomaterials Chemistry, Department of Chemistry & Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, SE-39182 Kalmar, SwedenBioorganic & Biophysical Chemistry Laboratory, Linnaeus University Centre for Biomaterials Chemistry, Department of Chemistry & Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, SE-39182 Kalmar, SwedenBioorganic & Biophysical Chemistry Laboratory, Linnaeus University Centre for Biomaterials Chemistry, Department of Chemistry & Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, SE-39182 Kalmar, SwedenUnsymmetrical urea derivatives are essential structural motifs in a wide array of biologically significant compounds. Despite the well-established methods for synthesizing symmetrical ureas, efficient strategies for the synthesis of unsymmetrical urea derivatives remain limited. In this study, we present a novel approach for the synthesis of unsymmetrical urea derivatives through the coupling of amides and amines. Utilizing hypervalent iodine reagent PhI(OAc)<sub>2</sub> as a coupling mediator, this method circumvents the need for metal catalysts, high temperatures, and inert atmosphere. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions and demonstrates broad substrate scope, including various primary and secondary amines and primary benzamides. This protocol not only offers a practical and versatile route for synthesizing unsymmetrical ureas but also shows significant potential for the late-stage functionalization of complex molecules in drug development.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5669hypervalent iodineureaamidesamineslate-stage functionalizationdrugs
spellingShingle Subban Kathiravan
Prakriti Dhillon
Tianshu Zhang
Ian A. Nicholls
Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Urea Derivatives via PhI(OAc)<sub>2</sub> and Application in Late-Stage Drug Functionalization
Molecules
hypervalent iodine
urea
amides
amines
late-stage functionalization
drugs
title Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Urea Derivatives via PhI(OAc)<sub>2</sub> and Application in Late-Stage Drug Functionalization
title_full Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Urea Derivatives via PhI(OAc)<sub>2</sub> and Application in Late-Stage Drug Functionalization
title_fullStr Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Urea Derivatives via PhI(OAc)<sub>2</sub> and Application in Late-Stage Drug Functionalization
title_full_unstemmed Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Urea Derivatives via PhI(OAc)<sub>2</sub> and Application in Late-Stage Drug Functionalization
title_short Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Urea Derivatives via PhI(OAc)<sub>2</sub> and Application in Late-Stage Drug Functionalization
title_sort synthesis of unsymmetrical urea derivatives via phi oac sub 2 sub and application in late stage drug functionalization
topic hypervalent iodine
urea
amides
amines
late-stage functionalization
drugs
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5669
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AT tianshuzhang synthesisofunsymmetricalureaderivativesviaphioacsub2subandapplicationinlatestagedrugfunctionalization
AT iananicholls synthesisofunsymmetricalureaderivativesviaphioacsub2subandapplicationinlatestagedrugfunctionalization