A mixed crystal of imperatorin and phellopterin,with C—H...O,C—H...π and π–π interactions

The crystal structure of 9‐(3‐methyl­but‐2‐enyl­oxy)­‐7H‐furo­[3,2‐g]­chro­men‐7‐one–4‐methoxy‐9‐(3‐methyl­but‐2‐enyl­oxy)‐7H‐­furo­[3,2‐g]­chromen‐7‐one (0.926/0.074), 0.926C₁₆H₁₄O₄·0.074C₁₇H₁₆O₅, is characterized by two independent imperatorin mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit, which exhibit different side‐chain conformations. A small amount of phellopterin overlaps with one of the two imperatorin mol­ecules. The supramol­ecular structure is supported by C—H...O, C—H...π and π–π interactions.     

Synthesis of Extended π‐Systems through C–H Activation

Activation of aromatic C? H bonds by a transition metal catalyst has received significant attention in the synthetic chemistry community. In recent years, rapid and site‐selective extension of π‐electron systems by C–H activation has emerged as an ideal methodology for preparing organic materials with extended π‐systems. This Review focuses on recently reported π‐extending C–H activation reactions directed toward new optoelectronic conjugated materials.     

5‐Chloro‐2‐hydroxybenzophenone,featuring O—H...O,C—H...O,C—H...π and π–π interactions

Molecules of the title compound, C₁₃H₉ClO₂, contain an intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond, and the two aromatic rings are inclined at 57.02 (3)° with respect to one another. The crystal structure is supported by C—H...O, C—H...π and π–π interactions.     

Kinetic resolution of sulfur-stereogenic sulfoximines by Pd(ii)–MPAA catalyzed C–H arylation and olefination

A direct Pd(ii)-catalyzed kinetic resolution of heteroaryl-enabled sulfoximines through an ortho-C–H alkenylation/arylation of arenes has been developed. The coordination of the sulfoximine pyridyl-motif and the chiral amino acid MPAA ligand to the Pd(ii)-catalyst controls the enantio-discriminating C(aryl)–H activation. This method provides access to a wide range of enantiomerically enriched unreacted aryl-pyridyl-sulfoximine precursors and C(aryl)–H alkenylation/arylation products in good yields with high enantioselectivity (up to >99% ee), and selectivity factor up to >200. The coordination preference of the directing group, ligand effect, geometry constraints, and the transient six-membered concerted-metalation–deprotonation species dictate the stereoselectivity; DFT studies validate this hypothesis.

A Pd/MPAA catalysed KR of heteroaryl substituted sulfoximines through C–H alkenylation and arylation (up to >99% ee) is developed. In-depth DFT studies uncover the salient features.     

Structure determination of three furan‐substituted benzimidazoles and calculation of π–π and C—H...π interaction energies

The synthesis and structural characterization of 2‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐1‐(furan‐2‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole [C₁₆H₁₂N₂O₂, (I)], 2‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐1‐(furan‐2‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐3‐ium chloride monohydrate [C₁₆H₁₃N₂O₂⁺·Cl⁻·H₂O, (II)] and the hydrobromide salt 5,6‐dimethyl‐2‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐1‐(furan‐2‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐3‐ium bromide [C₁₈H₁₇N₂O₂⁺·Br⁻, (III)] are described. Benzimidazole (I) displays two sets of aromatic interactions, each of which involves pairs of molecules in a head‐to‐tail arrangement. The first, denoted set (Ia), exhibits both intermolecular C—H...π interactions between the 2‐(furan‐2‐yl) (abbreviated as Fn) and 1‐(furan‐2‐ylmethyl) (abbreviated as MeFn) substituents, and π–π interactions involving the Fn substituents between inversion‐center‐related molecules. The second, denoted set (Ib), involves π–π interactions involving both the benzene ring (Bz) and the imidazole ring (Im) of benzimidazole. Hydrated salt (II) exhibits N—H...OH₂...Cl hydrogen bonding that results in chains of molecules parallel to the a axis. There is also a head‐to‐head aromatic stacking of the protonated benzimidazole cations in which the Bz and Im rings of one molecule interact with the Im and Fn rings of adjacent molecules in the chain. Salt (III) displays N—H...Br hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions involving inversion‐center‐related benzimidazole rings in a head‐to‐tail arrangement. In all of the π–π interactions observed, the interacting moieties are shifted with respect to each other along the major molecular axis. Basis set superposition energy‐corrected (counterpoise method) interaction energies were calculated for each interaction [DFT, M06‐2X/6‐31+G(d)] employing atomic coordinates obtained in the crystallographic analyses for heavy atoms and optimized H‐atom coordinates. The calculated interaction energies are −43.0, −39.8, −48.5, and −55.0 kJ mol⁻¹ for (Ia), (Ib), (II), and (III), respectively. For (Ia), the analysis was used to partition the interaction energies into the C—H...π and π–π components, which are 9.4 and 24.1 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. Energy‐minimized structures were used to determine the optimal interplanar spacing, the slip distance along the major molecular axis, and the slip distance along the minor molecular axis for 2‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐1H‐benzimidazole.     

Enhanced Aerogen–π Interaction by a Cation–π Force

The interaction between a noble gas atom and an aromatic π‐electron system, which mainly originates from the London dispersion force, is very weak and has not attracted enough attention yet. Herein, we reported a type of notably enhanced aerogen–π interaction between cation–π systems and noble gas atoms. The binding strength of a divalent cation–π system with a xenon atom is comparable to a moderate hydrogen bond (up to ca. 7 kcal mol^?1), whereas krypton and argon atoms produce slightly weaker interactions. Energy‐decomposition analysis reveals that the induction interaction is responsible for the stabilization of divalent cation–π?Xe species besides the dispersion interaction. Our results might be helpful to increase the understanding of some unsolved mysteries of aerogens.     

C—H⋯O,C—H⋯π and π–π inter­actions in three benzofuran‐2‐yl ketone derivatives

The mol­ecules of 2‐benzoyl‐1‐benzofuran, C₁₅H₁₀O₂, (I), inter­act through double C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming dimers that are further linked by C—H⋯O, C—H⋯π and π–π inter­actions, resulting in a three‐dimensional supramolecular network. The dihedral angle between the benzo­yl and benzofuran fragments in (I) is 46.15 (3)°. The mol­ecules of bis­(5‐bromo‐1‐benzofuran‐2‐yl) ketone, C₁₇H₈Br₂O₃, (II), exhibit C₂ symmetry, with the carbon­yl group (C=O) lying along the twofold rotation axis, and are linked by a combination of C—H⋯O and C—H⋯π inter­actions and Br⋯Br contacts to form sheets. The stability of the mol­ecular packing in 3‐mesit­yl‐3‐methyl­cyclo­but­yl 3‐methyl­naphtho[1,2‐b]furan‐2‐yl ketone, C₂₈H₂₈O₂, (III), arises from C—H⋯π and π–π stacking inter­actions. The fused naphthofuran moiety in (III) is essentially planar and makes a dihedral angle of 81.61 (3)° with the mean plane of the trimethyl­benzene ring.     

Direct arylation of imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazoles and thiazoles with aryl iodides via CuCl2/PPh3‐catalyzed C–H bond functionalization

With PPh₃ acting as a ligand, a convenient method for CuCl₂‐catalyzed arylation of imidazo[1,2‐b]thiazoles and thiazoles with aryl iodides under mild reaction conditions is described. Preliminary mechanistic studies of this arylation involving a formal Cu(I) to Cu(0) and Cu(II) route by convergent disproportionation of the copper mediator are also reported. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A facile and efficient synthesis of 3‐cyanoindoles by a simple palladium(II)‐catalyzed C─H activation of indoles

An efficient trans ‐PdCl₂(NH₂CH₂COOH)₂‐catalyzed direct C3‐cyanation of indole C─H bonds is described. Notably, free (N─H)‐indoles reacted smoothly using the procedure, and the desired product 3‐cyanoindoles were obtained in good to excellent yields.     

Synthesis of ent‐Ketorfanol via a C–H Alkenylation/Torquoselective 6π Electrocyclization Cascade

The asymmetric synthesis of ent‐ketorfanol from simple and commercially available precursors is reported. A Rh^I‐catalyzed intramolecular C? H alkenylation/torquoselective 6π electrocyclization cascade provides a fused bicyclic 1,2‐dihydropyridine as a key intermediate. Computational studies were performed to understand the high torquoselectivity of the key 6π electrocyclization. The computational results demonstrate that a conformational effect is responsible for the observed selectivity. The ketone functionality and final ring are introduced in a single step by a redox‐neutral acid‐catalyzed rearrangement of a vicinal diol to give the requisite carbonyl, followed by intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation.     

Hole Mobility Modulation in Single‐Crystal Metal Phthalocyanines by Changing the Metal–π/π–π Interactions

Weak intermolecular interactions in organic semiconducting molecular crystals play an important role in determining molecular packing and electronic properties. Single crystals of metal‐free and metal phthalocyanines were synthesized to investigate how the coordination of the central metal atom affects their molecular packing and resultant electronic properties. Single‐crystal field‐effect transistors were made and showed a hole mobility order of ZnPc>MnPc>FePc>CoPc>CuPc>H₂Pc>NiPc. Density functional theory (DFT) and 1D polaron transport theory reach a good agreement in reproducing the experimentally measured trend for hole mobility. Additional detail analysis at the DFT level suggests the metal atom coordination into H₂Pc planes can tune the hole mobility via adjusting the intermolecular distances along the shortest axis with closest parallel π stackings.     

α‐Chymotrypsin–catalyzed direct C (Sp3)–H functionalization reactions for synthesis of azaarene derivatives in water

α‐Chymotrypsin from the bovine pancreas has been shown for the first time to display catalytic nonnatural catalytic ability toward the C (sp³)–H functionalization reaction of 2‐methylquinoline and aromatic aldehydes in water. α‐Chymotrypsin exhibited favorable catalytic activity with good adaptability to different substrates. The activity of the enzyme could be improved by adjusting the solvent, temperature, molar ratio of substrates, and protein loading. The products were obtained in moderate to excellent yields (51%‐93%) in 24 samples. This process afforded a potential biocatalytic approach as an alternative to chemical synthesis for azaarene derivatives.     

π–π Dimerization of a mono(pyridyl–imine) platinum(II) chelate

The cation of the title complex salt, chlorido{2,2‐dimethyl‐N‐[(E)‐1‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)ethylidene]propane‐1,3‐diamine}platinum(II) tetrafluoridoborate, [PtCl(C₁₂H₁₉N₃)]BF₄, exhibits a nominally square‐planar Pt^II ion coordinated to a chloride ion [Pt—Cl = 2.3046 (9) Å] and three unique N‐atom types, viz. pyridine, imine and amine, of the tridentate Schiff base ligand formed by the 1:1 condensation of 1‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)ethanone and 2,2‐dimethylpropane‐1,3‐diamine. The cations are π‐stacked in inversion‐related pairs (dimers), with a mean plane separation of 3.426 Å, an intradimer Pt...Pt separation of 5.0785 (6) Å and a lateral shift of 3.676 Å. The centroid (Cg) of the pyridine ring is positioned approximately over the Pt^II ion of the neighbouring cation (Pt...Cg = 3.503 Å).     

Increasing the π–π Interactions in Trinuclear NiII3 Triplesalophen Complexes

The new triplesalophen ligand H₆kruse^Br was synthesized as a variation of the triplesalophen ligands H₆baron^R by replacing a phenyl by a methyl group at the terminal ketimine in order to allow closer contacts of trinuclear complexes due to less steric hindrance by the smaller methyl group. The ligand H₆kruse^Br was used to synthesize the trinuclear complex [(kruse^Br)Ni^II₃], which is insoluble in organic solvents despite the coordinating solvent pyridine. Recrystallization from pyridine results in the complex [(kruse^Br){Ni₂(Ni(py)₂)}], which was characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Two Ni^II ions are four‐coordinate by the salophen‐like subunits while the third Ni^II ion is six‐coordinate by two additional pyridine donors. The analysis of the molecular and crystal structure in comparison to that of Ni^II₃ complexes of (baron^R)^6– reveals that the methyl group in [(kruse^Br){Ni₂(Ni(py)₂)}] results in less ligand folding and in closer contact distance of two Ni^II₃ complexes by π–π interactions of 3.2 Å. This indicates that trinuclear complexes of H₆kruse^Br are more suitable than complexes of H₆baron^R as molecular building blocks for the anticipated synthesis of nonanuclear single‐molecule magnets.     

Two (E)‐2‐arylidene‐1,4‐di‐p‐tosyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoxaline compounds: supramolecular frameworks built with C—H...O and C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions

The pyrazine ring in two N‐substituted quinoxaline derivatives, namely (E)‐2‐(2‐methoxybenzylidene)‐1,4‐di‐p‐tosyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoxaline, C₃₀H₂₈N₂S₂O₅, (II), and (E)‐methyl 2‐[(1,4‐di‐p‐tosyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoxalin‐2‐ylidene)methyl]benzoate, C₃₁H₂₈N₂S₂O₆, (III), assumes a half‐chair conformation and is shielded by the terminal tosyl groups. In the molecular packing of the compounds, intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds between centrosymmetrically related molecules generate dimeric rings, viz. R₂²(22) in (II) and R₂²(26) in (III), which are further connected through C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions into novel supramolecular frameworks.