Synthesis of N-heterocycles through alcohol dehydrogenative coupling

Nitrogen heterocycles are found in the structures of many biologically important compounds, as well as materials used in the synthesis of fine chemicals. Notably, ~59% of US Food and Drug Administration-approved small-molecule drugs contain nitrogen heterocycles. It is therefore meaningful to explore greener or more sustainable methods for their synthesis. The use of alcohols as reagents is attractive as they can be readily obtained from biomass derived natural resources. In the last two decades, alcohol dehydrogenative coupling reaction to synthesize various heterocycles were extensively explored which furnished hydrogen (H 2 ) and water (H 2 O) as the two greener byproducts. In this protocol, we describe several efficient catalytic transformations to synthesize quinolines, 1,8-naphthyridines, quinoxalines, quinazolines, pyrimidines, benzimidazoles, pyrroles and pyridines, using alcohol as starting materials. We also describe the synthesis of several homogeneous iridium/ruthenium catalysts and heterogeneous cobalt/copper catalysts that can be used in these transformations. The reaction setup is simple; in a Schlenk/reaction tube with magnetic stir-bar, alcohol, corresponding coupling reagents (nucleophiles), catalyst, base and solvent (water or organic solvent such as toluene, dioxane or p -xylene) are added. The reaction mixture is refluxed at the specified temperature (110–150 °C)—either in air or under argon—to furnish these heterocycles. Synthesis of the catalysts takes 3–5 h and the coupling reactions take 4–5 h depending on the target product. The cobalt- and copper-based heterogeneous catalytic systems displayed an good catalyst recyclability. Key points This protocol describes the catalytic transformation of alcohols to N-heterocycles—a reaction in which the main byproducts are hydrogen and water. This approach has a wide substrate scope and represents a step toward greener synthesis of many biologically and industrially important compounds. Also included the procedures to prepare the homogeneous iridium/ruthenium catalysts and heterogeneous cobalt/copper catalysts that can be used in these transformations. Nitrogen heterocycles are a large class of chemically and biologically relevant compounds. This protocol describes their synthesis from alcohols using homogeneous iridium/ruthenium catalysts and heterogeneous cobalt/copper catalysts.