Pyrazine as a building block for molecular architectures with PtII

A series of pyrazine (pz) complexes containing cis-(NH(3))(2)Pt(II), (tmeda)Pt(II) (tmeda = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine), and trans-(NH(3))(2)Pt(II) entities have been prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography and/or 1H NMR spectroscopy. In these compounds, the pz ligands act as monodentate (1-3) or bidentate bridging ligands (4-7). Three variants of the latter case are described: a dinuclear complex [Pt(II)]2 (4b), a cyclic tetranuclear [Pt(II)](4) complex (5), and a trinuclear mixed-metal complex [Pt2Ag] (7). Mono- and bidentate binding modes are readily differentiated by 1H NMR spectroscopy, and the assignment of pz protons in the case of monodentate coordination is aided by the observation of (195)Pt satellites. Formation of the open molecular box cis-[{(NH3)2Pt(pz)}4](NO3)8.3.67H2O (5) from cis-(NH3)2Pt(II) and pz follows expectations of the "molecular library approach" for the generation of a cyclic tetramer.     

Nanoscale molecular rods with a new building block for solubility enhancement

A new building block bearing a [1,3]dioxolo[4,5- f][1,3]benzodioxole core was developed to enhance the solubility of molecular rods by lateral alkyl chains. On incorporation in molecular rods with oligospiroketal structure, the straight geometry is retained, which was concluded from the X-ray crystal structure analysis of one of the rods. The determination of the solubility of a collection of rods bearing this building block revealed that already a butyl group efficiently hinders the aggregation of the rods and consequently causes a considerable enhancement of the solubility. Piperidine rings are located at the ends of the rods, which offer the opportunity for versatile functionalization. Thus, an N, N'-bis(azidoacetyl)-functionalized rod was prepared, which could serve as rigid linkage, initiated by a "Click" reaction.     

Synthesis of an amide cyclophane building block of shape-persistent triangular molecular wedges

The synthesis of an amide cyclophane, which can be considered as the first generation of a family of triangular shape-persistent molecular wedges is described.     

Electron tomography shows molecular anchoring within a layer-by-layer film

The layer-by-layer self-assembly of thin films consisting of alternating layers of DNA and bis-urea nanoribbons prevents diffusion of the components within the film and allows the anchoring of biotinylated molecules through molecular recognition in a predetermined layer of the film. Electron tomography demonstrates with nanometer precision the location of gold-labeled streptavidin bound to the incorporated biotinylated molecules.     

Synthesis, resolution, and applications of 1,16-dihydroxytetraphenylene as a novel building block in molecular recognition and assembly

This paper concerns the synthesis of 1,16-dihydroxytetraphenylene (DHTP) (2) by employing a novel NBS bromination route. (+/-)-DHTP 2 was successfully resolved into its optical antipodes and converted to (+/-)-1,16-bis(diphenylphosphino)tetraphenylene (BPTP) (26), whose platinum complex BPTP-PtCl(2) (27) was also obtained. As a hydrogen bond donor, racemic and optically active DHTP 2 was allowed to assemble with 4,4'-bipyridine to form single crystals of good quality. X-ray Diffraction studies of these crystals revealed that the crystallographic packing of the hydrogen bonded complex between (+/-)-2 and 4,4'-bipyridine was different from the one formed from (S)-2 and 4,4'-bipyridine. It was found that an infinite zigzag chain with alternate chirality was formed in the assembly of (+/-)-2 and 4,4'-bipyridine, while (S)-2 and 4,4'-bipyridine failed to show the same assembly pattern. The reason (+/-)-2 formed an alternate and zigzag chain with 4,4'-bipyridine was most likely due to the inherent stability of this supramolecular assembly. The chiral recognition between 2 and optically active BINAP under the direction of platinum(II) has also been examined. (1)H and (31)P NMR spectroscopic studies demonstrated that there was an obvious discrimination of 2 between the enantiomers of BINAP-PtCO(3).     

Site- and surface species-dependent propylene oxidation with molecular oxygen on gold surface

A complete fundamental understanding of propylene oxidation with molecular O₂ on Au surface is achieved, in which site-and surface species-dependent reaction behaviors are revealed.     

N,N-dimethylformamide: a multipurpose building block

Often used as a common solvent for chemical reations and utilized widely in industry as a reagent, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) has played an important role in organic synthesis for a long time. Numerous highly useful articles and reviews discussing its utilizations have been published. With a focus on the performance of DMF as a multipurpose precursor for various units in numerous reactions, this Minireview summarizes recent developments in the employment of DMF in the fields of formylation, aminocarbonylation, amination, amidation, and cyanation, as well as its reaction with arynes.     

Construction of giant dendrimers using a tripodal building block

Giant pentane-soluble organo-silicon dendrimers have been synthesized using a triallylphenol brick according to a new divergent construction that uses a hydrosilylation-nucleophilic substitution sequence up to the ninth generation (G(9)). All the reactions were monitored by (1)H, (13)C, and (29)Si NMR until G(9), indicating that they were clean at the NMR accuracy until this last generation. MALDI TOF mass spectra were recorded for G(1) to G(4) and show the nature and amounts of defects that are intrinsic to the divergent construction. This technique and SEC (recorded up to G(5)) confirm the monodispersity (1.00 to 1.02) from G(1) to G(5). HRTEM and AFM images recorded for the high generations disclose the expected smooth dendrimer size progression and the globular shape. At G(9), the theoretical number of termini (TNT) is 177 407 branches (abbreviation: G(9)-177 047). It is estimated that more than 10(5) terminal branches are actually present in the G(9) dendrimer, far beyond the De Gennes "dense-packing" limit (6000 branches), and it is believed that the branch termini turn inside the dendrimer toward the core. This is corroborated by lower reaction rates and yields for the highest generation numbers presumably due to intradendritic reactions. It is probable that the dendritic construction is limited by the density of branches inside the dendrimer, i.e., far beyond the dense-packing limit.     

Studies of the S1 state in a prototypical molecular wire using picosecond time-resolved spectroscopies

Picosecond time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy, TR3, reveals an intense acetylenic band in the S1 state of the prototypical molecular wire 1,4-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene.     

Dithiocarbamate anchoring in molecular wire junctions: a first principles study

Recent experimental realization [J. Am. Chem. Soc., 127 (2005) 7328] of various dithiocarbamate self-assembly on gold surface opens the possibility for use of dithiocarbamate linkers to anchor molecular wires to gold electrodes. In this paper, we explore this hypothesis computationally. We computed the electron transport properties of 4,4'-bipyridine (BP), 4,4'-bipyridinium-1,1'-bis(carbodithioate) (BPBC), 4-(4'-pyridyl)-peridium-1-carbodithioate (BPC) molecule junctions based on the density functional theory and nonequilibrium Green's functions. We demonstrated that the stronger molecule-electrode coupling associated with the conjugated dithiocarbamate linker broadens transmission resonances near the Fermi energy. The broadening effect along with the extension of the pi conjugation from the molecule to the gold electrodes lead to enhanced electrical conductance for BPBC molecule. The conductance enhancement factor is as large as 25 at applied voltage bias 1.0 V. Rectification behavior is predicted for BPC molecular wire junction, which has the asymmetric anchoring groups.     

Trithiaazafulvalene: a promising building block between tetrathiafulvalene and dithiadiazafulvalene

[reaction: see text] New electroactive building blocks, the trithiaazafulvalenes (TTAFs), were synthesized. These redox-active molecules, intermediate between tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and dithiadiazafulvalene (DTDAF), show promising features for the elaboration of molecular materials.     

Phenanthroline unit as a building block for carbohydrate receptors

An acyclic receptor 1, containing phenanthroline- and aminopyridine-based recognition sites, has been established as a powerful carbohydrate receptor. Compared to the previously described acyclic receptors, compound 1 shows significantly higher binding affinities as well as selectivities, which are quite different from those of the earlier systems. The phenanthroline unit has been established as a valuable building block for the construction of effective and selective carbohydrate receptors.     

Cyanoacetaldehyde as a building block for prebiotic formation of pyrimidines

The present study uses density functional theory to investigate the possible free radical pathways for cytosine and uracil formation from cyanoacetaldehyde in the presence of urea and ammonia. Our proposed mechanisms are characterized by a smaller number of precursors and relatively lower barriers compared to previously reported reactions with other prebiotic precursors. Thus, the proposed mechanisms are more plausible in environments like prebiotic earth and present-day Titan. Overall, this study suggests a kinetically accessible route to pyrimidine formation and will hopefully contribute toward understanding the relevance of these precursors in prebiotic reactions.     

Synthesis of a new conformationally constrained glycoamino acid building block

The synthesis of a suitably protected β-d-glucopyranosyl-(S)-α-methylserine derivative—a new conformationally constrained glycosylated quaternary amino acid analogue of β-d-glucopyranosyl-l-serine—is described. This compound can be used as an attractive building block for the synthesis of new, constrained glycopeptides.     

Synthesis of a versatile pentacyclic building block for organic electronics

A new pentacyclic building block, benzodibenzofuranquinone (BDBFQ), is synthesized in a single step from the inexpensive and readily available feedstocks chloranil and 3‐bromophenol. This versatile repeat unit is incorporated into a series of conjugated materials as either the redox active quinone form or as an electron‐rich dialkylated benzodibenzofuran (BDBF) unit. To illustrate the performance that can be obtained from these systems, optical and electrochemical properties were studied via UV–vis–NIR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Thin‐film morphology was characterized via grazing incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering with thin‐film field‐effect transistor measurements further demonstrating the utility of this system. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2618–2628     

2-Chloroquinazoline. Synthesis and reactivity of a versatile heterocyclic building block

Starting from 2,4-dichloroquinazoline, various methods for the selective removal of the 4-chloro substituent were tested, including catalytic hydrogenation, metal-halogen exchange, metal hydride reduction and reduction with tributyltin hydride—the latter both in a radical and in a Stille-type reaction. Amongst these, the most efficient method was found to be the Stille-type coupling. Furthermore, we have studied the reactivity of 2-chloroquinazoline and found it to act as a versatile building block for the direct introduction of the 2-quinazolinyl moiety.     

Synthesis and functionalization of 3,3'-bis(spirodienone)-bridged 2,2'-bithiophene: a new building block for redox-active molecular switching materials

Bithiophene derivatives bridged with a bis(spirodienone) unit were synthesized and characterized. Lithiation of the thiophene rings of an unsubstituted derivative proceeded without decomposition of the bis(spirodienone) skeleton. Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions (Suzuki-Miyaura, Sonogashira) with bromides afforded a variety of pi-extended derivatives. Bond breaking and formation under redox conditions were observed by cyclic voltammetry.     

Synthesis of a core trisaccharide as a versatile building block for N-glycans and glycoconjugates

N-linked oligosaccharides from glycoproteins (N-glycans) can be conveniently assembled with a building block approach. A protected form of the core trisaccharide (beta-mannosyl chitobiose) was identified as a key building block. The chitobiose part of the core trisaccharide was built from a glycosyl fluoride, which served as a precursor for the reducing GlcNAc azide and the inner GlcNAc moiety. Beta-mannosylation was accomplished at the trisaccharide stage by intramolecular inversion of a beta-glucosyl chitobiose. The benzylidene protection of the beta-mannoside and the azido group at the reducing end of the core trisaccharide allow modular synthesis of N-glycans and their glycoconjugates.