Donor-acceptor amphiphilic 2,2′-bipyridine chromophores: synthesis, linear optical, and thermal properties

Two symmetrical and one unsymmetrical ‘push-pull’ amphiphilic 2,2′-bipyridine chromophores have been synthesized through Horner-Wordsworth-Emmons and Knoevenagel reaction mechanized synthetic protocols and characterized by spectroscopy. Linear optical properties and thermal stability of the synthesized chromophores have been investigated.     

Regioselective synthesis of optically active (pyrazolyl)pyridines with adjacent quaternary carbon stereocenter: chiral N,N-donating ligands

Novel optically active 2-(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridines have been prepared using resolved the O-methyl ether of atrolactic acid as a source of the adjacent quaternary carbon stereocenter. Different regioisomers were formed selectively in the reaction of 2-hydrazinopyridines with the chiral 1,3-diketone and in the nucleophilic substitution of 2-chloropyridines with the potassium salt of the chiral pyrazole. The second route gave 2-(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridines with the stereogenic center neighboring the coordinating nitrogen in the pyrazole ring. Also, new C₂-symmetric chiral ligands based on 2,6-bis(pyrazolyl)pyridine and 6,6′-bis(pirazolyl)-2,2′-bipyridine structures were obtained.     

Copper(I)-catalysed homo-coupling of aryldiazonium salts: synthesis of symmetrical biaryls

Copper(I) triflate acts as an efficient stoichiometric reagent for the homo-coupling of aryldiazonium salts bearing electron-withdrawing group(s), to yield symmetrical biaryls in acetonitrile under mild reaction conditions. Aryldiazonium salts bearing electron-donating groups undergo the reaction by using catalytic amounts of a copper complex prepared in situ from copper(II) triflate and 2,2′-bipyridine with metallic copper as an ultimate reductant.     

Catalytic asymmetric aza Diels-Alder reactions of hydrazones using a chiral zirconium catalyst

Catalytic asymmetric aza Diels-Alder reactions of acylhydrazones with Danishefsky’s dienes have been developed. A chiral zirconium complex derived from zirconium propoxide and 3,3′,6,6′-I₄BINOL was found to be effective in this reaction, and the desired optically active 2,3-dihydro-4-pyridone derivatives were obtained with high enantioselectivities. Asymmetric formal synthesis of a natural product, coniine, was conducted using this catalytic asymmetric reaction as a key step.     

Diels-Alder reaction using a dendritic copper(II) triflate-catalyst: a positive dendritic effect on the chemical yield

A series of dendritic ligands with a 2,2′-bipyridine core was synthesized through the coupling of 4,4′-dihydroxy-2,2′-bipyridine with poly(arylether) dendron in fair yields. The corresponding copper(II) trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate) dendrimers were applied as a Lewis acid catalyst to the Diels-Alder reaction. A positive dendritic effect on the chemical yields of adducts was observed.     

A simple one-pot synthesis of functionalised 6-(indol-3-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine derivatives via multi-component reaction under neat condition

A series of 4-aryl-6-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2,2-bipyridine-5-carbonitrile derivatives were synthesized via a one-pot multi-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, 3-(cyanoacetyl)indole and 2-acetyl pyridine in ammonium acetate by conventional heating and microwave irradiation under solvent-free condition. Also a series of 6,6′-di(1H-indol-3-yl)-4,4′-diaryl-2,2′-bipyridine-5,5′-dicarbonitrile derivatives were synthesized using cinnamils, 3-(cyanoacetyl)indole and ammonium acetate. The methodology affords high yields of product at short reaction time.     

Synthesis of optically active bihelicenols

All six stereoisomers of dimethyl 5,5′-dihydroxy-1,1′,12,12′-tetramethyl-[6,6′]bi(benzo[c]phenanthrenyl)-8,8′-dicarboxylate (bihelicenol) were synthesized by the oxidative coupling of methyl 8-hydroxy-1,12-dimethylbenzo[c]phenanthrene-5-carboxylate (helicenol), and their structures were determined by X-ray analysis.     

Asymmetric addition of phenylacetylene to aldehydes catalyzed by soluble optically active polybinaphthols ligand

A chiral polymer ligand was synthesized by the polymerization of (S)-5,5′-dibromo-6,6′-dibutyl-2,2′-binaphthol (S-M-1) with (S)-2,2′-bishexyloxy-1,1′-binaphthyl-6,6′-boronic acid (S-M-2) via Pd-catalyzed Suzuki reaction. The application of the chiral polymer ligand to the asymmetric addition of phenylethynyl zinc to various aldehydes has been studied. The results show that the soluble chiral polybinaphthols ligand in combination with Et₂Zn and Ti(OⁱPr)₄ can exhibit excellent enantioselectivity for phenylacetylene addition to both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. The catalytically active center of the repeating unit S-1 used as a catalyst produced the opposite configuration of the propargylic alcohols to that of S-1, on the contrary, the chiral polymer gave the same configuration as the optically active binaphthol moiety of the polybinaphthols ligand. Moreover, the chiral polymer ligand can be easily recovered and reused without loss of catalytic activity as well as enantioselectivity.     

Mirabiquinone,a new unsymmetrical binaphthoquinone from the sea urchin Scaphechinus mirabilis

Mirabiquinone [7,5′-anhydroethylidene-6,6′-bis(2,3,7-trihydroxynaphthazarin)], a new unsymmetrical binaphthoquinone, was isolated from the sea urchin Scaphechinus mirabilis along with the known symmetrical binaphthoquinones ethylidene-6,6′-bis(2,3,7-trihydroxynaphthazarin) and 7,7′-anhydroethylidene-6,6′-bis(2,3,7-trihydroxynaphthazarin). The structure of mirabiquinone was established using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HSQC and HMBC data, along with a spectroscopic analysis of its pentamethoxy derivative. Mirabiquinone and the symmetrical binaphthoquinones demonstrated excellent scavenging of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical.     

Sterically driven electronic properties of naphthalene- and anthracene-end-capped 2,2′-bipyridine luminophores: synthesis and density functional theory

Two naphthalene- and one anthracene-end-capped 4,4′-π-conjugated-2,2′-bipyridine chromophores have been synthesized via the Horner-Wordsworth-Emmons reaction protocol and their electronic absorption and emission properties have been examined. DFT and TD-DFT computational studies have been carried out in order to comprehend the role of steric factor over the electronic factor.     

Synthesis and characterization of 6,6″′-bis(anthracen-9-yl)-2,2′;6′,2″;6″,2″′-quaterpyridine

New bianthracene-quaterpyridine ligand 6,6″′-bis(anthracen-9-yl)-2,2′;6′,2″;6″,2″′-quaterpyridine L has been obtained in a multistep synthesis using Suzuki–Miyaura and Stille-type coupling reactions. The dianthracene ligand L has four nitrogen-donor atoms and can form different supramolecular architectures with transition metal ions. Ligand L and intermediate compounds have been characterized by spectroscopic methods and elemental analyses. 2-(Anthracen-9-yl)-6-bromopyridine and 6-(anthracen-9-yl)-6′-bromo-2,2′-bipyridine have been also characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Total synthesis of 5,5′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy-3,3′-biindolyl, the proposed structure of a potent antioxidant found in beetroot (Beta vulgaris)

5,5′,6,6′-Tetrahydroxy-3,3′-biindolyl, the proposed structure of a phenolic antioxidant isolated from the red beetroot (Beta vulgaris), has been synthesised. The spectroscopic data of the synthetic material is not consistent with that reported for the natural product.     

6-(Arylvinylene)-3-pyridinylboronic esters. Part 2: Versatile building blocks for push-pull nonlinear optical chromophores

This paper describes a general approach for the synthesis of push-pull 6,6′-disubstituted-3,3′-bipyridine chromophores. As examples, 6-(4-ethanol-2-thienylvinylene)-5-methyl-3-bromopyridine, 6-(4-hydroxy-phenylvinylene)-5-methyl-3-bromopyridine, and the corresponding 3-pyridinylboronic esters have been prepared as building blocks end-capped with electron donor groups (D). 6-(4-Cyano-phenylvinylene)-5-methyl-3-bromopyridine, and 6-(4-cyano-phenylvinylene)-3-bromopyridine have been synthesized as building blocks end-capped with electron acceptor groups (A). {A x D} type cross-couplings via Suzuki reaction gave the push-pull chromophores (I) and (II) in high yields and multigram scales.     

Octafluoro-4,4′-bipyridine and its derivatives: Synthesis, molecular and crystal structure

The structure and chemical properties of perfluoro-4,4′-bipyridine have been studied. It was found that octafluoro-4,4′-bipyridine is a quite electron deficient system stable to the action of alkylating agents and sensitive to nucleophilic substitution of fluorine atoms. Depending on the reaction conditions and reagents used products could be obtained in which two and six fluorine atoms are substituted by nucleophiles. For all isolated compounds X-ray structure determination has been performed and the main peculiarities of the molecular and crystal structure of fluorine-containing bipyridines have been determined.     

Enantioselective arylation of aldehydes catalyzed by a soluble optically active polybinaphthols ligand

A soluble chiral polymer ligand was synthesized by the polymerization of (R)-6,6′-dibutyl-3,3′-diformyl-2,2′-binaphthol (R-M-1) with 2,5-diaminopyridine (M-2) via a nucleophilic addition-elimination reaction. While arylboronic acids were used as the source of the transferable aryl group, the chiral polybinaphthols ligand in combination with Et₂Zn without Ti(OⁱPr)₄ exhibited higher enantioselectivity in asymmetric addition to aromatic aldehydes than alphatic aldehydes. When aromatic aldehydes with electron-withdrawing groups were chosen as substrates, the resulting diarylmethanols were produced in higher ee values than those with electron-donating groups as substrates. 2-Naphthaldehyde used as a substrate afforded product in 95% ee, which could be ascribed to the steric effect influence on this asymmetric arylation reaction. Moreover, the chiral polymer was easily recovered and reused, but exhibited a decrease of enantioselectivity in the third recycle.     

Asymmetric Suzuki–Miyaura Cross‐Coupling for the Synthesis of Chiral Biaryl Compounds as Potential Monophosphine Ligands

Efficient asymmetric Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions have been employed for the first time to synthesize chiral biaryl compounds with phosphinate groups as chiral auxiliaries. A series of functionalized chiral biaryls are thereby synthesized in excellent yields and good diastereoselectivities (up to >95:5 d.r.) and axially chiral monophosphorus ligands are obtained through further functionalizations.     

Dendritic BINOL ligands for asymmetric catalysis: effect of the linking positions and generations of the dendritic wedges on catalyst properties

Three types of new chiral BINOL ligands (2, 3 and 4) bearing dendritic wedges have been synthesized through coupling reaction between 3-hydroxymethyl-2,2′-bis(methoxymethyl)-1,1′-binaphthol (7), 6,6′-dihydroxymethyl-2,2′-bis(methoxymethyl)-1,1′-binaphthol (12), 6-hydroxymethyl-2,2′-bis(methoxymethyl)-1,1′-binaphthol (15) and Fréchet-type polyether dendritic benzyl bromide, followed by deprotection of methoxymethyl groups by ⁱPrOH/HCl, respectively. These new ligands obtained were assessed in enantioselective Lewis acid-catalyzed addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde. Compared to the enantioselectivity observed with dendrimer 1 bearing the dendritic wedges at 3,3′-positions of the binaphthyl backbone, higher enantioselectivity for all these ligands was observed. Difference in the effect of linking positions and generations on enantioselectivity and/or activity for all three kinds of dendritic ligand-derived catalysts was observed. Among these dendritic ligands, (R)-3/Ti(IV) catalyst with the dendritic wedges at 6,6′-positions of BINOL gave the highest enantioselectivity (up to 87% ee).     

Copper catalyzed Gomberg-Buchmann-Hey reaction using aryldiazonium tosylate

Copper catalyzed modification of Gomberg-Bachmann-Hey reaction to synthesize symmetrical/unsymmetrical biaryls via diazotization of anilines with p-TSA and NaNO₂ system at 50 °C, in aromatic liquids as solvents and second partners was successfully developed. Aniline and 3-nitronaniline gave biphenyl and 3-nitrobiphenyl, respectively, with moderate yields. All para-substituted anilines gave comparatively higher yields while in the other cases including ortho-substituted anilines yields were lower. Except anilines with o-NHCOCH₃ and o-CONH₂ which gave symmetrical biaryls, all others gave selectively unsymmetrical biaryls.     

A quantum chemical study on the mechanism of chiral N-oxides-catalyzed Strecker reaction

The mechanism for the Strecker reaction of silyl cyanide (H₃SiCN) and benzaldehyde N-methylimine (PhCHNCH₃) catalyzed by chiral 3,3′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine N,N′-dioxide was investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. The calculations revealed that the non-catalyzed reaction proceeded in a concerted way via a five-membered ring transition state, while the catalytic one occurred stepwisely via a hexacoordinate hypervalent silicate intermediate. It was predicted that both non-catalyzed and catalytic Strecker reactions involved two competitive reaction pathways, that is, addition followed by isomerization or isomerization followed by addition. The calculations indicated that two reaction pathways were comparable for both non-catalyzed and catalytic Strecker reactions. In the catalytic reaction, the strong electron donor (N-O) of chiral N-oxide played an important role in enhancing the reactivity and nucleophilicity of H₃SiCN by coordinating O atom to the Si atom of H₃SiCN. Chiral N-oxide could be used as a good catalyst for the reaction, which was in agreement with the experimental observations.     

Efficient bimetallic titanium catalyst for carbonyl-ene reaction

A new family of achiral 3,3′,5,5′-tetrasubstituted-2,2′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy biphenyl ligand 4 was developed. The axial chirality of the ligand could be induced by the chelation of 2,2′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy groups with (R)-BINOL-Ti(OⁱPr)₂ to form an axially chiral bimetallic titanium catalyst 9. Compared with (R)-BINOL-Ti(OⁱPr)₂ catalyst, this novel catalyst 9 exhibited excellent activity and enantioselectivity for the carbonyl-ene reaction of methylstyrene and ethyl glyoxylate. 3,3′,5,5′-Tetrasubstituted groups showed a remarkable effect on both enantioselectivity and yield. With 9d prepared from 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-2,2′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy biphenyl 4d as the catalyst, the best result, up to 97.6% ee and 99% yield, was obtained. Additionally, the bimetallic catalyst 9 also showed better catalytic capability than the corresponding monometallic catalyst.