Regioselective Synthesis of N‐Heteroaromatic Trifluoromethoxy Compounds by Direct O−CF3 Bond Formation

The first one‐step method for the synthesis of ortho‐N‐heteroaromatic trifluoromethoxy derivatives by site‐specific O?CF₃ bond formation using hydroxylated N‐heterocycles and Togni's reagent is described. The approach enables the unprecedented syntheses of a wide range of six or five‐membered N‐heteroaromatic trifluoromethoxy compounds containing one or two heteroatoms from most commonly used hydroxylated N‐heterocycles. Notable advantages of this method include its simplicity and mild conditions, avoidance of the need for metals or toxic reagents, and compatibility with a variety of functional groups. Furthermore, this method is especially suitable for the larger scale application.     

Synthetic and Structural Studies of 1,8‐Chalcogen Naphthalene Derivatives

Four novel 1,8‐disubstituted naphthalene derivatives 4 – 7 that contain chalcogen atoms occupying the peri positions have been prepared and fully characterised by using X‐ray crystallography, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and MS. Molecular distortion due to noncovalent substituent interactions was studied as a function of the bulk of the interacting chalcogen atoms and the size and nature of the alkyl group attached to them. X‐ray data for 4 – 7 was compared to the series of known 1,8‐bis(phenylchalcogeno)naphthalenes 1 – 3 , which were themselves prepared from novel synthetic routes. A general increase in the E???E′ distance was observed for molecules containing bulkier atoms at the peri positions. The decreased S???S distance from phenyl‐ 1 and ethyl‐ 4 analogues is ascribed to a weaker chalcogen lone pair–lone pair repulsion acting in the ethyl analogue due to the presence of two equatorial S(naphthyl) ring conformations. Two novel peri‐substituted naphthalene sulfoxides of 1 , Nap(O?SPh)(SPh) 8 and Nap(O?SPh)₂ 9 , which contain different valence states of sulfur, were prepared and fully characterised by using X‐ray crystallography and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and MS. Molecular structures were analysed by using naphthalene ring torsions, peri‐atom displacement, splay angle magnitude, S???S interactions, aromatic ring orientations and quasi‐linear O?S???S arrangements. The axial S(naphthyl) rings in 8 and 9 are unfavourable for S???S contacts due to stronger chalcogen lone pair–lone pair repulsion. Although quasi‐linear O?S???S alignments suggest attractive interaction is conceivable, analysis of the B3LYP wavefunctions affords no evidence for direct bonding interactions between the S atoms.     

N−H‐Type Excited‐State Proton Transfer in Compounds Possessing a Seven‐Membered‐Ring Intramolecular Hydrogen Bond

A series of compounds containing 5‐(2‐aminobenzylidene)‐2,3‐dimethyl‐3,5‐dihydro‐4H‐imidazol‐4‐one ( o ‐ABDI ) as the core chromophore with a seven‐membered‐ring N?H‐type intramolecular hydrogen bond have been synthesized and characterized. The acidity of the N?H proton and thus the hydrogen‐bond strength can be fine‐tuned by replacing one of the amino hydrogen atoms by a substituent R, the acidity increasing with increasing electron‐withdrawing strength of R, that is, in the order H<COCH₃<COPh<Tosyl<COCF₃. The tosyl and trifluoroacetyl derivatives undergo ultrafast, irreversible excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) that results in proton‐transfer emission solely in the red region. Reversible ESIPT, and hence dual emission, involving the normal and proton‐transfer tautomers was resolved for the acetyl‐ and benzyl‐substituted counterparts. For o ‐ABDI , which has the weakest acidity, ESIPT is prohibited due to its highly endergonic reaction. The results clearly demonstrate the harnessing of ESIPT by modifying the proton acidity and hydrogen‐bonding strength in a seven‐membered‐ring intramolecular hydrogen‐bonding system. For all the compounds studied, the emission quantum yields are weak (ca. 10^?3) in dichloromethane, but strong in the solid form, ranging from 3.2 to 47.4 %.     

One‐pot Annulation for Biaryl‐fused Monocarba‐closo‐dodecaborate through Aromatic B−H Bond Disconnection

We have developed a one‐pot annulation reaction of monocarba‐closo‐dodecaborate with cyclic diaryliodonium salts to afford biaryl‐fused derivatives. Aryl functionalities are introduced at both the 1‐carbon and unreactive ortho‐boron vertices of the “σ‐aromatic” carborane cage without the need for pre‐functionalization. DFT calculations revealed that the palladium‐catalyzed C?B bond‐formation step in this process proceeds through a concerted metalation–deprotonation (CMD)‐type pathway for the B?H bond disconnection on the aromatic cage, though such bonds are generally regarded as hydridic.     

Sterically Crowded peri‐Substituted Naphthalene Phosphines and their PV Derivatives

Three sterically crowded peri‐substituted naphthalene phosphines, Nap[PPh₂][ER] (Nap=naphthalene‐1,8‐diyl; ER=SEt, SPh, SePh) 1–3 , which contain phosphorus and chalcogen functional groups at the peri positions have been prepared. Each phosphine reacts to form a complete series of P^V chalcogenides Nap[P(E′)(Ph₂)(ER)] (E′=O, S, Se). The novel compounds were fully characterised by using X‐ray crystallography and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and MS. X‐ray data for 1 , 2 , n O , n S , n Se (n=1–3) are compared. Eleven molecular structures have been analysed by naphthalene ring torsions, peri‐atom displacement, splay angle magnitude, X???E interactions, aromatic ring orientations and quasi‐linear arrangements. An increase in the congestion of the peri region following the introduction of heavy chalcogen atoms is accompanied by a general increase in naphthalene distortion. P???E distances increase for molecules that contain bulkier atoms at the peri positions and also when larger chalcogen atoms are bound to phosphorus. The chalcogenides adopt similar conformations that contain a quasi‐linear E???P? C fragment, except for 3 O , which displays a twist‐axial‐twist conformation resulting in the formation of a linear O???Se? C alignment. Ab initio MO calculations performed on 2 O , 3 O , 3 S and 3 Se reveal Wiberg bond index values of 0.02 to 0.04, which indicates only minor non‐bonded interactions; however, calculations on radical cations of 3 O , 3 S and 3 Se reveal increased values (0.14–0.19).     

Synthetic and Structural Studies of 1‐Halo‐8‐(alkylchalcogeno)naphthalene Derivatives

A series of eight 1‐halo‐8‐(alkylchalcogeno)naphthalene derivatives ( 1 – 8 ; halogen=Br, I; alkylchalcogen=SEt, SPh, SePh, TePh) containing a halogen and a chalcogen atom occupying the peri positions have been prepared and fully characterised by using X‐ray crystallography, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and MS. Naphthalene distortion due to non‐covalent substituent interactions was studied as a function of the bulk of the interacting chalcogen atoms and the size and nature of the alkyl group attached to them. X‐ray data for 1 , 2 , 4 and 5 – 8 were compared. Molecular structures were analysed in terms of naphthalene ring torsions, peri‐atom displacement, splay angle magnitude, X???E interactions, aromatic ring orientations and quasi‐linear X???E? C arrangements. A general increase in the X???E distance was observed for molecules that contain bulkier atoms at the peri positions. The I???S distance of 4 is comparable with the I???Te distance of 8 , and is ascribed to a stronger lone pair–lone pair repulsion due to the presence of an axial S(naphthyl) ring conformation. Density functional theory (B3LYP) calculations performed on 5 – 8 revealed Wiberg bond index values of 0.05–0.08, which indicate minor interactions taking place between the non‐bonded atoms in these compounds.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed PIII‐Directed ortho‐C−H Borylation of Arylphosphines

Transition‐metal‐mediated metalation of an aromatic C?H bond that is adjacent to a tertiary phosphine group in arylphosphines via a four‐membered chelate ring was first discovered in 1968. Herein, we overcome a long‐standing problem with the ortho‐C?H activation of arylphosphines in a catalytic fashion. In particular, we developed a rhodium‐catalyzed ortho‐selective C?H borylation of various commercially available arylphosphines with B₂pin₂ through P^III‐chelation‐assisted C?H activation. This discovery is suggestive of a generic platform that could enable the late‐stage modification of readily accessible arylphosphines.     

Band‐Gap Manipulations of Monolayer Graphene by Phenyl Radical Adsorptions: A Density Functional Theory Study

Phenyl radical (Ph^.) adsorption on monolayer graphene sheets is used to investigate the band‐gap manipulation of graphene through density functional theory. Adsorption of a single Ph^. on graphene breaks the aromatic π‐bond and generates an unpaired electron, which is delocalized to the ortho or para position. Adsorption of a second radical at the ortho or para position saturates the radical by electron pairing and results in semiconducting graphene. Adsorption of a second radical at the ortho position (ortho–ortho pairing) is found to be more favorable than adsorption at the para position (ortho–para pairing), and the ortho–ortho pairing has stronger effects on band‐gap opening compared with ortho–para pairing. Adsorption of even numbers of Ph^. on graphene by ortho–ortho and ortho–para pairings, in general, increases the band gap. Our study shows promise of band‐gap manipulation in monolayer graphene by Ph^. adsorption, leading to potential wider applications of graphene.     

Catalytic Asymmetric (4+3) Cyclizations of In Situ Generated ortho‐Quinone Methides with 2‐Indolylmethanols

The first catalytic asymmetric (4+3) cyclization of in situ generated ortho‐quinone methides with 2‐indolylmethanols has been established, which constructed seven‐membered heterocycles in high yields (up to 95 %) and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 98 %). This approach not only represents the first catalytic asymmetric (4+3) cyclization of o‐hydroxybenzyl alcohols, but also enabled an unprecedented catalytic asymmetric (4+3) cyclization of 2‐indolylmethanols. In addition, a scarcely reported catalytic asymmetric (4+3) cyclization of para‐quinone methide derivatives was accomplished.     

Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Asymmetric 1,6‐Conjugate Addition of Thioacetic Acid to para‐Quinone Methides

An asymmetric 1,6‐conjugate addition of thioacetic acid with para‐quinone methides has been developed by using chiral phosphoric acid catalysis in the presence of water. A series of sulfur‐containing compounds were thus obtained in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities. Theoretical studies indicated that the water‐bridged proton transfer is a potentially favorable reaction pathway. An unprecedented O?H???π interaction between water and the aromatic nucleus of chiral phosphoric acid was discovered to contribute significantly to the stereocontrol in the catalysis.     

Photoisomerization of Trans Ortho‐, Meta‐, Para‐Nitro Diarylbutadienes: A Case of Regioselectivity

A series of ortho‐, meta‐ and para‐substituted trans‐nitro aryl (phenyl and pyridyl) butadienes have been synthesized and characterized. The effect of substitution and positional selectivity on their fluorescence and photoisomerization were systematically investigated. Among all dienes, meta‐ and para‐nitro phenyl‐substituted derivatives exhibit remarkable solvatochromic emission shifts due to intramolecular charge transfer. On the other hand, ortho derivatives undergo regioselective isomerization upon photoexcitation in contrast to inefficient isomerization of para and meta nitro‐substituted dienes. Single crystal X‐ray analysis revealed existence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the nitro group and the hydrogen of the proximal double bond. This restricts the rotation of the proximal double bond thereby allowing regioselective isomerization. The observations were also supported by NMR spectroscopic studies.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Acylation of Aryl Diazoesters with ortho‐Bromobenzaldehydes

In this work, we describe a palladium‐catalyzed intermolecular O acylation of α‐diazoesters with ortho‐bromobenzaldehydes. The C(sp²)?H bond activation of the aldehyde is enabled by migratory insertion of a palladium carbene intermediate. The diazoesters act as modular three‐atom units to build up key seven‐membered palladacycles, which are transformed into a variety of isocoumarin derivatives upon reductive elimination. Mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations provide insight into the reaction pathway.     

A comparative study between para‐aminophenyl and ortho‐aminophenyl benzothiazoles using NMR and DFT calculations

Ortho‐substituted and para‐substituted aminophenyl benzothiazoles were synthesised and characterised using NMR spectroscopy. A comparison of the proton chemical shift values reveals significant differences in the observed chemical shift values for the NH protons indicating the presence of a hydrogen bond in all ortho‐substituted compounds as compared to the para compounds. The presence of intramolecular hydrogen bond in the ortho amino substituted aminophenyl benzothiazole forces the molecule to be planar which may be an additional advantage in developing these compounds as Alzheimer's imaging agent because the binding to amyloid fibrils prefers planar compounds. The splitting pattern of the methylene proton next to the amino group also showed significant coupling to the amino proton consistent with the notion of the existence of slow exchange and hydrogen bond in the ortho‐substituted compounds. This is further verified by density functional theory calculations which yielded a near planar low energy conformer for all the o‐aminophenyl benzothiazoles and displayed a hydrogen bond from the amine proton to the nitrogen of the thiazole ring. A detailed analysis of the ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR chemical shifts and density functional theory calculated structures of the compounds are described. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cascade One‐Pot Synthesis of Orange‐Red‐Fluorescent Polycyclic Cinnolino[2,3‐f]phenanthridin‐9‐ium Salts by Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed C−H Bond Activation of 2‐Azobiaryl Compounds and Alkenes

Quaternary ammonium salts were synthesized in moderate to good yields through double oxidative C?H bond activation on azobenzenes. The mechanism of the highly regioselective reaction of 2‐azobiaryls with alkenes to give orange‐red‐fluorescent cinnolino[2,3‐f]phenanthridin‐9‐ium salts and 15H‐cinnolino[2,3‐f]phenanthridin‐9‐ium‐10‐ide is proposed to involve ortho C?H olefination of the 2‐azobiaryl compound with the alkene, intramolecular aza‐Michael addition, concerted metalation–deprotonation (CMD), reductive elimination, and oxidation.     

12‐ to 22‐Membered Bridged β‐Lactams as Potential Penicillin‐Binding Protein Inhibitors

As potential inhibitors of penicillin‐binding proteins (PBPs), we focused our research on the synthesis of non‐traditional 1,3‐bridged β‐lactams embedded into macrocycles. We synthesized 12‐ to 22‐membered bicyclic β‐lactams by the ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) of bis‐ω‐alkenyl‐3(S)‐aminoazetidinone precursors. The reactivity of 1,3‐bridged β‐lactams was estimated by the determination of the energy barrier of a concerted nucleophilic attack and lactam ring‐opening process by using ab initio calculations. The results predicted that 16‐membered cycles should be more reactive. Biochemical evaluations against R39 DD‐peptidase and two resistant PBPs, namely, PBP2a and PBP5, revealed the inhibition effect of compound 4d , which featured a 16‐membered bridge and the N‐tert‐butyloxycarbonyl chain at the C3 position of the β‐lactam ring. Surprisingly, the corresponding bicycle, 12d , with the PhOCH₂CO side chain at C3 was inactive. Reaction models of the R39 active site gave a new insight into the geometric requirements of the conformation of potential ligands and their steric hindrance; this could help in the design of new compounds.     

Visible‐Light‐Induced Trifluoromethylation of Isonitrile‐Substituted Methylenecyclopropanes: Facile Access to 6‐(Trifluoromethyl)‐7,8‐Dihydrobenzo[k]phenanthridine Derivatives

A new visible‐light‐induced trifluoromethylation of isonitrile‐substituted methylenecyclopropanes is developed. A range of substituted 6‐(trifluoromethyl)‐7,8‐dihydrobenzo[k]phenanthridine derivatives are readily furnished by this newly developed tandem reaction with moderate to good yields. This reaction allows the direct formation of two six‐membered rings and three new C?C bonds, including the C?CF₃ bond, under visible light irradiation.     

Computational study of energetic nitrogen‐rich derivatives of 1,1′‐ and 5,5′‐bridged ditetrazoles

Density functional theory method was used to study the heats of formation (HOFs), electronic structure, energetic properties, and thermal stability for a series of bridged ditetrazole derivatives with different linkages and substituent groups. The results show that the ? N₃ group and azo bridge (? N?N? ) play a very important role in increasing the HOF values of the ditetrazole derivatives. The effects of the substituents on the HOMO–LUMO gap are combined with those of the bridge groups. The calculated detonation velocities and detonation pressures indicate that the ? NO₂, ? NF₂, ? N?N? , or ? N(O)?N? group is an effective structural unit for enhancing the detonation performance for the derivatives. An analysis of the bond dissociation energies for several relatively weak bonds suggests that the N? N bond in the ring or outside the ring is the weakest one and the N? N cleavage is possible to happen in thermal decomposition. Overall, the ? CH₂? CH₂? or ? NH? NH? group is an effective bridge for enhancing the thermal stability of the bridged ditetrazoles. Because of their desirable detonation performance and thermal stability, five compounds may be considered as the potential candidates of high‐energy density materials (HEDMs). These results provide basic information for the molecular design of novel HEDMs. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011     

Hydrogen‐Bond‐Induced Chiral Axis Construction: Theoretical Study of Cinchonine–Thiourea‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Intramolecular Cycloaddition

Theoretical calculations were performed to investigate the mechanism and enantioselectivity of cinchonine–thiourea‐catalyzed intramolecular hetero‐Diels–Alder cycloaddition of ethynylphenol derivatives to afford axial chirality naphthalenylpyran products via a vinylidene ortho‐quinone methide (VQM) intermediate. The results show that this transformation occurs through a reaction pathway involving the deprotonation of the naphthol moiety by the quinuclidine base, intramolecular proton transfer in ammonium naphthalenolate, and [4+2] cycloaddition. It is found that the axial chirality of the VQM intermediate is generated by the protonation step, which affects the enantioselectivity of the reaction. The enantioselectivity for the generation of the VQM intermediate is controlled by steric repulsion with the cinchonine framework, which provides an R‐axial chirality VQM as the major intermediate. Moreover, the enantioselectivity for the axial chirality of the naphthopyran product is controlled by the cycloaddition step, in which an extra hydrogen bond between the naphthalenol and cinchonine moieties leads to a favorable configuration for the generation of the S‐axial chirality naphthopyran product. The calculated enantioselectivity and enantiomeric excesses coincide with experimental observations.     

Metal‐Catalyzed C−H Bond Activation of 5‐Membered Carbocyclic Rings: A Powerful Access to Azulene,Acenaphthylene and Fulvene Derivatives

Azulene, acenaphthylene and fulvene derivatives exhibit important physical properties useful in materials chemistry as well as valuable biological properties. Since about two decades ago, the metal‐catalyzed functionalization of such compounds, via C?H bond activation of their 5‐membered carbocyclic ring, proved to be a very convenient method for the synthesis of a wide variety of azulene, acenaphthylene and fulvene derivatives. For such reactions, there is no need to prefunctionalize the 5‐membered carbocyclic rings. In this review, the progress in the synthesis of azulene, acenaphthylene and fulvene derivatives via metal‐catalyzed C?H bond activation of their 5‐membered carbocyclic ring are summarized.     

1-萘甲酰苯胺和2-萘甲酰苯胺的分子内电荷转移研究

A series of 1-naphthanilides (1) and 2-naphthanilides (2) with varied substituents at the para- or meta-position of anilino phenyl ring were prepared and their absorption and fluorescence spectra in a nonpolar solvent cyclohexane were investigated. An abnormal long wavelength emission assigned to the charge transfer (CT) state was found for all of the prepared naphthanilides in cyclohexane. A linear free energy correlation between the CT emission energies and the Hammett constants of the substituent was found within series 1 and 2. The value of the linear slope with 1 (0.42 eV) was higher than that with 2 (0.32 eV) being close to that of the substituted benzanilides 3 (0.31 eV) The higher slope value suggested higher charge separation extent in the CT state of 1 than that of 2. It was found that the corresponding linear slope of anilino-substituted benzanilides remained unchanged when para-, meta-, ortho-, or ortho, ortho-methyls were introduced into the anilino moiety, which ruled out the possible contribution of the difference in the steric effect and the electron accepting ability of the naphthoyl acceptor in 1 and 2. Compared with the early reported N-substituted-benzoyl-aminonaphthalene derivatives 4 and 5, it was considered that 1-naphthoyl enhanced the charge transfer in 1 and the proximity of its ^1La and ^1Lb states was suggested to be responsible. It was shown that 1- and/or 2-substituted naphthalene cores acting as either electron acceptor (naphthoyl) or electron donor (aminonaphthalene) were different in not only electron accepting (donating) ability but also shaping the charge transfer pathway.