Directed Remote Lateral Metalation: Highly Substituted 2‐Naphthols and BINOLs by In Situ Generation of a Directing Group

A general synthesis of highly substituted 2‐naphthols based on a new carbanionic reaction sequence is demonstrated. The reaction exploits the dual nature of lithium bases consisting of consecutive ring opening of readily available coumarins with either LiNEt₂ or LiNiPr₂ into Z‐cinnamamides, thus generating a directing group in situ and allowing, by conformational freedom, a lateral directed remote metalation for ring closure to give the aryl 2‐naphthols in good to excellent yields. These transformations can be combined to provide a more efficient one‐pot process. Mechanistic insight into the remote lateral metalation step, demonstrating the requirement of Z‐cinnamamide, is described. Application of this methodology to the synthesis of highly substituted 3,3′‐diaryl BINOL ligands is also reported.     

Selective Synthesis of 1,2‐Diarylpyrrolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5,7‐diones via Cyclization Reaction of β‐Enamino Imides with Cinnamaldehydes

The novel 1,2‐diaryl substituted pyrrolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5,7‐diones were selectively synthesized in high yields by the base catalyzed cyclization reaction of 3‐arylamino‐1‐methyl‐1H‐pyrrole‐2,5‐diones with cinnamaldehyde and its derivatives in acetonitrile at room temperature. However, when piperidinium trifluoroacetate was employed as catalyst, the reaction afforded a mixture of 1,2‐diaryl and 1,4‐diaryl substituted pyrrolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5,7‐diones in comparable yields.     

Efficient halogenation of unsaturated organoaluminum compounds with sulfonyl halides

Alkenylalumanes prepared by carbo-or cycloalumination of substituted acetylenes reacted with an equivalent amount of sulfonyl halide (MsCl, TsCl, PhSO₂Cl, MsBr) in methylene chloride or hexane at room temperature to produce alkenyl halides in high yields. Electron-donor solvents such as diethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran inhibited the halogenation process. β-Substituted vinylalumanes generated by hydroalumination of substituted acetylenes failed to react with sulfonyl halides.     

Polymerization of Substituted Acetylenes Carrying Non‐Polar and Polar Groups with Transition Metal Acetylide Catalysts

A new series of single‐component air‐stable transition metal acetylide catalysts for the polymerization of substituted acetylenes carrying non‐polar and polar groups was developed. The catalytic properties of transition metal acetylides are related to transition metals, phosphines and acetylenic ligands. Nickel acetylides show higher catalytic activity towards the polymerization of substituted acetylenes containing non‐polar groups, while palladium acetylides show higher catalytic activity towards the polymerization of substituted acetylenes carrying polar groups. Palladium acetylides with PPh₃ ligand are efficient catalysts for the polymerization of substituted acetylenes bearing both non‐polar and polar groups.     

Phosphine-free rhodium-catalyzed hydroarylation of diaryl acetylenes with boronic acids

Rh(CO)₂(acac) was found to be an efficient and simple catalyst in hydroarylation of diaryl acetylenes with boronic acids in the absence of phosphine ligand. Thus, triaryl-substituted olefins were prepared in good to excellent yields. No 1,4-rhodium shift was observed in the catalytic cycle.     

Reaction of magnesium alkylidene carbenoids with lithium alpha-sulfonyl carbanions: a novel synthesis of tri- and tetra-substituted allenes from 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides and sulfones

Treatment of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were synthesized from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with ethylmagnesium chloride or isopropylmagnesium chloride at below -78 degrees C gave magnesium alkylidene carbenoids in about 90% yields. The reaction of the generated carbenoids with lithium alpha-sulfonyl carbanions was found to afford tri- and tetra-substituted allenes. Both cyclic ketones and acyclic ketones were useful in this procedure. However, the 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides derived from aldehydes gave only rearranged products, acetylenes, under the reaction conditions. The magnesium alkylidene carbenoid derived from an optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxide was treated with lithium alpha-carbanion of 1-naphthyl phenyl sulfone; however, the obtained allene was found to be racemic. The mechanism of this reaction is also discussed.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of 4‐Substituted 3,4‐Dihydro‐3‐methoxyisocoumarins via Carboxylation of α‐Substituted 2‐Lithio‐β‐methoxystyrenes with Carbon Dioxide

A new type of isocoumarins (=1H‐isochromen‐1‐ones=1H‐2‐benzopyran‐1‐ones), 4‐substituted 3,4‐dihydro‐3‐methoxyisocoumarins 2 , can be obtained by a one‐pot process from α‐substituted 2‐bromo‐β‐methoxystyrenes 1 . Thus, lithium 2‐(1‐aryl(or methyl)‐2‐methoxyethenyl)benzoates are conveniently generated via the Br/Li exchange between 1 and BuLi, followed by the action of CO₂ on the resulting α‐substituted 2‐lithio‐β‐methoxystyrenes. Upon treating with concentrated HCl at room temperature, these lithium benzoates undergo lactonization to provide the desired 3,4‐dihydroisocoumarins 2 in relatively good yields.     

Negishi cross-coupling of organotellurium compounds: synthesis of biaryls, aryl-, and diaryl acetylenes

A functional group tolerant palladium-catalyzed Negishi coupling of diaryl tellurides with organozinc has been developed. This methodology permits efficient preparation of biaryls, aryl acetylenes and diaryl acetylenes in moderate to good yields. A preliminary study to gain further insight into the reaction was performed using in situ ReactIR technology.     

(Poly)terephthalates with Efficient Blue Emission in the Solid State

We prepared dimethyl and diaryl 2,5‐dialkoxytere‐phthalates from dimethyl 2,5‐dihydroxyterephthalate in good‐to‐high yields via alkylation or a sequence of alkylation, hydrolysis, chlorination, and condensation. The absorption spectra of the dialkoxyterephthalates contain a small band at 332–355 nm, which could be assigned to intramolecular charge‐transfer transition from the alkoxy to alkoxycarbonyl groups on the basis of theoretical calculations using density functional theory. The dialkoxyterephthalates exhibited blue fluorescence with moderate‐to‐excellent quantum yields not only in solution but also in the solid state, such as a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film and a powder. The solid‐state quantum yields of the diisopropoxy‐substituted terephthalates were similar or considerably higher than those of the dimethoxy‐substituted counterparts. Copolymerization of 2,5‐diisopropoxyterephthaloyl chloride and 1,4‐butanediol with or without terephthaloyl chloride gave brilliantly blue fluorescent polymers, whose quantum yields were 0.72 and 0.71 in toluene and 0.46 and 0.40 in the neat film, respectively. Furthermore, white emission was achieved when a fluorescent yellow 2,5‐diaminoterephthalate was doped into the thin film of the blue fluorescent polymer at 0.4 wt %.     

New heterocycles of 2,3‐diaryl‐substituted maleic hydrazides

2,3‐Diaryl‐substituted maleic anhydrides were prepared by a modified one‐pot synthesis of Perkin condensation using mixed sodium salts of arylglyoxylic acid and arylacetic acid with acetic anhydride in 1,4‐dioxane. The treatment of these anhydrides with ammonium bicarbonate, or methanolic hydrazine, offered the corresponding 2,3‐diaryl‐substituted maleimides and maleic hydrazides (4,5‐diaryl‐substituted 1,2‐dihydropyridazine‐3,6‐dione), respectively. Evidence obtained from NMR, UV, and mass spectra suggest that 2,3‐diaryl‐substituted maleic hydrazides do not exhibit monolactim forms. Ring contraction of the diaryl‐substituted maleic hydrazide by nitrosation led to the formation of the corresponding maleimide. Interconversion between the corresponding maleic hydrazide and maleimide was observed following equilibrium reaction. Our experiment proposes that the chemistry of 2,3‐diaryl‐substituted maleic hydrazides rarely involves the function of ethylene moiety and resembles that of succinic hydrazine. J. Heterocyclic Chem.,(2011).     

Triplet acetylenes as synthetic equivalents of 1,2-bicarbenes: phantom n,pi state controls reactivity in triplet photocycloaddition

Diaryl acetylenes, in which one of the aryl groups is either a pyridine or a pyrazine, undergo efficient triplet state photocycloaddition to 1,4-cyclohexadiene with formation of 1,5-diaryl substituted tetracyclo[3.3.0.0(2,8).0(4,6)]octanes (homoquadricyclanes). In the case of pyrazinyl acetylenes, the primary homoquadricyclane products undergo a secondary photochemical rearangement leading to diaryl substituted tricyclo[3.2.1.0(4,6)]oct-2-enes. Mechanistic and photophysical studies suggest that photocycloaddition proceeds through an electrophilic triplet excited state whereas the subsequent rearrangement to the tricyclooctenes proceeds through a singlet excited state. Chemical and quantum yields for the cycloaddition, in general, correlate with the electron acceptor character of aryl substituents but are attenuated by photophysical factors, such as the competition between the conversion of acetylene singlet excited state into the reactive triplet excited states (intersystem crossing: ISC) and/or to the radical-anion (photoelectron transfer from the diene to the excited acetylene: PET). Dramatically enhanced ISC between pi-pi S(1) state and "phantom" n,pi triplet excited state is likely to be important in directing reactivity to the triplet pathway. The role of PET can be minimized by the judicious choice of reaction conditions (solvent, concentration, etc.). From a practical perspective, such reactions are interesting because "capping" of the triple bond with the polycyclic framework orients the terminal aryl (4-pyridyl, 4-tetrafluoropyridyl, phenyl, etc.) groups in an almost perfect 60 degrees angle and renders such molecules promising supramolecular building blocks, especially in the design of metal coordination polymers.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Photophysical Properties of (1E,3E,5E)‐1,3,4,6‐Tetraarylhexa‐1,3,5‐trienes: A New Class of Fluorophores Exhibiting Aggregation‐Induced Emission

Double Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction of (E)‐2,3‐diaryl‐1,4‐bis(diethylphosphonyl)but‐2‐ene with (p‐substituted) benzaldehydes gave (1E,3E,5E)‐1,3,4,6‐tetraarylhexa‐1,3,5‐trienes in moderate to good yields. Substitution of electron‐withdrawing or ‐donating groups at the para position of the 1,6‐diphenyl groups induced a slight bathochromic shift of UV spectra measured in CHCl₃ compared with that of the parent 1,3,4,6‐tetraphenylhexa‐1,3,5‐triene. Although fluorescence was not observed with all the trienes in CHCl₃, they markedly emitted visible light in powder forms with quantum yields of 0.15–0.44. Introduction of amino groups at the para position of the 3,4‐diphenyl groups induced a bathochromic shift of emission maxima with good solid‐state quantum yields. Thus, the tetraarylated triene framework is found to serve as a new class of fluorophores that exhibit aggregation‐induced emission.     

A new pathway for the preparation of diaryl acetylenes

A simple method for the preparation of diaryl acetylenes in yields up to 61% from aryl bromides and 1-bromo-2-chloroethane using the palladium catalyst (dppb)Pd(OAc)₂ under PTC conditions (solid KOH/18-crown-6) has been developed.     

Chemo‐ and Regioselective Hydrogenolysis of Diaryl Ether C−O Bonds by a Robust Heterogeneous Ni/C Catalyst: Applications to the Cleavage of Complex Lignin‐Related Fragments

We report the chemo‐ and regioselective hydrogenolysis of the C?O bonds in di‐ortho‐substituted diaryl ethers under the catalysis of a supported nickel catalyst. The catalyst comprises heterogeneous nickel particles supported on activated carbon and furnishes arenes and phenols in high yields without hydrogenation. The high thermal stability of the embedded metal particles allows C?O bond cleavage to occur in highly substituted diaryl ether units akin to those in lignin. Preliminary mechanistic experiments show that this catalyst undergoes sintering less readily than previously reported catalyst particles that form from a solution of [Ni(cod)₂].     

Ullmann diaryl ether synthesis catalyzed by copper (I)/pyridine-functionalized silane

Ullmann-type diaryl ether synthesis was performed under mild conditions in DMF/K₂CO₃ using a pyridine-functionalized silane as a ligand. The products were obtained in good yields. This method tolerates a variety of functional groups and is effective in the synthesis of hindered diaryl ethers and heteroaryl ethers.     

Rhodium-Catalyzed Dimerization of Diaryl Acetylenes in the Presence of Grignard Reagents: Synthesis of 1,2,3-Triphenyl Naphthalene Derivatives

An efficient Rh-catalyzed dimerization of diaryl acetylenes was achieved in the presence of Wilkinson catalyst, AgF₂, and 1.5 equivalent of PhMgBr in toluene, providing the 1,2,3-triaryl naphthalene derivatives in moderate to good yields.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications to view the free supplemental file.     

Rhodium(I)‐Catalyzed Tertiary Phosphine Directed C−H Arylation: Rapid Construction of Ligand Libraries

Modification of commercially available monophosphine ligands with either aryl bromides or chlorides by rhodium(I)‐catalyzed, tertiary phosphine directed C−H activation is described. A series of ligand libraries containing mono‐ and diaryl‐substituted groups, having different steric and electronic properties, were obtained in high yields. Based on the outstanding properties of their parent scaffolds, the modified ligands have been found to be powerful in organic reactions.     

A Dynamic Kinetic Resolution Approach to Axially Chiral Diaryl Ethers by Catalytic Atroposelective Transfer Hydrogenation

Diaryl ethers are widespread in biologically active compounds, ligands and catalysts. It is known that the diaryl ether skeleton may exhibit atropisomerism when both aryl rings are unsymmetrically substituted with bulky groups. Despite recent advances, only very few catalytic asymmetric methods have been developed to construct such axially chiral compounds. We describe herein a dynamic kinetic resolution approach to axially chiral diaryl ethers via a Brønsted acid catalyzed atroposelective transfer hydrogenation (ATH) reaction of dicarbaldehydes with anilines. The desired diaryl ethers could be obtained in moderate to good chemical yields (up to 79 %) and high enantioselectivities (up to 95 % ee) under standard reaction conditions. Such structural motifs are interesting precursors for further transformations and may have potential applications in the synthesis of chiral ligands or catalysts.     

Thioketone‐Directed Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed C−H Arylation of Ferrocenes with Aryl Boronic Acids

A palladium(II)‐catalyzed thioketone‐chelation‐assisted direct C?H arylation of ferrocenes is described. With thioketone as an efficient directing group, various monoaryl‐ and diaryl‐substituted thiocarbonylferrocenes were obtained by palladium‐catalyzed direct C?H functionalization in high yields under mild and base‐free reaction conditions. Furthermore, the arylated thiocarbonylferrocene could undergo diverse transformations.     

Microwave‐Assisted Cross‐Coupling for the Construction of Diaryl Sulfides

The construction of diaryl sulfides through the cross‐coupling of aryl iodides and thiols in microwave heating is described. By using this method, a variety of diaryl sulfides can be prepared in a mild condition and in high yields. Deactivated 4‐nitrothiophenol was effective to afford the product in 94% yield. Sterically hindered ortho‐substituted aryl iodides or thiophenols provided diaryl sulfides effectively by this microwave‐assisted coupling reaction.