Convertible Fluorous Sulfonate Linker for the Synthesis of Diverse Library Scaffolds

Aryl perfluorooctanesulfonates (fluorous sulfonate) have been developed as triflates and nonaflates alternatives for Pd‐catalyzed coupling reactions to form C‐C, C‐N, C‐S, C‐H, and C‐CN bonds. They also serve as phase‐tags for fluorous solid‐phase extraction (F‐SPE) to facilitate product purifications. Other synthetic techniques such as microwave reactions and multicomponent reactions are combined with the fluorous linker strategy to further increase synthetic efficiency. The utility of fluorous sulfonate linkers in the synthesis of biologically interested library scaffolds is summarized in this short review article.     

Cobalt(II) octanoate and cobalt(II) perfluorooctanoate catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene in toluene and fluorous media—A versatile route to catalyst recycling and oligomer formation

Cobalt(II) perfluorooctanoate‐catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and reverse ATRP were developed to prepare oligostyrenes (M_n < 2500) with low polydispersities M_w/M_n < 1.5. Fluorous biphase catalysis was applied for effective recycling of catalyst and fluorous solvent. The homogeneous polymerization reaction was performed at 90 °C in toluene/cyclohexane/perfluorodecalin mixture (1:1:1) and fluorine‐free solvents. Temperature‐induced phase separation of this fluorous solvent mixture occurred at room temperature and proved to be the key for the very effective separation of the cobalt(II) perfluorooctanoate from the oligostyrene and fluorine‐free solvents. Both the fluorine‐tagged cobalt catalysts and the fluorous media were recycled and reused up to three times without encountering catalyst activity losses. The roles of cobalt catalysts, fluorous media, and monomer/initiator ratio were examined with respect to the polymerization kinetics. Fluorine‐containing and fluorine‐free cobalt(II) octanoate catalyzed controlled styrene oligomerization according to the ATRP mechanism. The molar mass control range was limited in fluorous biphase catalysis most likely because of precipitation of high molar mass polystyrenes in the fluorous reaction medium. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time temperature‐induced phase separation of fluorous and fluorine‐free solvents has been successfully applied to polymerization processing. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3804–3813, 2005     

Phase‐vanishing methods based on fluorous phase screen: A simple way for efficient execution of organic synthesis

The phase‐vanishing (PV) method is based on spontaneous reaction controlled by diffusion of reagents into fluorous media, such as perfluorohexanes (FC‐72) and polyperfluoroethers. Thus, the original PV reaction utilizes a triphasic test tube method composed of a bottom reagent phase, a middle fluorous phase, and a top substrate phase. In such a triphasic system, the fluorous phase acts as a liquid membrane to transport the bottom reagents to the top organic phase containing substrates. In the end, the bottom layer disappears and two phases remain. Since the first demonstration of the PV method by bromination of alkenes with molecular bromine, a number of applications have been developed thus far. These include halogenation of alcohols with SOBr₂ and PBr₃, demethylation of methoxyarenes with BBr₃, cyclopropanation of alkenes by CH₂I₂‐AlEt₃, and Friedel–Crafts acylation of aromatic compounds with SnCl₄. A fluorous triphasic U‐tube method is effective for chlorination of alcohols based on lighter (less dense) reagents such as SOCl₂ and PCl₃. A system using a solution containing reagents as a bottom phase is useful for oxidation with m‐CPBA, which may be defined as a new category for the “extractive PV” method. Recent advances include a “quadraphasic” PV method, in which an aqueous “scavenger” phase is added to the original triphasic PV method to remove acidic by‐products. © 2008 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 8: 351–363; 2008: Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ) DOI 10.1002/tcr.20161     

Fully automated reagent peak‐free liquid chromatography fluorescence analysis of highly polar carboxylic acids using a column‐switching system and fluorous scavenging derivatization

In this study, we combined a column‐switching system with a fluorous scavenging derivatization method to develop a fully automated reagent peak‐free LC fluorescence detection protocol for the analysis of highly polar carboxylic acids. In this method, highly polar carboxylic acids were derivatized with fluorescent 1‐pyrenemethylamine in the presence of 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide and 1‐hydroxy‐1H‐benzotriazole. Residual excess of the unreacted reagent was tagged with 2‐(perfluorooctyl)ethyl isocyanate and then removed selectively using a fluorous column‐switching system placed in front of an analytical reversed‐phase column. The signal of the fluorous‐tagged unreacted reagent was completely absent in the resulting chromatograms; therefore, it did not interfere with the quantification of each acid especially those eluted before 20 min. The detection limits (S/N = 3) for the examined acids were in the range from 4.0 to 22 fmol per injection. We have applied this method to comparative analysis of highly polar carboxylic acids in urine samples obtained from diabetes mellitus type‐II model mice and their control.     

Multistep Parallel Synthesis of Quinazoline‐2,4‐diones by a Fluorous Biphasic Concept without Perfluorinated Solvents

Based on perfluoro‐tagged benzyl alcohol adsorbed via fluorous–fluorous interactions on fluorous reversed‐phase silica gel (FRPSG), we have performed a multistep synthesis leading finally to a small library of quinazoline‐2,4‐diones. The whole reaction sequence runs without isolation of intermediates and most importantly, without the need of perfluorinated solvents.     

Cover Picture: Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society 2/2012

This article summarizes recent efforts for synthesis and reaction chemistry with (imido)vanadium(V)‐alkyl, ‐alkylidene complexes. These (arylimido)vanadium(V) dichloride complexes especially containing aryloxo ligands exhibited notable activities for ethylene polymerization affording ultra high molecular weight polymers with unimodal molecular weight distribution, and the reacition pathways for the polymerization/dimerization using (imido)vanadium(V) dichloride complexes containing (2‐anilido‐methyl)pyridine ligands can be tuned by modification of the steric bulk in the imido substituents; the adamantylimido analogues exhibited exceptionally high both activity and selectivity in the dimerization. This article entitled “(Imido)Vanadium(V)‐Alkyl, Alkylidene Complexes Exhibiting Unique Reactivities towards Olefins, Phenols, and Benzene via 1,2‐C‐H Bond Activation” was contributed by Prof. Kotohiro Nomura who was invited as a Visiting Lecturer (Mar. 6, 2011 ～Mar. 12, 2011) of the Chemistry Research Promotion Center, Taiwan, R.O.C. For full text, please see pp 139～148 in this issue.     

Organic–inorganic hybrid fluorous monolithic capillary column for selective solid‐phase microextraction of perfluorinated persistent organic pollutants

A novel construction strategy of monolithic capillary column for selectively enriching perfluorinated persistent organic pollutants was proposed. The organic–inorganic hybrid fluorous monolithic capillary column was synthesized by a “one‐pot” approach via the polycondensation of γ‐methacryloxypropyltrimethoxy‐silane, then in situ copolymerization of 1H,1H,7H‐dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate and vinyl group on the precondensed siloxanes. The obtained monolithic columns were systematically characterized. The results demonstrated that the optimal column possessed good mechanical stability and high permeability. The adsorption capacities of the optimized monolithic column for perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate were 0.257 and 0.513 μg/mg, respectively. Adsorption capacities of the monoliths were proved to increasing with increasing the amounts of fluorinated monomers in the fluorous monoliths. Sodium 1‐octanesulfonate, as a comparison compound, was hardly adsorbed on the fluorous monolith. In addition, the trace amounts of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate in water samples can be successfully concentrated about 160 times to their original concentrations by this monolithic column. These results demonstrated that the capacity and selectivity of the affinity fluorous column is high and can be applied to the selective enrichment for the perfluorinated persistent organic pollutants from environmental samples.     

Ytterbium Perfluorooctanesulfonate–Catalyzed Synthesis of 1,5‐Benzodiazepine Derivatives in Fluorous Solvents

Ytterbium perfluorooctanesulfonate [Yb(OPf)₃] catalyses the highly efficient synthesis of 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepines in fluorous solvents. By simple separation of the fluorous phase containing only the catalyst, the reaction can be repeated several times.     

Size‐Tunable Micron‐Bubbles Based on Fluorous–Fluorous Interactions of Perfluorinated Dendritic Polyglycerols

This paper describes the behavior of various generations of polyglycerol dendrimers that contain a perfluorinated shell. The aggregation in organic solvents is based on supramolecular fluorous–fluorous interactions, which can be described by means of ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. In order to study the interaction and aggregation phenomena of dendrimers with perfluorinated shell and perfluoro‐tagged guest molecules we investigated [G3.5]‐dendrimer with a perfluorinated shell in the presence of perfluoro‐tagged disperse red. Noteworthy, the interaction intensities varied in an unexpected manner depending on the equivalents of perfluoro‐tagged guest molecules added to the dendrimers in solution which then formed supramolecular complexes based on fluorous–fluorous interactions. We found that these complexes aggregated around residual air in the solvent to form stable micron‐sized bubbles. Their sizes correlated with the interaction intensities measured for certain dendrimer–guest molecule ratios. Degassing of the solutions led to a quasi phase separation between organic and fluorous phase, whereby the dendrimers formed the fluorous phases. Regassing the sample with air afforded bubbles of the initial size again.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) films by photopolymerization

A novel method used for the preparation of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) films of varying crosslink density under homogeneous/heterogeneous conditions is described in this paper. Photopolymerization of the N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) monomer in water (homogeneous at ～7°C and heterogeneous at ～40°C) or a mixture of water/ethanol (50:50, heterogeneous at ～7°C) was carried out using 1‐[4‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐phenyl]‐2‐hydroxy‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane‐1‐one (hydrophilic) or 2‐hydroxy‐2‐methyl propiophenone (hydrophobic) photo‐initiator. In order to investigate the effect of temperature and crosslink density, polymerization was carried out at ～7°C [below lower critical soluble temperature (LCST)] and ～40°C (above LCST) using varying amounts of N,N′‐methylene bisacrylamide (BIS) ranging from 1–4 wt%. Degree of swelling (determined by optical microscopy), phase transition temperature [determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)] as well as morphology (scanning electron microscopy) were found to be dependent on solvent system (homogeneous/heterogeneous), temperature of polymerization and crosslink density. Hydrogels prepared at ～7°C using hydrophobic photo‐initiator and water/ethanol (50:50) as solvent, showed much higher degree of swelling at all levels of crosslink density as compared to hydrogel prepared at ～7°C using hydrophilic photo‐initiator and water as solvent. Hydrogels were used for patterning which may find applications in microfluidic devices. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Perfluorinated Bis(dihydrooxazole) Complexes Immobilized on Fluorous Reversed‐Phase Silica Gel as Recyclable Catalysts for Enantioselective Diels?Alder Reactions

The three different perfluoroalkyl‐tagged bis(dihydrooxazole)copper complexes 19 – 21 were synthesized and immobilized noncovalently on fluorous reversed‐phase silica gel (FRPSG) by fluorous? fluorous interactions (Schemes 2 and 3). These supported catalysts were successfully applied to asymmetric Diels? Alder reactions in H₂O and in CH₂Cl₂ (Scheme 4). Besides high conversion of the dienophile, we observed enantiomer excesses of up to 88% in H₂O and 97% in CH₂Cl₂, and we were able to recover and re‐use these catalytic systems several times. Despite the relatively high catalyst loading, the leaching of copper was remarkably low ranging from 2.4 to 5.9 ppm.     

Fluorous solvent‐soluble imaging materials containing anthracene moieties

Highly fluorinated photoresist polymers that can undergo photodimerization reactions were designed using an anthracene‐based monomer. Through the random radical copolymerizations of 6‐(anthracen‐9‐yl)hexyl methacrylate ( AHMA ) and semiperfluorodecyl methacrylate ( FDMA ) with four different compositions, polymers with M_n = 20,000–27,000 (M_w/M_n = 2.0–2.9) were prepared in benzotrifluoride. The polymers, in particular fluorous solvent‐soluble imaging material‐2 ( FSIM‐2 ), showed sufficient solubility in fluorous solvents, including hydrofluoroethers, but were rendered insoluble by UV exposure (365 nm). This photochemical solubility change was evaluated quantitatively by a quartz crystal microbalance technique, along with tracing the chemical reaction by UV–vis spectroscopy. Finally, FSIM‐2 and fluorous solvents were applied to the photolithographic patterning of organic light‐emitting diode pixels. In the patterning protocol involving the lift‐off of resist films in fluorous solvents, FSIM‐2 was recognized as a promising photoreactive material when compared with a reference polymer P(FDMA‐MAMA) , which necessitates acidolysis reactions for lithographic imaging. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1252–1259     

Reversible fluorous phase-switching of pyridyl-tagged porphyrins: Application to the sensing of histamine in water

Upon stirring a chloroform/perfluorodecalin biphasic system, the 5,10,15,20-tetrapyridyl porphyrin (TPyP) solubilized in the organic phase was almost quantitatively extracted (∼99.9%) into the fluorous phase containing an excess of the “heavy fluorous” copper(II)-carboxylate complex 1. The porphyrin was quantitatively and almost instantaneously released into the chloroform after addition of excess tetrahydrofuran (THF), which successfully competed with the pyridine ligand for binding sites on complex 1. Metallation of TPyP by copper(II) ions was never observed during the “catch-and-release” process. With the 5,10,15-tripyridyl-20-phenylporphyrin (TPyMPP) or the 5,15-dipyridyl-10,20-diphenylporphyrin (trans-DPyDPP) both efficient extraction (98%) and metallation occurred simultaneously leading to the immobilization of the metallated copper(II)-porphyrins in the fluorous phase. The metalloporphyrins were quantitatively released in the organic phase by addition of THF. With the 5-pyridyl-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin (MPyTPP) no extraction but rapid metallation was observed under biphasic stirring leading to the quantitative recovery of the Cu²⁺-metalloporphyrin in the organic phase. The “catch-and-release” methodology of TpyP was exploited to develop a triphasic C₆F₁₄/DCM/water indicator displacement assay (IDA) for histamine in which the receptor–indicator complex is compartimentalized in the perfluorocarbon. It has been shown that in such IDA methodology the fluorous phase can play the role of a membrane impervious to water, allowing the detection of histamine in water at micromolar concentrations.     

Semifluorinated Polymers as Ion‐selective Electrode Membrane Matrixes

Most commercially available fluorous polymers are ill suited for the fabrication of ion‐selective electrode (ISE) membranes. Therefore, we synthesized semifluorinated polymers for this purpose. Ionophore‐free ion‐exchanger electrodes made with these polymers show a selectivity range (≈14 orders of magnitude) that is nearly as wide as found previously for liquid fluorous ion‐exchanger electrodes. These polymers were also used to construct ISE membranes doped with fluorophilic silver ionophores. While the resulting ISEs were somewhat less selective than their fluorous counterparts, the semifluorinated polymers offer the advantage that they can be doped both with fluorophilic ionophores and traditional lipophilic ionophores, such as the silver ionophore Cu(II)‐I (o ‐xylylenebis[N,N ‐diisobutyldithiocarbamate]). We also cross‐linked these polymers, producing very durable membranes that retained broad selectivity ranges. K⁺ ISEs made with the cross‐linked semifluorinated polymer and the ionophore valinomycin showed selectivities similar to those of PVC membrane ISEs but with a superior thermal stability, the majority of the electrodes still giving a theoretical (Nernstian) response after exposure to a boiling aqueous solution for 10 h.     

Spectroscopic properties of poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene) thin films possessing varied fractions of β‐phase chain segments: enhanced photoluminescence efficiency via conformation structuring

Poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene) (PFO) is a widely studied blue‐emitting conjugated polymer, the optoelectronic properties of which are strongly affected by the presence of a well‐defined chain‐extended “β‐phase” conformational isomer. In this study, optical and Raman spectroscopy are used to systematically investigate the properties of PFO thin films featuring a varied fraction of β‐phase chain segments. Results show that the photoluminescence quantum efficiency (PLQE) of PFO films is highly sensitive to both the β‐phase fraction and the method by which it was induced. Notably, a PLQE of ～69% is measured for PFO films possessing a ～6% β‐phase fraction induced by immersion in solvent/nonsolvent mixtures; this value is substantially higher than the average PLQE of ～55% recorded for other β‐phase films. Furthermore, a linear relationship is observed between the intensity ratios of selected Raman peaks and the β‐phase fraction determined by commonly used absorption calibrations, suggesting that Raman spectroscopy can be used as an alternative means to quantify the β‐phase fraction. As a specific example, spatial Raman mapping is used to image a mm‐scale β‐phase stripe patterned in a glassy PFO film, with the extracted β‐phase fraction showing excellent agreement with the results of optical spectroscopy. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1995–2006     

Parallel synthesis and study of fluorous biphasic partition coefficients of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoroalkylsilyl derivatives of triphenylphosphine: a statistical approach

A library of fluorous, (1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoroalkyl)silyl-substituted derivatives of triphenylphosphine, Ph(3-a)P[C(6)H(5-y)[SiMe(3-b)(CH(2)CH(2)C(x)F(2x+1))(b)](y)-pos](a) [a = 1-3; b = 1-3; x = 4, 6, 8, or 10; pos = 3, 4 (y = 1) or 3,5 (y = 2)], was prepared using parallel synthetic techniques. Upon variation of these four parameters, a total of 108 different fluorous phosphines can be synthesized. Using factorial design, 37 phosphines were selected and their partition coefficients in the typical fluorous biphasic solvent system PFMCH/toluene (PFMCH = perfluoromethylcyclohexane) determined. By fitting of the partition coefficient data to linear functions of the parameters a, b, and x, the partition coefficients of the remaining 71 fluorous phosphines, which were not prepared, could be predicted. Using this approach, some unexpected trends in the dependence of the partition coefficient on variations of the four parameters became clear, resulting in a better understanding of the optimum fluorous substitution pattern for obtaining the highest partition coefficient (P). In this way, the partition coefficient was increased by 2 orders of magnitude, i.e., from the initial value P = 7.8 for 1(3, 2, 6, C4) to P > 238 for 1(2, 3, 6, C3C5). Para- and 3,5-substituted phosphines showed irregular behavior in the sense that elongation or increase of the number of perfluoroalkyl tails did not necessarily lead to higher partition coefficients. Particularly high values were found for phosphines containing a total of 72 fluorinated carbon atoms on the meta position(s) of the aryl rings. Linear relationships were found between the predicted log P of 1(a, b, x, C4) and the experimentally determined log P values of fluorous diphosphines [CH(2)P[C(6)H(4)(SiMe(3-b)(CH(2)CH(2)C(6)F(13))(b))-4](2)](2) and monophosphines Ph(3-a)P(C(6)H(4)(CH(2)CH(2)C(6)F(13))-4)(a). One of the most fluorophilic phosphines, i.e., 1(3, 1, 8, C3C5), was applied and efficiently recycled in rhodium-catalyzed, fluorous hydrosilylation of 1-hexene by HSiMe(2)Ph using PFMCH as the fluorous phase and the substrates as the organic phase. It was demonstrated that a higher partition coefficient of the ligand in PFMCH/toluene at 0 degrees C indeed resulted in less leaching of both the catalyst and the free ligand during phase separation.     

Synthesis and properties of a novel family of fluorous triphenylphosphine derivatives

A novel approach to the preparation of perfluorotail-functionalized triarylphosphines using a p-silyl substituent as the branching point has been developed. This approach enabled the attachment of between three and nine perfluorotails per phosphorus atom, resulting in the production of highly fluorous tris[p-(1H,1H,2H, 2H-perfluoroalkylsilyl)aryl]phosphines, P[C(6)H(4)-p-SiMe(3)(-)(n)()(CH(2)CH(2)C(x)()F(2)(x)()(+1))(n)()](3) (n = 1, 2, 3; x = 6, 8), containing between 50 and 67 wt % fluorine. (31)P NMR studies indicate that the phosphorus atoms, and consequently the sigma-donor and pi-acceptor properties of these phosphines, are not influenced by the electron-withdrawing perfluoroalkyltails. The fluorous triarylphosphines are readily soluble in fluorous solvents and display fluorous phase preference in several fluorous biphasic systems. The phase partitioning of these fluorous ligands, as well as their donor properties, is discussed in relation to their potential for fluorous biphasic catalyst separation.     

Phase‐Transfer Activation of Transition Metal Catalysts

With metal‐based catalysts, it is quite common that a ligand (L) must first dissociate from a catalyst precursor (L′_nM?L) to activate the catalyst. The resulting coordinatively unsaturated active species (L′_nM) can either back react with the ligand in a k_?1 step, or combine with the substrate in a k₂ step. When dissociation is not rate determining and k_?1[L] is greater than or comparable to k₂[substrate], this slows the rate of reaction. By introducing a phase label onto the ligand L and providing a suitable orthogonal liquid or solid phase, dramatic rate accelerations can be achieved. This phenomenon is termed “phase‐transfer activation”. In this Concept, some historical antecedents are reviewed, followed by successful applications involving fluorous/organic and aqueous/organic liquid/liquid biphasic catalysis, and liquid/solid biphasic catalysis. Variants that include a chemical trap for the phase‐labeled ligands are also described.     

Design of Binaphthyl‐Modified Symmetrical Chiral Phase‐Transfer Catalysts: Substituent Effect of 4,4′,6,6′‐Positions of Binaphthyl Rings in the Asymmetric Alkylation of a Glycine Derivative

A series of symmetrical chiral phase‐transfer catalysts with 4,4′,6,6′‐tetrasubstituted binaphthyl units have been designed, and these aryl‐ and trialkylsilyl‐substituted phase‐transfer catalysts, which included a highly fluorinated catalyst, were prepared. The chiral efficiency of these chiral phase‐transfer catalysts was investigated in the asymmetric alkylation of tert‐butylglycinate–benzophenone Schiff base under mild phase‐transfer conditions, and the eminent substituent effect of the 4,4′,6,6′‐positions of the binaphthyl units on enantioselection was observed. In particular, the OctMe₂Si‐substituted catalyst was found to be highly efficient for the phase‐transfer alkylation of tert‐butylglycinate–benzophenone Schiff base with various alkyl halides, including sec‐alkyl halides. The highly fluorinated catalyst was also utilized as a recyclable chiral phase‐transfer catalyst by simple extraction with fluorous solvents.     

Electrophilic aromatic nitration using perfluorinated rare earth metal salts in fluorous phase

In this paper, we describe a practical, useful electrophilic aromatic nitration process in fluorous phase by using perfluorodecalin (C10F18, cis- and trans-mixture) as a fluorous solvent and perfluorinated rare earth metal salt [Yb(OSO2C8F17)3] as a catalyst for the electrophilic aromatic nitration.