New Access to the Chemistry of Piperonylidinyl‐4‐[2.2]‐Paracyclophanylamine and Some Electron π‐Deficients

Piperonylidinyl‐4‐[2.2]paracyclophanylamine 1 reacted with some electron π‐deficients via charge‐transfer complexation and afforded amino derivatives of [2.2[paracyclophane 2–9 . Transannular electronic interaction existing in a cyclophane molecule plays an essential role for product formation.     

Transannular Hydrogen Bonding in Planar‐Chiral [2.2]Paracyclophane‐Bisamides

A series of [2.2]paracyclophane‐bisamide regioisomers and alkylated comparators were designed, synthesized, and characterized in order to better understand the transannular hydrogen bonding of [2.2]paracyclophane‐based molecular recognition units. X‐Ray crystallography shows that transannular hydrogen bonding is maintained in the solid‐state, but no stereospecific self‐recognition is observed. The assignment of both transannularly and intermolecularly hydrogen bonded N?H stretches could be made by infrared spectroscopy, and the effect of transannular hydrogen bonding on amide bond rotation dynamics is observed by ¹H‐NMR in nonpolar solvents. The consequences of transannular hydrogen bonding on the optical properties of [2.2]paracyclophane is observed by comparing alkylated and non‐alkylated pseudo‐ortho 4,12‐[2.2]paracyclophane‐bisamides. Finally, optical resolution of 4‐mono‐[2.2]paracyclophane and pseudo‐ortho 4,12‐[2.2]paracyclophane‐bisamides was achieved through the corresponding sulfinyl diastereoisomers for circular dichroism studies. Transannular hydrogen bonding in [2.2]paracyclophane‐amides allows preorganization for self‐complementary intermolecular assembly, but is weak enough to allow rapid rotation of the amides even in nonpolar solvents.     

Synthesis of through‐space conjugated polymers containing [2.2]paracyclophane and thieno[3,4‐b]pyrazine in the main chain

We synthesized through‐space conjugated polymers with [2.2]paracyclophane and thieno[3,4‐b]pyrazine units in the main chain by the Sonogashira–Hagihara coupling reaction. The obtained polymers were soluble in common organic solvents, and homogeneous thin films were readily obtained from the polymer solutions by spin‐coating techniques. The polymers exhibited the extension of the conjugation length via the through‐space interaction. The polymers showed orangish‐red emission with peak maxima of around 610 nm in diluted solutions and their thin films, which were derived from the thieno[3,4‐b]pyrazine moieties. The optical and electrochemical behaviors of the polymers containing pseudo‐para‐ and pseudo‐ortho‐linked [2.2]paracyclophane were identical. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2009     

C—H...π interactions in five ethynyl‐substituted [2.2]paracyclophanes: further examples of the `7,11' packing pattern

The monosubstituted derivative 4‐ethynyl[2.2]paracyclophane, C₁₈H₁₆, (I), and the four disubstituted isomers, 4,12‐, (II), 4,13‐, (III), 4,15‐, (IV), and 4,16‐diethynyl[2.2]paracyclophane, (V), all C₂₀H₁₆, show the usual distortions of the [2.2]paracyclophane framework. The crystal packing is analyzed in terms of C—H...π interactions, some with H...π as short as 2.47 Å, in which the cyclophane rings and/or the triple‐bond systems may act as acceptors. For compounds (I) and (IV), the known `7,11'‐type cyclophane packing is observed, with a herring‐bone pattern of molecules in a layer structure.     

Dimeric Tetrathiafulvalene Linked to pseudo‐ortho‐[2.2]Paracyclophane: Chiral Electrochromic Properties and Use as a Chiral Dopant

A dimeric tetrathiafulvalene installed into a chiral pseudo‐ortho‐[2.2]paracyclophane framework was synthesized as a novel chiral electrochromic material. This compound exhibited pronounced chiroptical properties in the UV‐Vis‐NIR range depending on its redox states without racemization. Each enantiomer was examined as a chiral dopant for nematic liquid crystals (LCs), and the induced helicity of the LC solvent was in accord with that of the tetrathiafulvalene compound.     

Substituent effects on the Bergman cyclization of (Z)‐1,5‐hexadiyne‐3‐enes: a systematic computational study

The effects of several substituents (? BH₂, ? BF₂, ? AlH₂, ? CH₃, ? C₆H₅, ? CN, ? COCH₃, ? CF₃, ? SiH₃, ? NH₂, ? NH₃⁺, ? NO₂, ? PH₂, ? OH, ? OH₂⁺, ? SH, ? F, ? Cl, ? Br) on the Bergman cyclization of (Z)‐1,5‐hexadiyne‐3‐ene (enediyne, 3 ) were investigated at the Becke–Lee–Yang–Parr (BLYP) density functional (DFT) level employing a 6‐31G* basis set. Some of the substituents (? NH₃⁺, ? NO₂, ? OH, ? OH₂⁺, ? F, ? Cl, ? Br) are able to lower the barrier (up to a minimum of 16.9 kcal mol^?1 for difluoro‐enediyne 7rr ) and the reaction enthalpy (the cyclization is predicted to be exergonic for ? OH₂⁺ and ? F) compared to the parent system giving rise to substituted 1,4‐dehydrobenzenes at physiological temperatures. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1605–1614, 2001     

Pseudo-bimolecular [2+2] cycloaddition studied by time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy

The first study of pseudo‐bimolecular cycloaddition reaction dynamics in the gas phase is presented. We used femtosecond time‐resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TRPES) to study the [2+2] photocycloaddition in the model system pseudo‐gem‐divinyl[2.2]paracyclophane. From X‐ray crystal diffraction measurements we found that the ground‐state molecule can exist in two conformers; a reactive one in which the vinyl groups are immediately situated for [2+2] cycloaddition and a nonreactive conformer in which they point in opposite directions. From the measured S₁ lifetimes we assigned a clear relation between the conformation and the excited‐state reactivity; the reactive conformer has a lifetime of 13 ps, populating the ground state through a conical intersection leading to [2+2] cycloaddition, whereas the nonreactive conformer has a lifetime of 400 ps. Ab initio calculations were performed to locate the relevant conical intersection (CI) and calculate an excited‐state [2+2] cycloaddition reaction path. The interpretation of the results is supported by experimental results on the similar but nonreactive pseudo‐para‐divinyl[2.2]paracyclophane, which has a lifetime of more than 500 ps in the S₁ state.     

Homochiral [2.2]Paracyclophane Self‐Assembly Promoted by Transannular Hydrogen Bonding

[2.2]paracyclophane (pCp), unlike many π‐building blocks, has been virtually unexplored in supramolecular constructs. Reported here is the synthesis and characterization of the first pCp derivatives capable of programmed self‐assembly into extended cofacial π‐stacks in solution and the solid state. The design employs transannular (intramolecular) hydrogen bonds (H‐bonds), hitherto unstudied in pCps, between pseudo‐ortho‐positioned amides of a pCp‐4,7,12,15‐tetracarboxamide (pCpTA) to preorganize the molecules for intermolecular H‐bonding with π‐stacked neighbors. X‐ray crystallography confirms the formation of homochiral, one‐dimensional pCpTA stacks helically laced with two H‐bond strands. The chiral sense is dictated by the planar chirality (R_p or S_p) of the pCpTA monomers. A combination of NMR, IR, and UV/Vis studies confirms the formation of the first supramolecular pCp polymers in solution.     

4‐Ethynyl‐4‐hydroxycyclohexan‐1‐one and 4‐ethynyl‐4‐hydroxy‐2,3,5,6‐tetramethylcyclohexa‐2,5‐dien‐1‐one

The title compounds, C₈H₁₀O₂, (I), and C₁₂H₁₄O₂, (II), occurred as by‐products in the controlled synthesis of a series of bis­(gem‐alkynols), prepared as part of an extensive study of synthon formation in simple gem‐alkynol derivatives. The two 4‐(gem‐alkynol)‐1‐ones crystallize in space group P2₁/c, (I) with Z′ = 1 and (II) with Z′ = 2. Both structures are dominated by O—H?O=C hydrogen bonds, which form simple chains in the cyclo­hexane derivative, (I), and centrosymmetric dimers, of both symmetry‐independent mol­ecules, in the cyclo­hexa‐2,5‐diene, (II). These strong synthons are further stabilized by C[triple‐bond]C—H?O=C, C_methylene—H?O(H) and C_methyl—H?O(H) interactions. The direct intermolecular interactions between donors and acceptors in the gem‐alkynol group, which characterize the bis­(gem‐alkynol) analogues of (I) and (II), are not present in the ketone derivatives studied here.     

Weak C—H...N[triple‐bond]C hydrogen bonds in the structures of two poly(cyano)‐substituted ring systems

In benzene‐1,2,3‐tricarbonitrile, C₉H₃N₃, the packing of the two independent molecules is three‐dimensional and complex, involving inter alia bifurcated (C—H)₂...N systems from neighbouring CH groups. In [2.2]paracyclophane‐4,5,12,13‐tetracarbonitrile, C₂₀H₁₂N₄, the [2.2]paracyclophane systems display the usual distortions, namely lengthened C—C bonds and widened sp³ angles in the bridges, narrow angles in the six‐membered rings at the bridgehead atoms, and flattened boat conformations of the rings. The molecules are linked by a series of C—H...N interactions to form layers parallel to the ab plane.     

Three isomeric bis(methoxycarbonyl)[2.2]paracyclophanes

The title isomers 4,16‐ (pseudo‐ortho), 4,15‐ (pseudo‐gem) and 4,12‐bis­(methoxy­carbonyl)[2.2]­para­cyclo­phane (pseudo‐para), C₂₀H₂₀O₄, all show the typical structural features of [2.2]­para­cyclo­phanes (flattened boat conformation of the rings, lengthened single bonds in the bridges and narrow ring angles at the bridgehead atoms). The 4,12‐isomer displays crystallographic inversion symmetry. The carbonyl groups adopt a conformation in which they are directed away from the ring systems towards the nearest bridge; the corresponding angle at the ring substituent atom is widened. Crystal packing involves C—H?π interactions for the 4,15‐isomer and weak C—H?O hydrogen bonds for the other two isomers.     

The preparation of benzoisothiazolo[1,2‐b][1,2]isoquinolin‐11‐one‐1,1‐dioxides from dilithiated ortho‐toluic acids and lithiated methyl 2‐(aminosulfonyl)benzoate

Select dilithiated ortho‐toluic acids were prepared in excess lithium diisopropylamide and condensed with methyl 2‐(aminosulfonyl)benzoate followed by a twofold cyclization of intermediates to afford benzoisothiazolo[1,2‐b][1,2]isoquinolin‐11‐one‐1,1‐dioxides, a new fused‐ring heterocyclic system.     

From α‐carbamoyl‐α‐cyano­oxiranes to 3‐halogenopyruv­amides

The crystal structures of the first stable α‐diol from the α‐halogenopyruv­amide series, 3‐chloro‐2,2‐di­hydroxy‐3‐phenyl­propan­amide, C₉H₁₀­ClNO₃, and three products [3‐(4‐chloro­phenyl)‐2‐cyano‐2,3‐epoxy­propan­amide, C₁₀H₇­ClN₂O₂, 3‐bromo‐2‐cyano‐2‐hydroxy‐3‐p‐tolyl­propan­amide, C₁₁H₁₁Br­N₂O₂, 3‐bromo‐2‐oxo‐3‐p‐tolyl­propan­amide, C₁₀H₁₀­BrNO₂] obtained during the systematic synthesis of α‐halogenopyruv­amides are reported. The crystal structures are dominated by hydrogen bonds involving an amide group. The stability of the geminal diol could be ascribed to hydrogen bonds which involve both hydroxyl groups.     

Synthesis and properties of through‐space conjugated polymers based on cyano‐substituted poly(p‐arylenevinylene)s

New through‐space cyano‐substituted poly(p‐arylenevinylene)s containing a [2.2]paracyclophane unit were synthesized by the Knoevenagel reaction. Polymers 5 and 7 have cyano groups at α‐positions and β‐positions from the dialkoxyphenylene unit, respectively. Their optical and electrochemical behaviors were investigated in detail in comparison with their model compounds. Polymers 5 and 7 exhibited through‐space conjugation via the cyclophane units. Polymer 5 showed greenish blue emission (λ_max = 477 nm) in diluted solution with fluorescence quantum efficiency (?_F) of only 0.007, whereas polymer 7 emitted in the bluish green region (λ_max = 510 nm) with ?_F of 0.32. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5979–5988, 2009     

Catalytic Asymmetric Three‐component Hydroacyloxylation/ 1,4‐Conjugate Addition of Ynamides

A highly enantioselective three‐component hydroacyloxylation/1,4‐conjugate addition of ortho‐hydroxybenzyl alcohols, ynamides and carboxylic acids was developed under mild reaction conditions in the presence of a chiral N,N′‐dioxide/Sc(OTf)₃ complex, which went through in situ generated ortho‐quinone methides with α‐acyloxyenamides, delivering a range of corresponding chiral α‐acyloxyenamides derivatives containing gem(1,1)‐diaryl skeletons in moderate to good yields with excellent ee values. The scale‐up experiment and further derivation showed the practicality of this catalytic system. In addition, a possible catalytic cycle and transition state model was proposed to elucidate the origin of the stereoselectivity based on X‐ray crystal structure of the α‐acyloxyenamide intermediate and product.     

Investigation of the correlations between 19F and 1H NMR signals for various mono‐ and di‐substituted octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophanes

A selection of mono‐ and pseudo ortho di‐substituted octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophane derivatives were analyzed using ¹⁹F‐¹H HOESY, ¹H COSY and ¹⁹F COSY techniques. This resulted in the unambiguous assignment of the ¹⁹F and ¹H NMR resonances, and also revealed interesting solvent effects and noteworthy coupling patterns for various J_HH, J_HF, and J_FF interactions, including observable through bond ⁷J_FF and ⁸J_FF couplings. For the four mono‐substituted derivatives, the assignments were achieved through the combination of ¹⁹F‐¹H HOESY, ¹H COSY and ¹⁹F COSY techniques. The C₂ symmetry of the six pseudo ortho di‐substituted derivatives that were examined produced simplified spectra, and careful inspection of the characteristic ¹H coupling patterns led to the assignment of ¹H signals. Therefore only ¹⁹F‐¹H HOESY experiments were required to complete the assignments for those molecules. Refinements and alternative strategies for previous protocols are presented for the molecules that were less responsive to nuclear Overhauser effect (nOe) experiments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Carbamoyl Radical‐Mediated Synthesis and Semipinacol Rearrangement of β‐Lactam Diols

In an approach to the biologically important 6‐azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring system, the scope of the tandem 4‐exo‐trig carbamoyl radical cyclization—dithiocarbamate group transfer reaction to ring‐fused β‐lactams is evaluated. β‐Lactams fused to five‐, six‐, and seven‐membered rings are prepared in good to excellent yield, and with moderate to complete control at the newly formed dithiocarbamate stereocentre. No cyclization is observed with an additional methyl substituent on the terminus of the double bond. Elimination of the dithiocarbamate group gives α,β‐ or β,γ‐unsaturated lactams depending on both the methodology employed (base‐mediated or thermal) and the nature of the carbocycle fused to the β‐lactam. Fused β‐lactam diols, obtained from catalytic OsO₄‐mediated dihydroxylation of α,β‐unsaturated β‐lactams, undergo semipinacol rearrangement via the corresponding cyclic sulfite or phosphorane to give keto‐bridged bicyclic amides by exclusive N‐acyl group migration. A monocyclic β‐lactam diol undergoes Appel reaction at a primary alcohol in preference to semipinacol rearrangement. Preliminary investigations into the chemo‐ and stereoselective manipulation of the two carbonyl groups present in a representative 7,8‐dioxo‐6‐azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane rearrangement product are also reported.     

Self‐Delivery Nanoparticles of Amphiphilic Acyclic Enediynes for Efficient Tumor Cell Suppression

Four acyclic maleimide‐based enediyne compounds with different hydrophilicity were synthesized through Sonogashira reaction to reveal a self‐delivery antitumor drug platform. As proved by ESR analysis, the enediyne compounds undergo Bergman‐like cyclization and generate diradical intermediates at physiological temperature, which are able to induce DNA‐cleavage through the abstraction of H atoms from the sugar‐phosphate backbones. When the critical aggregation concentration is reached in water, the amphiphilic enediyne compounds self‐assemble into nanoparticles and possess the self‐delivery ability to be facilely admitted by tumor cells, resulting in greatly improved cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ down to 10 μmol·L^–1) and much higher tumor cell apoptosis rate (up to 86.6%) in comparison with either the hydrophilic or the lipophilic enediyne compound. The enhanced endocytosis of the amphiphilic enediyne compounds was further confirmed through confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis. The unveiled relationship between the hydrophilicity of enediyne drugs and their therapeutic efficacy will provide a guideline for the design of new self‐delivery drugs employed in medicinal applications.     

Photoswitchable enediynes: use of cyclopropenone as photocleavable masking group for the enediyne triple bond

Cyclopropenone , 2,3-benzobicyclo[8.1.0]undec-1(10)-en-4-yn-11-one, is a thermally stable compound showing no signs of decomposition after heating at 84 degrees C for 7 d, UV irradiation of which results in an efficient (Phi(300)= 0.45) and quantitative formation of benzannelated enediyne , which undergoes Bergman cyclization at the above temperature.     

One‐Pot,Pseudo‐Five‐Component Synthesis of Bis[2‐(arylimino)‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐ones]

Synthesis and characterization of bis[2‐(arylimino)‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐ones] are described. The one‐pot, pseudo‐five‐component reaction of an aliphatic diamine, isothiocyanatobenzene, and dialkyl but‐2‐ynedioate at room temperature in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ gives the title compound in relatively high yield. Under the same conditions, aromatic 1,2‐diamines yield 2‐(arylimino)‐N‐(enaminoaryl)‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐ones in a pseudo‐four‐component reaction. Their structures were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS) and by elemental analyses. A plausible mechanism for this type of cyclization is proposed (Scheme 3).