Isocoumarin, Thiaisocoumarin and Phosphaisocoumarin: Natural Occurrences, Synthetic Approaches and Pharmaceutical Applications

Isocoumarin, Thiaisocoumarin and Phosphaisocoumarin: Natural Occurrences, Synthetic Approaches and Pharmaceutical Applications gives an overview of the various aspects of this class of heterocycle, with a major focus on synthesis and biological activity. Aromatic δ lactones or isocoumarins along with thiaisocoumarins, phosphaisocoumarins and a-pyranone fused with heteroaryl ring constitute an important class of heterocyclic compounds. Isocoumarins display a variety of biological functions, and while a diverse method has been reported for the synthesis of isocoumarin alone, the alkyne-based methodology has emerged as a general synthetic approach to this class of compounds. Transition metal catalysts including salts or complexes of Cu, Pd, Ag, Hg, Ru, Rh, Ni or Ir are often employed for the synthesis of isocoumarin and its derivatives, and similar methods are applied for the synthesis of thiaisocoumarins, phosphaisocoumarins and a-pyranone fused with heteroaryl ring. Isocoumarin plays a key role in many areas of drug discovery and pharmaceutical research, and an array of diverse and elegant methodologies have been developed for the construction and functionalization of the isocoumarin ring. This work will be useful to medicinal and natural product chemists in synthesizing their target molecules, and developing cutting-edge technologies to provide better solutions to the researchers aiming to access novel isocoumarin-based molecules, agents or drugs

Features an overview of isocoumarins and their role in pharmaceutical research, and its use as a template for the design, discovery and development of new and potential drugs in various therapeutic areasIncludes comprehensive coverage of the synthesis of isocoumarins, from traditional methods to transition metal catalysed methods, including in the preparation of various natural products, as well as use an intermediate in the synthesis of other aromatic compoundsLooks at future applications for these important compounds in the areas of drug discovery and pharmaceutical research

1. Introduction: The diverse aromatic δ lactones 2. Natural products: A major source of isocoumarins 3. Bioactive isocoumarins: their role in pharmaceutical research 4. Synthesis of isocoumarins: traditional and transition metal catalyzed methods 5. Preparation of Thienopyranones 6. Synthesis of seleno and telluro isocoumarins 7. Synthesis of a-pyranone fused with nitrogen containing heterocycles 8. Synthesis of phosphaisocoumarins 9. Synthesis of nature’s isocoumarins 10. Synthesis of isocoumarins of pharmacological interest 11. Isocoumarins in organic synthesis: Synthetic applications 12. Conclusions