Synthesis of heteroarylazulenes: transition metal free coupling strategy of azulene with heterocycles

Azulene reacts with highly electrophilic trifluoromethanesulfonates of N-containing heterocycles to give 1-dihydroheteroaryl and 1,3-bis(dihydroheteroaryl)azulene derivatives in a good yield. Treatment of the dihydroheteroarylazulene derivatives with KOH or tert-BuOK afforded 1-heteroaryl and 1,3-bis(heteroaryl)azulenes in a good yield.     

First synthesis of 1-(indol-2-yl)azulenes by the Vilsmeier–Haack type arylation with triflic anhydride as an activating reagent

Azulene derivatives reacted with 2-indolinones in the presence of triflic anhydride (Tf₂O) to afford 1-(indol-2-yl)azulenes in good yields. In the cases of the reaction of 6-tert-butyl-1-(methylthio)azulene (11) and 1-(1,4-dihydropyridin-4-yl)azulene 14, 1,1′-biazulene derivative 24 and 1-(indol-2-yl)azulene (2) were obtained under the similar reaction conditions, respectively, instead of the presumed electrophilic substitution products.     

Abnormal Nucleophilic Substitution on Methoxytropone Derivatives: Steric Strategy to Synthesize 5-Substituted Azulenes

Azulene is a non-alternant non-benzenoid aromatic system, and in turn, it possesses unusual photophysical properties. Azulene-based conjugated systems have received increasing interest in recent years as optoelectronic materials. Despite the routes available for the preparation of substituted azulene derivatives, there remain few methods that allow regioselective substitution on the seven-membered ring of azulenes due to the subtle reactivity difference among the various positions. This report explores the reactivity of substituted tropolones as the azulene precursors and also provides a new method to create 5-substituted azulenes. The reaction of cyanoacetate enolate with unsubstituted 2-methoxytropone affords azulene through the attack of the nucleophile on the C-2 center (normal pathway). We have observed that 3-substituted 2-methoxytropones undergo steric-guided nucleophilic addition at the C-7 center (abnormal pathway) to afford 5-substituted azulene derivatives. Based on this observation and DFT calculation, a new synthetic strategy is devised for the regioselective synthesis of 5-substituted multifunctional azulenes, which cannot be accessed by any other method.     

Synthesis of C5-substituted imidazolines

5-(Hydroxymethyl)-3-(t-butyloxycarbonyl)imidazoline 2 was prepared in four steps from 2,3-diaminopropionic acid in 72% overall yield. Mitsunobu reaction with a series of phenol derivatives gave the corresponding 5-(aryloxymethyl)-3-(t-butyloxycarbonyl)imidazolines 8a-l. Phthalimide and N-benzyl trifluoroacetamide also reacted.     

Mechanism of the protonation of azulenes in aqueous solutions of acids

In aqueous solutions of strong acids (H₂SO₄, H₃PO₄, and HCl) containing azulene, the fast reversible protonation of azulene is accompanied by the slow formation of a disperse dark violet dye insoluble in acids, alcohol, and heptane. On the basis of the kinetic specifics of this reaction and the nonlinear (nearly reciprocal quadratic) dependence of the concentrations ratio of their cationic and neutral forms on the Hammett acidity function known for azulene and 14 of its derivatives, azulene is shown not to be a Hammett base. A mechanism for the reversible reactions of the azulenium cation is proposed that considers supramolecular dimers to be the basic state of azulene and its derivatives. The scheme includes reactions of the unstable intermediate π complexes formed from the dimers and hydrated hydrogen cations; the complexes quickly dissociate in the opposite direction and react with the hydrated protons to yield azulenium cations and unstable molecules that induce polymerization of the dimers.     

Synthesis and properties of N,N,N′,N′-tetrasubstituted 1,3-bis(5-aminothien-2-yl)azulenes and their application as a hole-injecting material in organic light-emitting devices

Two title compounds, N,N,N′,N′-tetraphenyl-1,3-bis(5-aminothien-2-yl)azulene (3a) and 1,3-bis{5-(9-carbazolyl)thien-2-yl}azulene (3b), were synthesized from 1,3-di(2-thienyl)azulene (4) by a two-step sequence involving bromination and subsequent Pd-catalyzed amination. These compounds were characterized by spectroscopic analyses and the structure of 3a was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Their HOMO energy levels were estimated using their electrochemical oxidation potentials, and these compounds were used as a hole-injecting material in organic light-emitting devices. The device with 3a showed greater durability than that with copper phthalocyanine.     

A novel approach to benz[e]indenes

A number of benz[e]indene derivatives have been prepared at room temperature in good to excellent yields by treating 3-(2-formyl-cycloalkenyl)-acrylic acid esters with diphosphorus pentasulfide. An azulene derivative was also synthesized by this simple method.     

Synthesis of 1-(pyridyl, quinolyl, and isoquinolyl)azulenes by Reissert-Henze type reaction

Azulene derivatives reacted with N-oxide of several heterocycles in the presence of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (Tf₂O) to afford 1-(pyridyl, quinolyl, and isoquinolyl)azulenes in good yield, respectively. In the case of the reaction with the 1-azulenyl methyl sulfide (12), 1,1′-biazulene derivative 13 was obtained under the similar reaction conditions. The first synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,3-di(pyridyl)azulene derivative was also established via our new preparation method following the electrophilic pyridinylation using the reaction with pyridine in the presence of Tf₂O.     

The addition of benzocyclobutenylidene to benzene : The facile rearrangement of spiro[benzocyclobutene-1,7'-cyclohepta-1',3',5'-triene] to 9a,10-dihydrobenz[α]azulene

Thermal decomposition of the sodium salts of benzocyclobutenone tosylhydrazone and 2-methylbenzocyclobutenone tosylhydrazone in benzene affords 9a,10-dihydrobenz[α]azulene 4 and trans-10-methyl-9a, 10-dihydrobenz[α]azulene 3, respectively. A mechanism involving initially the addition of the carbene benzocyclobutenylidene, or its 2-Me derivative, to the benzene ring is postulated. A proposed intermediate in the reaction, spiro [benzocyclobutene 1,7' cyclohepta-1',3',5'-triene] 12 has been synthesised, and shown to give rise to 4 under the reaction conditions. The rate of rearrangement of 12 → 4 has been measured, and the activation energy determined: E_a = 125.9 ± O.8 KJmol^?1 and A = 1.38 × lO¹⁴sec^?1. The mechanism for the rearrangement must involve ring opening of the benzocyclobutene moiety of 12 to give an o- xylylene intermediate which is postulated to possess considerable diradical character. At 71.8 °, this ring opening is 2.7 × 10⁶ times faster than the ring opening of the parent benzocyclobutene molecule. The decomposition of the sodium salt of 2-(7' -cyclohepta-1',3',5' trienyl)benzaldehyde tosylhydrazone has also been investigated and is shown to yield 4a,10-dihydrobenz[α]azulene, 9,10-dihydrobenz[α]azulene and 8,9-benzotricyclo [5.3.0.0^2.10]deca-3,5,8-triene. A mechanism involving intramolecular 1,3-dipolar addition of a diazo grouping to a cycloheptatriene Π-bond, followed by decomposition of the resulting pyrazoline intermediate, is proposed.     

Level-to-level vibrational energy transfer studies: energy dependence and observation of product species for azulenes(S0, Evib) + CO2

V—V energy transfer from a large molecule excited to vibrational energies of chemical interest has been demonstrated by detection of ≈ 1.5% yield of CO₂(001) due to energy transfer from azulene (E_vib ≈ 30600 cm^?1. Also, the average enery lost per collision by azulene was measured as a function of E_vib, and the rate constant for CO₂(001) deactivation by azulene was determined.     

Photoisomerization of 2,3,6,7-tetraphenyl-1,2,3-triazolo[1,2-b]-1,2,3-triazole

Irradiation of the title compound brings about consecutive photoisomerizations via derivatives of 1,2,3-triazolyl-2H-azirine, 1,2,3-triazolo[1,2-a]-1,2,4-triazole and 1,2,4-triazolyl-2H-azirine, leading finally to a dihydrotetraazabenz [e] azulene.     

Synthesis of dialkyl 5-(aryl)-1-phenyl-1H-prazole-3,4-dicarboxylates via a one-pot and four-component reaction

A number of new dialkyl 5-(aryl)-1-phenyl-1H-prazole-3,4-dicarboxylate derivatives have been prepared regiospecifically in moderate to good yield from the cyclocondensation reaction of dialkyl (E)-2-(dialkoxyphosphoryl)-3-(aroyl)-2-butenedioate, derived from the reaction between trimethyl phosphite, an acetylenic ester, and an aroyl chloride, with phenylhydrazine. The reaction is four-component and is carried out under reflux conditions in dry toluene.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of azuleno[1′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,14-diones: Azulene analogs of tryptanthrin

Azulene analog of tryptanthrin, azuleno[1′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,14-dione, was successfully prepared by the condensation reaction of azuleno[2,1-b]pyrrole-2,3-dione with isatoic anhydride in the presence of sodium hydride or diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA). Its 2-halo derivatives were also obtained in high yields by the condensation reaction with 5-haloisatoic anhydrides in the presence of DIPEA. Reactivity toward electrophilic reagents was revealed by halogenation with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) or N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) to afford 12-halo derivatives in high yields. Among the halo derivatives, 2-iodo and 12-iodo derivatives were reactive enough to afford phenylethynyl derivatives under Pd-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling conditions. Within the phenylethynyl derivatives, only 12-phenylethynyl derivative was transformed into its 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobutadiene (TCBD) derivative by the reaction with TCNE. Amphoteric redox properties of the novel azulene analogs of tryptanthrin were characterized by spectroscopic and voltammetric analyses.     

Metal‐Catalyzed C−H Bond Activation of 5‐Membered Carbocyclic Rings: A Powerful Access to Azulene,Acenaphthylene and Fulvene Derivatives

Azulene, acenaphthylene and fulvene derivatives exhibit important physical properties useful in materials chemistry as well as valuable biological properties. Since about two decades ago, the metal‐catalyzed functionalization of such compounds, via C?H bond activation of their 5‐membered carbocyclic ring, proved to be a very convenient method for the synthesis of a wide variety of azulene, acenaphthylene and fulvene derivatives. For such reactions, there is no need to prefunctionalize the 5‐membered carbocyclic rings. In this review, the progress in the synthesis of azulene, acenaphthylene and fulvene derivatives via metal‐catalyzed C?H bond activation of their 5‐membered carbocyclic ring are summarized.     

Synthesis and mechanism of formation of 5-benzylidene-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydro-(1H,5H)-pyrimidine-4,6-diones difluoromethoxy derivatives

Reactions of 5-benzylidene-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydro-(1H,5H)-pyrimidine-4,6-diones with a singlet difluorocarbene afford difluoromethoxy derivatives in 20–34% yield. The quantum-chemical analysis of the reaction mechanism showed that N,N-dimethylformamide is involved into the formation of difluoromethoxy derivatives.     

A convenient preparation of (S)-(−)-4-hydroxy-2-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-one and its application as a chiral synthetic equivalent of 2-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-one in the terpenoid synthesis

A method for the preparation of (S)-4-hydroxy-2-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-one from 1-(2-furyl)ethanol using modified Piancatelli rearrangement and enzymatic kinetic resolution of the racemate was developed. An application of O-protected derivatives of 4-hydroxy-2-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-one to terpenoid synthesis through tandem conjugate addition of allyl-metal reagents, enolate trapping, and consecutive Mukaiyama–Michael addition was studied. An optically active azulene derivative useful for terpenoid synthesis was efficiently synthesized.     

Azulen als Brückenligand in Zweikernigen Paramagnetischen Nickelkomplexen — Synthese und Eigenschaften

Azulene as Bridging Ligand in Dinuclear Paramagnetic Complexes of Nickel — Synthesis and Spectroscopic Properties The reactivity of dianions of several alkyl substituted azulene derivates towards half sandwich complexes [(η⁵‐C₅R_1‐5)Ni (η²‐acetylacetonat)] (R = H, Me, Ethyl) has been studied and leads to the formation of paramagnetic dinickel complexes of the nonbenzenoid hydrocarbon azulene. From these studies it is found that the five membered ring system of the azulene ligand is coordinated in a nickelocene like fashion, the seven membered ring system in a halfopen metallocene type fashion. Therein the seven membered azulene ring unit is complexed in a pentadienyllike fashion. This corresponds to cyclovoltammetric studies in which a correlation with the potentials for alkylated nickelocene derivatives is found.     

Formation of Azulenequinone Derivatives from Variously Functionalized Azulenes by Bromine-oxidation

Variously functionalized 1,5- and 1,7-azulenequinones were easily derived in one-pot in 30-50% yield from the bromine-oxidation of 2-methoxyazulene and 2-methyl derivatives of 1-cyano-, 1-methoxycarbonyl- and its 7-isopropyl derivatives, while 1-methoxycarbonylazulene afforded several unstable products from which we could not isolate any azulenequinones. 1-Acetylazulene afforded 3-bromo-1,5- and -1,7-azulenequinones via side-chain brominated intermediates in high yield. 1,3-Dichloroazulene afforded a mixture of 3-chloro-1,5- and −1,7-azulenequinones, while 1-fluoro- and 1,3-diiodoazulene gave a mixture of 3-bromoazulenequinones. Analogous oxidation of 1,3-difluoroazulene produced 3-fluoroazulenequinones, but we could not isolate them due to its instability. Hydroxy group of 2-(3-hydroxypropyl)azulene was intact during this quinone formation reaction.     

Azulene in Polymers and Their Properties

Azulene, a unique isomer of naphthalene, has received much interest from researchers in different fields due to its unusual chemical structure with a negatively charged 5‐membered ring fused with a positively charged 7‐membered ring. In particular, incorporation of azulene into polymers has led to many interesting properties. This minireview covers functionalization methods of azulene at its various positions of 5‐ and 7‐membered rings to form azulene derivatives including azulene monomers, and gives an overview of a wide range of azulene‐containing polymers including poly(1,3‐azulene), azulene‐based copolymers with connectivity at 1,3‐positions of the 5‐membered ring, or 4,7‐positions of the 7‐membered ring, as well as copolymers with azulene units as side chains. Their chemical and physical properties together with applications of azulene‐containing polymers have also been summarized.     

Out-of-plane deformation of the azulene ring in crystal structures of simply substituted azulene derivatives

The crystal structures of 1,3-bis(4-bromophenyl)- and 1,3-di(2-thienyl)azulenes (5 and 6) were elucidated by X-ray analysis. Two aryl groups connect to the azulenyl core with dihedral angles of 34.9-41.6° and the two aryl planes of the groups slant against the azulene ring toward different ways in their crystal structures. It was also found that the azulene rings of 5 and 6 showed a slight out-of-plane deformation in the way that the hydrogen atoms at the 4- and 8-positions are apart from the neighboring aryl ortho-hydrogen atoms to fill in the vacant space made by the slanting aryl planes.