Facile synthesis and platinum complexes of 4',5,5'-trisubstituted-2,2':6',2'-terpyridines

The synthesis of trisubstituted 4',5,5' terpyridines is described. The strategy begins with synthesis of 2-acetyl-5-bromopyridine (3) from 2,5-dibromopyridine, substitution of the bromine in 3 using a variety of metal-catalyzed reactions and then formation of the terpyridine using the Krohnke reaction. The complexes have been prepared by reaction of [Pt(PhCN)(2)Cl(2)] with the appropriate silver salt followed by addition of the terpyridyl ligand. The crystal structure of two complexes have been determined via X-ray diffraction and the MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge-transfer) emissions determined by UV/Vis spectroscopy.     

A theoretical study on the low-lying excited states of 2,2':5',2'-terthiophene and 2,2':5',2':5',2'-quaterthiophene.

The nature and properties of the low-lying singlet and triplet valence excited states of 2,2':5',2'-terthiophene (terthiophene) and 2,2':5',2':5',2'-quaterthiophene (tetrathiophene) are discussed on the basis of high-level ab initio computations. The spectroscopic features determined experimentally for short alpha-oligothiophenes are rationalised on theoretical grounds. Special attention is devoted to the nonradiative decay process through intersystem crossing (ISC) from the singlet to the triplet manifold, which is known to be relatively less efficient in tetrathiophene. Along the geometry relaxation of the S1 state of terthiophene, the S1 and T2 states become degenerate, which leads to a favourable situation for the occurrence of ISC. The parallel process is expected to be less favoured in tetrathiophene because of the less efficient spin-orbit coupling and the increase of the S1-T2 energy gap.     

Conformational polymorphism and thermochemical analysis of 5,5' '-bis[(2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-aza-2,5-disila-1-cyclopentyl)ethyl]-2,2':5',2' ':5' ',2' '-quaterthiophene

The titled compound exists as two polymorphic solid phases (denoted form-I and form-II). Form-I obtained by as-synthesized material is a more stable phase. Form-II is a less stable phase. Spontaneous solid-solid transformation from form-II to form-I is observed in the temperature range between room temperature and the melting point of form-I (Tm = 156.5 degrees C), and its activation energy is estimated to be 96 kJ mol-1 by Arrhenius plot. The solid-solute-solid transformation (recrystallization from solution) from form-II to form-I is also observed. In contrast, form-II is obtained only by a solid-melt-solid transformation from form-I. Therefore, the system of two polymorphs is monotropic. The solid-state NMR measurement shows that form-I has the molecular conformation of complete S-syn-anti-syn in the oligothiophene backbone, whereas form-II has that of S-all-anti. With the solution NMR data, the polymorphism could not be observed. Therefore, the polymorphs originate from the different molecular packing involving the conformational change of the molecule. This unique property is attributed to the extra bulky terminal groups of the compounds. However, despite the extra bulky terminal groups, the mentioned polymorphism is not observed in the titled compound analogue which has S-all-anti conformation (like form-II).     

Solid-state synthesis of poly(3',4'-dimethoxy-2,2':5',2"- terthiophene): comparison with poly(terthiophene) and poly(3',4'-ethylenedioxy-2,2':5',2"- terthiophene)

A new terthiophene monomer: 3',4'-dimethoxy-2,2':5',2"-terthiophene (TMT) was synthesized and characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and FTIR. The solid-state oxidative polymerizations of TMT were performed in various ratios of oxidant (FeCl?) to monomer (TMT). The resulting polymers were characterized by 1H-NMR, FTIR, UV-vis-NIR, GPC, X-ray diffraction, CV, as well as TGA and conductivity measurements. The structure and properties of poly (TMT) were compared with those of polyterthiophene [poly(TT)] and poly (3',4'-ethylenedioxy-2,2':5',2"-terthiophene) [poly(TET)] prepared under the same polymerization conditions. After comparative analysis with poly(TT) and poly(TET), the effects of the dimethoxy substituent and FeCl? on the structural and physicochemical properties of the poly(TMT)s were discussed in depth. The comparison suggested that the dimethoxy-substituted polymer did not display higher crystallinity, thermal stability, conductivity and electrochemical activity than ethylenedioxy substituted one. The results also showed that the effect of FeCl? on poly(TMT) was similar that seen with the poly(TT), in which the oxidation degree, electrochemical activity and conductivity increased steadily with increasing [FeCl?/[TT] ratio. Furthermore, the poly(TMT) and poly(TT) are mostly made up of dimers with a small amount of higher molecular weight components.     

Phototoxic process after rapid photosensitive membrane damage of 5,5"-bis(aminomethyl)-2,2':5',2"-terthiophene dihydrochloride

We report a new aspect of rapid (<30 s) light-induced cell membrane damage photosensitized by 5,5"-bis(aminomethyl)-2,2':5',2"-terthiophene dihydrochloride (BAT), which is a water-soluble alpha-terthienyl analogue, using a high-power laser (light intensity 1.6 W cm(-2)). In this paper, we will discuss the relationship between the exposure time of the cells to the photosensitizer and the phototoxic process. Three toxic processes can be identified: first, a non-light-mediated toxicity dependent on BAT-cell incubation; second, a phototoxicity independent of BAT exposure time when the BAT concentration is in the 2-10-microM range; third, a phototoxicity dependent on BAT exposure time when BAT concentration becomes 20 microM. The cytotoxicity decreases when alpha-tocopherol, an antioxidant, is added to a cell membrane. This pattern of phototoxicity is the typical of a phospholipid peroxidation chain reaction and oxidative damage of membrane proteins triggered by a reactive oxygen species generated by a triplet state of BAT. The BAT exposure time is clearly correlated with the partition of the photosensitizer in the cell membrane and inside the cell.     

Photo-induced transformations in 2,2':5',2'-terthiophene thin films on silver

We report on transient photo-induced structural changes of 2,2':5',2'-terthiophene (3T) adsorbed on silver nanoparticles. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) data show that the film thickness predetermines the eventual course of these changes. In particular, for high molecular concentrations (thick adsorbate layers), illumination leads to a photoinduced polymerization of the 3T film. For thin layers ( approximately monolayer coverage), the photoinduced spectral evolution is qualitatively different. We interpret the latter process as a cleavage of the terthiophene molecule, resulting in isolated thiophene units. Calculations of excitation energies for 3T + 3Ag+ and 1T + Ag+ revealed visible transitions, while calculated Raman frequencies indicated 1T as a possible photoproduct. As no photoinduced transformations are observed for 3T in the solid or solution phases, it is likely that the processes reported here originate in surface-enhanced charge-transfer between the Ag-surface and the organic adsorbate.     

A versatile strategy for the synthesis of functionalized 2,2'-bi- and 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridines via their 1,2,4-triazine analogues

A general synthetic route for the synthesis of functionalized bi- and terpyridines is reported. Functionalized 1,2,4-triazene 4-oxides 7 and 8-obtained from the reaction of hydrazones 1 with pyridine aldehydes and followed by oxidation-are functionalized by introduction of a cyano group via nucleophilic aromatic substitution. The thus-obtained 5-cyano-1,2,4-triazines 9 and 10 undergo facile inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reactions with enamines and alkenes to yield functionalized bi- and terpyridines, respectively. The substituent at position 6 of the 1,2,4-triazene 4-oxides must be aromatic or heteroaromatic in order to allow their facile synthesis, but other substituents and reagents may vary. Each step of the synthetic route allows diversification, which makes the approach particularly useful for the facile synthesis of a large variety of functionalized bi- and terpyridines.