SN2P2: A Neutral Five‐Membered Sulfur–Pnictogen(III) Ring

The novel aromatic ring compound 2,4‐diphospha‐3,5‐diaza‐thiole (cyclo‐SNPNP) was synthesized via flash pyrolysis of SP(N₃)₃ and characterized by IR spectroscopy and ¹⁵N isotope labeling. Quantum chemical computations indicate its formation by head‐to‐tail dimerization of SNP and subsequent elimination of a sulfur atom from the highly unstable boatlike six‐membered‐ring compound cyclo‐SNPSNP.     

Synthesis of a Five‐Membered Molecular Necklace: A 2+2 Approach

Like with a string of pearls , four molecular “beads” are threaded on a molecular rectangle to form a molecular necklace. This rectangular species is synthesized from two L‐shaped, preorganized pseudorotaxanes with two molecular beads each (cucurbituril, schematically symbolized by the barrels), held together by Cu²⁺ ions [Eq. (1)].     

On the Synthesis,Characterization and Reactivity of N‐Heteroaryl–Boryl Radicals,a New Radical Class Based on Five‐Membered Ring Ligands

The synthesis and physical characterization of a new class of N‐heterocycle–boryl radicals is presented, based on five membered ring ligands with a N(sp²) complexation site. These pyrazole–boranes and pyrazaboles exhibit a low bond dissociation energy (BDE; B?H) and accordingly excellent hydrogen transfer properties. Most importantly, a high modulation of the BDE(B?H) by the fine tuning of the N‐heterocyclic ligand was obtained in this series and could be correlated with the spin density on the boron atom of the corresponding radical. The reactivity of the latter for small molecule chemistry has been studied through the determination of several reaction rate constants corresponding to addition to alkenes and alkynes, addition to O₂, oxidation by iodonium salts and halogen abstraction from alkyl halides. Two selected applications of N‐heterocycle–boryl radicals are also proposed herein, for radical polymerization and for radical dehalogenation reactions.     

Extension of N‐Heteroacenes through a Four‐Membered Ring

The synthesis of novel π‐extended N‐heteroacenes, which have a large tetraazaacene subunit and a quinoxaline subunit connected through a four‐membered ring, is reported. They were studied with experimental and computational methods in comparison to the corresponding tetraazaacenes. As found from the DFT calculation, the four‐membered ring is a better linker than a five‐membered ring or a C?C single bond to extend N‐heteroacenes for a new design of n‐type semiconductors in terms of the spatial delocalization and energy level of LUMO as well as the reorganization energy. In solution‐processed thin film transistors, the π‐extended N‐heteroacenes are found to function as n‐type semiconductors with field effect mobility of up to 0.02 cm² V^?1 s^?1 under ambient conditions.     

A New Strategy for Enantioselective Construction of Multisubstituted Five‐Membered Oxygen Heterocycles via a Domino Michael/Hemiketalization Reaction

A new highly enantioselective domino Michael/hemiketalization reaction of α‐hydroxyacetophenone with β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters for the synthesis of 2,2,4,5‐tetrasubstituted chiral tetrahydrofurans is reported. With 2 mol % intramolecular dinuclear zinc‐AzePhenol complex prepared in situ from the reaction of multidentate semi‐azacrown ether ligand with ZnEt₂, the corresponding anti‐multisubstituted tetrahydrofuran products were obtained in up to 90 % yields, and 98 % enantiomeric excess (ee) at 0 °C for 45 min. Moreover, the products were easily converted to 2,3,5‐trisubstituted 2,3‐dihydrofurans without any loss in optical activity.     

Iridium‐Catalyzed Silylation of Five‐Membered Heteroarenes: High Sterically Derived Selectivity from a Pyridyl‐Imidazoline Ligand

The steric effects of substituents on five‐membered rings are less pronounced than those on six‐membered rings because of the difference in bond angles. Thus, the regioselectivities of reactions of five‐membered heteroarenes that occur with selectivities dictated by steric effects, such as the borylation of C?H bonds, have been poor in many cases. We report that the silylation of five‐membered‐ring heteroarenes occurs with high sterically derived regioselectivity when catalyzed by the combination of [Ir(cod)(OMe)]₂ (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) and a phenanthroline ligand or a new pyridyl‐imidazoline ligand that further increases the regioselectivity. The silylation reactions with these catalysts produce high yields of heteroarylsilanes from functionalization at the most sterically accessible C?H bonds of these rings under conditions that the borylation of C?H bonds with previously reported catalysts formed mixtures of products or products that are unstable. The heteroarylsilane products undergo cross‐coupling reactions and substitution reactions with ipso selectivity to generate heteroarenes that bear halogen, aryl, and perfluoroalkyl substituents.     

Regioselective Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Carbonylative Direct Arylation of Five‐Membered and Condensed Heterocycles

A ruthenium‐catalyzed carbonylative C?H bond arylation process for the three‐component synthesis of complex aryl–(hetero)aryl ketones in an aqueous solution has been developed. By exploiting the ortho‐activating effect of nitrogen‐containing directing groups, a regioselective, successive twofold C(sp²)?C(sp²) bond formation has been achieved. This straightforward catalytic process provides access to versatile products prevalent in multiple bioactive compounds and supplies a valuable functional group for subsequent transformations.     

Base‐Selective Five‐ versus Six‐Membered Ring Annulation in Palladium‐Catalyzed C–C Coupling Cascade Reactions: New Access to Electron‐Poor Polycyclic Aromatic Dicarboximides

Palladium‐catalyzed base‐selective annulation of dibromonaphthalimide to different aryl boronate esters by combined Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling and direct C−H arylation afforded a series of new five‐ and six‐membered ring annulated electron‐poor polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Cesium carbonate (Cs₂CO₃) as auxiliary base in these C−C coupling cascade reactions led exclusively to six‐membered ring annulation, while the use of organic base diazabicycloundecene (DBU) afforded the corresponding five‐membered ring annulated products. This base‐dependent selective mode of annulation is attributed to different mechanistic pathways directed by the applied base. The selective annulation was revealed by single crystal X‐ray analysis of the respective five‐ and six‐membered ring annulated products. The optical and redox properties of the new polycyclic aromatic dicarboximides were characterized by UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry.     

Cascade Synthesis of Five‐Membered Lactones using Biomass‐Derived Sugars as Carbon Nucleophiles

We report the cascade synthesis of five‐membered lactones from a biomass‐derived triose sugar, 1,3‐dihydroxyacetone, and various aldehydes. This achievement provides a new synthetic strategy to generate a wide range of valuable compounds from a single biomass‐derived sugar. Among several examined Lewis acid catalysts, homogeneous tin chloride catalysts exhibited the best performance to form carbon–carbon bonds. The scope and limitations of the synthesis of five‐membered lactones using aldehyde compounds are investigated. The cascade reaction led to high product selectivity as well as diastereoselectivity, and the mechanism leading to the diastereoselectivity was discussed based on isomerization experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The present results are expected to support new approaches for the efficient utilization of biomass‐derived sugars.     

Metal‐Free Decarboxylative Cyclization/Ring Expansion: Construction of Five‐, Six‐, and Seven‐Membered Heterocycles from 2‐Alkynyl Benzaldehydes and Cyclic Amino Acids

A one pot synthesis of 1H‐benzo[g]indoles, tetrahydrobenzo[h]quinolines, and naphtho[1,2‐b]azepines from 2‐alkynyl benzaldehydes and cyclic amino acids is reported. The salient feature of the strategy involves formation of three new bonds (one C? N and two C? C bonds) by a metal‐free decarboxylation/cyclization/one‐carbon ring expansion sequence in one pot.