# Regioselective Synthesis of Some Pyrazole Scaffolds Attached to Benzothiazole and Benzimidazole Moieties

Authors: Nabila A. Kheder; Yahia N. Mabkhot; Fawzia R. Zahian; Sara S. Mohamed
Journal: Journal of Chemistry
 (2014)

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## Abstract

Condensation of 2-(benzothiazol-2-yl)acetonitrile (1) or 2-(1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)acetonitrile (2) with thiophene-2-carbaldehyde afforded the corresponding acrylonitrile derivatives 3 or 4, respectively. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of the acrylonitrile 3 or 4 with nitrile-imine 6 gave novel pyrazole derivatives pendant to benzothiazole and benzimidazole. The pyrazoline derivative 7 was converted into the corresponding pyrazole derivative 11 via thermal elimination of hydrogen cyanide upon heating in sodium ethoxide solution. The structures of the synthesized products were confirmed by IR, 1H NMR, and mass spectral techniques.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Benzothiazole derivatives have been reported to possess diverse biological properties [1, 2]. Benzimidazole is an interesting heterocyclic ring system because it is present in naturally occurring cyanocobalamin and several known commercialized drugs such as mebendazole, astemizole, and emedastine difumarate. Moreover, they have shown anthelmintic [3] and antimicrobial activities [4–6]. Also, many benzimidazole derivatives are used as inhibitors of HIV-1 that causes AIDS [7–9] as well as anticancer agents [10]. In addition, pyrazoline derivatives have been found antifungal [11], antidepressant [12–15], anticonvulsant [14, 15], anti-inflammatory [16], antibacterial [17], and antitumor [18] properties. Also, thiophene derivatives are important heterocycles found in several biologically active and natural compounds [19–21]. For example, 2-amino-3-aroylthiophene derivatives are reported as agonist allosteric enhancers at the A1 adenosine receptor [22, 23]. In view of the abovementioned findings and in continuation of our previous work aimed at the synthesis of a variety of heterocyclic ring systems for biological and pharmacological evaluation [24–29], we report here an efficient method for the synthesis of some pyrazole derivatives attached to benzothiazole and benzimidazole moieties.


## 2. Experimental Section

### 2.1. Materials and Methods

All melting points were measured on a Gallenkamp melting point apparatus (Weiss-Gallenkamp, London, UK). The infrared spectra were recorded in potassium bromide disks on a Pye Unicam SP 3300 and Shimadzu FT-IR 8101 PC infrared spectrophotometers (Pye Unicam Ltd. Cambridge, England, and Shimadzu, Tokyo, Japan, resp.). The NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian Mercury VX-300 NMR spectrometer (Varian, Palo Alto, CA, USA).1H spectra were run at 300 MHz in deuterated chloroform (CDCl3) or dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO-d
6). Chemical shifts were related to that of the solvent. Mass spectra were recorded on a Shimadzu GCMS-QP 1000 EX mass spectrometer (Shimadzu) at 70 eV. The starting materials 2-(benzothiazol-2-yl)acetonitrile (1) [30], 2-(1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)acetonitrile (2) [31, 32], and N
′-phenylbenzohydrazonoyl chloride5[33] were prepared according to the reported literature procedures.


### 2.2. Synthesis

#### 2.2.1. Synthesis of 2-(Benzothiazol-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile (3) and 2-(1-Methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile (4)

General  Procedure. To a mixture of acetonitrile1 or2 (10 mmol) and the thiophene 2-carbaldehyde (10 mmol) in ethanol (10 mL), piperidine (0.2 mL) was added, and the mixture was refluxed for 30 min. The formed coloured crystalline products were collected by filtration, washed with ethanol, and dried. Recrystallization from the appropriate solvent gave3 or4, respectively.(1)   2-(Benzothiazol-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile (
3
). Yield (70%), mp 156–7°C; IR (KBr) ν 2211 (C≡N), 3055 (aromatic CH) cm−1; 1H NMR [DMSO-d
6] δ 7.34–7.60 (m, 3H), 8.04–8.18 (m, 4H), 8.68 (s, 1H); MS m/z (%) 268 (M+, 100.0), 242 (7.81), 134 (9.6), 83 (1.14). Anal. Calcd for C14H8N2S2: C, 62.66; H, 3.00; N, 10.44. Found: C, 62.75; H, 3.12; N, 10.35%.(2)   2-(1-Methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile (
4
). Yield (75%), mp. 100°C (methanol); IR (KBr) ν 1609 (C=N), 2207 (C≡N), 2956 (aliphatic CH), 3087 (aromatic CH) cm−1; 1H NMR [DMSO-d
6] δ 4.0 (s, 3H, CH3), 7.25–7.36 (m, 3H), 7.63–7.70 (m, 2H), 7.95 (d, 1H), 8.08 (d, 1H), 8.47 (s, 1H); MS m/z (%) 267 (5.96), 265 (M+, 100.0), 131 (23.95), 83 (4.47). Anal. Calcd for C15H11N3S: C, 67.90; H, 4.18; N, 15.84. Found: C, 67.82; H, 4.25; N, 15.77%.


#### 2.2.2. Synthesis of 5-Cyanopyrazole Derivatives7 and 9

General Procedure. Equimolar quantities of the appropriate acrylonitrile3 or4 (5 mmol) and N
′-phenylbenzohydrazonoyl chloride5 (5 mmol) were dissolved in dry benzene (20 mL). To the resulting solution, triethylamine (0.5 mL, 5 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 12 h, and then the solvent was distilled under reduced pressure. The oil residue was triturated with MeOH and the solid product was collected by filtration, washed with methanol, and recrystallized from the suitable solvent to afford the corresponding pyrazole derivatives7and9, respectively.(1)   5-(Benzothiazol-2-yl)-1,3-diphenyl-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-5-carbonitrile (
7
).Yield (56%), mp. 190–1°C; IR (KBr) ν 1600 (C=N) cm−1; 1H NMR [CDCl3] δ 5.68 (s, 1H, Pyrazole-H), 7.02–8.19 (m, 17H, ArH); MS m/z (%) 465 (2.1), 464 (8.1), 463 (M+, 14.4). Anal. Calcd for C27H18N4S2: C, 70.10; H, 3.92; N, 12.11. Found: C, 70.05; H, 3.85; N, 12.17%.(2)   5-(1-Methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1,3-diphenyl-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-5-carbonitrile (
9
). Yield (45%), mp. 176–7°C (ethanol); IR (KBr) ν  1600 (C=N) cm−1; 1H NMR [CDCl3] δ 3.71 (s, 3H, CH3), 5.66 (s, 1H, Pyrazole-H), 6.95–7.96 (m, 17H, ArH). For C28H21N5S Calcd.: C, 73.18; H, 4.61; N, 15.24. Found: C, 73.09; H, 4.66; N, 15.18%.(3)   Synthesis of 2-(1,3-diphenyl-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzothiazole (
11
). A mixture of 5-cyanopyrazole7 (1.38 g, 3 mmol) and sodium ethoxide (prepared from sodium metal (0.07 g, 3 mmol) in EtOH (15 mL)) was heated under reflux for 1 h and then left to cool. The precipitated solid was collected by filtration, washed with water, and recrystallized from ethanol to give compound11 in 75% yield, mp. 178–9°C (ethanol); IR (KBr) ν 1600 (C=N) cm−1; 1H NMR [CDCl3] δ 7.04–7.99 (m, ArH); MS m/z (%) 438 (1.6), 437 (8.1), 436 (M+, 25.4), 352 (1.3), 134 (2.8), 83 (1.6), 77 (100.0). For C26H17N3S2 Calcd.: C, 71.70; H, 3.93; N, 9.65. Found: C, 71.79; H, 3.98; N, 9.60%.


## 2.1. Materials and Methods

All melting points were measured on a Gallenkamp melting point apparatus (Weiss-Gallenkamp, London, UK). The infrared spectra were recorded in potassium bromide disks on a Pye Unicam SP 3300 and Shimadzu FT-IR 8101 PC infrared spectrophotometers (Pye Unicam Ltd. Cambridge, England, and Shimadzu, Tokyo, Japan, resp.). The NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian Mercury VX-300 NMR spectrometer (Varian, Palo Alto, CA, USA).1H spectra were run at 300 MHz in deuterated chloroform (CDCl3) or dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO-d
6). Chemical shifts were related to that of the solvent. Mass spectra were recorded on a Shimadzu GCMS-QP 1000 EX mass spectrometer (Shimadzu) at 70 eV. The starting materials 2-(benzothiazol-2-yl)acetonitrile (1) [30], 2-(1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)acetonitrile (2) [31, 32], and N
′-phenylbenzohydrazonoyl chloride5[33] were prepared according to the reported literature procedures.


## 2.2. Synthesis

### 2.2.1. Synthesis of 2-(Benzothiazol-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile (3) and 2-(1-Methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile (4)

General  Procedure. To a mixture of acetonitrile1 or2 (10 mmol) and the thiophene 2-carbaldehyde (10 mmol) in ethanol (10 mL), piperidine (0.2 mL) was added, and the mixture was refluxed for 30 min. The formed coloured crystalline products were collected by filtration, washed with ethanol, and dried. Recrystallization from the appropriate solvent gave3 or4, respectively.(1)   2-(Benzothiazol-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile (
3
). Yield (70%), mp 156–7°C; IR (KBr) ν 2211 (C≡N), 3055 (aromatic CH) cm−1; 1H NMR [DMSO-d
6] δ 7.34–7.60 (m, 3H), 8.04–8.18 (m, 4H), 8.68 (s, 1H); MS m/z (%) 268 (M+, 100.0), 242 (7.81), 134 (9.6), 83 (1.14). Anal. Calcd for C14H8N2S2: C, 62.66; H, 3.00; N, 10.44. Found: C, 62.75; H, 3.12; N, 10.35%.(2)   2-(1-Methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile (
4
). Yield (75%), mp. 100°C (methanol); IR (KBr) ν 1609 (C=N), 2207 (C≡N), 2956 (aliphatic CH), 3087 (aromatic CH) cm−1; 1H NMR [DMSO-d
6] δ 4.0 (s, 3H, CH3), 7.25–7.36 (m, 3H), 7.63–7.70 (m, 2H), 7.95 (d, 1H), 8.08 (d, 1H), 8.47 (s, 1H); MS m/z (%) 267 (5.96), 265 (M+, 100.0), 131 (23.95), 83 (4.47). Anal. Calcd for C15H11N3S: C, 67.90; H, 4.18; N, 15.84. Found: C, 67.82; H, 4.25; N, 15.77%.


### 2.2.2. Synthesis of 5-Cyanopyrazole Derivatives7 and 9

General Procedure. Equimolar quantities of the appropriate acrylonitrile3 or4 (5 mmol) and N
′-phenylbenzohydrazonoyl chloride5 (5 mmol) were dissolved in dry benzene (20 mL). To the resulting solution, triethylamine (0.5 mL, 5 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 12 h, and then the solvent was distilled under reduced pressure. The oil residue was triturated with MeOH and the solid product was collected by filtration, washed with methanol, and recrystallized from the suitable solvent to afford the corresponding pyrazole derivatives7and9, respectively.(1)   5-(Benzothiazol-2-yl)-1,3-diphenyl-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-5-carbonitrile (
7
).Yield (56%), mp. 190–1°C; IR (KBr) ν 1600 (C=N) cm−1; 1H NMR [CDCl3] δ 5.68 (s, 1H, Pyrazole-H), 7.02–8.19 (m, 17H, ArH); MS m/z (%) 465 (2.1), 464 (8.1), 463 (M+, 14.4). Anal. Calcd for C27H18N4S2: C, 70.10; H, 3.92; N, 12.11. Found: C, 70.05; H, 3.85; N, 12.17%.(2)   5-(1-Methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1,3-diphenyl-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-5-carbonitrile (
9
). Yield (45%), mp. 176–7°C (ethanol); IR (KBr) ν  1600 (C=N) cm−1; 1H NMR [CDCl3] δ 3.71 (s, 3H, CH3), 5.66 (s, 1H, Pyrazole-H), 6.95–7.96 (m, 17H, ArH). For C28H21N5S Calcd.: C, 73.18; H, 4.61; N, 15.24. Found: C, 73.09; H, 4.66; N, 15.18%.(3)   Synthesis of 2-(1,3-diphenyl-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzothiazole (
11
). A mixture of 5-cyanopyrazole7 (1.38 g, 3 mmol) and sodium ethoxide (prepared from sodium metal (0.07 g, 3 mmol) in EtOH (15 mL)) was heated under reflux for 1 h and then left to cool. The precipitated solid was collected by filtration, washed with water, and recrystallized from ethanol to give compound11 in 75% yield, mp. 178–9°C (ethanol); IR (KBr) ν 1600 (C=N) cm−1; 1H NMR [CDCl3] δ 7.04–7.99 (m, ArH); MS m/z (%) 438 (1.6), 437 (8.1), 436 (M+, 25.4), 352 (1.3), 134 (2.8), 83 (1.6), 77 (100.0). For C26H17N3S2 Calcd.: C, 71.70; H, 3.93; N, 9.65. Found: C, 71.79; H, 3.98; N, 9.60%.


## 2.2.1. Synthesis of 2-(Benzothiazol-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile (3) and 2-(1-Methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile (4)

General  Procedure. To a mixture of acetonitrile1 or2 (10 mmol) and the thiophene 2-carbaldehyde (10 mmol) in ethanol (10 mL), piperidine (0.2 mL) was added, and the mixture was refluxed for 30 min. The formed coloured crystalline products were collected by filtration, washed with ethanol, and dried. Recrystallization from the appropriate solvent gave3 or4, respectively.(1)   2-(Benzothiazol-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile (
3
). Yield (70%), mp 156–7°C; IR (KBr) ν 2211 (C≡N), 3055 (aromatic CH) cm−1; 1H NMR [DMSO-d
6] δ 7.34–7.60 (m, 3H), 8.04–8.18 (m, 4H), 8.68 (s, 1H); MS m/z (%) 268 (M+, 100.0), 242 (7.81), 134 (9.6), 83 (1.14). Anal. Calcd for C14H8N2S2: C, 62.66; H, 3.00; N, 10.44. Found: C, 62.75; H, 3.12; N, 10.35%.(2)   2-(1-Methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile (
4
). Yield (75%), mp. 100°C (methanol); IR (KBr) ν 1609 (C=N), 2207 (C≡N), 2956 (aliphatic CH), 3087 (aromatic CH) cm−1; 1H NMR [DMSO-d
6] δ 4.0 (s, 3H, CH3), 7.25–7.36 (m, 3H), 7.63–7.70 (m, 2H), 7.95 (d, 1H), 8.08 (d, 1H), 8.47 (s, 1H); MS m/z (%) 267 (5.96), 265 (M+, 100.0), 131 (23.95), 83 (4.47). Anal. Calcd for C15H11N3S: C, 67.90; H, 4.18; N, 15.84. Found: C, 67.82; H, 4.25; N, 15.77%.


## 2.2.2. Synthesis of 5-Cyanopyrazole Derivatives7 and 9

General Procedure. Equimolar quantities of the appropriate acrylonitrile3 or4 (5 mmol) and N
′-phenylbenzohydrazonoyl chloride5 (5 mmol) were dissolved in dry benzene (20 mL). To the resulting solution, triethylamine (0.5 mL, 5 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 12 h, and then the solvent was distilled under reduced pressure. The oil residue was triturated with MeOH and the solid product was collected by filtration, washed with methanol, and recrystallized from the suitable solvent to afford the corresponding pyrazole derivatives7and9, respectively.(1)   5-(Benzothiazol-2-yl)-1,3-diphenyl-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-5-carbonitrile (
7
).Yield (56%), mp. 190–1°C; IR (KBr) ν 1600 (C=N) cm−1; 1H NMR [CDCl3] δ 5.68 (s, 1H, Pyrazole-H), 7.02–8.19 (m, 17H, ArH); MS m/z (%) 465 (2.1), 464 (8.1), 463 (M+, 14.4). Anal. Calcd for C27H18N4S2: C, 70.10; H, 3.92; N, 12.11. Found: C, 70.05; H, 3.85; N, 12.17%.(2)   5-(1-Methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1,3-diphenyl-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-5-carbonitrile (
9
). Yield (45%), mp. 176–7°C (ethanol); IR (KBr) ν  1600 (C=N) cm−1; 1H NMR [CDCl3] δ 3.71 (s, 3H, CH3), 5.66 (s, 1H, Pyrazole-H), 6.95–7.96 (m, 17H, ArH). For C28H21N5S Calcd.: C, 73.18; H, 4.61; N, 15.24. Found: C, 73.09; H, 4.66; N, 15.18%.(3)   Synthesis of 2-(1,3-diphenyl-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzothiazole (
11
). A mixture of 5-cyanopyrazole7 (1.38 g, 3 mmol) and sodium ethoxide (prepared from sodium metal (0.07 g, 3 mmol) in EtOH (15 mL)) was heated under reflux for 1 h and then left to cool. The precipitated solid was collected by filtration, washed with water, and recrystallized from ethanol to give compound11 in 75% yield, mp. 178–9°C (ethanol); IR (KBr) ν 1600 (C=N) cm−1; 1H NMR [CDCl3] δ 7.04–7.99 (m, ArH); MS m/z (%) 438 (1.6), 437 (8.1), 436 (M+, 25.4), 352 (1.3), 134 (2.8), 83 (1.6), 77 (100.0). For C26H17N3S2 Calcd.: C, 71.70; H, 3.93; N, 9.65. Found: C, 71.79; H, 3.98; N, 9.60%.


## 3. Results and Discussion

The key starting materials 2-(benzothiazol-2-yl)acetonitrile (1) [30] and 2-(1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)acetonitrile (2) [31, 32] are characterized by the presence of an active methylene as well as nitrile function which makes them active so they can be used as a precursors for the synthesis of biologically and chemically active compounds. In the present work, the synthetic potential of the acrylonitriles3 and4 has been explored.The usual method for the synthesis of acrylonitrile3 or4 employs condensation of 2-(benzothiazol-2-yl)acetonitrile (1) or 2-(1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)acetonitrile (2) with thiophene-2-carbaldehyde in refluxing ethanol containing a catalytic amount of piperidine (Scheme 1). The analytical and spectroscopic data were consistent with the final products3and4(see Section 2).Scheme 1Treatment of compound3 with nitrile imine6 (generated in situ from N
′-phenylbenzohydrazonoyl chloride5[33] by the action of triethylamine in benzene) afforded only one cycloadduct as deduced from TLC and 1H NMR analysis of the crude reaction product (Scheme 2). The structure of the isolated cycloadduct was assigned as 5-(benzothiazol-2-yl)-1,3-diphenyl-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-5-carbonitrile (7) based on its elemental analysis and its spectroscopic data. The distinction between the two possible regioisomeric cycloadducts7 and8 (Figure 1) was made on the basis of the IR and 1H NMR spectra of the isolated product.Scheme 2Figure 1
The two possible regioisomeric cycloadducts7 and8.The structure of the product7 was in agreement with its elemental analysis and spectroscopic data. Although compound7 bears a nitrile function, its IR spectrum did not afford nitrile absorption band similar to the case of aliphatic nitriles activated by a nitrogen or oxygen atom in the α-position [34, 35]. This similarity of the absence of the nitrile absorption in the IR spectrum excludes the possibility of the other regioisomer8 for the isolated product. This is because compound of type8 is expected to exhibit strong nitrile absorption in their IR spectra [36].In analogous manner, the nitrile imine6 added regioselectively to the carbon-carbon double bond of 2-(1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylonitrile (4) in benzene at room temperature to afford 5-(1-methyl-1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)-1,3-diphenyl-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-5-carbonitrile (9) (Scheme 2). The structure of the latter product was assigned on the basis of its elemental analysis and spectral data. For example, its IR spectrum revealed no nitrile absorption band. Moreover, structure9 was confirmed by 1H NMR spectrum which revealed a sharp singlet signal at δ 5.66 assignable to the proton at C-4 of the pyrazoline ring. This chemical shift is very similar to those reported for the C-4 proton of 4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole derivatives [37].When compound7 was heated in ethanolic sodium ethoxide solution, it afforded the pyrazole derivative11 in high yield (Scheme 3). The structure of the product was confirmed by 1H NMR spectra, which revealed the disappearance of the proton signal at C-4.Scheme 3


## 4. Conclusion

We have successfully synthesized some pyrazole derivatives attached to benzothiazole and benzimidazole moieties of biological and pharmacological interest, via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction.



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