Translational isomerism in a [3]catenane and a [3]rotaxane

[structure: see text] Post-assembly covalent modification using Wittig chemistry of [2]rotaxane ylides, wherein NH(2)(+) centers in the dumbbell-shaped components are recognized by dibenzo[24]crown-8 (DB24C8) rings, has afforded a [3]catenane and a [3]rotaxane with a precise and synthetically prescribed shortage of DB24C8 rings. The nondegenerate pairs of translational isomers present in both of these interlocked molecular compounds provide the fundamental platform on which to construct sensory devices and nanochemomechanical systems.     

Synthesis of Benzo[a]heptalene

Benzo[a]heptalene has been synthesized by two different approaches. The first one follows a pathway to hexahydrobenzo[a]heptalenone 19a that has been already described by Wenkert and Kim(Scheme). Indeed, 19a was obtained in a mixture with its double-bond-shifted isomer 19b . Reduction of this mixture to the corresponding secondary alcohols 26a/26b and elimination of H₂O lead to a mixture of the tetrahydrobenzo[a]heptalenes 23a-d (Scheme7 and 8). Reaction of 23a-d with 2 equiv. of triphenylmethylium tetrafluoroborate in boiling CHCl₃, followed by treatment with Me₃N in CH₂Cl₂, generated directly 2 , unfortunately in a mixture with Ph₃CH that could not be separated from 2 (Scheme 10 and 11). The second approach via dimethyl benzo[a]heptalene-6,7-dicarboxylate ( 30 ) (Scheme 12) that was gradually transformed into the corresponding carbaldehydes 37 and 43 (Scheme 14) both of which, on treatment with the Wilkinson catalyst [RhCl(PPh₃)₃] at 130° in toluene, smoothly decarbonylated, finally gave pure 2 as an unstable orange, viscous oil. UV/VIS, NMR, and mass spectra of 2 are discussed in detail (cf. Chapt.3).     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h] and [2,3-i]xanthone analogues of psorospermine, acronycine, and benzo[a]acronycine

Condensation of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthalenecarboxylic acid with phloroglucinol afforded 9,11-dihydroxy-12H-benzo[a]xanthen-12-one (6). Construction of an additional dimethylpyran ring onto this skeleton, by alkylation with 3-chloro-3-methyl-1-butyne followed by Claisen rearrangement, gave access to 6-hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-3H,7H-benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h]xanthen-7-one (12) and 5-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H,6H-benzo[a]pyrano[2,3-i]xanthen-6-one (13), which were methylated into 6-methoxy-3,3-dimethyl-3H,7H-benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h]xanthen-7-one (14) and 5-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H,6H-benzo[a]pyrano[2,3-i]xanthen-6-one (15), respectively. Osmium tetroxide oxidation of 14 and 15 gave the corresponding (+/-)-cis-diols 16 and 17, which afforded the corresponding esters 18-21 upon acylation. Similarly, condensation of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthalenecarboxylic acid with 3,5-dimethoxyaniline gave 11-amino-9-methoxy-12H-benzo[a]xanthen-12-one (23) which was converted into 11-amino-9-hydroxy-12H-benzo[a]xanthen-12-one (24) upon treatment with hydrogen bromide in acetic acid. Alkylation with 3-chloro-3-methyl-1-butyne followed by Claisen rearrangement afforded 6-amino-3,3-dimethyl-3H,7H-benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h]xanthen-7-one (25) and 5-amino-2,2-dimethyl-2H,6H-benzo[a]pyrano[2,3-i]xanthen-6-one (26). The new benzopyranoxanthone derivatives only displayed marginal antiproliferative activity when tested against L1210 and KB-3-1 cell lines. The only compounds found significantly active against L1210 cell line, 16 and 20, belong to the benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h]xanthen-7-one series, which possess a pyran ring fused angularly onto the xanthone basic core.     

Aromatization of tetrahydrocyclopropa[a]naphthalenes: An alternative synthesis of 1H-Cyclopropa[a]naphthalene

1H-Cyclopropa[a]naphthalene ( 1a ) is accessible via reduction of the dichloro compound 1c with LiAlH₄/AlCl_3. Several derivatives of tetrahydrocyclopropa[a]naphthalene were synthesized. However, contrary to their 1,1-dihalogeno analogues, they afforded no cycloproparenes upon attempted aromatization.     

Synthesis of a Novel Heterocyclic System, [1,2,4] Triazino[1,2-a]Pyrimido [4,5-e] [1,3,4] Thiadiazines

Substituted 6-chloro-pyrimido[4,5-e][1,3,4] thiadiazine was converted to the corresponding 6-hydrazino derivative by treatment with hydrazine hydrate in DMF/Et ₃ N. The latter was converted to various substituted [1,2,4]triazino[1,2-a] pyrimido[4,5-e][1,3,4]thiadiazines.     

Synthesis of a Pyrrolo[1,4]Benzodiazepinequinone

Condensation of 3, 6-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzoyl chloride with L-proline methyl ester afforded amide 4, which underwent reductive cyclization with iron(II) sulfate and ammonium hydroxide to yield pyrrolobenzodiazepine 5. Oxidation of 5 with ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate led to the new heterocyclic quinone 6 in 53% overall yield.     

Synthesis of a linear benzo[3]phenylene-[60]fullerene dyad

The synthesis of a new linear benzo[3]phenylene-[60]fullerene dyad 1 is achieved over 10 steps in 15% overall yield by using an efficient sequence combining a double cobalt(I)-mediated cyclotrimerization with a Bingel reaction.     

New reactions of a dibenzo[a,e]pentalene

Reduction of dibenzo[a,e]pentalene 3 (denoted as dibenzopentalene hereafter) with excess lithium gave dilithium dibenzopentalenide 1. Since oxidation of 1 with iodine gave 3, redox behavior between 1 and 3 is controllable and reversible. Reaction of 3 with methyllithium gave lithium 5-methyldibenzopentalenide 5, the formation of which was evidenced by some trapping experiments and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Reactions of 3 with halogens gave 5,10-dihalodibenzopentalenes, 8 and 9. Some optical properties of novel dibenzopentalene derivatives are also demonstrated.     

Cations and Anions of Dibenzo[a,e]pentalene and Reduction of a Dibenzo[a,e]pentalenophane

Dibenzo[a,e]pentalene (DBP) is a non-alternant conjugated hydrocarbon with antiaromatic character and ambipolar electrochemical behavior. Upon both reduction and oxidation, it becomes aromatic. We herein study the chemical oxidation and reduction of a planar DBP derivative and a bent DBP-phane. The molecular structures of its planar dication, cation radical and anion radical in the solid state demonstrate the gained aromaticity through bond length equalization, which is supported by nucleus independent chemical shift-calculations. EPR spectra on the cation radical confirm the spin delocalization over the DBP framework. A similar delocalization was not possible in the reduced bent DBP-phane, which stabilized itself by proton abstraction from a solvent molecule upon reduction. This is the first report on structures of a DBP cation radical and dication in the solid state and of a reduced bent DBP derivative. Our study provides valuable insight into the charged species of DBP for its application as semiconductor.     

Synthesis of Benzo[a]Phenanthro[9,10-e]-Cyclooctene

A phenanthrene-fused cyclooctatetraene, namely benzo[a]phenanthro[9,10-e]cyclooctene has been synthesized by employing the “Reich-Paquette” procedure.     

Anion-templated assembly of a [2]catenane

The first example of a [2]catenane structure to be synthesized using anion templation is described. The nature of the anion template is demonstrated to be crucial to the assembly process, with only chloride anion producing the [2]catenane in acceptable yield. Anion binding studies reveal a dramatic catenation effect on anion selectivity properties as compared to a noncatenated acyclic receptor.     

Diphenylmethylidenecyclobuta[a]cyclopropa[d]benzene: synthesis and spectral characterization

[reaction: see text] The first derivative of the novel and highly strained rocketene (cyclobuta[a]cyclopropa[d]benzene) 5, namely, the C4 diphenyl-substituted exocyclic alkene 8, has been prepared in 16% overall yield as a yellow oil with properties fully consistent with its highly strained nature.     

Arene imine derivatives of nitrogen heterocycles: 1a,9b-dihydrobenz[h]-azirino[f]quinoline, 1a,9b-dihydrobenz[f]azirino[h]quinoline and 1a,9b-dihydroazirino[f][1,10]phenanthroline

The syntheses of the K-imine derivatives of benzo[h]quinoline ( 1 ), benzo[f]quinoline ( 2 ) and 1,10-phenanthroline ( 3 ) are described. The parent nitrogen heterocycles were oxidized with sodium hypochlorite to the corresponding K-oxides, 4, 6 and 8 , which in turn were reacted with sodium azide. The resulting azido alcohols were then cyclized with triethyl phosphite to the title compounds 5, 7 and 9 . The oxirane ring cleavage in benzo[h]quinoline 5,6-oxide ( 4 ) and in benzo[f]quinoline 5,6-oxide ( 6 ) by sodium azide proceeded by the predicted regioselectivity: 4 gave trans-5-azido-5,6-dihydro-6-benzo[h]quinolinol ( 11 ) and trans-6-azido-5,6-dihydro-5-benzo[h]quinolinol ( 10 ) as the major and minor products respectively, and 6 yielded solely trans-6-azido-5,6-dihydro-5-benzo[f]quinolinol ( 12 ). The latter compound proved by X-ray analysis to crystallize as a hydrogen bonded dimer.     

Benzo[a]azulenediones and 10,10′‐Bibenzo[a]azulene

The oxidation of benzo[a]azulene ( 4 ) with commercial MnO₂ in dioxane/H₂O leads to a number of products in low yield (Table 1). Treatment of 4 with ‘mild’ MnO₂ (MnO₂/C) in dioxane/5% H₂O results in the formation of 10,10′‐bibenzo[a]azulene ( 18 ) in yields of up to 59% of isolated and purified material. Compound 18 exhibits atropisomerism and can be separated by HPLC on a Chiralcel column at room temperature into its stable antipodes (Fig.).     

Cyclisierungsreaktionen zu Thiazolo[3,2—a]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidinen

Cyclisation of 2-(-oxo-alkylthio)-thieno[2.3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones gave separable mixtures of the title substances and their [2.3-b]-isomers. The structure of the two isomers were be proved by comparison with a linear product synthesized by an unambiguous method. Similar cyclisations were achieved by reactions of 2-mercapto-thieno[2.3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones with chloroacetone, 1.2-dibromoethane or 1.3-dibromopropane.     

Construction of a hetero pseudo[2]rota[2]catenane

A novel ammonium template containing three ammonium sites was synthesized. Two ammoniums located on the linear component served as template for cucurbit[6]uril to form the CB-based pseudo[2]rotacane while another one located on the macrocyclic component played a role of template for clipping reaction. As a result of a ‘‘threading-followed-by-clipping' approach, a novel hetero pseudo[2]rota[2]catenane was successfully constructed.     

Unexpected Formation of a [4]Radialene and Dendralenes by Addition of Tetracyanoethylene to a Tetraaryl[5]cumulene

The use of cumulenes in synthetic transformations offers the possibility to form structurally interesting and potentially useful conjugated molecules. The cycloaddition reaction of a tetraaryl[5]cumulene with the electron‐deficient olefin tetracyanoethylene affords unusual products, including functionalized dendralenes and alkylidene cyclobutanes, as well as a symmetric [4]radialene that shows unique solvatochromism, with λ_max values approaching the near‐IR region. These carbon‐rich products have been investigated spectroscopically and by X‐ray crystallographic analysis (five structures). The cycloaddition reaction sequence has also been explored by mechanistic and theoretical studies. The obtained results clearly demonstrate the potential of [5]cumulenes to serve as precursors for unprecedented conjugated structures.