A series of N-aryl-5,6,7,8-tetra-hydrobenzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-amines were synthesized in moderate to good yield by using a microwave-enhanced conditions. The selected compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects (IC 50 values) on human pulmonary carcinoma (A549), murine BALB/c spontaneous colon adenocarcinoma (CT26) and human hepatocellular liver carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines in vitro. Amongst these compounds, one compound was found to have the better cytotoxic activity with reference to the standard Erlotinib hydrochloride (Tarceva TM) against A549 (IC 50 = 16.06 ± 0.09 μM) and HepG2 (IC 50 = 15.01 ± 0.31 μM) cell lines. Especially, two compounds showed best cytotoxic effects against CT26 (IC 50 = 11.38 ± 0.44 μM) and HepG2 (IC 50 = 8.51 ± 0.52 μM) cell lines, respectively. The preliminary structure-activity relationships were disclosed and the thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine skeleton could be exploited to potential antitumor agents in the future.

Asymmetric allylic substitution of Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) carbonates with less-nucleophilic phenols mediated by nucleophilic amine catalysis was successfully developed.

A palladium-catalyzed oxidative amidation of conjugated olefin with 2-pyridone is described. A series of E-Enamides were synthesized in a highly stereocontrolled manner. The reaction also accommodates other cyclic and acyclic amides. Z-Enamides were predominantly prepared for primary amides probably due to the presence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond. Gramscale synthesis of enamide and the following oxidative annulation with diphenylacetylene demonstrates the synthetic utility of this reaction.