Gated photochromism and acidity photomodulation of a diacid dithienylethene dye

The present study quantitatively analyses the gated photochromism and the acidity photomodulation properties of a diacid dithienylethene compound. Photoisomerisation between the open and closed isomers was investigated by UV/visible and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. It was found that the photocyclisation quantum yield of the diacid form was remarkably high (around 90%). Partial neutralisation of the open isomer revealed a gated photochromism as the photocyclisation quantum yield of the mono- and dianion were 50 and 67%, respectively. A considerable photomodulation of the acidity was observed: the closed isomer is more acid than the open one by more than one pK(a) unit. This effect has been shown to be exploitable for a reversible photo-acid generation. This is the first time that a complete quantitative investigation that allows for the determination of the main photochromic, spectral and thermodynamic parameters of a base-sensitive photochromic diarylethene has been carried out.     

Regioselective Intermolecular Allylic C−H Amination of Disubstituted Olefins via Rhodium/π‐Allyl Intermediates

A method for catalytic intermolecular allylic C−H amination of trans ‐disubstituted olefins is reported. The reaction is efficient for a range of common nitrogen nucleophiles bearing one electron‐withdrawing group, and proceeds under mild reaction conditions. Good levels of regioselectivity are observed for a wide range of electronically diverse trans ‐β‐alkyl styrene substrates.     

Synthesis and Application of Tetraphosphane Ligands in Rhodium‐Catalyzed Hydroformylation of Terminal Olefins: High Regioselectivity at High Temperature

A new class of substituted tetraphosphane ligands has been developed and applied in the rhodium‐catalyzed regioselective hydroformylation of terminal olefins. The high regioselectivity (linear selectivity is above 97 % for 1‐octene and 1‐hexene) at high temperature (140 °C) shown by these tetraphosphane ligands is remarkable considering the low regioselectivity commonly observed under similar reaction conditions when other bisphosphane analogues are used. The steric and electronic effects of substituents on the diarylphosphane moiety have also been examined.     

Rhodium-Catalyzed Atroposelective Access to Axially Chiral Olefins via C−H Bond Activation and Directing Group Migration

Axially chiral open-chain olefins represent an underexplored class of chiral platform. In this report, two classes of tetrasubstituted axially chiral acyclic olefins have been accessed in excellent enantioselectivity and regioselectivity via C?H activation of (hetero)arenes assisted by a migratable directing group en route to coupling with sterically hindered alkynes. The coupling of indoles bearing an N-aminocarbonyl directing group afforded C–N axially chiral acrylamides with the assistance of a racemic zinc carboxylate additive. DFT studies suggest a β-nitrogen elimination–reinsertion pathway for the directing group migration. Meanwhile, the employment of N-phenoxycarboxamide delivered C?C axially chiral enamides via migration of the oxidizing directing group. Experiments suggest that in both cases the (hetero)arene substrate adopts a well-defined orientation during the C?H activation, which in turn determines the disposition of the alkyne in migratory insertion. Synthetic applications of representative chiral olefins are demonstrated.     

A tetraphosphorus ligand for highly regioselective isomerization-hydroformylation of internal olefins

A new pyrrole-based tetraphosphorus ligand capable of forming multiple chelating modes has been prepared. Higher regioselectivity has been achieved in the rhodium-catalyzed isomerization-hydroformylations of internal olefins compared with its bisphosphorus analogue.     

Regioselective oxidation of internal olefins bearing neighboring oxygen functions by means of palladium catalysts. Preparation of β-alkoxy or acetoxy ketones from allyl and homoallyl ethers or esters

A new preparative method of β- and γ-alkoxy (acetoxy) ketones, which are important precursors of vinyl ketones and 1,4-diketones, respectively, is presented. With PdCl₂/CuCl/O₂ or PdCl₂/p-benzoquinone catalyst system, internal olefins bearing allylic alkoxy or acetoxy group underwent regioselective oxidation to form the corresponding β-alkoxy or β-acetoxy ketones. Similarly, γ-acetoxy ketones were obtained from homoallyl acetates having internal olefins with high regioselectivity.     

MNDO Analysis of Regio- and Stereoselectivity in Hydroboration

The origin of regioselectivity in hydroboration of olefins has been analyzed by MNDO methodology. With a standard transition structure derived from full MNDO optimizations, a linear correlation between calculated and experimental regioselectivities has been found. A similar approach applied to asymmetric inductions of hydroboration with chiral hydroborating agents lead also to an acceptable linear correlation between calculated and experimental results. The MNDO method has been used for a search of alternative hydroborating agents.     

Synthesis of novel rhodium phosphite catalysts for efficient and selective isomerization-hydroformylation reactions

New modular H₈-BINOL-based phosphite ligands have been synthesized. High activity and regioselectivity has been achieved in the rhodium-catalyzed isomerization-hydroformylation of internal olefins. The active catalysts have been characterized by insitu NMR studies.     

Ligand-Enabled Nickel-Catalyzed Redox-Relay Migratory Hydroarylation of Alkenes with Arylborons

A redox-relay migratory hydroarylation of isomeric mixtures of olefins with arylboronic acids catalyzed by nickel complexes bearing diamine ligands is described. A range of structurally diverse 1,1-diarylalkanes, including those containing a 1,1-diarylated quaternary carbon, were obtained in excellent yields and with high regioselectivity. Preliminary experimental evidence supports the proposed non-dissociated chainwalking of aryl-nickel(II)-hydride species along the alkyl chain of alkenes before selective reductive elimination at a benzylic position. A catalyst loading as low as 0.5 mol % proved to be sufficient in large-scale synthesis while retaining high reactivity, highlighting the practical value of this transformation.     

RuO4-catalyzed ketohydroxylation of olefins

A new mild method for the oxidation of a variety of olefins to alpha-hydroxy ketones is described. Using the concept of a nucleophilic reoxidant, different olefins were ketohydroxylated with high regioselectivity in good to excellent yields.     

Hydrogen-bonding-promoted oxidative addition and regioselective arylation of olefins with aryl chlorides

The first, general, and highly efficient catalytic system that allows a wide range of activated and unactivated aryl chlorides to couple regioselectively with olefins has been developed. The Heck arylation reaction is likely to be controlled by the oxidative addition of ArCl to Pd(0). Hence, an electron-rich diphosphine, 4-MeO-dppp, was introduced to facilitate the catalysis. Solvent choice is critical, however; only sluggish arylation is observed in DMF or DMSO, whereas the reaction proceeds well in ethylene glycol at 0.1-1 mol % catalyst loadings, displaying excellent regioselectivity. Mechanistic evidence supports that the arylation is turnover-limited by the oxidative addition step and, most importantly, that the oxidative addition is accelerated by ethylene glycol, most likely via hydrogen bonding to the chloride at the transition state as shown by DFT calculations. Ethylene glycol thus plays a double role in the arylation, facilitating oxidative addition and promoting the subsequent dissociation of chloride from Pd(II) to give a cationic Pd(II)-olefin species, which is key to the regioselectivity observed.     

Alpha-alkylation of ketones by addition of zinc enamides to unactivated olefins

A zinc enamide generated from the corresponding N-aryl imine undergoes addition to an unactivated olefin, such as ethylene, 1-octene, and isobutylene, to generate an alpha-alkylated gamma-zincioimine intermediate in good to excellent yield. Terminal and gem-disubstituted olefins react with >99% regioselectivity, allowing the C-C bond formation to take place at the more hindered carbon of the double bond. The organozinc intermediate undergoes further C-C bond formation with a carbon electrophile to give, upon hydrolysis of the imine, an alpha-alkylated ketone bearing a variety of functionalized primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl groups.     

A facile entry into a novel class of dispiroheterocyclic framework through 1,3-dipolarcycloaddition of azomethine ylides with 3-arylidene-4-chromanones as dipolarophiles

The cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides, generated through decarboxylation, with (E)-3-arylidene-4-chromanones as dipolarophiles has been investigated. A high degree of regioselectivity has been observed in the synthesis of a new class of functionalized dispiroheterocyclic compounds bearing chromanone and acenaphthenequinone framework. The structures were established by spectroscopic techniques as well as single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Asymmetric Hydroformylation of Olefins Catalyzed by a Chiral Diphosphite-Rhodium Complex

A C2-symmetrical aryl diphosphite derived from chiral binaphthol was prepared and its rhodium complex was used as catalysts in the asymmetric hydroformylation of olefins. High catalytic activity and good regioselectivity were observed. Up to 31.2% ee and 38.1% ee were achieved for the hydroformylation of 4-fluoro-styrene and vinyl acetate respectively. The influences of ligand-to-metal ratio, reaction temperature and the pressure of syn-gas on the enantioselectivity and regioselectivity were also studied.     

Highly efficient visible-light driven photochromism: developments towards a solid-state molecular switch operating through a triplet-sensitised pathway

We introduce a new highly efficient photochromic organometallic dithienylethene (DTE) complex, the first instance of a DTE core symmetrically modified by two Pt(II) chromophores [Pt(PEt(3))(2)(C≡C)(DTE)(C≡C)Pt(PEt(3))(2)Ph] (1), which undergoes ring-closure when activated by visible light in solvents of different polarity, in thin films and even in the solid state. Complex 1 has been synthesised and fully photophysically characterised by (resonance) Raman and transient absorption spectroscopy complemented by calculations. The ring-closing photoconversion in a single crystal of 1 has been followed by X-ray crystallography. This process occurs with the extremely high yield of 80%--considerably outperforming the other DTE derivatives. Remarkably, the photocyclisation of 1 occurs even under visible light (>400 nm), which is not absorbed by the non-metallated DTE core HC≡C(DTE)C≡CH (2) itself. This unusual behaviour and the high photocyclisation yields in solution are attributed to the presence of a heavy atom in 1 that enables a triplet-sensitised photocyclisation pathway, elucidated by transient absorption spectroscopy and DFT calculations. The results of resonance Raman investigation confirm the involvement of the alkynyl unit in the frontier orbitals of both closed and open forms of 1 in the photocyclisation process. The changes in the Raman spectra upon cyclisation have permitted the identification of Raman marker bands, which include the acetylide stretching vibration. Importantly, these bands occur in the spectral region unobstructed by other vibrations and can be used for non-destructive monitoring of photocyclisation/photoreversion processes and for optical readout in this type of efficiently photochromic thermally stable systems. This study indicates a strategy for generating efficient solid-state photoswitches in which modification of the Pt(II) units has the potential to tune absorption properties and hence operational wavelength across the visible range.     

Ligand‐Enabled Nickel‐Catalyzed Redox‐Relay Migratory Hydroarylation of Alkenes with Arylborons

A redox‐relay migratory hydroarylation of isomeric mixtures of olefins with arylboronic acids catalyzed by nickel complexes bearing diamine ligands is described. A range of structurally diverse 1,1‐diarylalkanes, including those containing a 1,1‐diarylated quaternary carbon, were obtained in excellent yields and with high regioselectivity. Preliminary experimental evidence supports the proposed non‐dissociated chainwalking of aryl‐nickel(II)‐hydride species along the alkyl chain of alkenes before selective reductive elimination at a benzylic position. A catalyst loading as low as 0.5 mol % proved to be sufficient in large‐scale synthesis while retaining high reactivity, highlighting the practical value of this transformation.     

Palladium-catalyzed reactions of cyclopropanols bearing oxazoline directing group

Cyclopropanols bearing oxazoline directing group were investigated in palladium-catalyzed reactions. When the directing group and cyclopropanol unit were bonded through two- or three-carbon spacer, formation of unusual products was observed. Oxidative ring opening proceeded with uncommon regioselectivity providing linear enones as main products. The reaction of such cyclopropanols with aryl iodides and silver acetate furnished diarylated α-methylene ketones, which cannot be obtained from cyclopropanols lacking oxazoline ring under the same conditions.     

Hydroformylation of methyl-3-pentenoate over a phosphite ligand modified Rh/SiO2 catalyst

A phosphite ligand modified Rh/SiO2 catalyst has been developed for hydroformylation of internal olefins to linear aldehydes, which showed high activity and regioselectivity and could be separated easily by filtration after reaction in an autoclave. Effects of reaction temperature and syngas pressure on the performances of the catalyst in the reaction were also investigated.     

Hypervalent iodine-mediated aminobromination of olefins in water

The PhI(OAc)₂-catalyzed aminobromination of electron-deficient olefins has been achieved in pure water with TsNH₂ and NBS as nitrogen and bromine sources, respectively. With a catalytic amount of PhI(OAc)₂, various olefins including α,β-unsaturated ketones, cinnamates, and cinnamides could be aminobrominated efficiently, giving the vicinal bromoamines in good yields and high regio- and diastereoselectivities. Utilizing water as solvent was crucial to realize this aminobromination reaction catalytically. The regioselectivity for the aminobromination of styrenes under the present aqueous conditions was also dramatically improved.     

Highly regioselective hydroaminomethylation of terminal olefins to linear amines using Rh complexes with a Tetrabi phosphorus ligand

A highly regioselective hydroaminomethylation of terminal olefins catalyzed by Rh complexes with 2, 2′, 6, 6′‐tetrakis ((diphenylphosphino)methyl)‐1, 1′‐biphenyl (Tetrabi) ligand has been developed. Up to 99 % amine selectivity, 168 linear/branched amine product ratio (n/i), and 97.4 % linear amine yield has been obtained at a substrate/rhodium precursor ratio (S/Rh) of 1000 with this methodology. The turnover number was achieved 6930 at 10000 S/Rh ratio, and the n/i can reach up to >525. Several different olefins and secondary amines have been applied successfully with high chemoselectivity (99 %), yield (>98 %), and regioselectivity (>120).