Atropselective Dibrominations of a 1,1′‐Disubstituted 2,2′‐Biindolyl with Diverging Point‐to‐Axial Asymmetric Inductions. Deriving 2,2′‐Biindolyl‐3,3′‐diphosphane Ligands for Asymmetric Catalysis

On the ¹H NMR timescale, 2,2′‐biindolyls with (R)‐configured (1‐alkoxyprop)‐2‐yl, (1‐hydroxyprop)‐2‐yl, or (1‐siloxyprop)‐2‐yl substituents at C‐1 and C‐1′ are atropisomerically stable at <0 °C and interconvert at >30 °C. A 2,2′‐biindolyl (R,R)‐ 17 a of that kind and achiral (!) brominating reagents gave the atropisomerically stable 3,3′‐dibromobiindolyls (M)‐ and/or (P)‐ 18 a at best atropselectively—because of point‐to‐axial asymmetric inductions—and atropdivergently, exhibiting up to 95 % (M)‐ and as much (P)‐atropselectivity. This route to atropisomerically pure biaryls is novel and should extend to other substrates and/or different functionalizations. The dibromobiindolyls (M)‐ and (P)‐ 18 a furnished the biindolyldiphosphanes (M)‐ and (P)‐ 14 without atropisomerization. These syntheses did not require the resolution of a racemic mixture, which distinguishes them from virtually all biaryldiphosphane syntheses known to date. (M)‐ and (P)‐ 14 acted as ligands in catalytic asymmetric allylations and hydrogenations. Remarkably, the β‐ketoester rac‐ 25 c was hydrogenated trans‐selectively with 98 % ee; this included a dynamic kinetic resolution.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of 1,1′‐Disaccharides by Organoboron Catalysis

The highly stereoselective synthesis of 1,1′‐disaccharides was achieved by using 1,2‐dihydroxyglycosyl acceptors and glycosyl donors in the presence of a tricyclic borinic acid catalyst. In this reaction, the complexation of the diols and the catalyst is crucial for the activation of glycosyl donors, as well as for the 1,2‐cis‐configuration of the products. The anomeric stereochemistry of the glycosyl donor depends on the employed glycosyl donor. Applications of the produced 1,1′‐disaccharides are also described.     

Asymmetric Catalysis with a Phosphoramidite Derived from (−)‐(aR)‐ [1,1′‐Binaphthalene]‐8,8′‐diol

Treatment of (aR)‐[1,1′binaphthalene]‐8,8′‐diol ((−)‐ 1 ) with hexamethylphosphorous triamide afforded the N,N‐dimethylphosphoramidite (−)‐ 3 (Scheme 1). The synthesis of the analogous N,N‐diisopropylphosphoramidite 4 failed, however, and afforded the acyclic phosphonamidate (−)‐ 5 . The application of the cyclic phosphoramidite (−)‐ 3 towards asymmetric catalysis was investigated. The borane reduction of acetophenone ( 6 ) to (R)‐1‐phenylethanol ( 7 ) in the presence of (−)‐ 3 proceeded with 96% ee (Scheme 2). The use of (−)‐ 3 as ligand in several Cu‐catalyzed addition and substitution reactions resulted in enantioselectivities ranging from 0 to 50% (Schemes 3 and 4).     

1,1′‐Nitramino‐5,5′‐bitetrazoles

1,1′‐Dinitramino‐5,5′‐bitetrazole and 1,1′‐dinitramino‐5,5′‐azobitetrazole were synthesized for the first time. The neutral compounds are extremely sensitive and powerful explosives. Selected nitrogen‐rich salts were prepared to adjust sensitivity and performance values. The compounds were characterized by low‐temperature X‐ray diffraction, IR and Raman spectroscopy, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and DTA/DSC. Calculated energetic performances using the EXPLO5 code based on calculated (CBS‐4M) heats of formation and X‐ray densities support the high performances of the 1,1′‐dinitramino‐5,5′‐bitetrazoles as energetic materials. The sensitivities toward impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge were also explored. Most of the compounds show sensitivities in the range of primary explosives and should only be handled with great care!     

Asymmetric Phase-Transfer Catalysis by Quaternary Ammonium Ions Derived from Cinchona-Alkaloid Analogs Containing 1,1′-Binaphthalene Moieties

The synthesis and catalytic properties of a new type of enantioselective phase-transfer catalysts, incorporating both the quinuclidinemethanol fragment of Cinchona alkaloids and a 1,1′-binaphthalene moiety, are described. Catalyst (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 4 with the quinuclidine fragment attached to C(7′) in the major groove of the 1,1′-binaphthalene residue was predicted by computer modeling to be an efficient enantioselective catalyst for the unsymmetric alkylation of 6,7-dichloro-5-methoxy-2-phenylindanone ( 1 ; Scheme 1, Fig. 1). Its synthesis involved the selective oxidative cross-coupling of two differently substituted naphthalen-2-ols to afford the asymmetrically substituted 1,1′-binaphthalene derivative (±)- 17 in high yield (Scheme 3). Chromatographic optical resolution via formation of diastereoisomeric camphorsulfonyl esters and functional-group manipulation gave access to the 7-bromo-1,1′-binaphthalene derivative (−)-(aS)- 11 (Scheme 4). Nucleophilic addition of lithiated (−)-(aS)- 11 to the quinuclidine Weinreb amide (+)-(3R,4S,8R)- 8 afforded the two ketones (aS,3R,4S,8R)- 27 and (aS,3R,4S,8S)- 28 as an inseparable mixture of diastereoisomers (Scheme 6). Stereoselective reduction of this mixture with DIBAL-H (diisobutylaluminum hydride; preferred formation of the C(8)−C(9) erythro-pair of diastereoisomers with 18% de) or with NaBH₄ (preferred formation of the threo-pair of diastereoisomers with 50% de) afforded the four separable diastereoisomers (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9S)- 29 , (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9R)- 30 , (−)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9R)- 31 , and (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 32 (Scheme 6). A detailed conformational analysis, combining ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and molecular-mechanics computations, revealed that the four diastereoisomers displayed distinctly different conformational preferences (Figs. 2 and 3). These novel Cinchona-alkaloid analogs were quaternized to give (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 4 , (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9S)- 5 , (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9R)- 6 , and (−)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9R)- 7 (Scheme 7) which were tested as phase-transfer agents in the asymmetric allylation of phenylindanone 1 . Without any optimization work, (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 4 was found to catalyze the allylation of 1 yielding the predicted enantiomer (+)-(S)- 3b in 32% ee. The three diastereoisomeric catalysts (+)- 5 , (+)- 6 , and (−)- 7 gave access to lower enantioselectivities (6 to 22% ee's), which could be rationalized by computer modeling (Fig. 4).     

(3R*,3′R*)‐1,1′‐Dimethyl‐3,3′‐biindoline‐2,2′‐dithione

The (3R*,3′R*) configuration of the title compound, C₁₈H₁₆N₂S₂, (I), has been unambiguously elucidated by X‐­ray analysis. Mol­ecules of (I) have C₂ symmetry to a good approximation and a strongly folded shape. The interplanar angle between the two halves of a mol­ecule is 67.11 (6)°.     

1,1′‐Di(hydrazinocarbonylmethyl)‐2,2′‐biimidazole monohydrate and 1,1′‐di[2‐(hydrazinocarbonyl)ethyl]‐2,2′‐bi­imidazole

The crystal structures of the title compounds, alternatively called 2,2′‐(2,2′‐bi­imid­azole‐1,1′‐diyl)­diaceto­hydra­zide monohydrate, C₁₀H₁₄N₈O₂·H₂O, (I), and 3,3′‐(2,2′‐bi­imid­azole‐1,1′‐diyl)­dipropion­o­hydra­zide, C₁₂H₁₈N₈O₂, (II), respectively, have been determined. The mol­ecules consist of half‐mol­ecule asymmetric units related by a twofold rotation in (I) and by a center of inversion in (II). The imidazole rings of both mol­ecules crystallize in a nearly coplanar fashion [dihedral angles of 5.91 (3) and 0.0 (1)° for (I) and (II), respectively]. Both planar hy­dra­zinocarbonylalkyl substituents are essentially planar and assume the E orientation.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Atroposelective Synthesis of 1,1′‐Binaphthalene‐2,3′‐diols

A highly atroposelective (up to 97 % ee) Au‐catalyzed synthesis of 1,1′‐binaphthalene‐2,3′‐diols is reported starting from a range of substituted benzyl alkynones. Essential for the achievement of high enantioselectivity during the key assembly of the naphto‐3‐ol unit is the use of TADDOL‐derived α‐cationic phosphonites as ancillary ligands. Preliminary results demonstrate that the transformation of the obtained binaphthyls into axially chiral monodentate phosphines is possible without degradation of enantiopurity.     

Copolymers of Intrinsic Microporosity Based on 2,2′,3,3′‐Tetrahydroxy‐1,1′‐dinaphthyl

A series of new copolymers with high molecular weight and low polydispersity, prepared from tetrahydroxydinaphthyl, tetrahydroxyspirobisindane, and tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile monomers, prevent efficient space packing of the stiff polymer chains and consequently show intrinsic microporosity. One copolymer, DNPIM‐33, has an excellent combination of properties with good film‐forming characteristics and gas transport performance, and exhibits higher selectivity than the corresponding spirobisindane‐based homopolymer PIM‐1 for gas pairs, such as O₂/N₂, with a corresponding small decrease in permeability. This work demonstrates that significant improvements in properties may be obtained through development of copolymers with intrinsic microporosity (CoPIMs) that extends the spectrum of high‐molecular‐weight ladder structures of poly(dibenzodioxane)s.

     

Deracemization of a Macrocyclic 1,1′‐Biisoquinoline

The macrocyclic biisoquinoline 14 was synthesized in just four preparative steps starting from the simple biscarboxaldehyde 8 . The interaction with camphorsulfonic acid induces an acid‐catalyzed partial deracemization.     

Dispiro[indene‐2,5′‐indeno[2,1‐a]fluorene‐6′,2′′‐indene]‐1,1′′,3,3′′,11′,12′‐hexaone: a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded framework

The title compound, C₃₆H₁₆O₆, (I), was obtained as a new and unexpected oxidation product of 1,2′‐biindene‐1′,3,3′(2H)‐trione. The molecules of (I) exhibit approximate, but noncrystallographic, twofold rotation symmetry and the central ring of the fused pentacyclic portion is distinctly puckered, with a conformation intermediate between half‐chair and screw‐boat. Six independent C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into a three‐dimensional framework structure of considerable complexity. Comparisons are drawn between the crystal structure of (I) and those of several simpler analogues, which show wide variation in their patterns of supramolecular aggregation.     

N,N′‐Bis(2‐pyridylmeth­yl)ferrocene‐1,1′‐diyldicarboxamide and N,N′‐bis­(3‐pyridylmeth­yl)ferrocene‐1,1′‐diyldicarboxamide

The mol­ecules of N,N′‐bis­(2‐pyridylmeth­yl)ferrocene‐1,1′‐diyl­dicarboxamide, [Fe(C₁₂H₁₁N₂O)₂], contain intra­molecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds and are linked into sheets by three independent C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The mol­ecules of the isomeric compound N,N′‐bis­(3‐pyridylmeth­yl)ferrocene‐1,1′‐diyldicarboxamide lie across inversion centres, and the mol­ecules are linked into sheets by a combination of N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking inter­actions between pyridyl groups.     

Functionalized 3,3′,5,5′‐Tetraaryl‐1,1′‐Biphenyls: Novel Platforms for Molecular Receptors

This paper describes the development of novel aromatic platforms for supramolecular construction. By the Suzuki cross‐coupling protocol, a variety of functionalized m‐terphenyl derivatives were prepared (Schemes 1–4). Macrolactamization of bis(ammonium salt) (S,S)‐ 6 with bis(acyl halide) 7 afforded the macrocyclic receptor (S,S)‐ 2 (Scheme 1), which was shown by ¹H‐NMR titration studies to form ‘nesting' complexes of moderate stability (K_a between 130 and 290 M ^?1, 300 K) with octyl glucosides 13 – 15 (Fig. 2) in the noncompetitive solvent CDCl₃. Suzuki cross‐coupling starting from 3,3′,5,5′‐tetrabromo‐1,1′‐biphenyl provided access to a novel series of extended aromatic platforms (Scheme 5) for cleft‐type (Fig. 1) and macrotricyclic receptors such as (S,S,S,S)‐ 1 . Although mass‐spectral evidence for the formation of (S,S,S,S)‐ 1 by macrolactamization between the two functionalized 3,3′,5,5′‐tetraaryl‐1,1′‐biphenyl derivatives (S,S)‐ 33 and 36 was obtained, the ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectra of purified material remained rather inconclusive with respect to both purity and constitution. The versatile access to the novel, differentially functionalized 3,3′,5,5′‐tetrabromo‐1,1′‐biphenyl platforms should ensure their wide use in future supramolecular construction.     

One‐dimensional CuII coordination polymers containing C2h‐symmetric 1,1′:4′,1′′‐terphenyl‐3,3′‐dicarboxylate linkers

Two new one‐dimensional Cu^II coordination polymers (CPs) containing the C_2h‐symmetric terphenyl‐based dicarboxylate linker 1,1′:4′,1′′‐terphenyl‐3,3′‐dicarboxylate (3,3′‐TPDC), namely catena‐poly[[bis(dimethylamine‐κN)copper(II)]‐μ‐1,1′:4′,1′′‐terphenyl‐3,3′‐dicarboxylato‐κ⁴O,O′:O′′:O′′′] monohydrate], {[Cu(C₂₀H₁₂O₄)(C₂H₇N)₂]·H₂O}_n, (I), and catena‐poly[[aquabis(dimethylamine‐κN)copper(II)]‐μ‐1,1′:4′,1′′‐terphenyl‐3,3′‐dicarboxylato‐κ²O³:O^3′] monohydrate], {[Cu(C₂₀H₁₂O₄)(C₂H₇N)₂(H₂O)]·H₂O}_n, (II), were both obtained from two different methods of preparation: one reaction was performed in the presence of 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as a potential pillar ligand and the other was carried out in the absence of the DABCO pillar. Both reactions afforded crystals of different colours, i.e. violet plates for (I) and blue needles for (II), both of which were analysed by X‐ray crystallography. The 3,3′‐TPDC bridging ligands coordinate the Cu^II ions in asymmetric chelating modes in (I) and in monodenate binding modes in (II), forming one‐dimensional chains in each case. Both coordination polymers contain two coordinated dimethylamine ligands in mutually trans positions, and there is an additional aqua ligand in (II). The solvent water molecules are involved in hydrogen bonds between the one‐dimensional coordination polymer chains, forming a two‐dimensional network in (I) and a three‐dimensional network in (II).     

Substituted 2,2′‐Bis(2‐oxidobenzylideneamino)‐4,4′‐dimethyl‐1,1′‐biphenyl Complexes of Zinc

The condensation reaction of 2,2′‐diamino‐4,4′‐dimethyl‐6,6'‐dibromo‐1,1′‐biphenyl with 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde as well as 5‐methoxy‐, 4‐methoxy‐, and 3‐methoxy‐2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde yields 2,2′‐bis(salicylideneamino)‐4,4′‐dimethyl‐6,6′‐dibromo‐1,1′‐biphenyl ( 1a ) as well as the 5‐, 4‐, and 3‐methoxy‐substituted derivatives 1b , 1c , and 1d , respectively. Deprotonation of substituted 2,2′‐bis(salicylideneamino)‐4,4′‐dimethyl‐1,1′‐biphenyls with diethylzinc yields the corresponding substituted zinc 2,2′‐bis(2‐oxidobenzylideneamino)‐4,4′‐dimethyl‐1,1′‐biphenyls ( 2 ) or zinc 2,2′‐bis(2‐oxidobenzylideneamino)‐4,4′‐dimethyl‐6,6′‐dibromo‐1,1′‐biphenyls ( 3 ). Recrystallization from a mixture of CH₂Cl₂ and methanol can lead to the formation of methanol adducts. The methanol ligands can either bind as Lewis base to the central zinc atom or as Lewis acid via a weak O–H ··· O hydrogen bridge to a phenoxide moiety. Methanol‐free complexes precipitate as dimers with central Zn₂O₂ rings.