Calixcrowns and related molecules

The synthesis of 1,2- and 1,3-calix[4]-bis-crowns, double calix[4]arenes and double calixcrowns have been shown to depend on the reaction conditions (nature of the base, structure of the ditosylates, and the stoichiometry of the reactants). The 1,3-alternate conformation of the 1,3-calix[4]-bis-crowns was shown to be favourable to the selective complexation of cesium cation. The observed Na⁺/Cs⁺ selectivity was exploited in separation processes using them as carriers in transport through supported liquid membranes (SLMs). The best Na⁺/Cs⁺ selectivity (1/45 000) was observed for the naphthyl derivative 7. Calix(aza) crowns and 1,3-calix[4]-bis-(aza)-crowns were also produced through the preliminary formation of the Schiff base-calixarenes, which were further hydrogenated. The syntheses consisted of the 1,3-selective alkylation of calixarenes followed by cyclization into a 1,3-bridged calixarene or by the direct 1,3-capping of the calixarene with appropriate ditosylates. Soft metal complexation by these ligands is also presented.This paper is dedicated to the commemorative issue on the 50th anniversary of calixarenes.     

Calixcrowns and Related Supramolecular Systems

Our main results in the chemistry of 1,3-calix[4]-bis-crowns taken from recent literature are reported.     

一类新型主体分子——杯冠化合物

本文综述了新型主体分子杯冠化合物的研究进展, 讨论了它们的合成、构象、手性性质、超分子识别功能以及作为化学传感器和模拟酶应用等方面的问题。     

New dispiro compounds: synthesis and properties

We report the synthesis and structural characterization of two dispiro compounds. These two positional isomers have been designed and synthesized through an efficient method. Because of the rigidity and orthogonality of the spiro bridge, both molecules exhibit a well-defined architecture which consists of two fluorene rings connecting to an indenofluorenyl unit via two sp3 carbon atoms. The structural, electrochemical, optical, and thermal properties of these dispiro isomers are discussed.     

N-Substituted trifluoroacetimidoyl halides: synthesis and properties

N-Substituted trifluoroacetimidoyl halides in ionic-type transformations readily undergo nucleophilic substitution and dehydrofluorination rather than 1,3-dehydrohalogenation to give nitrile ylides.     

New polysilalkylenes: synthesis and gas-separation properties

A series of polysiltrimethylenes with different substituents at the silicon atom, as well as new polydimethylsilmethylene, were synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of the corresponding sila- and disilacyclobutanes. For the first time, the copolymerization of dimethylsila- and tetramethyldisilacyclobutanes was carried out with formation of permethylsilalkylene elastomers containing a controlled number of silmethylene and siltrimethylene units in the main chain. Permeability coefficients of n-alkanes C₁-C₄ were measured for the prepared silalkylene homopolymers and copolymers by mass spectrometric and barometric techniques. An analysis of the permeability, solubility, and diffusion coefficients indicated that the separation of hydrocarbons proceeded according to a solubility-controlled mechanism. Polysilalkylenes with various structures of radicals at the Si atom were applied onto the surface of porous hollow fibers. The study of gas-separation parameters of the obtained composite membranes showed that they dramatically depended on the type of substituents at the Si atom. The series of polypermethylsilalkylenes are promising as membrane materials for the separation of hydrocarbon gases.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2497–2503, November, 2004.     

Oxa-spirocycles: synthesis,properties and applications

A general approach to a new generation of spirocyclic molecules – oxa-spirocycles – was developed. The key synthetic step was iodocyclization. More than 150 oxa-spirocyclic compounds were prepared. Incorporation of an oxygen atom into the spirocyclic unit dramatically improved water solubility (by up to 40 times) and lowered lipophilicity. More potent oxa-spirocyclic analogues of antihypertensive drug terazosin were synthesized and studied in vivo.

A general practical approach to a new generation of spirocyclic molecules – oxa-spirocycles – is developed.     

Phenothiazine cruciforms: synthesis and metallochromic properties

We report the synthesis and characterization of five novel phenothiazine-containing cruciforms (5-9). The targets were prepared by a NaH-promoted Horner reaction of tetraethyl(2,5-diiodo-1,4-phenylene)bis(methylene)diphosphonate with 10-hexyl-10H-phenothiazine-3-carbaldehyde. The formed intermediary 3,3'-(1E,1'E)-2,2'-(2,5-diiodo-1,4-phenylene)bis(ethene-2,1-diyl)bis(10-hexyl-10H-phenothiazine) was reacted with several different aromatic alkynes (1-tert-butyl-4-ethynylbenzene, N,N-dibutyl-4-ethynylaniline, 1-ethynyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzene, and 1-ethynyl-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene) to give the corresponding cruciform fluororphores (XF). The XFs were fully characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy and then exposed to trifluoroacetic acid as well as to several metal triflates. The XFs show dramatic shifts in emission and to a lesser extent in absorption when exposed to magnesium triflate or zinc triflate. In the case of magnesium triflate, a blue shift in emission was observed; in contrast, addition of zinc triflate results in either quenching or a red-shifted emission. Due to the electronic situation, these XFs display spatially separated frontier molecular orbitals, allowing the HOMO or the LUMO of the XFs to be addressed independently by addition of zinc or magnesium ions. Phenothiazine XFs may have potential in array-type sensory applications for metal cations.     

meso-Aryl phenanthroporphyrins: synthesis and spectroscopic properties

The successful synthesis of tetraphenyltetraphenanthroporphyrin (TPTPhenP; 5a) in 2006 under modified Rothemund-Lindsey conditions yielded a tetraphenyl porphyrinoid with a B band redshifted to an unprecedented 576 nm. Radially symmetric fused-ring expansion of tetraphenylporphyrin with phenanthrene moieties results in very deep saddling due to steric crowding and very marked redshifts of the Q and B (or Soret) porphyrinoid absorption bands. The extent to which the TPTPhenP structure can be further modified is explored, and the optical properties of TPTPhenPs are analyzed based on a perimeter model approach that makes use of time-dependent DFT calculations and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy and also based on a detailed analysis of the fluorescence emission. Attempts to introduce substituents at the ortho and meta positions of the meso-phenyl groups and to insert a central metal proved unsuccessful. The synthesis of a series of TPTPhenPs with strong electron-withdrawing (-CN, -NO(2)) and -donating (-CH(3), -N(CH(3))(2)) substituents at the para positions of the meso-phenyl rings is reported. Marked redshifts of the main spectral bands were consistently observed. The most pronounced spectral changes were observed with -N(CH(3))(2) groups (5i) due to a marked destabilization of the HOMO, which has large MO coefficients on the meso-carbon atoms. Protonation of 5i at both the ligand core and at the -N(CH(3))(2) groups resulted in unprecedented Q(00) band absorption at wavelengths greater than 1200 nm.     

PRODAN-conjugated DNA: synthesis and photochemical properties

A solvatochromic fluorophore, PRODAN, has been used as a microenvironment-sensitive reporter. Based on the chemistry of PRODAN, we designed and synthesized four novel fluorescent nucleosides, PDNX (X = U, C, A, and G), to which a PRODAN fluorophore was attached at pyrimidine C5 or purine C8. The fluorescent nucleosides sensitively varied the Stokes shift values depending on the orientational polarizability of the solvent. The PDNX incorporated into DNA also changed the Stokes shift values depending on the DNA structure. In particular, the excitation spectrum of the PDNX-containing duplex shifted to a longer wavelength and gave a smaller Stokes shift value when the base opposite PDNX could form a Watson-Crick base pair with PDNX. A lower energy excitation of PDNX-containing DNA resulted in a strong fluorescence emission selective to the Watson-Crick pairing base. This unique photochemical character was applicable to the efficient typing of single-nucleotide polymorphisms of genes.     

Azo and azoxythiacrown ethers: synthesis and properties

A series of 16- and 18-membered azo- and azoxythiacrown ethers have been synthesized by reductive macrocyclization of the respective bis(nitrophenoxy)oxaalkanes. The aromatic residues located in the polyether region of the molecule were introduced to macrocyclic skeletons and their affinities toward different groups of metal cations in ion-selective electrodes were described. X-ray structures for one dinitropodand and one azoxybenzothiacrown exhibiting strong π–π and π–H interactions have been found.     

Asymmetric flavone-based liquid crystals: synthesis and properties

A series of flavones (n-F) substituted at the 4′, and 6 positions was prepared, characterised by NMR (¹H,¹³C), HRMS, and studied for liquid crystal properties. The 4′-alkoxy,6-methoxyflavones (4-F–16-F) exhibit varying ranges of nematic and smectic A phases as evidenced by polarised optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). As the tail length is increased, the smectic phase becomes more prevalent. Smectic phases for (8-F–16-F) were further analysed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the rate of structural transformations was explored by combined DSC/XRD studies. Flavonol 6-F–OH was also prepared but no mesogenic behaviour was observed. The molecular structures of 6-F and 6-F–OH were determined by single-crystal XRD and help to explain the differences in material properties. Additionally, fluorescence and electrochemical studies were conducted on solutions of n-F.     

New 1,2,4-triazine-containing podands: synthesis and properties

A method of one-step C-C coupling of 1,5-bis(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)-3-oxapentane (1a) and 1,8-bis(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)-3,6-dioxaoctane (1b) with 3-methylthio- (2) and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazine (3) and 3-aryl-1,2,4-triazin-5-one (6-8) has been described. The reaction of compounds 1a,b with compounds 2 and 3 in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid results in the addition of the dimethylphenoxy group to the unsubstituted C(5) carbon atom of the triazine ring. The reactions of triazinones 6-8 with compounds 1a,b in a mixture of trifluoroacetic acid and organic anhydrides are accompanied by the acylation of the nitrogen atom adjacent to the reaction center and affords bis[(3-R-1-acyl-5-oxo-1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1,2,4-triazin-6-yl)-2,6-dimethylphenoxy]-3-oxapentane or -3,6-dioxaoctane. The obtained adducts can smoothly be oxidized under mild conditions to form more stable products of nucleophilic hydrogen substitution in the triazine ring. The extraction and transport of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ cations through an organic membrane by the compounds synthesized are discussed.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2210–2215, October, 2004.     

A chiral cyclotrisazobiphenyl: synthesis and photochemical properties

A chiral cyclotrisazobiphenyl macrocycle was synthesized conveniently in three steps from the literature known 3,3'-diaminobimesityl in 37-38% overall yield. Irradiation with 302 nm, 365 nm or visible light allows access to different photostationary states (PSSs). These PSSs can be conveniently read out by CD-spectroscopy as each of them exhibits a positive, a negative, or no signal, respectively, at 275 nm.     

Novel phenylazomethine dendrimers: synthesis and structural properties

The novel dendrimers consisting of a pi-conjugated backbone, the dendritic polyphenylazomethines (DPAs), were synthesized by the convergent method via the dehydration of aromatic ketones with aromatic amines in the presence of titanium(IV) tetrachloride. The obtained DPAs have a high solubility unlike the conventional linear polyphenylazomethines. NMR studies revealed the conformational rigidity of DPA G4. DPAs having many azomethine groups as the coordination site for metal ions are expected to be novel ligands.     

Linear polybiurets: Facile synthesis and characteristic properties

Linear polybiurets have been synthesized by polyaddition of benzyloxyamine and diisocyanates, and properties of the novel polymeric materials have been elucidated. Prior to polymerization, model reactions between benzyloxyamine and phenyl isocyanate were examined in detail and proved to be controlled by the molar ratio of reagents and by catalysts to give the urea (1:1 adduct) and/or biuret (1:2 adduct). Under appropriate conditions, the biuret was synthesized in a quantitative yield. Polymerization of equimolar amounts of benzyloxyamine and diphenylmethane or hexamethylene diisocyanate proceeded smoothly to give polybiurets with inherent viscosities up to 0.52 dL/g. The benzyl group of the model biuret and polybiuret could be removed by catalytic hydrogenation. Both the N-benzyloxy-type and N-hydroxy-type polybiurets showed excellent solubility in common organic solvents. The two kinds of polybiurets as well as model biurets adsorbed metal cations efficiently. The N-hydroxybiuret structure exhibited particularly high affinity for iron(III) and was useful for selective removal of iron from metal cation mixtures. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Fluorenyl dendrimer porphyrins: synthesis and photophysical properties

New symmetrical dendrimeric type super-porphyrin bearing sixteen fluorenyl donor groups sixteen fluorenylporphyrin SOFP (1) have been synthesized and characterized. Preliminary photophysical properties are reported; in comparison to the references first generation dendrimer tetrafluorenylporphyrin TOFP (2) bearing four peripheral fluorenyl and second generation dendrimer octafluorenylporphyrin OOFP (3) bearing eight peripheral fluorenyl, the luminescence properties are slightly improved. It is found that the excitation energy transfer occurs from the sixteen fluorenyl units to the porphyrin core, following what the porphyrin emits intense red light.