It has been found that both eugenol and isoeugenol derivatives reacted with 2-pyridinesulfenyl and 2-pyridineselenenyl halides in a regioselective mode affording products with opposite regiochemistry. Synthesis of new families of 2H,3H-[1,3]thia- and -selenazolo[3,2-a]pyridin-4-ium heterocycles has been developed by annulation reactions of 2-pyridinechalcogenyl halides with natural compounds (eugenol, isoeugenol, methyl eugenol, methyl isoeugenol, acetyl eugenol, trans-anethole) and their structural analogs. The influence of the substrate structure and the nature of halogen on the product yields are studied. The 2-pyridinesulfenyl and 2-pyridineselenenyl chlorides are more efficient reagents compared to corresponding bromides. The obtained condensed heterocycles are novel water-soluble functionalized compounds with promising biological activity.
Keywords: 2-pyridineselenenyl halides; 2-pyridinesulfenyl halides; [1,3]selenazolo[3,2-a]pyridin-4-ium derivatives; [1,3]thiazolo[3,2-a]pyridin-4-ium derivatives; anethole; eugenol; isoeugenol.