Second‐Generation Inhibitors for the Metalloprotease Neprilysin Based on Bicyclic Heteroaromatic Scaffolds: Synthesis,Biological Activity,and X‐Ray Crystal‐Structure Analysis

A new class of nonpeptidic inhibitors of the Zn^II‐dependent metalloprotease neprilysin with IC₅₀ values in the nanomolar activity range (0.034–0.30 μM ) were developed based on structure‐based de novo design (Figs. 1 and 2). The inhibitors feature benzimidazole and imidazo[4,5‐c]pyridine moieties as central scaffolds to undergo H‐bonding to Asn542 and Arg717 and to engage in favorable π‐π stacking interactions with the imidazole ring of His711. The platform is decorated with a thiol vector to coordinate to the Zn^II ion and an aryl residue to occupy the hydrophobic S1′ pocket, but lack a substituent for binding in the S2′ pocket, which remains closed by the side chains of Phe106 and Arg110 when not occupied. The enantioselective syntheses of the active compounds (+)‐ 1 , (+)‐ 2 , (+)‐ 25 , and (+)‐ 26 were accomplished using Evans auxiliaries (Schemes 2, 4, and 5). The inhibitors (+)‐ 2 and (+)‐ 26 with an imidazo[4,5‐c]pyridine core are ca. 8 times more active than those with a benzimidazole core ((+)‐ 1 and (+)‐ 25 ) (Table 1). The predicted binding mode was established by X‐ray analysis of the complex of neprilysin with (+)‐ 2 at 2.25‐Å resolution (Fig. 4 and Table 2). The ligand coordinates with its sulfanyl residue to the Zn^II ion, and the benzyl residue occupies the S1′ pocket. The 1H‐imidazole moiety of the central scaffold forms the required H‐bonds to the side chains of Asn542 and Arg717. The heterobicyclic platform additionally undergoes π‐π stacking with the side chain of His711 as well as edge‐to‐face‐type interactions with the side chain of Trp693. According to the X‐ray analysis, the substantial advantage in biological activity of the imidazo‐pyridine inhibitors over the benzimidazole ligands arises from favorable interactions of the pyridine N‐atom in the former with the side chain of Arg102. Unexpectedly, replacement of the phenyl group pointing into the deep S1′ pocket by a biphenyl group does not enhance the binding affinity for this class of inhibitors.     

Direct Amination of meso‐Tetraarylporphyrin Derivatives – Easy Route to A3B‐, A2BC‐, and A2B2‐Type Porphyrins Bearing Two Nitrogen‐Containing Substituents at the meso‐Positioned Phenyl Groups

meso‐Tetraarylporphyrinato complexes 1a – g (Zn^II, Cu^II, and Ni^II) bearing one or two nitro‐substituted aryl moieties react with 1,1,1‐trimethylhydrazinium iodide in the presence of ^tBuOK in THF at 0–5° or in the presence of KOH in DMSO at 60–70° according to a nucleophilic substitution of an H‐atom, thus affording porphyrins 2a – g and 3f , g with amino‐functionalized meso‐positioned aryl substituents in yields up to 73% (Scheme 1 and Table). The products obtained are attractive intermediates for further derivatization of porphyrins and may be of potential use as sensitizers in photodynamic cancer therapy.     

A Joint Theoretical and Experimental Insight into the Electronic Structure of Chromophores Derived from 6H,12H‐5,11‐Methanodibenzo[b,f][1,5]diazocine

We report on the synthesis and electronic spectra of the chiral, donor‐acceptor (push‐pull) chromophores (±)‐ 4 and (±)‐ 5 with a 6H,12H‐5,11‐methanodibenzo[b,f][1,5]diazocine scaffold (Scheme 1 and Fig. 2). The electronic structures of these compounds were investigated at a quantum‐chemical level (Figs. 2 and 3). The chemical reactivity of 6H,12H‐5,11‐methanodibenzo[b,f][1,5]diazocine ((±)‐ 11 ) towards aromatic electrophilic substitution (Scheme 2 and Table) provided additional information about its electronic structure and confirmed nonnegligible delocalization of the lone pair of the bridge‐head N‐atoms in this heterocyclic system.     

Enantiomerically Pure Thrombin Inhibitors for Exploring the Molecular‐Recognition Features of the Oxyanion Hole

A new route via intermediate pseudoenantiomers was developed to synthesize racemic and enantiomerically pure new non‐peptidic inhibitors of thrombin, a key serine protease in the blood‐coagulation cascade. These ligands feature a conformationally rigid tricyclic core and are decorated with substituents to fill the major binding pockets (distal (D), proximal (P), selectivity (S1), and oxyanion hole) at the thrombin active site (Fig. 1). The key step in the preparation of the new inhibitors is the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition between an optically active azomethine ylide, prepared in situ from L ‐(4R)‐hydroxyproline and 4‐bromobenzaldehyde, and N‐piperonylmaleimide (Scheme 1). According to this protocol, tricyclic imide (compounds (±)‐ 15 ‐(±)‐ 18 and (+)‐ 21 ) and lactam (compound (+)‐ 2 ) inhibitors with OH or ether substituents at C(7) in the proline‐derived pyrrolidine ring were synthesized to specifically explore the binding features of the oxyanion hole (Schemes 2–4). Biological assays (Table) showed that the polar oxyanion hole in thrombin is not suitable for the accommodation of bulky substituents of low polarity, thereby confirming previous findings. In contrast, tricyclic lactam (+)‐ 2 (K_i=9 nM , K_i(trypsin)/K_i(thrombin)=1055) and tricyclic imide (+)‐ 21 (K_i=36 nM , K_i(trypsin)/K_i(thrombin)=50) with OH‐substituents at the (R)‐configured C(7)‐atom are among the most‐potent and most‐selective thrombin inhibitors in their respective classes, prepared today. While initial modeling predicted H‐bonding between the OH group at C(7) in (+)‐ 2 and (+)‐ 21 with the H₂O molecule bound in the oxyanion hole (Fig. 2), the X‐ray crystal structure of the complex of (+)‐ 21 (Fig. 7, b) revealed a different interaction for this group. The propionate side chain of Glu192 undergoes a conformational change, thereby re‐orienting towards the OH group at C(7) under formation of a very short ionic H‐bond (O? H???^?OOC; d(O???O)=2.4 Å). The energetic contribution of this H‐bond, however, is negligible, due to its location on the surface of the protein and the unfavorable conformation of the H‐bonded propionate side chain.     

Fluorescent and Electrochemical Sensing of Polyphosphate Nucleotides by Ferrocene Functionalised with Two ZnII(TACN)(pyrene) Complexes

The [Fc? bis{Zn^II(TACN)(Py)}] complex, comprising two Zn^II(TACN) ligands (Fc=ferrocene; Py=pyrene; TACN=1,4,7‐triazacyclononane) bearing fluorescent pyrene chromophores linked by an electrochemically active ferrocene molecule has been synthesised in high yield through a multistep procedure. In the absence of the polyphosphate guest molecules, very weak excimer emission was observed, indicating that the two pyrene‐bearing Zn^II(TACN) units are arranged in a trans‐like configuration with respect to the ferrocene bridging unit. Binding of a variety of polyphosphate anionic guests (PPi and nucleotides di‐ and triphosphate) promotes the interaction between pyrene units and results in an enhancement in excimer emission. Investigations of phosphate binding by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, fluorescence and electrochemical techniques confirmed a 1:1 stoichiometry for the binding of PPi and nucleotide polyphosphate anions to the bis(Zn^II(TACN)) moiety of [Fc? bis{Zn^II(TACN)(Py)}] and indicated that binding induces a trans to cis configuration rearrangement of the bis(Zn^II(TACN)) complexes that is responsible for the enhancement of the pyrene excimer emission. Pyrophosphate was concluded to have the strongest affinity to [Fc? bis{Zn^II(TACN)(Py)}] among the anions tested based on a six‐fold fluorescence enhancement and 0.1 V negative shift in the potential of the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple. The binding constant for a variety of polyphosphate anions was determined from the change in the intensity of pyrene excimer emission with polyphosphate concentration, measured at 475 nm in CH₃CN/Tris‐HCl (1:9) buffer solution (10.0 mM , pH 7.4). These measurements confirmed that pyrophosphate binds more strongly (K_b=(4.45±0.41)×10⁶ M ^?1) than the other nucleotide di‐ and triphosphates (K_b=1–50×10⁵ M ^?1) tested.     

A New Class of Inhibitors for the Malarial Aspartic Protease Plasmepsin II Based on a Central 11‐Azatricyclo[6.2.1.02,7]undeca‐2,4,6‐triene Scaffold

A new class of nonpeptidic inhibitors of the malarial aspartic protease plasmepsin II (PMII) with up to single‐digit micromolar activities (IC₅₀ values) was developed by structure‐based de novo design. The active‐site matrix used in the design was based on an X‐ray crystal structure of PMII, onto which the major conformational changes seen in the structure of renin upon complexation of 4‐arylpiperidines – including the unlocking of a new hydrophobic (flap) pocket – were modeled. The sequence identity of 35% between mature renin and PMII had prompted us to hypothesize that an induced‐fit adaptation around the active site as observed in renin might also be effective in PMII. The new inhibitors contain a central 11‐azatricyclo[6.2.1.0^2,7]undeca‐2(7),3,5‐triene core, which, in protonated form, undergoes ionic H‐bonding with the two catalytic Asp residues at the active site of PMII (Figs. 1 and 2). This tricyclic scaffold is readily prepared by a Diels? Alder reaction between an activated pyrrole and a benzyne species generated in situ (Scheme 1). Two substituents with naphthyl or 1,3‐benzothiazole moieties are attached to the central core (Schemes 1–4) for accommodation in the hydrophobic flap and S1/S3 (or S2′, depending on the optical antipode of the inhibitor) pockets at the active site of the enzyme. The most‐potent inhibitors (±)‐ 19a – 19c (IC₅₀ 3–5 μM ) and (±)‐ 23b (2 μM ) (Table) bear an additional Cl‐atom on the 1,3‐benzothiazole moiety to fully fill the rear of the flap pocket. Optimization of the linker between the tricyclic scaffold and the 1,3‐benzothiazole moiety, based on detailed conformational analysis (Figs. 3 and 4), led to a further small increase in inhibitory strength. The new compounds were also tested against other aspartic proteases. They were found to be quite selective against renin, while the selectivity against cathepsin D and E, two other human aspartic proteases, is rather poor (Table). The detailed SARs established in this investigation provide a valuable basis for the design of the next generations of more‐potent and ‐selective PMII inhibitors with potential application in a new antimalarial therapy.     

The role of chirality in directing the formation of cup-shaped porphyrins and the coordination characteristics of such hosts

Cup‐shaped porphyrin 1 a has four norbornane rings for encircling space and this type of host could be of interest in supramolecular and catalytic chemistry. We used ¹H NMR spectroscopy to investigate the acid‐catalyzed (pTsOH in CHCl₃ and TFA in CH₃CN) condensation of racemic, enantioenriched (80–85 % enantiomeric excess (ee)), and enantiopure (99 % ee) pyrromethanecarbinol 7 into 1 a . We found that the oligomerization of racemic 7 _rac would give 1 a–d in the ratio different from the statistical one, though a minuscule quantity of 1 a (<5 %) formed. The oligomerization of enantioenriched 7 (80–85 % ee), however, led to the formation of greater amounts of 1 a (31–47 %) along with other stereoisomers 1 b–d . Importantly, pTsOH catalyzed the conversion of enantiopure 7 (99 % ee) into 1 a (>95 % diastereomeric excess (de), 25 % overall yield) in CHCl₃ although prolonged reaction times or greater concentration of the catalytic acid gave rise to 1 b–d at the expense of 1 a . The metallation of 1 a with Zn(OAc)₂ led to the formation of Zn^II‐ 1 a and we used computational (DFT: RI‐BP86/SV(P),TZVP) and experimental (¹H NMR spectroscopy) methods to study the partitioning of smaller N‐methylimidazole 13 (94 ų) and bigger 1,5‐dicyclohexylimidazole 14 (268 ų) between the inner and outer side of the host. We found that bigger 14 was mostly encapsulated (90 %) inside Zn^II‐ 1 a at 298.0 K, whereas smaller 13 would equally partition between the two sides of the host. Furthermore, the out/in equilibrium was, in the case of 14 ‐Zn^II‐ 1 a , favored by entropy (TΔS°_out/in=3.5±0.1 kcal mol^?1) indicating that perhaps differential solvation of the coordinated ligand assisted the encapsulation.     

Synthesis and Optical Resolution of the Floral Odorant (±)‐2,3‐Dihydro‐2,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐indene‐2‐methanol,and Preparation of Analogues

The title compound (±)‐ 1 , a recently discovered, valuable, floral‐type odorant, has been synthesized by a straightforward procedure (Scheme 1). To determine the properties of the enantiomers of 1 , their separation by preparative HPLC and the determination of their absolute configuration by X‐ray crystallography were carried out (Figure). Furthermore, the analogues 2 – 6 were synthesized, either from differently methylated 2‐methylindan‐1‐ones (Schemes 2 and 3) or, in the case of the 2,4,6‐trimethylated homologue 6 , by a completely different synthetic approach (Scheme 4). An evaluation of (+)‐(S)‐ 1 , (−)‐(R)‐ 1 , and (±)‐ 1 showed only minor differences in terms of odor (Table).     

Synthesis of Dendritic Metalloporphyrins with Distal H‐Bond Donors as Model Systems for Hemoglobin

We report the synthesis of the first‐ (G1) and second‐generation (G2) dendritic Fe^II porphyrins 1?Fe – 4?Fe (G1) and 6?Fe (G2) bearing distal H‐bond donors ideally positioned for stabilization of Fe^II? O₂ adducts by H‐bonding (Fig. 1). A first approach towards the construction of these novel biomimetic systems failed unexpectedly: the Suzuki cross‐coupling between appropriately functionalized Zn^II porphyrins and ortho‐ethynylated aryl derivatives, serving as anchors for the distal H‐bond donor moieties, was unsuccessful (Schemes 1, 3, and 5), presumably due to steric hindrance resulting from unfavorable coordination of the ethynyl residue to the Pd species in the catalytic cycle (Scheme 6). The target molecules were finally prepared by a route in which the ortho‐ethynylated meso‐aryl ring is introduced during porphyrin construction in a mixed condensation involving the two dipyrrylmethanes 33 and 34 , and aldehyde 36 (Schemes 7 and 8). Following attachment of the dendrons (Scheme 11), the distal H‐bond donors were introduced by Sonogashira cross‐coupling (Scheme 12), and subsequent metallation afforded the dendritic Fe^II porphyrins 1?Fe – 6?Fe . ¹H‐NMR Spectroscopy proved the location of the H‐bond donor moiety atop the porphyrin surface, and X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis of model system 45 (Fig. 2) revealed that this moiety would not sterically interfere with gas binding. With 1,2‐dimethyl‐1H‐imidazole (DiMeIm) as ligand, the dendritic Fe^II porphyrins formed five‐coordinate high‐spin complexes (Figs. 3 and 4) and addition of CO led reversibly to the corresponding stable six‐coordinate gas complexes (Fig. 6). Oxygenation, however, did not result in defined Fe^II? O₂ complexes as rapid decomposition to Fe^III species took place immediately, even in the case of the G2 dendrimer 6?Fe (DiMeIm) (Fig. 7). In contrast, stable gas adducts are formed between dendritic Co^II porphyrins and O₂ in the presence of DiMeIm as axial ligand, as revealed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The possible stabilization of these complexes through H‐bonding involving the distal ligand is currently under investigation in multidimensional and multifrequency pulse EPR experiments.     

Bis(μ‐5‐carboxybenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylato‐κ2O1:O3)bis[(2,2′‐bi‐1H‐imidazole‐κ2N3,N3′)zinc]

The title compound, [Zn₂(C₉H₄O₆)₂(C₆H₆N₄)₂], consists of two Zn^II ions, two 5‐carboxybenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylate (Hbtc²⁻) dianions and two 2,2′‐bi‐1H‐imidazole (bimz) molecules. The Zn^II centre is coordinated by two carboxylate O atoms from two Hbtc²⁻ ligands and by two imidazole N atoms of a bimz ligand, in a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry. Two neighbouring Zn^II ions are bridged by a pair of Hbtc²⁻ ligands, forming a discrete binuclear [Zn₂(Hbtc)₂(bimz)₂] structure lying across an inversion centre. Hydrogen bonds between carboxyl H atoms and carboxylate O atoms and between imidazole H atoms and carboxylate O atoms link the binuclear units. These binuclear units are further extended into a three‐dimensional supramolecular structure through extensive O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds. Moreover, the three‐dimensional nature of the crystal packing is reinforced by the π–π stacking. The title compound exhibits photoluminescence in the solid state, with an emission maximum at 415 nm.     

Synthese,Struktur und EPR‐Untersuchungen von binuklearen Bis(N,N,N‴,N‴‐tetraisobutyl‐N′,N″‐isophthaloylbis(thioureato))‐Komplexen des CuII,NiII, ZnII,CdII und PdII

Synthesis, Structure and EPR Investigations of binuclear Bis(N,N,N?,N?‐tetraisobutyl‐N′,N″‐isophthaloylbis(thioureato)) Complexes of Cu^II, Ni^II, Zn^II, Cd^II and Pd^II The synthesis of binuclear Cu^II‐, Ni^II‐, Zn^II‐, Cd^II‐ and Pd^II‐complexes of the quadridentate ligand N,N,N?,N?‐tetraisobutyl‐N′,N″‐isophthaloylbis(thiourea) and the crystal structures of the Cu^II‐ and Ni^II‐complexes are reported. The Cu^II‐complex crystallizes in two polymorphic modifications: triclinic, (Z = 1) and monoclinic, P2₁/c (Z = 2). The Ni^II‐complex was found to be isostructural with the triclinic modification of the copper complex. The also prepared Pd^II‐, Zn^II‐ and Cd^II‐complexes could not be characterized by X‐ray analysis. However, EPR studies of diamagnetically diluted Cu^II/Pd^II‐ and Cu^II/Zn^II‐powders show axially‐symmetric g and A ^Cu tensors suggesting a nearly planar co‐ordination within the binuclear host complexes. Diamagnetically diluted Cu^II/Cd^II powder samples could not be prepared. In the EPR spectra of the pure binuclear Cu^II‐complex exchange‐coupled Cu^II‐Cu^II pairs were observed. According to the large Cu^II‐Cu^II distance of about 7,50Å a small fine structure parameter D = 26·10^?4 cm^?1 is observed; T‐dependent EPR measurements down to 5 K reveal small antiferromagnetic interactions for the Cu^II‐Cu^II dimer. Besides of the dimer in the EPR spectra the signals of a mononuclear Cu^II species are observed whose concentration is T‐dependent. This observation can be explained assuming an equilibrium between the binuclear Cu^II‐complex (Cu^II‐Cu^II pairs) and oligomeric complexes with “isolated” Cu^II ions.     

Regioselective One‐Step Synthesis and Topological Chirality of trans‐3, trans‐3,trans‐3 and e,e,e [60]Fullerene‐Cyclotriveratrylene Tris‐adducts: Discussion on a Topological meso‐Form

The C₃‐symmetrical [60]fullerene‐cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) tris‐adducts (±)‐ 1 (with a trans‐3,trans‐3,trans‐3 addition pattern) and (±)‐ 2 (with an e,e,e addition pattern) were prepared in 11 and 9% yield, respectively, by the regio‐ and diastereoselective tether‐directed Bingel reaction of C₆₀ with the tris‐malonate‐appended CTV derivative (±)‐ 3 (Scheme). This is the first example for tris‐adduct formation by a one‐step tether‐directed Bingel addition. Interchromophoric interactions between the electron‐rich CTV cap and the electron‐attracting fullerene moiety have a profound effect on the electrochemical behavior of the C‐sphere (Fig. 4 and Table 1). The fullerene‐centered first reduction potentials in compounds (±)‐ 1 and (±)‐ 2 are by 100 mV more negative than those of their corresponding tris[bis(ethoxycarbonyl)methano][60]fullerene analogs that lack the CTV cap. A particular interest in (±)‐ 1 and (±)‐ 2 arises from the topological chirality of these molecules. A complete topology study is presented, leading to the conclusion that the four possible classical stereoisomers of the e,e,e regioisomer are topologically different, and, therefore, there exist four different topological stereoisomers (Fig. 6). Interestingly, in the case of the trans‐3,trans‐3,trans‐3 tris‐adduct, there are four classical stereoisomers but only two topological stereoisomers (Fig. 7). An example of a target molecule representing a topological meso‐form is also presented (Fig. 8).     

Synthesis,X‐ray Structure of Ferrocene Bearing Bis(Zn‐cyclen) Complexes and the Selective Electrochemical Sensing of TpT

The new ligand, [Fc(cyclen)₂] ( 5 ) (Fc=ferrocene, cyclen=1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane), and corresponding Zn^II complex receptor, [Fc{Zn(cyclen)(CH₃OH)}₂](ClO₄)₄ ( 1 ), consisting of a ferrocene moiety bearing one Zn^II‐cyclen complex on each cyclopentadienyl ring, have been designed and prepared through a multi‐step synthesis. Significant shifts in the ¹H NMR signals of the ferrocenyl group, cf. ferrocene and a previously reported [Fc{Zn(cyclen)}]²⁺ derivative, indicated that the two Zn^II‐cyclen units in 1 significantly affect the electronic properties of the cyclopentadienyl rings. The X‐ray crystal structure shows that the two positively charged Zn^II‐cyclen complexes are arranged in a trans like configuration, with respect to the ferrocene bridging unit, presumably to minimise electrostatic repulsion. Both 5 and 1 can be oxidized in 1:4 CH₂Cl₂/CH₃CN and Tris‐HCl aqueous buffer solution under conditions of cyclic voltammetry to give a well defined ferrocene‐centred (Fc^0/+) process. Importantly, 1 is a highly selective electrochemical sensor of thymidilyl(3′‐5′)thymidine (TpT) relative to other nucleobases and nucleotides in Tris‐HCl buffer solution (pH 7.4). The electrochemical selectivity, detected as a shift in reversible potential of the Fc^0/+ component, is postulated to result from a change in the configuration of bis(Zn^II‐cyclen) units from a trans to a cis state. This is caused by the strong 1:1 binding of the two deprotonated thymine groups in TpT to different Zn^II centres of receptor 1 . UV‐visible spectrophotometric titrations confirmed the 1:1 stoichiometry for the 1 :TpT adduct and allowed the determination of the apparent formation constant of 0.89±0.10×10⁶ M ^?1 at pH 7.4.     

A novel one‐dimensional double‐chain‐like ZnII coordination polymer: poly[bis(1‐benzyl‐1H‐imidazole‐κN3)tris(μ‐cyanido‐κ2C:N)(cyanido‐κC)disilver(I)zinc(II)]

One of most interesting systems of coordination polymers constructed from the first‐row transition metals is the porous Zn^II coordination polymer system, but the numbers of such polymers containing N‐donor linkers are still limited. The title double‐chain‐like Zn^II coordination polymer, [Ag₂Zn(CN)₄(C₁₀H₁₀N₂)₂]_n, presents a one‐dimensional linear coordination polymer structure in which Zn^II ions are linked by bridging anionic dicyanidoargentate(I) units along the crystallographic b axis and each Zn^II ion is additionally coordinated by a terminal dicyanidoargentate(I) unit and two terminal 1‐benzyl‐1H‐imidazole (BZI) ligands, giving a five‐coordinated Zn^II ion. Interestingly, there are strong intermolecular Ag^I…Ag^I interactions between terminal and bridging dicyanidoargentate(I) units and C—H…π interactions between the phenyl rings of BZI ligands of adjacent one‐dimensional linear chains, providing a one‐dimensional linear double‐chain‐like structure. The supramolecular three‐dimensional framework is stabilized by C—H…π interactions between the phenyl rings of BZI ligands and by Ag^I…Ag^I interactions between adjacent double chains. The photoluminescence properties have been studied.     

Directly 2,12‐ and 2,8‐Linked ZnII Porphyrin Oligomers: Synthesis,Optical Properties,and Coherence Lengths

Directly 2,12‐ and 2,8‐linked Zn^II porphyrin oligomers were prepared from 2,12‐ and 2,8‐diborylated Zn^II porphyrin by a cross platinum‐induced coupling with a 2‐borylated Zn^II porphyrin end unit followed by a triphenylphosphine (PPh₃)‐mediated reductive elimination. Comparative studies on the steady‐state absorption and fluorescence spectra and the fluorescence lifetimes led to a conclusion that the exciton in the S₁ state is delocalized over approximately four and two Zn^II porphyrin units for 2,12‐ and 2,8‐linked Zn^II porphyrin arrays, respectively.     

Photoluminescence properties of a cationic trinuclear zinc(II) complex with the tetradentate Schiff base ligand 6‐methyl‐2‐({[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolate

Metal complexes with Schiff base ligands have been suggested as potential phosphors in electroluminescent devices. In the title complex, tetrakis[6‐methyl‐2‐({[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolato‐1:2κ⁸N,N′,O:O;3:2κ⁸N,N′,O:O]trizinc(II) hexafluoridophosphate methanol monosolvate, [Zn₃(C₁₄H₁₃N₂O)₄](PF₆)₂·CH₃OH, the Zn^II cations adopt both six‐ and four‐coordinate geometries involving the N and O atoms of tetradentate 6‐methyl‐2‐({[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolate ligands. Two terminal Zn^II cations adopt distorted octahedral geometries and the central Zn^II cation adopts a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The O atoms of the phenolate ligands bridge three Zn^II cations, forming a dicationic trinuclear metal cluster. The title complex exhibits a strong emission at 469 nm with a quantum yield of 15.5%.     

Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of Doubly β‐to‐β Bridged Cyclic ZnII Porphyrin Arrays

A series of doubly β‐to‐β bridged cyclic Zn^II porphyrin arrays were prepared by a stepwise Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction of borylated Zn^II porphyrin with different bridge groups. The coupling of the building block of β,β′‐diboryl Zn^II porphyrin 1 with different bridges provided the doubly β‐to‐β carbazole‐bridged Zn^II porphyrin array 3 , the fluorene‐bridged Zn^II porphyrin array 5 , the fluorenone‐bridged Zn^II porphyrin array 7 , and the three‐carbazole‐bridged Zn^II porphyrin ring 8 . The structural assignment of 3 was confirmed by the X‐ray diffraction analysis, which revealed a highly symmetrical and remarkably bent syn‐form structure. The incorporation of bridge units with different electronic effects results in different photophysical properties of the cyclic Zn^II porphyrin arrays. Comprehensive photophysical studies demonstrate that the electron‐withdrawing bridge fluorenone has the largest electronic interaction with the Zn^II porphyrin unit among the series, thus resulting in the highest two‐photon absorption cross‐section values (σ⁽²⁾) of 6570±60 GM for 7 . The present work provides a new strategy for developing porphyrin‐based optical materials.     

Internal Nucleophilic Termination in Acid‐Mediated Polyene Cyclizations. Part 5

Treatment of the acyclic tetraenols (E)‐ and (Z)‐ 2 with an excess of ClSO₃H in 2‐nitropropane at ? 80° stereoselectively afforded in 30 and 43% yield, respectively, diastereoisomer mixtures of the racemic, tricyclic ethers 1c,d and 1a,b , together with 20 (Table). Under identical conditions, but with the acyclic pentaenol 10 (1 : 1 diastereoisomer mixture) as substrate, the tricyclic ethers 22a / 22b (10 : 1) were isolated in 27% yield. These kinetically controlled stereospecific transformations are thought to proceed via non‐concerted pathways (see Schemes 5 and 7), fully consistent with our earlier work. In contrast, another set of reaction conditions (CF₃CO₂H, CH₂Cl₂, ? 15° to ? 10°) was used for the cyclization of the monocyclic dienols (E)‐ 3 and (Z)‐ 3 , which resulted in the non‐stereoselective formation of the major products 1c,d and 1a,b , respectively, in 35–37% yield. Representing novel didehydro analogues of the known ambergris odorant (±)‐Ambrox^® and its diastereoisomers, the qualitative organoleptic properties of 1a – d and of the 10 : 1 diastereoisomer mixture of the novel tetradehydro analogues 22a / 22b are briefly described.     

A new two‐dimensional ZnII coordination polymer constructed by a multidentate N‐heterocyclic ligand and 5‐carboxybenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylate

In the coordination polymer, poly[[{μ‐1‐[(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1H‐imidazole‐κ²N:N′}(μ‐5‐carboxybenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylato‐κ²O¹:O³)zinc(II)] dimethylformamide monosolvate pentahydrate], {[Zn(C₉H₄O₆)(C₁₁H₁₀N₄)]·C₃H₇NO·5H₂O}_n, the Zn^II ion is coordinated by two N atoms from two symmetry‐related 1‐[(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1H‐imidazole (bmi) ligands and two O atoms from two symmetry‐related 5‐carboxybenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylate (Hbtc²⁻) ligands in a slightly distorted tetrahedral geometry. The Zn^II ions are bridged by Hbtc²⁻ and bmi ligands, leading to a 4‐connected two‐dimensional network with the topological notation (4⁴.6²). Adjacent layers are further connected by 12 kinds of hydrogen bonds and also by π–π interactions, resulting in a three‐dimensional supramolecular architecture in the solid state.