Synthesis and fluorescence ion-sensory properties of the first dehydropyridoannulene-type cyclophane with enforced exotopic metal ion binding sites

The new twistophane 4 has been synthesised, which comprises a conjugated dehydropyridoannulene-type macrocyclic scaffold with outwardly projecting nitrogen-donor sites for the purpose of metal ion coordination. The macrocyclíc structure of 4 was assigned by using spectroscopic methods, and shown to exist in a twisted and chiral ground state conformation by semi-empirical theoretical calculations. A detailed spectroscopic investigation into the metal ion binding properties of 4 and precursor 11 revealed that they functioned as selective complexants, affording a fluorescence quenching output response characteristic of Pd(II) and Hg(II) ions. Furthermore, 4 also signalled the presence of Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Ag(I) ions by the precipitation of coordination polymers, and exhibited reversible proton-triggered fluorescence quenching behaviour. Macrocycle 4 thus represents a unique type of molecular sensory platform, which may find a wealth of potential applications such as the detection of heavy-metal pollutants, as well as for the fabrication of proton-switchable materials and coordination polymers with novel electronic and magnetic properties.     

Synthesis of a ditopic cyclophane based on the cyclobutane ring by chalcone photocycloaddition

The intramolecular photocycloaddition of chalcones to give cyclobutanes has proven to be a fast and simple method to shrink a cyclophane ring to a tricyclic system, in order to prepare potential ditopic receptors. In particular, the chalcone 1, having dioxyethylene chains as spacers, is converted in high yield to the cyclobutane 2. NOESY spectroscopy indicates that the formation of 2 occurs by a head-to-head syn ring closure.     

Synthesis and photochemistry of beta,beta'-di(2-furyl)-substituted o-divinylbenzenes: intra- and/or intermolecular cycloaddition as an effect of annelation

New heteroaryl-substituted o-divinylbenzenes, 2,2'-(1,2-phenylenedivinylene)difuran (9), 2,2'-(1,2-phenylenedivinylene)bisbenzo[b]furan (10), and 2,2'-(1,2-phenylenedivinylene)bisnaphtho[2,1-b]furan (11), were prepared and irradiated at various concentrations; intramolecular photocycloaddition and intermolecular [2+2] twofold photoaddition reactions took place to give bicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene derivatives 12-14 and cyclophane derivatives 15-17, respectively. Compound 11 was the most selective of these o-divinylbenzenes, which, owing to pi-pi intra- or intermolecular complexation, gave only the exo-bicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene derivative 14 at low concentrations, and only the cyclophane derivative 17 at high concentrations.     

Phanes with Three- and Four-Membered Rings as Building Elements

The systematic integration of the small 2π- and 4π-electron systems cyclopropenylium ion, cyclopropenone, oxo-cyclobutenylium ion, and cyclobutadiene into phane chemistry was initiated only a few years ago. [n₂]Cyclopropenylophanes, [n₂]cyclopropenonophanes, metal-capped [n₄]cyclobutadienosuperphanes, and other new families of double-decker phane species became available from cycloalkydiynes through special methods of double [2+1]cycloaddition with carbenes and metal complex induced dimerization by double [2+2]cycloaddition. Phane-specific structural features were elucidated by X-ray structural analyses. Cyclic voltammetry and PE spectroscopy as well as MO calculations reealed considerable interactions between closely spaced π-electron systems. Decapping cyclobutadienosuperphanes formally extended the synthetic principle to threefold [2+2]cycloadditions resulting in [n₄]-bridged tricyclo-[4.2.0.0^{3, 5}]octa-3,7-dienes, which represent a new type of cage compounds. Moreover, completion to fourfold [2+2]addition was achieved with the photoinduced transformation of [3₄]bridged tricyclo[4.2.0.0^{3, 5}]octa-3,7-diene into propella[3₄]cubane.     

Structural Fluctuation of Disilanyl Double‐Pillared Bisheteroarenes

Silacyclophanes possessing two disilanyl pillars were synthesized from tricyclic heteroarenes in one‐pot synthetic procedures. The step‐like anti structures of three congeners bearing two heteroarene units were revealed in single crystals by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. Depending on the structures of aromatic units, torsion angles at the disilanyl pillars altered to maintain the overall step‐like molecular structures. The structure, however, fluctuated between anti and syn conformers in a solution phase despite the presence of eight methyl groups on the ring periphery. The analysis of the coalescence temperature with NMR spectroscopy showed the fundamental energetics of the dynamics. The subtle structural differences affected the dynamic behavior of the silacyclophanes.     

Conformational Dynamics of Monomer‐ versus Dimer‐like Features in a Naphthalenediimide‐Based Conjugated Cyclophane

The design and synthesis of an enantiomeric pair of 1,8‐diethynylanthracene‐bridged naphthalenediimide (NDI)‐based cyclophanes ( Cyclo‐NDI s) are reported. Each enantiomer of Cyclo‐NDI exhibits a circularly polarized luminescence signal with a relatively large luminescence dissymmetry factor (g_lum=±8×10^?3). We have further investigated the modulation of through‐space electronic communication between co‐facially oriented NDIs in a discrete Cyclo‐NDI with changes in the temperature. Tuning of the electronic communication results from the conformational transformation of monomer‐ versus dimer‐like features of Cyclo‐NDI , as confirmed by UV/Vis, fluorescence, circular dichroic, and NMR spectroscopic analysis. The temperature‐dependent optical response in the Cyclo‐NDI through the conformational transformation could be utilized as a highly sensitive and reversible optical thermometer in a wide temperature range (100 to ?80 °C).