Hexabromide salt of a tiny octaazacryptand as a receptor for encapsulation of lower homolog halides: structural evidence on halide selectivity inside the tiny cage

Tiny azacryptand 1,4,7,10,13,16,21,24-octaazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane (L) upon reaction with 48% hydrobromic acid (containing <0.05% chloride contamination) forms hexabromide salt (1). Single crystal X-ray crystallographic investigation of the hexaprotonated bromide (1) shows no guest encapsulation inside the tiny cage. This bromide salt 1 with an empty proton cage has been utilized as the receptor for encapsulation of chloride (2) and fluoride (3). Crystallographic results of mixed chloride/bromide (2) and fluoride/bromide (3) complexes of L are examined, which show monotopic recognition of chloride in the case of 2 and fluoride in the case of 3 inside the proton cage with five bromide and three water molecules outside the cavity. Single crystals obtained from an experiment on mixed anionic system (chloride and fluoride), 1 shows selective encapsulation of fluoride, which supports the formation of complex 3 and crystals obtained upon treatment of 2 with tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride also yields complex 3. In a separate reaction between L and 49% hydrobromic acid containing higher chloride contamination (<0.2%) forms chloride/bromide salt (2). ¹H NMR studies of 1 with sodium chloride and fluoride support the encapsulation of the respective anions inside the proton cage.     

Design and synthesis of fluorescent galactolipid probes

Fluorescent galactolipid analogues (1, 1a, and 2) have been synthesized with a pyrene group attached to the amino-terminal of a hexanoyl chain bound to an otherwise normal galactolipid structure. The synthetic lipids are obtained from peracetyl galactose by a general and versatile procedure based on the trichloroacetimidate methodology. The intense violet fluorescence (376 and 395 nm) and good photostability of pyrene make these compounds highly suitable as probes to study galactolipid metabolism. As proof of concept, we report that compound 2 is a valid tool to detect galactolipase activity in enzymatic preparations of potato tubers.     

Optical and electronic properties of siloxane-bridged cyclic dimers with naphthylene or pyrenylene moieties

The optical and electronic properties of novel siloxane-bridged cyclic dimers with naphthylene (CD1) or pyrenylene (CD2) moieties are described. CD1 and CD2 were obtained by the cyclic dimerization of 1,4-bis(dimethylhydroxysilyl)naphthalene (M1) and 1,6-bis(dimethylhydroxysilyl)pyrene (M2), respectively. CD1 and CD2 mainly exhibited the emission from their excimers owing to their short distances between aryl moieties in CD1 and CD2, which were determined to be 3.44 Å and 3.41 Å by the X-ray crystallographic analysis, respectively. The absorption spectra of CD2 in the presence of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) revealed that CD2 has the ability to form 1:1 charge-transfer complex with TCNQ, indicating the existence of the transannular π-π interaction between closely located pyrene components in CD2.     

FRET-derived ratiometric fluorescence sensor for Cu

New N-(pyrenylmethyl)naphtho-azacrown-5 (1) was synthesized as an ‘On-Off’ fluorescent chemosensor for Cu²⁺. Excited at 240 nm corresponding to the absorption of naphthalene unit (energy donor) of 1, emission at 380 nm from pyrene unit (energy acceptor) is observed, indicating that intramolecular fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET-On) occurs in 1. When Cu²⁺ is added to a solution of 1, however, the fluorescence of pyrene is strongly quenched (FRET-Off) whereas that of naphthalene group is revived. Such FRET ‘On-Off’ behavior of 1 is observed only in the case of Cu²⁺ binding, but not for other metal cations. The high selectivity of 1 toward Cu²⁺ can be potentially applied to a new kind of FRET-based chemosensor. The FRET On-Off behavior is supported by computational studies. The calculated molecular orbitals of HOMO and LUMOs suggest the excited-state interactions leading to FRET from naphthalene to pyrene in 1, but no electron density changes in 1·Cu²⁺ complex.     

Functionalization of C60 via organometallic reagents

The reaction of [60]fullerene with organolithium and Grignard reagents carrying orthoester, acetal or other end groups yielded adducts 3-5 at the 6-6 bond of C60 after quenching with trifluoroacetic acid. The adducts could be easily methylated or benzylated with methyl iodide or benzyl bromide in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide to yield exclusively the 1,4-disubstituted C60 6 and 7a,b. Cleavage of the orthoester, acetal and silylether groups gave the corresponding carboxylic acid 9, aldehydes 10a,b and 11 and alcohols 12 and 13a,b. The carboxylic acid 9 readily reacted with alanine ethyl ester under standard peptide coupling conditions to give 14 in 55% yield. Attempts to generate a silyl enol ether from the reaction of aldehyde 10b with TIPSOTf and triethylamine failed. Instead the reaction led to a cyclized ether 16a (or alcohol 16b in the absence of silylating agent) resulting from the addition of an initially formed fulleride anion to the aldehyde group. The corresponding acetal 4b reacted similarly. The reaction of aldehyde 10b with aniline also gave a cyclized product 19. Surprisingly, aldehyde 11, which no longer carried an acidic fullerene proton reacted with aniline to give a product 20 resulting from an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction followed by aromatization of a primarily formed N-phenylimine. Alcohol 13b could be readily converted to the corresponding bromide using tetramethyl-α-bromoenamine. The bromide was reacted with the carbanion derived from the protected glycine derivative to yield the diastereomeric fullerene amino acid derivatives 1-benzyl-4-[α-propyl-tert-butylglycinate benzophenone imine] 1,4-dihydro[60]fullerenes 24a and 24b.     

De-novo approach for a unique spiro skeleton-1,7-dioxa-2,6-dioxospiro[4.4]nonanes

2-Oxoglutaric acid (1) underwent facile indium mediated allylation with allyl bromide (2), and ethyl 4-bromocrotonate (3), cinnamyl bromide (4) and subsequent in situ dehydration to provide respective 5-oxotetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acids 5-7 (90-95%). The reaction of 1 with 3 and 4 proceeded with high regio and stereo selectivity to provide only γ-addition products with syn stereochemistry as ascertained from their cyclic products. Compounds 5-7 underwent diastereoselective iodocyclization to provide respective 1,7-dioxa-2,6-dioxospiro[4.4]nonanes 8-13. The relative stereochemistries have been ascertained by single crystal X-ray structures, NOE experiments and coupling constants in ¹H NMR spectra.     

Novel 2,7-substituted pyrene derivatives: syntheses, solid-state structures, and properties

A novel series of pyrene derivatives 3-6 functionalized with different aromatic substituents at 2,7-positions of the pyrene core have been readily synthesized by Suzuki coupling reactions. Single crystals suitable for X-ray crystallographic analysis of compounds 3-6 were all successfully obtained. The optical, electrochemical, and thermal properties of these newly synthesized compounds were thoroughly investigated and discussed. Theoretical calculation was adopted to study the geometric and electronic structure of compounds 3-6. Additionally, preliminary studies demonstrated that field-effect transistors using compound 3, 5, and 6 performed as p-type semiconductors, in which a field-effect mobility as high as 0.018 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and current on/off ratio of 10⁶ were achieved from compound 6.     

Synthesis of orthogonally protected d-olivoside, 1,3-di-O-acetyl-4-O-benzyl-2,6-dideoxy-d-arabinopyranose, as a C-glycosyl donor

1,3-Di-O-acetyl-4-O-benzyl-2,6-dideoxy-d-arabinopyranose (11) was synthesised from thiophenyl α-d-mannopyranoside (21) in an eight-step sequence. Tosylation of 21 and subsequent reaction with 2,2-dimethoxypropane gave tosylate 22, which upon treatment with lithium aluminium hydride furnished 6-deoxy glycoside 24 and by-product thiophenyl 6-deoxy-2-O-isopropyl-α-d-arabinopyranoside. The X-ray crystal structure of the latter was determined. Benzylation of the 4-hydroxyl group of 24 and subsequent protecting group manipulation gave d-rhamnosyl bromide 29, which on treatment with zinc-copper couple gave the orthogonally protected d-rhamnal 30. Triphenylphosphine hydrogen bromide catalysed addition of acetic acid to 30 furnished the target molecule 11. The scandium(III) triflate promoted reaction of 11 and 2-naphthol gave the corresponding C-glycoside 36 in 86% yield.     

Novel tocopheryl compounds. Part 15: One-pot formation of furotocopheryl derivatives

Reaction of tocopheryl bromide 2a or chromanyl bromide 2b with triphenyl phosphine produced phosphomium salt intermediates (3a-b), which further reacted with acyl chlorides to novel furotocopherol compounds 4-11 in good yields. The cyclization proceeded according to a two step esterification-Wittig mechanism. Similarly, furotocopheryl dimer 12 was prepared starting from oxalyl chloride. The coupling of tocopheryl phosphonium salt 3a onto modified polystyrene provided a new, vitamin E-loaded resin.     

Synthesis of arotinoid acid and temarotene using mixed (Z)-1,2-bis(organylchalcogene)-1-alkene as precursor

An efficient and novel total synthesis of the two bioactive retinoids temarotene and arotinoid acid (TTNPB) is described. The key steps in this process include the regio and stereoselective hydrotelluration of thioacetylene 9 and Te/Li transmetalation of mixed (Z)-1,2-bis(organylchalcogene)-1-alkene (Z)-3. The subsequent reaction involving the β-phenylthio vinyl lithiated intermediate 10 with dimethyl sulfate gave the (E)-vinyl sulfide 11. The Ni⁺² cross-coupling of 11 with the corresponding phenylzinc bromide and p-oxazoline phenylzinc bromide 12 afforded the respective temarotene 2 and retinoid-oxazoline substituted 13. Finally, compound 13 was deprotected with HCl to furnish arotinoid acid (TTNPB) 1.     

Synthesis of D-mannitol substituted ether-linked bis-1,2,3-triazoles as models of gemini surfactants

Readily available and low cost D-mannitol was converted into 1,2,5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-mannitol (1) in the presence of acetone and zinc chloride. Williamson etherfication of 1 with propargyl bromide afforded the bisalkyne 2 in a very good yield. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of 2 with four different alkyl azides using click conditions gave four novel bistriazoles 3a-d. Removal of the acetal groups of 3a-d afforded the deprotected bistriazoles 4a-d in excellent yields. Products 3 and 4 represent models of gemini surfactants.     

A bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10-based fluorescence chemosensor for paraquat and diquat

A bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10-based host to which are covalently attached two pyrene groups as fluorescence chromophores was designed and synthesized. Its complexations with paraquat (PQ) and diquat (DQ) were studied by proton NMR, ESI mass spectrometry, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Its chemosensor behavior to PQ and DQ was revealed by fluorescence emission spectroscopy. This new host can function as a fluorescence chemosensor for PQ and DQ due to the inhibition of photoinduced electron transfer between the bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10 moiety and the pyrene groups by the addition of PQ (or DQ).     

Synthesis of environmentally sensitive 2′-deoxyguanosine containing solvatochromic pyrene fluorophore

The synthesis and photophysical property of novel solvatochromic pyrene derivative, Apa5 and fluorescent guanine ^ApaG8 were described. These newly synthesized fluorescent pyrene derivatives exhibited solvent polarity dependent fluorescence at longer wavelengths. Such environmentally sensitive pyrene derivatives can be used as a reporter probe that is sensitive to the changes in the microenvironment around DNA either in vitro or in vivo.     

An easy preparation of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl propenyl sulfones

Sodium tridecafluorohexanesulfinate (1a) and sodium 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethanesulfinate (1b) were prepared by the treatment of 1-iodo-tridecafluorohexane and 1-bromo-1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane with sodium dithionite in a water-acetonitrile solution. Prolonged reaction of 1a with allyl bromide in DMF afforded tridecafluorohexane 1-propenyl sulfone 2 as the only product in good yield. A similar treatment of 1b gave exclusively 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane 3-propenyl sulfone 4. Bromination of 4 followed by dehydrobromination with Et₃N resulted in a mixture of 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane 3-bromo-1-propenyl sulfone 6 and 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane 2-bromo-3-propenyl sulfone 7, while dehydrobromination with pyridine gave sulfone 6 practically as the only product. α,β-Unsaturated sulfones 2 and 6 were shown to be active dienophiles.     

A novel procedure for the synthesis of multifunctional ketones through the Fukuyama coupling reaction employing dialkylzincs

Treatment of thiol esters 1 with dialkylzincs 2 in the presence of zinc bromide, that was in situ prepared from zinc dust and bromine, provided various functionalized ketones 3 in high yields. The reaction mechanism, which may shift the Schlenk equilibrium from dialkylzincs 2 to reactive alkylzinc bromide 5, was postulated to account for the facile coupling reaction.     

Quencher-free molecular beacon systems with two pyrene units in the stem region

We appended pyrene units covalently onto adenosine and uridine nucleosides (forming A^P and U^P units, respectively) and then incorporated them into oligonucleotides such that they were positioned in complementary locations in opposite strands in the middle positions of hairpin stems. Systems 1 (A^PU^P) and 3 (A^PA^P) individually exhibit aromatic stacking between the opposing pyrene units in the stems of their hairpins and display in their spectra the photophysical properties of strongly red-shifted bands; in contrast, the U^PU^P system 2 exhibits quenching spectra. Systems 1 (A^PU^P) and 3 (A^PA^P) behave as effective molecular beacons (MBs) that change color from green to blue upon duplex formation, whereas 2 (U^PU^P) is an effective MB that changes the intensity of its fluorescence upon forming its perfectly matched duplex.     

Synthesis of poly-substituted pyrroles starting from the Baylis-Hillman adducts

We synthesized poly-substituted pyrrole derivatives 4a-e, 7a-c and 10a-d from the reaction of phenacyl bromide and the aza-Baylis-Hillman adducts 1a-d or their rearranged derivatives 5a-e. The pyrroles were synthesized via the successive N-alkylation, Michael addition, elimination of p-toluenesulfinic acid and oxidative aromatization processes.     

Optical properties of oligo(2,3-dioxyfunctionalized)naphthalenes

The properties of two series of oligo(2,3-dioxyfunctionalized)naphthalenes which are connected at the 1,4-positions, that is, methoxy derivatives 1-4 and derivatives that possess two pyrene groups on the central scaffolding oxygen functions 5-8, are described. In 1-4, the fluorescence quantum yields increased by about 20-80% as the number of naphthalene units increased. The intramolecular energy transfer quantum yields of 5-8 were around 20% regardless of the number of naphthalene units.     

Lewis acid-promoted reactions of ethenetricarboxylates with γ-CF3-substituted propargyl alcohols

The Lewis acid-promoted reaction of an ethenetricarboxylate derivative (1) with CF₃-substituted propargyl alcohols has been examined. Reaction of γ-CF₃ propargyl alcohols in the presence of zinc bromide gave five-membered CF₃-containing tetrahydrofurans in 66-85% yield. The CF₃ group activates alkyne as an electron-withdrawing group. On the other hand, reaction of γ-trifluoromethyl-α-aryl propargyl alcohols 2 with 1 in the presence of 1 equiv of SnCl₄ gave cyclobutane derivatives 6 in 29-49% yield. Formation of cyclobutane 6a arises from the [2+2] cycloaddition between ethenetricarboxylate 1 and chloroallene 8, which is produced by the reaction of propargyl alcohol 2a and SnCl₄.     

Fluorescence emission control and switching of oxymethylcrowned spirobenzopyrans by metal ion

Oxymethylcrowned spirobenzopyran 1 and pyrenylspirobenzopyran 2 were synthesized, and fluorescence emission of their corresponding merocyanine form was examined in the presence of metal ions. For 2, fluorescence emission derived from the pyrene moiety was completely quenched by photoinduced electron transfer (PET) of the nitrogen atom when the merocyanine form was not produced, namely, without metal ions. However, when 2 was converted to the merocyanine form by the complexation of its crown ether with a metal ion, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the pyrene to the merocyanine moieties took place to produce fluorescence emission. This result demonstrates that the spirobenzopyran isomerization can function as a fluorescence emission switch. Fluorescence quantum yield measurement for 1 and 2 showed that fluorescence emission depends on the binding metal ion in which the fluorescence quantum yield generally increased with the increase of metal ion radius.