Synthesis, structure, and conformation of ortho-linked oxacalix[n]arene[n]hetarenes

ortho-Linked oxacalix[n]arene[n]hetarenes (n=2, 3) were prepared by one-step cyclooligomerization of catechol and meta-dichlorinated nitrogen containing heterocycles or via a two-step reaction process. Solid state structure of the ortho-linked oxacalix[n]arene[n]hetarenes (n=2, 3) has been determined by X-ray crystallography. 1,3-Alternate and 1,3,5-alternate conformations were found for ortho-linked oxacalix[2]arene[2]pyrazine (1) and oxacalix[3]arene[3]pyrazine (2), respectively. However, a core conformation with C₃ symmetry was found for ortho-linked oxacalix[3]arene[3]pyrimidine (4), which is completely different from that of its isomer, compound 2.     

Studies on bis(1′-ortho-carboranyl)benzenes and bis(1′-ortho-carboranyl)biphenyls

Reactions between the C,C′-dicopper(I) derivative of ortho-carborane and ortho-, meta- and para-diiodobenzene are reported. The reaction with 1,2-C₆H₄I₂ unexpectedly afforded 2,2′-bis(1′-ortho-carboranyl)biphenyl, [HCB₁₀H₁₀CC₆H₄]₂2, whereas reactions with 1,3- or 1,4-C₆H₄I₂ provided alternative routes to 1,3-bis(1′-ortho-carboranyl)benzene 3 and 1,4-bis(1′-ortho-carboranyl)benzene 4, respectively. The crystal structure of the biphenyl derivative 2 revealed significant distortions in the biphenylene framework attributable to the proximity of the two bulky carborane cages. UV absorption spectra and electrochemical data on 2 and 3 showed little electronic communication between the two carborane cages in either, and negligible π-conjugation between the two ortho-phenylene rings in 2. However, substantial evidence was found of electronic communication between the carborane cages via the para-phenylene bridge in 4. B3LYP/6-31G^∗ computations have been carried out on compounds 2 and 4, on 4,4′-bis(ortho-carboranyl)biphenyl 6 and on 1,2-bis(1′-ortho-carboranyl)benzene 7. Those on 2, 4 and 6 show the computed geometries to be in very good agreement with the experimental geometries: those on 7 allowed the reported molecular geometry of this compound to be revised and revealed a long cage C–C bond of 1.725(3) Å.     

Synthesis and self-assembly of novel calix[4]arenocrowns: formation of calix[4]areno[2]catenanes

A series of novel calix[4]arenocrowns 1a-c were efficiently synthesized by a one-pot reaction of calix[4]monohydroquinone diacetate 5 with ditosylate 6 and its analogues in the presence of sodium hydroxide. It was found that the calix[4]arenocrowns could form stable pseudorotaxane-type complexes 2a-c with paraquat, and further self-assemble into calix[4]areno[2]catenanes 3a-c with dicationic salt 8 and p-bis(bromomethyl)benzene.     

Synthesis and X-ray structures of iodothiacalix[4]arenes

Mono-, di-, and tetraiodothiacalix[4]arenes 13-16 have been successfully synthesized for the first time by the Griess reaction of diazonium salts of the corresponding aminothiacalix[4]arenes 4-7. X-ray crystallography reveals that monoiodinated compound 13 adopts a distorted pinched cone conformation, in which the three hydroxy groups and the iodine atom form a pseudo-cyclic hydrogen bonding. On the other hand, tetraiodinated compound 16 adopts a 1,3-alternate conformation presumably due to the steric hindrance and dipole repulsion between the iodine atoms.     

Anion binding by meta ureido-substituted thiacalix[4]arenes

The regioselective nitration of 25,26,27,28-tetrapropoxythiacalix[4]arene (1,3-alternate) led to the formation of mono- and dinitro derivatives bearing NO₂ groups in the meta positions at the same side of the molecule. Their reduction and subsequent condensation with arylisocyanates gave the new types of anion receptors with a so far unknown meta-substitution pattern. In a highly HB-competitive solvent like DMSO, the novel ligands showed good complexation abilities. Moreover, as can be documented by higher complexation constants, achiral receptors 9a, 9b are better preorganized for anion binding than corresponding stereoisomers 10a, 10b. Our results indicate that anion receptors based on meta-substituted thiacalixarenes possess complexation abilities fully comparable with common para-substituted analogues.     

Lewis acid-catalyzed synthesis of dodecamethoxycalix[4]arene from 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene and its conformational behavior and host-guest property

Lewis acid-catalyzed condensation of 1,2- and 1,3-dimethoxybenzenes with paraformaldehyde afforded an ortho-bridged cyclic trimer (1) and a meta-bridged cyclic tetramer (2), respectively. Furthermore, condensation of 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene with paraformaldehyde in the presence of Lewis acid catalyst successfully rendered the first dodecamethoxy-substituted calix[4]arene (3) with high yield. From X-ray crystallography, it was found that 3 formed the partial cone conformation. The conformational behavior of 3 in the solution was investigated by variable temperature ¹H NMR measurements. The partial cone structure observed in the solid state was retained in the solution at low temperatures. Furthermore, because of the slow conformational exchanges of 3 on the NMR time scale, bimodal conformational exchanges were found. The host-guest property of 3 with the electron accepting guest, tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) was examined by UV-Vis measurements, and the ability to associate with the 3-TCNE complex was three times higher than that of the 2-TCNE complex. The observation is due to the superior electron donating property and slow conformational exchanges of 3 compared with those of analogous 2.     

A novel method for the synthesis of 2,2-diaryl-1,1-difluoroethenes

β,β-Difluoro-α-phenylvinylstannane 3 was prepared in 60% yield from the reaction of β,β-difluoro-α-phenylvinylsulfone 2 with tributyltin hydride in refluxing benzene for 5 h. The cross-coupling reaction of 3 with aryl iodides bearing substituents such as proton, fluoro, chloro, bromo, methoxy, methyl, trifluoromethyl, and nitro on ortho, meta, para positions of the benzene ring in the presence of 10 mol % Pd(PPh₃)₄/10 mol % CuI afforded the corresponding 2,2-diaryl-1,1-difluoroethenes 4 in 22-82% yields.     

Synthesis of thiophene-capped [2]rotaxanes

Two types of thiophene-capped [2]rotaxanes, i.e., bithienyl (2T)- and bis(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-yl (BEDOT)-capped [2]rotaxanes, were synthesized. The electron-deficient cyclophane of cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) (CBPQT⁴⁺) was used as a macrocycle. Association constants for inclusion complexation of 2T- and BEDOT-derivatives with CBPQT⁴⁺ were obtained by ¹H NMR titration. Due to the donor-acceptor charge transfer absorption band, 2T- and BEDOT-capped [2]rotaxanes have red and green colors, respectively. On the basis of electrochemical analysis, we confirmed that only BEDOT-capped [2]rotaxane is a promising candidate for [3]rotaxane synthesis through oxidation coupling of the thiophene unit.     

Synthesis of new calix[4]arenes containing nucleoside bases

A family of novel calix[4]arene derivatives containing nucleoside bases were designed and synthesized. Coupling reaction between para mono- or bis-amino calix[4]arenes 5, 6 or 7 and thymin-1-ylacetic acid in the presence of DCC afforded mono- or bis-thymine-substituted calix[4]arenes 8, 9 or 10 in over 70% yield. Owing to the low solubility of adenine-N⁹-ylacetic acid in DMF and DMSO and the weak nucleophilicity of aminocalix[4]arene derivatives, alternatively, the substitution reaction of bromoacetylated aminocalix[4]arenes derivatives 11, 12, 13 with adenine in the presence of sodium hydride was carried out to synthesize mono- or bis-adenine-substituted calix[4]arenes. Two kinds of isomers 15 and 16 or 17 and 18 were obtained due to the non-regiospecific alkylation of adenine, and their structures have been confirmed by ¹³C NMR and ¹H NMR spectra.     

Syntheses and coordination behaviour of 2-(ortho-phosphinophenyl)-functionalised 1,3-dioxolanes and 1,3-dioxanes towards a [(COD)Rh]-complex fragment - models for immobilised complexes

The syntheses are reported of the ether-phosphine ligands: 2-(ortho-diphenylphosphinophenyl)-1,3-dioxolane (1a), 2-(ortho-diisopropylphosphinophenyl)-1,3-dioxolane (1b), 2-(ortho-diphenylphosphinophenyl)-1,3-dioxane (1c), 2-(ortho-diisopropylphosphinophenyl)-1,3-dioxane (1d). Their reaction with [(COD)RhCl]₂ (COD: 1,5-cyclooctadiene) results in the formation of the mononuclear complexes: {chloro(COD)[2-(ortho-diphenylphosphinophenyl)-1,3-dioxolane]rhodium(I)} (2a), {chloro(COD)[2-(ortho-diisopropylphosphinophenyl)-1,3-dioxolane]rhodium(I)} (2b), {chloro(COD)[2-(ortho-diphenylphosphinophenyl)-1,3-dioxane]rhodium(I)} (2c), and {chloro(COD)[2-(ortho-diisopropylphosphinophenyl)-1,3-dioxane]rhodium(I)} (2d). The chloride ligands of compounds 2a and 2b were abstracted with TlPF₆, with accompanied insertion of an acetal oxygen atom of the ligands 1a and 1b into the coordination sphere of the metal centre, producing {(COD)[η²-P,O-2-(ortho-diphenylphosphinophenyl)-1,3-dioxolane]rhodium(I)}PF₆ (3a∗PF₆) and {(COD)[η²-P,O-2-(ortho-diisopropylphosphinophenyl)-1,3-dioxolane]rhodium(I)}PF₆ (3b∗PF₆). In contrast the dioxane analogues of 3, 3c∗BF₄ and 3d∗BF₄, were formed by reacting the ligands 1c, 1d with [Rh(COD)₂]BF₄. The ligands 1 and the complexes 2 serve as model compounds for their via acetalation to a polyvinylalcohol resin bound analogues. The complexes synthesised were employed as pre-catalysts in the hydroformylation reaction of 1-octene.     

A convenient synthesis of benzofuro[3,2-c]isoquinolines and naphtho[1′,2′:4,5]furo[3,2-c]isoquinolines

A convenient method for the preparation of benzofuro[3,2-c]isoquinoline derivatives is described. The condensation reaction of methyl 2-(chloromethyl)-benzoate with substituted salicylonitriles 7a-c and intramolecular cyclization of the resulting substituted methyl 2-[(2-cyanobenzyl)oxy]benzoates 10a-c using potassium tert-butoxide results in the substituted benzofuro[3,2-c]isoquinolin-5(6H)-ones 1a-c. The same sequence of reactions starting from 2-(chloromethyl)benzonitrile and compounds 7a-c gave substituted 5-aminobenzofuro[3,2-c]isoquinolines 13a-c. In addition, this method is useful for the synthesis of other heterocycles. For example, using 1-cyano-2-naphthol 16, instead of the salicylonitriles 7a-c, gives naphtho[1′,2′:4,5]furo[3,2-c]isoquinolines.     

A practical route for synthesizing a PET ligand containing [F]fluorobenzene using reaction of diphenyliodonium salt with [F]F

The aim of this study was to develop a practical route for preparing a fluorine-18 ([¹⁸F]) labelled ligand ([¹⁸F]1) containing [¹⁸F]fluorobenzene ring by employing the reaction of diphenyliodonium salt with [¹⁸F]F⁻. Diphenyliodonium tosylate (2) was synthesized from tributylphenylstannyl compound (6) with [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene (7). Using this method, [¹⁸F]DAA1106 ([¹⁸F]3a), a positron emission tomography ligand for imaging peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor, was prepared.     

Photobehaviour of 2- and 3-heteroaryl substituted o-divinylbenzenes; formation of fused 2,3- and 3,2-heteroareno-benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octadienes and 3-heteroaryl benzobicyclo[2.1.1]hexenes

New β-3-thienyl (8) and β-3-furyl derivatives of o-divinylbenzene (9) have been synthesised and their photochemical behaviour compared with 2-thienyl (7) and 2-furyl derivatives (2). Whereas the β-(2-heteroaryl) substituted o-divinylbenzenes (7 or 2) give only bicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene structure (14 or 1) by 1,6-ring closure of the biradical intermediate, β-(3-heteroaryl) substituted o-divinylbenzenes (8 or 9) give bicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene structure (23 or 24) and bicyclo[2.1.1]hexene structure (25 or 26) by 1,6- and 1,4-ring closure, respectively. This photochemical approach provides a simple method to 2,3- and 3,2-fused thiophene and furan polycyclic compounds.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of para-substituted (E)-N-styrylcarbazoles via sequential silylative coupling-Hiyama coupling reaction

A series of new para-substituted (E)-(N)-styrylcarbazoles, i.e., eight (E)-9-[2-(aryl)ethenyl]-9H-carbazoles (5-12) and 1,4-bis[(E)-2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)vinyl]benzene (13), have been synthesized in high yield and stereoselectively by a sequential silylative coupling-Hiyama coupling reaction, i.e., coupling of commercially available 9-vinylcarbazole with vinyltriethoxysilane or divinyltetramethyldisiloxane in the presence of [RuHCl(CO)(PCy₃)₂] (I), followed by Pd (II) catalyzed cross-coupling with para-substituted iodobenzenes.The tandem procedure has facilitated the synthesis of 13. X-ray structures of the intermediate silylvinylcarbazole (4), as well as products 12 and 13 have been obtained.     

Absolute configuration of Tröger bases: an X-ray diffraction and circular dichroism study

Bis-ortho-methyl-bis-meta-bromo Tröger base (TB) 2 and bis-ortho-methyl TB 3 were prepared in enantiopure form. The absolute configuration for (5S,11S)-(−)-2 was determined by X-ray diffraction. The sign of the longest wavelength band in the electronic CD spectrum is negative for both (5S,11S)-(−)-2 and (5S,11S)-(−)-3, as well as for the parent para-methyl TB (5S,11S)-(+)-1, which is in agreement with TD DFT B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) calculations.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, in vitro anti-proliferative effect and cell cycle analysis of N-(ferrocenyl)benzoyl dipeptide esters

N-ortho, meta and para-(ferrocenyl)benzoyl dipeptide esters 2-10 were prepared by coupling ferrocenyl benzoic acids 1(ortho, meta and para) to the dipeptide ethyl esters GlyAbu(OEt) 2-4, GlyNva(OEt) 5-7 and GlyNle(OEt) 8-10 in the presence of N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. The compounds were fully characterized by a range of NMR spectroscopic techniques, mass spectrometry and cyclic voltammetry. The cytotoxicity of 3, 6 and 9 versus H1299 lung cancer cells were 10.5 μM, 19.1 μM and 18.9 μM, respectively, whereas N-{meta-(ferrocenyl)-benzoyl}-glycine-l-alanine ethyl ester 11 and N-{para-(ferrocenyl)-benzoyl}-glycine-l-alanine ethyl ester 12 gave IC₅₀ values of 4.0 and 6.6 μM, respectively. Therefore, an increase in alkyl chain length of the second amino acid also increases the IC₅₀ values. Cell cycle analysis of N-{ortho-(ferrocenyl)-benzoyl}-glycine-l-alanine ethyl ester 13 suggests a block in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle.     

Synthesis of functional Δ-1,3,5-oxazaphospholene and 2H-1,4,2-diazaphosphole complexes via catalytic ring expansion reactions of a 2H-azaphosphirene complex

Catalytically-induced ring expansion of 2H-azaphosphirene complex 1 using ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate and acetone (2), diethylketone (3), cyclohexanone (4), benzaldehyde (5) or para-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (6) furnished selectively the Δ³-1,3,5-oxazaphospholene complexes 7-11, whereas with ortho- and para-hydroxy- or ortho- and para-amino-substituted benzonitriles the 2H-1,4,2-diazaphosphole complexes 16-19 were obtained. Two further findings are noteworthy: (1) The significant decreased reaction time in the case of the sterically more demanding carbonyl derivatives 2-4 and (2) the formation of diastereomers in the case of 10 and 11 with a ratio of 8:1 and 9:1, respectively. All products were characterized by NMR, MS and elemental analysis and the configuration of complexes 7 and 10a were determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis.     

Topological and metal ion effects on the anion binding abilities of new heteroditopic receptors derived from p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene

Two derivatives of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arenes 1 and 2 containing diethyl ester and amidoferrocene units as cation and anion binding sites, respectively, have been synthesized. Both compounds were isomeric with different topology for accommodating ions. ¹H NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and square-wave voltammetry were used to study the binding abilities of receptors 1 and 2 toward anions. Both receptors were found to bind Br⁻ and I⁻ selectively in the presence of Na⁺. The electrochemically oxidized ferrocenium form of para-isomer 2 in the free form was found to sense AcO⁻ selectively, but demonstrated a negative sensing in the presence of Na⁺. In contrast, the electrochemically oxidized ferrocenium form of meta-isomer 1 was found to enhance sensing of AcO⁻ and Cl⁻ in the presence of Na⁺.     

Intramolecular oxidative addition of C-F and C-H bonds to [Pt(dba)2]. Crystal structure of [PtCl{Me2NCH2CH2NCH(2,4,5-C6HF3)}]

The reactions of compound [Pt(dba)₂] with ligands RCHNCH₂CH₂NMe₂ (1a-1f) in which R is a fluorinated aryl ring produced activation of C-F bonds when two fluorine atoms are present in the ortho positions of the aryl ring or activation of C-H bonds for ligands containing only one fluoro substituent in ortho. Both C-F and C-H bond activation are favoured by an increase of the degree of fluorination of the ring. Further reaction with lithium halides produced cyclometallated platinum (II) compounds [PtX(Me₂NCH₂CH₂NCHR)] (X = Br, Cl) (2) containing a terdentate [C,N,N′] ligand. The obtained compounds were fully characterized including a structure determination for [PtCl{Me₂NCH₂CH₂NCH(2,4,5-C₆HF₃)}] (2d′).     

[2-Methylazeteochlorinato]Ni(II): a pyrrole ring-contracted chlorin analogue

The formal replacement of one of the pyrrole rings in [meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato]Ni(II) (5Ni) by an azete moiety is reported. Thus, reaction of known chlorophin monoaldehyde 7Ni (made in three steps from 5Ni) with methyl-Grignard, followed by an acid-catalyzed ring-closure reaction, generates the title compound [meso-tetraphenyl-2-methylazeteochlorinato]Ni(II) (10Ni) in a rational and scalable process in good yields. The UV-vis spectroscopic properties of this chromophore are, as expected for this chlorin analogue, red-shifted when compared to the corresponding [porphyrinato]Ni(II) (5Ni) complex. A much improved synthesis of the starting material 7Ni by Vilsmeier-Haack formylation of [meso-tetraphenylchlorophinato]Ni(II) (8Ni) is also reported.