Conventional vs. Microwave- or Mechanically-Assisted Synthesis of Dihomooxacalix[4]arene Phthalimides: NMR,X-ray and Photophysical Analysis §

Direct O-alkylation of p-tert-butyldihomooxacalix[4]arene (1) with N-(bromopropyl)- or N-(bromoethyl)phthalimides and K₂CO₃ in acetonitrile was conducted under conventional heating (reflux) and using microwave irradiation and ball milling methodologies. The reactions afforded mono- and mainly distal di-substituted derivatives in the cone conformation, in a total of eight compounds. They were isolated by column chromatography, and their conformations and the substitution patterns were established by NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, COSY and NOESY experiments). The X-ray structures of four dihomooxacalix[4]arene phthalimide derivatives (2a, 3a, 3b and 5a) are reported, as well as their photophysical properties. The microwave (MW)-assisted alkylations drastically reduced the reaction times (from days to less than 45 min) and produced higher yields of both 1,3-di-substituted phthalimides (3a and 6a) with higher selectivity. Ball milling did not reveal to be a good method for this kind of reaction.     

Phthalimide and Naphthalimide end‐Capped Diketopyrrolopyrrole for Organic Photovoltaic Applications

Two small molecules named PI‐DPP and NI‐DPP with a DPP core as the central strong acceptor unit and phthalimide/naphthalimide as the terminal weak acceptor were designed and synthesized. The effects of terminal phthalimide/naphthalimide units on the thermal behavior, optical and electrochemical properties, as well as the photovoltaic performance of these two materials were systematically studied. Cyclic voltammetry revealed that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO) (~ ‐3.6 eV) of both molecules were intermediate to common electron donor (P3HT) and acceptor (PCBM). This indicated that PI‐DPP and NI‐DPP may uniquely serve as electron donor when blended with PCBM, and as electron acceptor when blended with P3HT, where sufficient driving forces between DPPs and PCBM, as well as between P3HT and DPPs should be created for exciton dissociation. Using as electron donor materials, PI‐DPP and NI‐DPP devices exhibited low power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 0.90% and 0.76% by blending with PCBM, respectively. And a preliminary evaluation of the potential of the NI‐DPP as electron acceptor material was carried out using P3HT as a donor material, and P3HT: NI‐DPP device showed a PCE of 0.6%, with an open circuit voltage (V _OC) of 0.7 V, a short circuit current density (J _SC) of 1.91 mA•cm^‐2, and a fill factor (FF) of 45%.     

Synthesis,characterization and biological activity evaluation of new 3- methyl and 4- fluoro isoindoline-1, 3-dione/phthalimide analogues

The convenient route for the synthesis of a series of new Isoindoline-1, 3-dione/phthalimide analogues by condensation of substituted phthalic anhydride with an appropriate Ar-amine is described. Selective phthalimide derivatives were evaluated for their preliminary biological activities against Gram-positive, Gram-negative and fungi strains. These encouraging results could be helpful for the development of new antibacterial or antifungal agents.     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Aza-Michael Additions of Phthalimide Derivatives to α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes

Phthalimide derivatives as nitrogen nucleophiles with α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes for asymmetric aza‐Michael additions have been reported. The reactions proceed smoothly to afford corresponding Michael adducts in good yields (up to 98%) and enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee).     

Naphthalimide‐phthalimide derivative based photoinitiating systems for polymerization reactions under blue lights

Naphthalimide‐phthalimide derivatives (NDPDs) have been synthesized and combined with an iodonium salt, N‐vinylcarbazole, amine or 2,4,6‐tris(trichloromethyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine to produce reactive species (i.e., radicals and cations). These generated reactive species are capable of initiating the cationic polymerization of epoxides and/or the radical polymerization of acrylates upon exposure to very soft polychromatic visible lights or blue lights. Compared with the well‐known camphorquinone based systems used as references, the novel NDPD based combinations employed here demonstrate clearly higher efficiencies for the cationic polymerization of epoxides under air as well as the radical polymerization of acrylates. Remarkably, one of the NDPDs (i.e., NDPD2) based systems is characterized by an outstanding reactivity. The structure/reactivity/efficiency relationships of the investigated NDPDs were studied by fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry, laser flash photolysis, electron spin resonance spin trapping, and steady state photolysis techniques. The key parameters for their reactivity are provided. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 665–674     

Chemical modification of poly(lactic acid) induced by thermal decomposition of N‐acetoxy‐phthalimide during extrusion

Chemical modification of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with N‐acetoxy‐phthalimide (NAPI) was performed in the melt by reactive extrusion, without using any peroxide initiator. The aminyl and nitroxide radicals produced from the NAPI thermal degradation, were, respectively, used (a) to create PLA macroradicals, and (b) to functionalize the PLA samples through nitroxide radical coupling. Depending on the extrusion temperature and the initial NAPI concentration, grafting rates up to 0.24 mol % were measured, modifying the PLA optical properties. This study represents an original new way of modification of PLA without the use of conventional peroxide initiators. Indeed, the undesirable side reactions (PLA branching or crosslinking) usually observed when using peroxides to initiate the radical grafting of PLA were avoided when using NAPI. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 120–129     

Potassium phthalimide： An efficient and green organocatalyst for the synthesis of 4-aryl-7-（arylmethylene）-3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1H- cyclopenta[d]pyrimidin-2（5H）-ones]thiones under solvent-free conditions

An efficient synthesis of Biginelli-type compounds using potassium phthalimide as a green, mild, and commercially available organocatalyst in a one-pot, multi-component cyclocondensation reaction of cyclopentanone, aldehydes, and urea/thiourea is reported. The present methodology is a green approach to access 4-aryl-7-（aryImethylene）-3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopenta[d]pyrimidin-2（5H）-ones/thiones. It offers several merits such as simple operational procedures, no use of hazardous organic solvents, and cheap and environmentally friendly solid basic catalyst.     

Reactions of Neomycin B under Mitsunobu Conditions: A Correction of the Literature

Reaction of N‐Boc neomycin with triphenylphosphine and diissopropyl azodicarboxylate in either toluene or THF results in an epoxide in ring IV, not an aziridine or azetidine as previously reported.     

Deep eutectic solvents and glycerol: a simple,environmentally benign and efficient catalyst/reaction media for synthesis of N-aryl phthalimide derivatives

Abstract

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) and glycerol have been successfully employed as efficient catalysts/reaction media in the synthesis of N-aryl phthalimide derivatives from phthalic anhydride and primary aromatic amines. The DES prepared from choline chloride and malonic acid proved to be an efficient catalyst whereas glycerol and the DES of choline chloride and urea played a dual role of catalyst and solvent. These mixtures are biodegradable, nontoxic, and cost-effective thereby providing a good industrial alternative to conventional methods. These methods gave products in moderate to high yields with good recyclability of catalyst/solvent at least up to five consecutive runs.     

Activation of trimethylsilyl cyanide by potassium phthalimide for facile synthesis of TMS-protected cyanohydrins

Potassium phthalimide was found to be a highly effective and easily accessible organocatalyst for the cyanosilylation of various carbonyl compounds under extremely mild conditions. The corresponding cyanohydrin trimethylsilyl ethers were obtained in high to quantitative yields in solvent-free conditions at room temperature using 2.5 mol% catalyst loading.