Polycyclic aromatic compounds via radical cyclizations of benzannulated enyne-allenes derived from Ireland-Claisen rearrangement

A new synthetic sequence involving the use of Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of propargylic acetates to form the corresponding benzannulated enyne-allenes followed by Schmittel cyclization to generate benzofulvene biradicals for radical cyclizations leading to polycyclic aromatic compounds was established. Treatment of 9-fluorenone (8) with the lithium acetylide 9 followed by acetic anhydride produced the propargylic acetate 10. A sequence of reactions occurred after 10 was converted to the corresponding silyl ketene acetal 11. An initial Ireland-Claisen rearrangement produced the benzannulated enyne-allene 12, which then underwent a Schmittel cyclization reaction to generate the benzofulvene biradical 13. A subsequent intramolecular radical-radical coupling then produced the formal Diels-Alder adduct 14, which in turn underwent a prototropic rearrangement to give the silyl ester 15 and, after hydrolysis, the carboxylic acid 16 in 57% overall yield from 10 in a single operation. An intramolecular acylation reaction of 16 produced the ketone 17. The carboxylic acids 24-26 were likewise prepared from the diaryl ketones 18-20, respectively. However, the intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of the benzannulated enyne-allene 33 having a tert-butyl group at the allenic terminus occurred preferentially, producing the 1H-cyclobut[a]indenyl acetic acid 35 as the predominant product.     

Biradicals from benzoenyne-allenes. Application in the synthesis of 11H-benzo[b]fluoren-11-ols, 1H-cyclobut[a]indenes, and related compounds

New synthetic pathways to 11H-benzo[b]fluoren-11-ols, 1H-cyclobut[a]indenes, and related compounds via biradicals generated from benzoenyne-allenes were developed. Treatment of the diacetylenic propargylic alcohols 13, derived from condensation between benzophenones and the lithium acetylide of 1-(2-ethynylphenyl)-2-phenylethyne, with thionyl chloride produced the 11-chloro-11H-benzo[b]fluorene 14 and, after hydrolysis, the corresponding 11H-benzo[b]fluoren-11-ols 15. The transformation involved a sequence of reactions, including a biradical-forming C2-C6 cyclization (Schmittel cyclization) reaction of the chlorinated benzoenyne-allene intermediates followed by an intramolecular radical-radical coupling to form the formal Diels-Alder adducts. Interestingly, in the case of the diacetylenic propargylic alcohol 26, obtained from dibenzosuberenone (25), an intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of the chlorinated benzoenyne-allene intermediate occurred, furnishing the 1H-cyclobut[a]indene 27 exclusively. The dramatic change of the reaction pathway could be attributed to the emergence of a steric strain due to the nonbonded interactions with the chloro substituent along the pathway toward the formal Diels-Alder adduct 31. On the other hand, the non-chlorinated benzoenyne-allene, derived from prototropic isomerization of the diacetylenic hydrocarbon 60, underwent a formal Diels-Alder reaction to furnish the 11H-benzo[b]fluorene-type hydrocarbon 61 exclusively.     

Synthesis and ring-opening metathesis of tetraalkoxy-substituted [2.2]paracyclophane-1,9-dienes

Tetraalkoxy-substituted [2.2]paracyclophane-1,9-dienes can be prepared in three steps from dithia[3.3]paracyclophanes. A mixture of pseudo-geminal and pseudo-ortho diastereomers is produced and the pure compounds can be separated by fractional crystallization. The solid state structures of these diastereomers reveal strongly distorted aromatic rings consistent with high levels of ring strain. Reaction of these diastereomers with the second generation Grubbs catalyst shows that only the pseudo-geminal isomer can be ring opened to give cis,trans-distrylbenzenes. The origin of this selectivity is discussed and the photoisomerization of the as-formed cis,trans-product to the all trans isomer is demonstrated.     

Clean synthesis of novel spiro[indene-2, 2'-[1, 3, 5]-oxathiazine]-1, 3-diones in water

In this work, we have designed an efficient and convenient method for the synthesis of novel spiro[indene-2,2'-[1,3,5]oxathiazine]-1,3-diones by the one-pot, three component condensation of tetramethyl guanidine, ninhydrin, and isothiocyanates in water. Easy purification, green reaction conditions, easy performance and good yields are some advantages of this procedure.     

Synthesis of indeno-fused derivatives of quinolizinium salts, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, pyrido[1,2-a]indole, and 4h-quinolizin-4-one via benzannulated enyne-allenes

The benzannulated enediynyl propargylic alcohol 8 was prepared from 1-bromo-2-iodobenzene by two consecutive Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions. The subsequent transformation to mesylate 9 followed by treatment with 4-substituted pyridines 10 then furnished the benzannulated enediynes 11. On exposure of 11 to triethylamine, the indeno-fused quinolizinium salts 15 were produced in quantitative yield. Presumably the reaction proceeded through a 1,3-prototropic rearrangement to form the benzannulated enyne-allenes 12, which then underwent either a concerted Diels-Alder reaction or a two-step process involving a Schmittel cyclization reaction to form biradical 13 followed by an intramolecular radical-radical coupling to afford 14. A subsequent prototropic rearrangement then produced 15. Similarly, 21a and 21b were produced from 19a and 19b, respectively. The use of the Sonogashira reaction for cross-coupling between 1-iodo-2-(phenylethynyl)benzene (7) and 1-(2-propynyl)-1H-imidazole (25) followed by treatment of the resulting adduct with potassium tert-butoxide gave the indeno-fused imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 24 in 98% yield. Similarly, the indeno-fused pyrido[1,2-a]indole 32 and 4H-quinolizin-4-one 35 were obtained by starting from 7 for cross-coupling with 1-(2-propynyl)-1H-indole (30) and 1-(2-propynyl)-2(1H)-pyridinone (33), respectively, followed by treatment with potassium tert-butoxide.     

Synthesis and rotational barriers of atropisomers of 1,2-bis[5-(11H-benzo[b]fluorenyl)]benzenes and related compounds

Several 1,2-bis[5-(11H-benzo[b]fluorenyl)]benzenes and related compounds were synthesized via a cascade reaction sequence of the corresponding benzannulated enyne-allene precursors. The X-ray structures showed that the two benzo[b]fluorenyl moieties attached via the C5 carbons to the adjacent carbon atoms of the central benzene ring are oriented essentially perpendicular to the central benzene ring. The rates of rotation around the carbon-carbon single bonds attaching the benzo[b]fluorenyl moieties to the central benzene ring are relatively slow, allowing several anti and syn atropisomers to be separated at ambient temperature.     

Deuterium kinetic isotope effects and mechanism of the thermal isomerization of bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene to 1,3-cyclooctadiene

The thermal conversion of cis-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene to cis,cis-1,3-cyclooctadiene might involve a direct disrotatory ring opening, or it might possibly take place by way of cis,trans-1,3-cyclooctadiene. This cis,trans-diene might possibly form the more stable cis,cis isomer through a [1,5] hydrogen shift or a trans-to-cis isomerization about the trans double bond. Deuterium kinetic isotope effect determinations for the isomerizations of 2,2,5,5-d(4)-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene and 7,8-d(2)-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene rule out these two alternatives because the observed effects are much smaller than would be anticipated for these mechanisms: k(H)/k(D)(d(4)) at 250 degrees C is 1.17 (1.04 per D), and k(H)/k(D)(d(2)) at 238 degrees C is 1.20 (1.10 per D). The direct disrotatory ring opening route remains the preferred mechanism.     

螺[二苯并[a,j]氧杂蒽-14,9’-芴]的合成及性质简

芴酮与2-萘酚在硫酸和3-巯基丙酸的作用下反应得到化合物螺[二苯并[a,j]氧杂蒽-14,9’-芴]. 采用核磁共振、质谱、红外光谱和元素分析等对该化合物进行了表征,并通过X射线衍射法测得了其晶体结构,确定该化合物是通过二苯并[a,j]氧杂蒽中的含氧六元杂环和芴中的五元环共用一个碳原子形成一个螺环. 利用荧光光谱和热分析等手段对该化合物的性质进行了研究,结果表明其最大荧光发射峰为366 nm,熔点为297 ℃,热分解温度为329 ℃,具有较高的热稳定性.     

9,9-diphenyl-1,9,10,10a-tetrahydro-2H-phenaleno[1,9-bc]pyrans

Reaction between some naphtho[2,1-b]pyrans and 1,1-diphenylethene affords 9,9-diphenyl-1,9,10,10a-tetrahydro-2H-phenaleno[1,9-bc]pyrans.     

Equatorial preference in the C[bond]H activation of cycloalkanes: GaCl3-catalyzed aromatic alkylation reaction

GaCl(3) catalyzes the aromatic alkylation of naphthalene or phenanthrene using cycloalkanes. The C[bond]C formation predominantly takes place at the least hindered positions of the substrates, and equatorial isomers regarding the cycloalkane moiety are generally obtained. The reaction of bicyclo[4.4.0]decane and naphthalene occurs at the 2-position of naphthalene and at the 2- or 3-carbons of the cycloalkane, and the products possess a trans configuration at the junctures and an equatorial configuration at the naphthyl groups. Notably, cis-bicyclo[4.4.0]decane turns out to be much more reactive than the trans isomer, and a turnover number "TON" up to 20 based on GaCl(3) is attained. 1,2-Dimethylcyclohexane reacts similarly, and the cis isomer is more reactive than the trans isomer. Monoalkylcycloalkanes react at the secondary carbons provided that the alkyl group is smaller than tert-butyl. Adamantanes react at the tertiary 1-position. The alkylation reaction is considered to involve the C[bond]H activation of cycloalkanes with GaCl(3) at the tertiary center followed by the migration of carbocations and electrophilic aromatic substitution yielding thermodynamically stable products. The stereochemistry of the reaction reveals that GaCl(3) activates the equatorial tertiary C[bond]H rather than the axial tertiary C[bond]H.     

螺[二苯并[a,j]氧杂蒽-14,9'-芴]的合成及性质

芴酮与2-萘酚在硫酸和3-巯基丙酸的作用下反应得到化合物螺[二苯并[a,j]氧杂蒽-14,9'-芴]. 采用核磁共振、 质谱、 红外光谱和元素分析等对该化合物进行了表征, 并通过X射线衍射法测得了其晶体结构, 确定该化合物是通过二苯并[a,j]氧杂蒽中的含氧六元杂环和芴中的五元环共用一个碳原子形成一个螺环. 利用荧光光谱和热分析等手段对该化合物的性质进行了研究, 结果表明其最大荧光发射峰为366 nm, 熔点为297 ℃, 热分解温度为329 ℃, 具有较高的热稳定性.     

Liquid crystalline organic semiconductors: nematic spiro[cyclopentyl-1,9′]fluorenes

A number of nematic spiro[cyclopentyl-1,9′]fluorene reactive mesogens with polymerisable oxetane or non-conjugated diene end-groups have been successfully synthesised. The melting and clearing points of these new spiro[cyclopentyl-1,9′]fluorenes are much higher than those of the corresponding 9,9-diethyl- or 9,9-dipropyl-substituted fluorenes, which are present in many light-emitting polymers currently used in polymer light-emitting diodes. The significant difference in transition temperature may be attributed to the lower intermolecular separation induced by the more rigid and less bulky cyclopentyl group, confirmed by molecular modelling. The presence of either these short but flexible aliphatic chains, or a rigid alicyclic group of similar size and shape, results in only small differences in the photoluminescence spectra and efficiency of these model liquid crystalline organic semiconductors, and in their improved thermal stability.     

Synthesis of homochiral spiro [4.4]nonane-l,6-diols

Homochiral cis, cis-; cis,trans and trans,trans-spiro[4,4]-nonane-1,6-diols were prepared via diastereoselective reduction of enantiomerically pure spiro[4.4]nonane-l,6-dione (1) with the corresponding reducing agents: lithium n-butyldiisobutylaluminium hydride for cis,cis-diol (2) with 88% yield; BH₃·THF for cis, trans-diol (8) with 91% yield; LiAlH₄ for trans,trans-diol (4) with 15% yield.     

Stereochemistry of the [4 + 2] cycloadditions of trans,trans- and cis,trans-2,4-hexadiene to C(60)

The [4 + 2] cycloaddition of trans,trans-2,4-hexadiene with C(60) proceeds via a concerted mechanism with retention of stereochemistry in the cycloadduct 1a. However, when cis,trans-2,4-hexadiene reacts with C(60), isomerization of the cis,trans to the thermodynamically more stable trans,trans isomer occurs. Subsequently, the cis,trans diene isomerized to the trans,trans isomer and cycloadds to C(60), to form adduct 1a. When the reaction is carried out at higher temperatures, the formation of cycloadduct 1b is also obtained. This result is consistent with a concerted cycloaddition of cis,trans-2,4-hexadiene with C(60), which is more reactive at elevated temperatures and leads to the formation of the Diels-Alder adduct 1b.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Frans-(E)-N-{2-[4-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)but-2-En-2-Yl]Cyclohexyl}Pyrrolidine as an Alkene Mimetic of the Arylacetamide Analgesics

Diethylaluminum trimethylsilylacctylide reacted stereospecifically with the mesylate of trans-2-(N- pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexanol (2) to give trans-N-[2-(trimethylsilylacetylcnyl)cyclohexyl]pyrrolidine (3). The trimethylsilyl group in 3 was displaced with a 3,4-dichlorobenzoyl group to give ynone 4, which then underwent 1,4-addition with lithium dimethylcuprate to give trans enone 6 and its cis isomer 5 in a ratio 5:1. Reduction of the enones with NaBHVCeCl₃ resulted in cis and trans allylic alcohols 9 and 10. Both 9 and 10 were successfully deoxygenated with Znl₂-NaCNBH₃ reducing system to give trans-(E)-N-{2-[4-(3,4- dichlorophenyl)bul-2-en-2-yl]cyclohexyl}pyrrolidine (11) as the onty product. Olefin 11, a carbon-carbon double bond isostere of the prototypek-selective opioid analgesic U-50488, showed a 10³ fold reduction in K-affinity (K_ik = 1.6 × 10⁴ nM vs 15 nM for U-50488).     

Synthesis and rearrangement of [1,1′-bicyclobutyl]-1-ols and spiro[3.4]octan-5-ols: a general access to bicyclo[3.3.0]octenes (hexahydropentalenes)

Several new Grignard reagents based on substituted cyclobutanes have been generated and added to cyclobutanones to yield mono- to trimethylated [1,1′-bicyclobutyl]-1-ols. Mono- to trimethylated spiro[3.4]octan-5-ols have been prepared from the parent ketone via alkylation and/or addition reactions. Upon treatment with acid, all [1,1′-bicyclobutyl]-1-ols and spiro[3.4]octan-5-ols rearrange to yield a single bicyclo[3.3.0]octene.     

Energetics of oxaspirocycle prototypes: 1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane and 1,7,9-trioxadispiro[5.1.5.3]hexadecane

The relative gas-phase energetics of several low-lying isomers of 1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane and 1,7,9-trioxadispiro[5.1.5.3]hexadecane have been calculated with second-order Mller-Plesset perturbation theory and basis sets as large as aug-cc-pVQZ. Relative energies in THF, dichloromethane, acetone, and DMSO have been estimated with corrections from polarized continuum model calculations at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d) level. In the most stable conformation of 1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane, both rings adopt chair conformations, and both oxygens are axially disposed (2A). It is more than 2 kcal mol(-1) more stable than all the other conformers. In agreement with previous work, the "twist-boat" trans isomer (3A) is the most stable isomer of 1,7,9-trioxadispiro[5.1.5.3]hexadecane. However, in contrast to this earlier study, an "all-chair" conformation (3B) is found to be the most stable cis isomer of 1,7,9-trioxadispiro[5.1.5.3]hexadecane (E approximately 0.5 kcal mol(-1) in acetone and DMSO). Gauge-independent atomic orbital computations at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d) level indicate that this is the only cis isomer with (13)C NMR chemical shifts that are qualitatively consistent with the experimental spectra.     

1,1',3,3',6,6',8,8'-Octachloro-9,9'-bifluorenylidene and perchloro-9,9'-bifluorenylidene,two exceedingly twisted ethylenes

The syntheses of 1,1',3,3',6,6',8,8'-octachloro-9,9'-bifluorenylidene (1), its precursors, and the byproduct 3,3',5,5'-tetrachloro-4-(trichloromethyl)biphenyl (5) are described. Accurate structural X-ray data on 1 and on perchloro-9,9'-bifluorenylidene (2) are reported and discussed. Because of chlorine overcrowding, the dihedral angles between their two identical fluorenylidene moieties are abnormally large, the central-ethylene twist angles being 55 and 66 degrees, respectively. Significant out-of-plane carbon-chlorine bond bending is likewise exhibited. Their ESR spectra and magnetic measurements prove that they are singlet species. The exceptionally large bathochromic displacements of their UV-vis absorption spectrum with respect to that of their parent hydrocarbon are mainly attributed to bond bending and molecular warping.     

Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of fluorene and benzimidazole containing novel conjugated polymers: Effect of alkyl chain length on electrochemical properties

The synthesis and characterization of two donor acceptor type conjugated polymers were investigated. Electrochemical properties were examined by cyclic voltammetry, spectroelectrochemistry and kinetic studies. The increase in the alkyl chain length attached to the fluorene unit was investigated in terms of electrochemical properties. The synthesis was carried out via Stille coupling of 4,7-dibromo-4′-(tert-butyl)spiro[benzo[d]imidazole-2,1′ cyclohexane] and 2,5-bis(tributylstannyl)thiophene with 9,9-dihexyl-9H fluorine (P1) and 9,9-didodecyl-9H fluorene (P2) respectively. Both polymers were neutral state green polymers. They had optical band gaps of 1.55 and 1.47 eV respectively. Increasing the chain length resulted in an increase in solubility and processibility of the polymer. Polymers are multichromic, revealing colors from neutral state green to doped state blue.     

A Clean synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,9'-xanthene]trione derivatives

A simple, clean and efficient method for the synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,9'-xanthene]trione derivatives and spiro[acenaphthene-1,9'-xanthene]-1',2,8'(2'H,5'H)-trione by condensation reaction of dimedone and isatins or acenaphthene in aqueous media is reported.