Polyyne synthesis using carbene/carbenoid rearrangements

Rearrangement of a carbene/carbenoid intermediate to form an acetylene moiety, known as the Fritsch-Buttenberg-Wiechell (FBW) rearrangement, was developed for the formation of polyynes and polyyne frameworks within highly conjugated organic materials. Necessary precursors can be prepared through formation of an alkynyl ketone, followed by dibromoolefination under Corey-Fuchs conditions. The carbenoid rearrangement is brought about by treatment of the dibromoolefin with BuLi under mild conditions. The success of these FBW reactions is quite solvent-dependent, and nonpolar hydrocarbon solvents (e.g., hexanes, toluene, benzene) work quite well, while use of ethereal solvents such as diethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran (THF) does not provide the desired polyyne product. This protocol was successfully applied to the formation of silyl, alkyl, alkenyl, and aryl polyynes, including di-, tri-, and tetrayne products, as well as the construction of two-dimensional carbon-rich molecules. A one-pot variant of this procedure is being developed and is particularly applicable toward the synthesis of polyyne natural products. Formation of a series of triisopropylsilyl end-capped polyynes, from the triyne to decayne, was achieved. Third-order nonlinear optical properties of these polyynes were evaluated. This study shows that the molecular second hyperpolarizabilities for the polyynes as a function of length increase at a rate that is higher than all other nonaromatic organic oligomers.     

Synthesis of Long,Palladium End‐Capped Polyynes through the Use of Asymmetric 1‐Iodopolyynes

The synthesis of a unique series of long, asymmetric 1‐iodopolyynes ( 1 ‐C_nI and 2 ‐C_nI) with the sp‐hybridized carbon chain up to a decapentayne is reported. These compounds were then used as substrates in reactions with Pd(PPh₃)₄ leading to another series of palladium end‐capped polyynes, which were unstable in solution. Organometallic octatetraynes 1 ‐C₈[Pd]I, 2 ‐C₈[Pd]I, and decapentayne 1 ‐C₁₀[Pd]I are palladium end‐capped polyyne compounds with the longest carbon chains reported so far. All the complexes as well as their organic precursors were fully characterized by NMR, HRMS(ESI), IR, TGA‐DTA, and UV/Vis techniques, and the X‐ray crystal structures of two silyl‐protected precursors and one palladium complex are presented. The synthetic approach for palladium species is envisioned as a general route for the synthesis of labile organometallic polyynes.     

Polyynes as a model for carbyne: synthesis, physical properties, and nonlinear optical response

With the Fritsch-Buttenberg-Wiechell rearrangement as a primary synthetic route, a series of conjugated, triisopropylsilyl end-capped polyynes containing 2-10 acetylene units has been assembled. In a few steps, significant quantities of the polyynes are made available, which allow for a thorough analysis of their structural, physical, and optical properties. Molecules in the series have been characterized in detail using (13)C NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, mass spectrometry, and, for four derivatives including octayne 6, X-ray crystallography. UV-vis spectroscopy of the polyynes 1-7 shows a consistent lowering of the HOMO-LUMO gap (E(g)) as a function of the number of acetylene units (n), fitting a power-law relationship of E(g) approximately n(-)(0.379)(+/-)(0.002). The third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the polyyne series have been examined, and the nonresonant molecular second hyperpolarizabilities (gamma) increase as a function of length according to the power-law gamma approximately n(4.28)(+/-)(0.13). This result exhibits an exponent that is larger than theoretically predicted for polyynes and higher than is observed for polyenes and polyenynes. The combined linear and nonlinear optical results confirm recent theoretical studies that suggest polyynes as model 1-D conjugated systems. On the basis of UV-vis spectroscopic analysis, the effective conjugation length for this series of polyynes is estimated to be ca. n = 32, providing insight into characteristics of carbyne.     

UV-Polarizing Linear Polyyne Molecules Aligned in PVA

Electronic absorption bands of conjugated linear carbon chain molecules, namely polyynes H(C≡C)_nH (n=5-7), are exploited to devise light-polarizing films applicable to the UV. Laser ablated polyynes are separated in size and dispersed in a film of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which is stretched to align the trapped linear polyyne molecules inside. As a nature of the structural anisotropy, transition dipole of the UV absorption for polyyne molecules is in parallel with the molecular axis and the absorption occurs only for the electromagnetic wave having the amplitude of its electric vector along the molecular axis. Aligned and fixed orientationally in the solid PVA film, polyyne molecules act as selective absorbers of one of the polarization components of incident light at particular wavelength. Using a light source of linearly polarized UV light, whose direction of polarization is rotatable, angular dependence of the absorption intensity is investigated for the stretched PVA film containingaligned polyyne molecules and analyzed in terms of an order parameter in the theory of linear dichroism.     

A one-pot synthesis and functionalization of polyynes

[reaction: see text] A one-pot synthesis and derivatization of diynes and triynes is reported. The polyyne framework is formed from a dibromoolefin precursor based on a carbenoid rearrangement, and the resulting Li-acetylide is then trapped in situ with an electrophile to provide functionalized di- and triynes. Alternatively, transmetalation of the Li-acetylide intermediate provides either the Zn- or Sn-acetylide, which then allows for the divergent preparation of diaryl polyynes or aryl ynones via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Natural Eudesmane Acids

Eudesmane derivatives constitute a group of natural compounds widely distributed in the plant kingdom. These kinds of compounds exhibit considerable biological activities such as antifeedant,cell growth inhibitory and plant growth regulating activities,¹ and consequently efficient synthesis of those compounds are a synthetic challenge that has received much attention in the past decades. In recent years a number of eudemane acids have been isolated from natural sources.² However the synthesis of this particular kind of compound have received little attention. In association with our synthesis work on eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes, we have been interested in studying on the synthetic approaches to this kind of compound, in particular the synthesis of compounds 1-6.     

Conformational study of C24 cyclic polyyne clusters

Polyynes were first synthesized before the year 1900, and isolated and characterized after 2000. Cyclic polyynes are of particular interest since possess a high order of symmetry. Furthermore, some studies reported special mechanical properties of the condensed polyyne bulks. The optimal size of polyynes to form rings has been previously investigated and was found to be 24 with a stable cluster of crossing four C₂₄ cyclic polyynes. We investigated in this study the conformation of clusters of polyynes (nC₂₄) by the pattern previously identified to stabilize the cluster. Clusters of 4C₂₄, 10C₂₄, 22C₂₄, 46C₂₄, and 94C₂₄ were designed and subjected to energy minimization. The main finding is the preservation of the symmetry for the nC₂₄ cluster with the increase of its size. The study revealed that 4C₂₄, 10C₂₄, and 22C₂₄ preserve a high symmetry and the calculations suggest an excellent increasing of the cluster stability with the increase of the number of polyyne rings. A 22C₂₄ derived cluster namely 28C₂₄ was found as the one likely to limit the growth of the polyyne clusters.     

Structure, bioactivity and synthesis of natural products with hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole

Research on natural products containing hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole (HPI) has dramatically increased during the past few years. Newly discovered natural products with complex structures and important biological activities have recently been isolated and synthesized. This review summarizes the structures, biological activities, and synthetic routes for natural compounds containing HPI, emphasizing the different strategies for assembling this motif. It covers a broad range of molecules, from small alkaloids to complex peptides.     

Polyynes and cyanopolyynes synthesis from the submerged electric arc: about the role played by the electrodes and solvents in polyynes formation

The products of the electric arc between graphite electrodes have been investigated by high performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) analysis in various media: distilled water, liquid nitrogen, methanol, ethanol, n-hexane and benzene. In distilled water, hydrogen capped polyynes H-(CC)_n-H were the unique products demonstrating that carbon is supplied by the graphite electrodes while hydrogen is supplied by the solvent plasmalysis (in this case water plasmalysis). Arcing graphite electrodes in liquid nitrogen produces cyanopolyynes: NC-(CC)_n-CN demonstrating that in this case the end groups of the polyyne chains are supplied by molecular nitrogen plasmalysis caused by the electric arc. Graphite arcing in methanol and ethanol produces very clean solutions (by-products negligible or absent) of hydrogen-capped polyynes with C₈H₂ as the main product accounting for more than 70 mol percent of the total polyyne concentration. By replacing graphite electrodes with titanium electrodes in methanol or in ethanol, polyynes are not formed at all; only trace amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected. When arcing with graphite electrodes is conducted in n-hexane or in benzene, polyyne formation is accompanied by a significant production of PAH, especially in benzene. These results have been rationalized in terms of carbonization or coking tendency of a given solvent. The effect of using titanium electrodes in place of graphite electrodes has been investigated also in n-hexane and in benzene as well as the effects of very high electric current intensity employed to ignite and sustain the submerged electric arc.     

二苯乙烯类低聚物的仿生合成

天然二苯乙烯低聚物是一类自然界分布广泛的多酚化合物,因其结构复杂且生物活性多样而受到密切关注,但此类化合物天然资源的稀少极大限制了其构效关系的调查及活性药物的筛选。近年来许多化学家对此类低聚物的仿生合成方法做了广泛而深入的研究,已形成一个新的研究热点。本文详尽综述了迄今三十多年来二苯乙烯类低聚物的仿生合成研究进展,包括在不同介质中的酶催化或金属氧化剂催化的氧化偶联方法、光催化的异构化及强酸催化下的环合反应,由不同的二苯乙烯前体通过仿生合成途径,构建出结构多样的二苯乙烯低聚物。此外,本文对该类低聚物的仿生合成研究前景做了展望。     

The Molecular Basis of Conjugated Polyyne Biosynthesis in Phytopathogenic Bacteria

Polyynes (polyacetylenes), which are produced by a variety of organisms, play important roles in ecology. Whereas alkyne biosynthesis in plants, fungi, and insects has been studied, the biogenetic origin of highly unstable bacterial polyynes has remained a riddle. Transposon mutagenesis and genome sequencing unveiled the caryoynencin (cay) biosynthesis gene cluster in the plant pathogen B. caryophylli, and homologous gene clusters were found in various other bacteria by comparative genomics. Gene inactivation and phylogenetic analyses revealed that novel desaturase/acetylenase genes mediate bacterial polyyne assembly. A cytochrome P450 monooxygenase is involved in the formation of the allylic alcohol moiety, as evidenced by analysis of a fragile intermediate, which was stabilized by an in situ click reaction. This work not only grants first insight into bacterial polyyne biosynthesis but also demonstrates that the click reaction can be employed to trap fragile polyynes from crude mixtures.     

Adding a Functional Handle to Nature′s Building Blocks: The Asymmetric Synthesis of β‐Hydroxy‐α‐Amino Acids

β‐Hydroxy‐α‐amino acids are not only used by synthetic chemists but are also found in natural products, many of which show anti‐microbial or anti‐cancer properties. Over the past 30 years, chemists have searched for many asymmetric routes to these useful building blocks. Initial attempts to synthesize these compounds utilized chiral auxiliaries and the reactions of glycine equivalents with aldehydes to form two stereocenters in one step. Other methods with the formation of specific intermediates or that were aimed at a specific amino acid have also been investigated. Asymmetric hydrogenation by dynamic kinetic resolution has emerged as a high‐yielding method for the synthesis of an array of modified amino acids with good stereoselectivity. More recently, amino‐acid functionalization and multicomponent reactions have increased the atom economy and simplified many long and difficult routes. In this Focus Review, many of the elegant syntheses of these compounds are explored. The applications of β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acids in natural‐product synthesis are also mentioned.     

钯催化合成香豆素研究进展

香豆素是一类苯并六元含氧杂环类化合物,具有抗氧化、抗菌、抗炎等多种生理活性,受到人们的广泛关注。近年来不断有香豆素的新合成方法报道,特别是高效的过渡金属钯催化合成反应。本文综述了近20年来钯络合物催化合成香豆素骨架的研究进展,主要包括羰基化反应、炔烃芳基化反应、烯烃芳基化反应和偶联反应,以期为合成新型香豆素提供参考。     

Alkyne migration in alkylidene carbenoid species: a new method of polyyne synthesis

The synthesis of conjugated polyyne structures via a modification of the Fritsch-Buttenberg-Wiechell (FBW) rearrangement is reported. Our adaptation provides for the 1,2-migration of an alkyne in a carbene/carbenoid intermediate that is conveniently effected via lithium-halogen exchange with the appropriate dibromo-olefinic precursor. This rearrangement is quite rapidly accomplished under mild conditions (hexane solution, -78 degrees C), and the seemingly high migratory aptitude of the alkynyl moiety provides for efficient rearrangement. This, in turn, allows for multiple rearrangements in a single molecule, greatly facilitating the construction of highly unsaturated substrates. This procedure is exploited for the rapid synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical 1,3,5-hexatriynes, extended polyynes, and aryl polyyne building blocks. Most significantly, many of these structures have been or would be difficult to access via more traditional transition metal catalyzed homo- or cross-coupling techniques.     

Quantum chemical calculations of geometries and gas‐phase deprotonation energies of linear polyyne chains

The molecular geometries of polyyne chains H(CC)_nH with their deprotonated forms (anions) have been optimized using ab initio LCAO‐SCF molecular orbital (MO) method and density functional theory at different basis set levels. The polyynes possess a series of alternating single and triple bonds. On the theoretical side the persistence of bond alternation and the effect of chain lengthening on the individual bond length in linear conjugated polyyne chains has been investigated. The common conclusion has been drawn that the bond alternation will persist and that bond length variation will be small. The triple bond length increases progressively toward the asymptotic limits as the value of n increases progressively. If the split‐valence basis set was employed, the total charges obtained using the Mulliken population analysis yielded unrealistic values. Using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis or Bader's analysis, the net charges of the individual atoms converge very rapidly to their asymptotic limits, and the central atoms have almost zero charges in contrast to the Mulliken population analysis results. The reliability of deprotonation energies of neutral polyynes and their monoanionic derivatives calculated from the differences in molecular energy of the parent chains and the corresponding anions E(H(CC)_n⁻)–E(H(CC)_nH) and E(⁻(CC)_n⁻)–E(H(CC)_n⁻) was tested for different basis sets. The increase of the number of CC bonds in the chain decreases these differences asymptotically. The studied compounds are the best available building blocks in bimetallic compounds with useful properties in molecular electronics and nonlinear optics. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 82: 73–85, 2001     

A general, iterative, and modular approach toward carbohydrate libraries based on ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative cyclizations

Carbohydrates are an omnipresent class of highly oxygenated natural products. Due to their wide spectra of biological activities, they have been in the center of synthetic organic chemistry for more than 130 years. During the past 50 years non-natural carbohydrates attracted the interest of various chemists in the fields of organic, biological, and medical chemistry. Especially desoxygenated sugars proved to be an important class of compounds. Up to date, most non-natural analogues are synthesized starting from natural, enantiomerically pure carbohydrates in multistep synthesis. In this report, we present a synthetic strategy that allows the selective modular synthesis of natural and non-natural carbohydrates within five synthetic steps starting from readily available starting materials. Due to a sequential introduction of O- or N-functionalities, a regioselective protection of each new functional group is possible. The key step in the carbohydrate synthesis is a RuO4-catalyzed oxidative cyclization via a pH-dependent dehydrogenation-dihydroxylation-cyclization or an oxidative fragmentation-cyclization, leading to highly substituted new carbohydrates, in which each functional group is orthogonally protected and accessible for further synthetic operations.     

Organomercury Compounds in Organic Synthesis

Organomercurials have been known since 1850 and many synthetic routes to these compounds presently exist. The ability of these compounds to accommodate a wide variety of functional groups and to tolerate quite diverse reaction conditions makes them attractive as synthetic intermediates. While the solvomercuration-demercuration and divalent carbon transfer reactions remain the most widely used of the organomercurial reactions, a number of new synthetic procedures employing organomercurials have been developed in recent years. Many of these involve transmetallation reactions with palladium salts.     

Gas Phase Formation of the Interstellar Molecule Methyltriacetylene

Methyltriacetylene – the largest methylated polyacetylene detected in deep space – has been synthesized in the gas phase via the bimolecular reaction of the 1-propynyl radical with diacetylene under single-collision conditions. The barrier-less route to methyltriacetylene represents a prototype of a polyyne chain extension through a radical substitution mechanism and provides a novel low temperature route, in which the propynyl radical piggybacks a methyl group to be incorporated into methylated polyynes. This mechanism overcomes a key obstacle in previously postulated reactions of methyl radicals with unsaturated hydrocarbon, which fail the inclusion of methyl groups into hydrocarbons due to insurmountable entrance barriers thus providing a fundamental understanding on the electronic structure, chemical bonding, and formation of methyl-capped polyacetylenes. These species are key reactive intermediates leading to carbonaceous nanostructures in molecular clouds like TMC-1.     

聚炔、累积多烯与全碳环分子的模糊对称性

近年来我们关于分子模糊对称性的工作多属于模糊点对称性的研究, 关于模糊空间对称性探讨较少. 聚炔作为线状一维模糊周期分子, 我们曾对其进行了初步分析. 虽然对于聚炔分子骨架的分析比较全面, 但由于繁冗的计算使我们对分子轨道(MO)模糊对称性的分析只限于少数典型分子. 本文将对不同的聚炔分子MO模糊对称性特征进行较为系统的分析. 结果表明包含不同碳原子数目的分子轨道模糊对称性参数值之间有一定相关性. 此外我们还对一些相关体系分子的MO进行分析, 累积多烯分子虽然并非线型分子, 但其π-MO相关的碳原子处于线性位置, 可依模糊一维周期的G11体系处理. 按Born-Karman近似, 即n个单元的一维周期对称群与Cn点群同构, 本文还分析了相关的全碳环分子的MO的对称性和模糊对称性. 努力寻求与一维周期性相关的模糊对称性规律性特征.     

Chemistry of phenols: Recent advances in the chemistry of 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene and the related analogues

This review describes the chemistry of 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene and the related analogues. The synthetic routes reported to obtain the investigated structures are discussed. In addition, the reactivity and the synthesis of fused heterocyclic systems containing one or two heteroatoms are discussed. The compounds derived from 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene are located in the basic skeleton of several natural drugs. The products were applied in the fields of polymer chemistry, physical chemistry, and medicinal chemistry. The different sections cover: methods of preparation, reactions, heterocyclic systems, macrocycles, organosilicon derivatives, coordination chemistry, and biological importance. The assessment relates to the recent reports and contains a short, targeted survey of the title compound for the past 15 years.