(R)‐4‐(4‐Aminophenyl)‐2,2,4‐trimethylchroman and (S)‐4‐(4‐aminophenyl)‐2,2,4‐trimethylthiachroman

The title compounds, C₁₈H₂₁NO and C₁₈H₂₁NS, in their enantiomerically pure forms are isostructural with the enantiomerically pure 4‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2,2,4‐trimethylchroman and 4‐(2,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐2,2,4‐trimethylchroman analogues and form extended linear chains via N—H...O or N—H...S hydrogen bonding along the [100] direction. The absolute configuration for both compounds was determined by anomalous dispersion methods with reference to both the Flack parameter and, for the light‐atom compound, Bayesian statistics on Bijvoet differences.     

(E)‐N′‐(4‐Chlorobenzylidene)‐, (E)‐N′‐(4‐bromobenzylidene)‐ and (E)‐N′‐[4‐(diethylamino)benzylidene]‐ derivatives of 4‐hydroxybenzohydrazide

The 4‐chloro‐ [C₁₄H₁₁ClN₂O₂, (I)], 4‐bromo‐ [C₁₄H₁₀BrN₂O₂, (II)] and 4‐diethylamino‐ [C₁₈H₂₁N₃O₂, (III)] derivatives of benzylidene‐4‐hydroxybenzohydrazide, all crystallize in the same space group (P2₁/c), (I) and (II) also being isomorphous. In all three compounds, the conformation about the C=N bond is E. The molecules of (I) and (II) are relatively planar, with dihedral angles between the two benzene rings of 5.75 (12) and 9.81 (17)°, respectively. In (III), however, the same angle is 77.27 (9)°. In the crystal structures of (I) and (II), two‐dimensional slab‐like networks extending in the a and c directions are formed via N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The molecules stack head‐to‐tail viaπ–π interactions involving the aromatic rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.7622 (14) Å in (I) and 3.8021 (19) Å in (II)]. In (III), undulating two‐dimensional networks extending in the b and c directions are formed via N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The molecules stack head‐to‐head viaπ–π interactions involving inversion‐related benzene rings [centroid–centroid distances = 3.6977 (12) and 3.8368 (11) Å].     

(S)‐3‐(Ammoniomethyl)‐5‐methylhexanoate (pregabalin)

The title compound, C₈H₁₇NO₂, exists as a zwitterion, adopting a propeller conformation. Molecules self‐assemble to form a hydrogen‐bonded layer parallel to the ab crystallographic plane connected by N⁺—H...O⁻ and C—H...O⁻ hydrogen bonds. These layers are stacked along the c axis and are stabilized by van der Waals interactions.     

(Azulene‐1,3‐diyl)‐bis(nitronyl nitroxide) and (Azulene‐1,3‐diyl)‐bis(iminonitroxide) and Their Copper Complexes

In contrast to diradicals connected by alternant hydrocarbons, only a few studies on those connected by nonalternant hydrocarbons have been reported. The syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of azulene‐1,3‐diyl linked bis(nitronyl nitroxide) (NN₂Az) and bis(iminonitroxide) (IN₂Az) diradicals and their Cu(hfac)₂ (hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetonate) complexes were investigated. NN₂Az was shown to have an intramolecular ferromagnetic interaction with J _obs/k _B=+10.0 K (H =−2J S ₁ ⋅S ₂) between (nitronyl nitroxide) spins, whereas IN₂Az was estimated to have a much weaker intramolecular magnetic interaction. The reactions of NN₂Az and IN₂Az with Cu(hfac)₂ gave a 1:2 [{Cu(hfac)₂}₂(NN₂Az)] complex and a 1:1 [Cu(hfac)₂(IN₂Az)] ⋅ C₆H₁₂ complex, respectively. [{Cu(hfac)₂}₂(NN₂Az)] showed strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions (J _1‐Cu‐R/k _B≈−800 K, J _2‐Cu‐R/k _B≈−500 K) between the Cu^II spins and the coordinating NN spins, whereas [Cu(hfac)₂(IN₂Az)] exhibited a ferromagnetic exchange interaction (J _obs‐Cu‐R/k _B=+114 K) between the Cu^II spin and the imino‐coordinated iminonitroxide spin.     

Electrochemical Reduction of 4,4′‐(2,2,2‐Trichloroethane‐1,1‐diyl)‐ bis(chlorobenzene) (DDT) and 4,4′‐(2,2‐Dichloroethane‐1,1‐diyl)‐ bis(chlorobenzene) (DDD) at Carbon Cathodes in Dimethylformamide

In dimethylformamide containing tetramethylammonium tetrafluoroborate, cyclic voltammograms for reduction of 4,4′‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethane‐1,1‐diyl)bis(chlorobenzene) (DDT) at a glassy carbon cathode exhibit five waves, whereas three waves are observed for the reduction of 4,4′‐(2,2‐dichloroethane‐1,1‐diyl)bis(chlorobenzene) (DDD). Bulk electrolyses of DDT and DDD afford 4,4′‐(ethene‐1,1‐diyl)bis(chlorobenzene) (DDNU) as principal product (67–94%), together with 4,4′‐(2‐chloroethene‐1,1‐diyl)bis(chlorobenzene) (DDMU), 1‐chloro‐4‐styrylbenzene, and traces of both 1,1‐diphenylethane and 4,4′‐(ethane‐1,1‐diyl)bis(chlorobenzene) (DDO). For electrolyses of DDT and DDD, the coulometric n values are essentially 4 and 2, respectively. When DDT is reduced in the presence of a large excess of D₂O, the resulting DDNU and DDMU are almost fully deuterated, indicating that reductive cleavage of the carbon–chlorine bonds of DDT is a two‐electron process that involves carbanion intermediates. A mechanistic scheme is proposed to account for the formation of the various products.     

trans‐Cyano(6‐methyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecan‐6‐amine)cobalt(III) bis(perchlorate) hydrate and trans‐hydroxo(6‐methyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecan‐6‐amine)cobalt(III) bis(perchlorate)

The crystal structures of a pair of closely related macrocyclic cyano‐ and hydroxopenta­amine­cobalt(III) complexes, as their perchlorate salts, are reported. Although the two complexes, [Co(CN)(C₁₁H₂₇N₅)](ClO₄)₂·H₂O and [Co(OH)(C₁₁H₂₇N₅)](ClO₄)₂, exhibit similar conformations, significant differences in the Co—N bond lengths arise from the influence of the sixth ligand (cyano as opposed to hydroxo). The ensuing hydrogen‐bonding patterns are also distinctly different. Disorder in the perchlorate anions was clearly resolved and this was rationalized on the basis of distinct hydrogen‐bonding motifs involving the anion O atoms and the N—H and O—H donors.     

catena‐Poly[copper(II)‐di‐μ‐acetylacetonato‐copper(II)‐bis(μ‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxybenzaldehyde picoloylhydrazonato)] and (acetylacetonato)(4‐methoxybenzaldehyde picoloylhydrazonato)copper(II)

In the two title copper(II) complexes, [CuL(C₅H₇O₂)]_n, (I), and [CuL′(C₅H₇O₂)], (II), respectively, where HL is 4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxybenzaldehyde picoloylhydrazone, C₁₄H₁₂N₃O₃, and HL′ is 4‐methoxybenzaldehyde picoloylhydrazone, C₁₄H₁₂N₃O₂, the Cu^II ions display a highly Jahn–Teller‐distorted octahedral and a square‐planar coordination geometry, respectively. In complex (I), two neighbouring Cu^II atoms are bridged by L⁻ and acetylacetonate, alternately, giving rise to a one‐dimensional chain of CuN₂O₄ octahedra interconnected by these two ligands along the a axis. In addition, the hydroxy H atom of the vanillin group connects to the carboxyl O atom of the adjacent chain via an O—H...O hydrogen bond, giving rise to a three‐dimensional supramolecular assembly. Complex (II) displays a discrete structure.     

A highly efficient synthesis of (Z)‐1‐aryl‐2‐silyl‐1‐ stannylethenes and their conversion to (E)‐2‐ arylethenyl‐, (Z)‐2‐(2‐pyridyl)ethenyl‐ and allenyl‐silanes

A Pd(dba)₂–P(OEt)₃ combination allowed the silastannation of arylacetylenes, 1‐hexyne or propargyl alcohols with tributyl(trimethylsilyl)stannane to take place at room temperature, producing (Z)‐2‐silyl‐1‐stannyl‐1‐substituted ethenes in high yields. Novel silyl(stannyl)ethenes were fully characterized by ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, ²⁹Si‐ and ¹¹⁹Sn‐NMR as well as infrared and mass analyses. Treatment of a series of (Z)‐1‐aryl‐2‐silyl‐1‐stannylethenes and (Z)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐2‐silyl‐1‐stannylethene with hydrochloric acid or hydroiodic acid in the presence of tetraethylammonium chloride (TEACl) or tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) led to the exclusive formation of (E)‐trimethyl(2‐arylethenyl)silanes with high stereoselectivity. A similar reaction of (Z)‐1‐(2‐anisyl)‐2‐silyl‐1‐stannylethene also produced E‐type trimethyl[2‐(2‐anisyl)ethenyl]silane, while (Z)‐trimethyl [2‐(2‐pyridyl)ethenyl]silane was produced exclusively from (Z)‐1‐(2‐pyridyl)‐2‐silyl‐1‐stannylethene. Protodestannylation of (Z)‐1‐[hydroxy(phenyl)methyl]‐2‐silyl‐1‐stannylethene with trifluoroacetic acid took place via the β‐elimination of hydroxystannane, providing trimethyl(3‐phenylpropa‐1,2‐dienyl)silane quite easily. The destannylation products were also fully characterized. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Regioselective ortho‐Metallation of 2‐Diphenylphosphanylpyridine and (2‐(2‐Diphenylphosphanyl)phenyl)‐1‐3‐dioxalane with Methyltetrakis(trimethylphosphane)cobalt(I)

Co(CH₃)(PMe₃)₄ forms 100 % regioselectively with (2‐(2‐diphenylphosphanyl)phenyl)‐1,3‐dioxalane and 2‐diphenylphosphanyl‐pyridine, by elimination of methane, the four‐membered metallacycles Co{(C₃O₂HC₆H₃)P(C₆H₅)₂}(PMe₃)₃ ( 1 ) and Co{(CNC₄H₃)P(C₆H₅)₂}(PMe₃)₃ ( 4 ). The regioselectivity is independent of the steric requirement of the ortho substituent in the 2‐diphenylphosphanylaryl‐ligands. Oxidative addition with iodomethane transforms 1 and 4 into octahedral, diamagnetic low‐spin d⁶ complexes Co(CH₃)I‐{(C₃O₂HC₆H₃)P(C₆H₅)₂}(PMe₃)₂ ( 2 ) and Co(CH₃)I‐{(CNC₄H₃)P(C₆H₅)₂}(PMe₃)₂ ( 5 ). Under an atmosphere of carbon monoxide, insertion into the Co‐C bond results in ring expansion by forming the new assembled phosphanylbenzoyl complexes Co{(C₄O₃HC₆H₃)‐P(C₆H₅)₂}CO(PMe₃)₂ ( 3 ) and Co{(OCNC₄H₃)P(C₆H₅)₂}CO(PMe₃)₂ ( 6 ). The three different types of cobaltacycles are supported by X‐ray diffraction of 1 , 3 , 5 and 6 .     

(Z)‐5‐[4‐(Dimethylamino)benzylidene]‐2‐(piperidin‐1‐yl)‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4(5H)‐one

The molecules of the title compound, C₁₇H₂₁N₃OS, are characterized by a wide C—C—C angle at the methine C atom linking the aryl and thiazolidine rings, associated with a short repulsive intramolecular S...H contact between atoms in these two rings. A single piperidine–arene C—H...π hydrogen bond links pairs of molecules into centrosymmetric dimers.     

4‐Amino‐3‐methyl‐6‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazin‐5(4H)‐one (metamitron) and 4‐amino‐6‐methyl‐3‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazin‐5(4H)‐one (isometamitron)

The title structures, both C₁₀H₁₀N₄O, are substitutional isomers. The N—N bond lengths are longer and the C=N bond lengths are shorter by ca 0.025 Å than the respective average values in the C=N—N=C group of asymmetric triazines; the assessed respective bond orders are 1.3 and 1.7. There are N—H⋯O and N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds in both structures, with 4‐­amino‐3‐methyl‐6‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazin‐5(4H)‐one containing a rare bifurcated N—H⋯N,N hydrogen bond. The structures differ in their mol­ecular stacking and the hydrogen‐bonding patterns.     

Mononuclear nickel(II) and zinc(II) complexes with deprotonated forms of the tripodal hexadentate ligand 1,3‐bis(2‐hydroxybenzylidene)‐2‐(2‐hydroxybenzylideneaminomethyl)‐2‐methylpropane‐1,3‐diamine

In the crystal structures of both title compounds, [1,3‐bis(2‐hydroxybenzylidene)‐2‐methyl‐2‐(2‐oxidobenzylideneaminomethyl)propane‐1,3‐diamine]nickel(II) [2‐(2‐hydroxybenzylideneaminomethyl)‐2‐methyl‐1,3‐bis(2‐oxidobenzylidene)propane‐1,3‐diamine]nickel(II) chloride methanol disolvate, [Ni(C₂₆H_25.5N₃O₃)]₂Cl·2CH₄O, and [1,3‐bis(2‐hydroxybenzylidene)‐2‐methyl‐2‐(2‐oxidobenzylideneaminomethyl)propane‐1,3‐diamine]zinc(II) perchlorate [2‐(2‐hydroxybenzylideneaminomethyl)‐2‐methyl‐1,3‐bis(2‐oxidobenzylidene)propane‐1,3‐diamine]zinc(II) methanol trisolvate, [Zn(C₂₆H₂₅N₃O₃)]ClO₄·[Zn(C₂₆H₂₆N₃O₃)]·3CH₄O, the 3d metal ion is in an approximately octahedral environment composed of three facially coordinated imine N atoms and three phenol O atoms. The two mononuclear units are linked by three phenol–phenolate O—H...O hydrogen bonds to form a dimeric structure. In the Ni compound, the asymmetric unit consists of one mononuclear unit, one‐half of a chloride anion and a methanol solvent molecule. In the O—H...O hydrogen bonds, two H atoms are located near the centre of O...O and one H atom is disordered over two positions. The Ni^II compound is thus formulated as [Ni(H_1.5L)]₂Cl·2CH₃OH [H₃L is 1,3‐bis(2‐hydroxybenzylidene)‐2‐(2‐hydroxybenzylideneaminomethyl)‐2‐methylpropane‐1,3‐diamine]. In the analogous Zn^II compound, the asymmetric unit consists of two crystallographically independent mononuclear units, one perchlorate anion and three methanol solvent molecules. The mode of hydrogen bonding connecting the two mononuclear units is slightly different, and the formula can be written as [Zn(H₂L)]ClO₄·[Zn(HL)]·3CH₃OH. In both compounds, each mononuclear unit is chiral with either a Δ or a Λ configuration because of the screw coordination arrangement of the achiral tripodal ligand around the 3d metal ion. In the dimeric structure, molecules with Δ–Δ and Λ–Λ pairs co‐exist in the crystal structure to form a racemic crystal. A notable difference is observed between the M—O(phenol) and M—O(phenolate) bond lengths, the former being longer than the latter. In addition, as the ionic radius of the metal ion decreases, the M—O and M—N bond distances decrease.     

Bis(tetra‐n‐butylammonium) (a redetermination at 150 K) and bis(tetraphenylarsonium) bis(1,3‐dithiole‐2‐thione‐4,5‐dithiolato)zinc(II) (at 300 K)

The title compounds are salts of the general form (Q⁺)₂[Zn(dmit)₂]^2?, where dmit corresponds to the ligand (C₃S₅)^? present in both and Q⁺ to the counter‐cations (ⁿBu₄N)⁺ [or C₁₆H₃₆N⁺] and (Ph₄As)⁺ [or C₂₄H₂₀As⁺], respectively. In the first case, Zn is in the 4e special positions of space group C2/c and hence the [Zn(dmit)₂]^2? dianion possesses twofold axial crystallographic symmetry. Including these, there are now 11 known examples of [Zn(dmit)₂]^2? or its analogues, with O replacing the exocyclic thione S, and [Zn(dmio)₂]^2? dianions in nine structures with various Q. Comparison of these reveals a remarkable variation in details of the conformation which the dianion may adopt in terms of Zn coordination, equivalence of the Zn—S bond lengths, displacement of Zn from the plane of the ligand and overall dianion shape.     

[μ3‐cis‐N‐(2‐Aminoethyl)‐N′‐(2‐carboxylatophenyl)oxamidato(3−)]bis(2,2′‐diamino‐4,4′‐bi‐1,3‐thiazole)tetracopper(II) bis(2,4,6‐trinitrophenolate)

The title complex, [Cu₄(C₁₁H₁₀N₃O₄)₂(C₆H₆N₄S₂)₂](C₆H₂N₃O₇)₂, consists of a circular tetracopper(II) cation with an embedded inversion centre and two uncoordinated picrate (2,4,6‐trinitrophenolate) anions. The Cu^II cations at the inner sites of N‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐N′‐(2‐carboxylatophenyl)oxamidate(3−) (oxbe) have square‐planar environments and those at the outer sites are in square‐pyramidal geometries. The separations of pairs of Cu^II cations bridged by cis‐oxamide and carboxylate groups are 5.2217 (5) and 5.2871 (5) Å, respectively. The tetracopper(II) cations and picrate anions are connected by N—H...O hydrogen bonds into a two‐dimensional network parallel to the (010) plane, and these two‐dimensional networks are assembled by two types of π–π stacking interactions into a three‐dimensional supramolecular structure.     

Tetraphenylphosphonium bis(2‐thioxo‐1,3‐dithiole‐4,5‐dithiolato)aurate(III) acetone solvate and ethyltriphenylphosphonium bis(2‐thioxo‐1,3‐dithiole‐4,5‐dithiolato)aurate(III)

In the two title complexes, (C₂₄H₂₀P)[Au(C₃S₅)₂]·C₃H₆O, (I), and (C₂₀H₂₀P)[Au(C₃S₅)₂], (II), the Au^III atoms exhibit square‐planar coordinations involving four S atoms from two 2‐thioxo‐1,3‐dithiole‐4,5‐dithiolate (dmit) ligands. The Au—S bond lengths, ranging from 2.3057 (8) to 2.3233 (7) Å in (I) and from 2.3119 (8) to 2.3291 (10) Å in (II), are slightly smaller than the sum of the single‐bond covalent radii. In (I), there are two halves of independent Ph₄P⁺ cations, in which the two P atoms lie on twofold rotation axis sites. The Ph₄P⁺ cations and [Au(C₃S₅)₂]⁻ anions are interspersed as columns in the packing. Layers composed of Ph₄P⁺ and [Au(C₃S₅)₂]⁻ are separated by layers of acetone molecules. In (II), the [Au(C₃S₅)₂]⁻ anions and EtPh₃P⁺ counter‐cations form a layered arrangement, and the [Au(C₃S₅)₂]⁻ anions form discrete pairs with a long intermolecular Au...S interaction for each Au atom in the crystal structure.     

(4,6‐Dimethyl‐2‐sulfanylidenepyrimidin‐1‐ium) trichlorido(thiourea‐κS)zinc(II)

The title compound, (C₆H₉N₂S)[ZnCl₃{SC(NH₂)₂}], exists as a zincate where the zinc(II) centre is coordinated by three chloride ligands and a thiourea ligand to form the anion. The organic cation adopts the protonated 4,6‐dimethyl‐2‐sulfanylidenepyrimidin‐1‐ium (L) form of 4,6‐dimethylpyrimidine‐2(1H)‐thione. Two short N—H...Cl hydrogen bonds involving the pyrimidine H atoms and the [ZnCl₃L]⁻ anion form a crystallographically centrosymmetric dimeric unit consisting of two anions and two cations. The packing structure is completed by longer‐range hydrogen bonds donated by the thiourea NH₂ groups to chloride ligand hydrogen‐bond acceptors.     

Living anionic polymerization of (E)‐1,3‐pentadiene and (Z)‐1,3‐pentadiene isomers

The anionic polymerization of (E)‐1,3‐pentadiene (EP) and (Z)‐1,3‐pentadiene (ZP) together with mixture of the E/Z isomers are investigated, respectively. The kinetic analysis shows that the activation energy for EP (86.17 kJ/mol) is much higher than that for ZP (59.03 kJ/mol). GPC shows that it is the EP rather than the ZP isomer that undergoes anionic living polymerization affording quantitative products of the polymers with well‐controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (1.05 ≤? ≤ 1.09). In addition, THF as polar additive has proved its validity to reduce the molecular weight distribution of poly(ZP) from 1.38 to as low as 1.19. The microstructure and sequence distributions of polypentadiene are characterized by ¹H NMR and quantitative ¹³C NMR. Finally, the distinctive reaction activity of two isomers can be elucidated by two different mechanisms which involve the presence of four forms of zwitterions for EP and the typical [1,5]‐sigmatropic hydrogen‐shift phenomenon for ZP. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2291–2301     

Assembly of Three 2D Metal‐Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Derived from Flexible Ligands, 1,4‐bis(3‐pyridyl)‐2,3‐diaza‐1,3‐butadiene (3‐bpd) and/or 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethane (dpe)

Three coordination polymers, {[Cd(3‐bpd)₂(NCS)₂]×C₂H₅OH}_n ( 1 ), {[Cd(3‐bpd)(dpe)(NO₃)₂]×(3‐bpd)}₂ ( 2 ), {[Cd(dpe)₂(NCS)₂]×3‐bpd×2H₂O}_n ( 3 ) (3‐bpd = 1,4‐bis(3‐pyridyl)‐2,3‐diaza‐1,3‐butadiene; dpe = 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethane), were prepared and structurally characterized by a single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction method. In compound 1 , each Cd(II) ion is six‐coordinate bonded to six nitrogen atoms from four 3‐bpd and two NCS^? ligands. The 3‐bpd acts as a bridging ligand connecting the Cd(II) ion to generate a 2D layered metal‐organic framework (MOF) by using a rhomboidal‐grid as the basic building units with the 4⁴ topology. In compound 2 , the Cd(II) ion is also six‐coordinate bonded to four nitrogen atoms of two 3‐bpd, two dpe and two oxygen atoms of two NO₃^? ligands. The 3‐bpd and dpe ligands both adopt bis‐monodentate coordination mode connecting the Cd(II) ions to generate a 2D layered MOF by using a rectangle‐grid as the basic building units with the 4⁴ topology. In compound 3 , two crystallographically independent Cd(II) ions are both coordinated by four nitrogen atoms of dpe ligands in the basal plane and two nitrogen atom of NCS^? in the axial sites. The dpe acts as a bridging ligand to connect the Cd(II) ions forming a 2D interpenetrating MOFs by using a square‐grid as the basic unit with the 4⁴ topology. All of their 2D layered MOFs in compounds 1 ‐ 3 are then arranged in a parallel non‐interpenetrating ABAB—packing manner in 1 and 2 , and mutually interpenetrating manner in 3 , respectively, to extend their 3D supramolecular architectures with their 1D pores intercalated with solvent (ethanol in 1 or H₂O in 3 ) or free 3‐bpd molecules in 2 and 3 , respectively. The photoluminescence measurements of 1 ‐ 3 reveal that the emission is tentatively assigned to originate from π‐π* transition for 1 and 2 and probably due to ligand‐center luminescence for compounds 3 , respectively.     

(E)‐3‐(Benzo[b]thiophen‐2‐yl)‐2‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)acrylonitrile and (Z)‐3‐(benzo[b]thiophen‐2‐yl)‐2‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)acrylonitrile

The title compounds, C₂₀H₁₇NO₃S, (I), and C₁₉H₁₅NO₂S, (II), were prepared by the reaction of benzo[b]thiophene‐2‐carbaldehyde with (3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)acetonitrile and (3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)acetonitrile, respectively, in the presence of methanolic potassium hydroxide. In (I), the C=C bond linking the benzo[b]thiophene and the 3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl units has E geometry, with dihedral angles between the plane of the bridging unit and the planes of the two adjacent ring systems of 5.2 (3) and 13.1 (2)°, respectively. However, in (II), the C=C bond has Z geometry, with dihedral angles between the plane of the bridging unit and the planes of the adjacent benzo[b]thiophene and 3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl units of 4.84 (17) and 76.09 (7)°, respectively. There are no significant intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions in the packing of (I) and (II). The packing is essentially stabilized via van der Waals forces.