Approaching the Integer‐Charge Transfer Regime in Molecularly Doped Oligothiophenes by Efficient Decarboxylative Cross‐Coupling

A library of symmetrical linear oligothiophene was prepared employing decarboxylative cross‐coupling reaction as the key transformation. Thiophene potassium carboxylate salts were used as cross‐coupling partners without the need of co‐catalyst, base, or additives. This method demonstrates complete chemoselectivity and is a comprehensive greener approach compared to the existing methods. The modularity of this approach is demonstrated with the preparation of discreet oligothiophenes with up to 10 thiophene repeat units. Symmetrical oligothiophenes are prototypical organic semiconductors where their molecular electrical doping as a function of the chain length can be assessed spectroscopically. An oligothiophene critical length for integer charge transfer was observed to be 10 thiophene units, highlighting the potential use of discrete oligothiophenes as doped conduction or injection layers in organic electronics applications.     

Synthesis of electroactive polystyrene derivatives para‐substituted with π‐conjugated oligothiophene via postgrafting functionalization

Two electroactive polystyrene derivatives para‐ substituted with π‐conjugated oligothiophene, poly(5‐hexyl‐5″‐(4‐vinylphenyl)‐2,2′:5′,2″‐terthiophene) ( PH3TS ), and poly(5‐hexyl‐5″″‐(4‐vinylphenyl)‐2,2′:5′,2″:5″,2″′:5″′,2″″‐quinquethiophene) ( PH5TS ) have been successfully synthesized via the Stille coupling reaction between tributyltin postfunctionalized poly(4‐(2‐thiophenyl)styrene) ( PTS ) and bromo‐oligothiophene. The effect of the chain length of the pendant oligothiophenes on properties of the resulting polymers including solubility, thermal stability, optical absorption, and electroactivation energy levels has been studied by using a variety of techniques such as thermogravimetric analyzer, differential scanning calorimetry, UV–Vis, Fluorescence, and cyclic voltammetry. With shielding of the hexyl terminal groups attached to the pendant oligothiophene units, no obvious chain aggregation was observed for both PH3TS and PH5TS even in a poor solvent environment. When compared with conventional linear conjugated polymer systems, the concept of grafting electroactive units as pendant side chains via postfunctionalizing aliphatic polymers might offer a strategy to precisely synthesize new electroactive polymer materials for a number of organic electronic applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis,Properties, and π‐Dimer Formation of Oligothiophenes Partially Bearing Orthogonally Fused Fluorene Units

A series of oligothiophenes that incorporate cyclopenta[c]thiophene‐based units bearing spiro‐substituted dialkylfluorene was synthesized. Photophysical measurements indicated that there was no interruption in the conjugation along the oligothiophene backbones, irrespective of the number or position of this unit. Electrochemical measurements showed that the thiophene 7‐mers and 11‐mer exhibit reversible multi‐oxidation waves. The formation of cationic species was clearly observed from UV/Vis/NIR measurements. Furthermore, the UV/Vis/NIR spectra at 223 K under one‐electron oxidation conditions revealed that the unsubstituted thiophene or bithiophene units remained in the absence of intermolecular π–π interactions, whereas the formation of π‐dimeric species was observed for the thiophene 7‐mer containing an unsubstituted terthiophene ( U₃ ) unit. Theoretical calculations indicated that the combination of the U₃ unit and the all‐trans conformation decreased the intermolecular steric repulsion between the fused cyclopentene ring and its facing thiophene, which may contribute to the formation of the dimeric structure.     

Efficient Synthesis of a Regioregular Oligothiophene Photovoltaic Dye Molecule,MK‐2, and Related Compounds: A Cooperative Hypervalent Iodine and Metal‐Catalyzed Synthetic Route

We have successfully established an efficient route to the core structure of donor–acceptor head‐to‐tail (H–T)‐linked regioregular oligothiophenes, which includes the following key synthetic steps, that is, hypervalent iodine induced direct and regioselective coupling of thiophenes and the use of the obtained bithiophenes as excellent coupling substrates for the Suzuki and Stille couplings. The versatility of this new approach is highlighted in the dramatic improvement of the yield (ca. 59 % overall yield) of MK‐2, a high‐performance organic dye, for photovoltaic applications.     

New Conjugated Oligothiophenes Containing the Unique Arrangement of Internal Adjacent [All]‐S,S‐Oxygenated Thiophene Fragments

The quest for obtaining conjugated oligothiophene‐containing molecules with narrower HOMO–LUMO gaps and higher oxidation and reduction potentials is the subject of this study. Molecules containing the bithiophene tetraoxide ( 2 ) and the terthiophene hexaoxide ( 3 ) moieties were prepared and studied. They were obtained by transferring oxygen atoms to the corresponding dibromo oligothiophenes with the HOF ? CH₃CN complex and then cross‐coupling them with either thiophene‐ or acetylene tin derivatives. The photophysical and electrochemical studies of the products revealed that this particular class of mixed thiophenes is characterized by significantly smaller frontier orbital gaps and higher oxidation and reduction potentials compared with any other arrangement of oligothiophenes including various [all]‐S,S‐oxygenated thiophene derivatives.     

Synthesis of Arylated Benzofurans by Regioselective Suzuki–Miyaura Cross‐Coupling Reactions of 2,3‐Dibromobenzofurans‐ and 2,3,5‐Tribromobenzofurans

Arylated benzofurans were prepared by regioselective Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions of 2,3‐dibromobenzofuran. The reactions proceeded with very good site‐selectivity in favor of the more electron deficient position 2. The Suzuki–Miyaura reactions of 2,3,5‐tribromobenzofuran also proceeded in favor of position 2.     

Ketones from Nickel‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative,Non‐Symmetric Cross‐Electrophile Coupling of Carboxylic Acid Esters

Synthesis of the C?C bonds of ketones relies upon one high‐availability reagent (carboxylic acids) and one low‐availability reagent (organometallic reagents or alkyl iodides). We demonstrate here a ketone synthesis that couples two different carboxylic acid esters, N‐hydroxyphthalimide esters and S‐2‐pyridyl thioesters, to form aryl alkyl and dialkyl ketones in high yields. The keys to this approach are the use of a nickel catalyst with an electron‐poor bipyridine or terpyridine ligand, a THF/DMA mixed solvent system, and ZnCl₂ to enhance the reactivity of the NHP ester. The resulting reaction can be used to form ketones that have previously been difficult to access, such as hindered tertiary/tertiary ketones with strained rings and ketones with α‐heteroatoms. The conditions can be employed in the coupling of complex fragments, including a 20‐mer peptide fragment analog of Exendin(9–39) on solid support.     

α‐Oligofurans: A Computational Study

Recently, α‐oligofurans have emerged as interesting and promising organic electronic materials that have certain advantages over α‐oligothiophenes. In this work, α‐oligofurans were studied computationally, and their properties were compared systematically with those of the corresponding oligothiophenes. Although the two materials share similar electronic structures, overall, this study revealed important differences between α‐oligofurans and α‐oligothiophenes. Twisting studies on oligofurans revealed them to be significantly more rigid than oligothiophenes in the ground state and first excited state. Neutral α‐oligofurans have more quinoid character, higher frontier orbital energies, and higher HOMO–LUMO gaps than their α‐oligothiophene counterparts. The theoretical results suggest that oligofurans (and subsequently polyfuran) have lower ionization potentials than the corresponding oligothiophenes (and polythiophene), which in turn predicts that oligofurans can be lightly doped more easily than oligothiophenes. Oligofuran dications (8 F²⁺–14 F²⁺) of medium‐sized and longer chain lengths show a polaron‐pair character, and the polycations of α‐oligofurans cannot accommodate high positive charges as easily as their thiophene analogues.     

Ketones from Nickel‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative,Non‐Symmetric Cross‐Electrophile Coupling of Carboxylic Acid Esters

Synthesis of the C?C bonds of ketones relies upon one high‐availability reagent (carboxylic acids) and one low‐availability reagent (organometallic reagents or alkyl iodides). We demonstrate here a ketone synthesis that couples two different carboxylic acid esters, N‐hydroxyphthalimide esters and S‐2‐pyridyl thioesters, to form aryl alkyl and dialkyl ketones in high yields. The keys to this approach are the use of a nickel catalyst with an electron‐poor bipyridine or terpyridine ligand, a THF/DMA mixed solvent system, and ZnCl₂ to enhance the reactivity of the NHP ester. The resulting reaction can be used to form ketones that have previously been difficult to access, such as hindered tertiary/tertiary ketones with strained rings and ketones with α‐heteroatoms. The conditions can be employed in the coupling of complex fragments, including a 20‐mer peptide fragment analog of Exendin(9–39) on solid support.     

Influence of the Boron Moiety and Water on Suzuki–Miyaura Catalyst‐Transfer Condensation Polymerization

Although water promotes Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction, it also induces side reactions such as deboronation and dehalogenation. Therefore, Suzuki–Miyaura polymerization of triolborate halothiophene monomer 1 with ^tBu₃PPd(o‐tolyl)Br ( 2 ) in dry tetrahydrofuran (THF) is investigated. However, the resultant poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) shows a broad molecular weight distribution and uncontrolled polymer ends. Model reactions of a number of boron reagents 3 with 2,5‐dibromothiophene ( 4 ) in the presence or absence of water indicate that intramolecular transfer of the catalyst is hardly affected by the boron moiety of 3 , whereas it is hindered in the absence of water. Indeed, polymerization of 1 with 2 in H₂O/THF affords P3HT with a narrower molecular weight distribution and controlled tolyl/H ends, as compared to the reaction in dry THF.

     

Nickel‐Mediated Inter‐ and Intramolecular Reductive Cross‐Coupling of Unactivated Alkyl Bromides and Aryl Iodides at Room Temperature

A nickel‐mediated intermolecular reductive cross‐coupling reaction of unactivated alkyl bromides and aryl iodides at room temperature has been developed and successfully extended to less explored intramolecular versions and tandem cyclization‐intermolecular cross‐coupling. Highly stereoselective (or stereospecific) synthesis of linear‐fused perhydrofuro[2,3‐b]furan (pyran) and spiroketal skeletons allows rapid access to these useful building blocks, which would be potentially valuable in the synthesis of relevant natural products. A rational explanation for the formation of contiguous stereogenic centers is given.     

Synthesis and properties of monodisperse multi‐triarylamine‐substituted oligothiophenes and 4,7‐bis(2′‐oligothienyl)‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazoles for organic solar cell applications

Two novel series of monodisperse multi‐triarylamine‐substituted oligothiophenes, G ₂ ‐ OT ( n )‐ G ₂ with thiophene unit (n) varying from 6 to 8, and 4,7‐bis(2′‐oligothienyl)‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazoles G ₂ ‐ OT ( n ) BTD ‐ G ₂ (n = 2, 4, 6) have been synthesized by the Suzuki coupling reactions. With an elongation of alkyl‐substituted oligothiophene core or an incorporation of benzothiadiazole into the central core, the absorption and emission spectra of G ₂ ‐ OT ( n )‐ G ₂ and G ₂ ‐ OT ( n ) BTD ‐ G ₂ series red‐shift substantially with the optical gap reducing to 1.95 eV for G ₂ ‐ OT ( 6 ) BTD ‐ G ₂ . Alkyl‐substitution onto oligothiophene backbone not only improves the solubility of the highly extended dendrimers but also renders coplanarity of the dendritic oligothiophene backbone at the excited state, which results in the enhancement of fluorescence quantum efficiency. The bulk heterojunction solar cells using these newly synthesized dendritic oligothiophenes as a donor material and [6,6]‐phenyl C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as an acceptor material were fabricated and investigated which showed an increase in device performance as compared with those of the lower homologues. On increasing the loading of PCBM from 1.5 to 3 times in the active layer, there was also an enhancement in device performance with power conversion efficiencies of as‐fabricated solar cells increasing from 0.18% to 0.32%. In addition, proper annealing procedure could significantly improve the device performance of the dendrimer‐based photovoltaic cell. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 137–148, 2009     

Regioselective Arylation and Alkynylation of 2,3‐Dibromo‐1H‐inden‐1‐one by Suzuki?Miyaura and Sonogashira Cross‐Coupling Reactions

Suzuki? Miyaura reactions of 2,3‐dibromo‐1H‐inden‐1‐one afforded a wide range of arylated 1H‐inden‐1‐ones. Sonogashira cross‐coupling reactions gave alkynylated indenones. The reactions proceeded with very good regioselectivity in the less sterically hindered and more electron‐deficient position 3.     

Synthesis of Pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidines by Copper‐Mediated Carbomagnesiations of N‐Sulfonyl Ynamides and Application to the Preparation of Rigidin A and a 7‐Azaserotonin Derivative

The treatment of readily available N‐alkynyl‐5‐iodo‐6‐sulfamido‐pyrimidines with iPrMgCl?LiCl followed by a transmetalation with CuCN?2 LiCl produces, after intramolecular carbocupration, metalated py r rolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidines. Quenching of these pyrimidines with allylic halides or acid chlorides results in polyfunctional pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidines. Further reaction with ICl and a Negishi cross‐coupling, using PEPPSI‐iPr as the catalyst, furnishes fully substituted N‐heterocycles. A formal synthesis of the marine alkaloid rigidin A has been achieved as well as the preparation of a derivative of 7‐azaserotonine, related to the natural hormone serotonin.     

Facile Synthesis of Novel 3‐(4‐phenylisothiazol‐5‐yl)‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents

A series of 3‐(4‐phenylisothiazol‐5‐yl)‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one ( 6a – l ) derivatives has been efficiently synthesized by straightforward sequential reactions. Tandem Vilsmeier Hack reaction/cyclization/bromination/Suzuki cross‐coupling reactions were successfully applied to the preparation of title compounds in good‐to‐high yields. In the synthetic sequences, 3‐chloro‐3‐(2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐3‐yl)acrylaldehydes ( 2 ) were found to react with ammonium thiocyanate to yield the corresponding 3‐(isothiazol‐5‐yl)‐2H‐chromen‐2‐ones ( 3 ). These derivatives were brominated with N‐bromo succinamide to yield the corresponding regioselective 3‐(4‐bromoisothiazol‐5‐yl)‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one ( 4 ). Finally, compound 4 was treated with various phenyl/pyrazole/7H –pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidinyl boronic acids 5a – l in the presence of K₂CO₃ and Pd catalyst in dimethylformamide to yield the corresponding title derivatives 6a – l . All the synthesized compounds were characterized by analytical and spectral studies. All the final compounds were screened against different cancer cell lines (A549, PC3, SKOV3, and B16F10), and among these compounds, 6b , 6g , 6h , and 6l displayed moderate cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines.     

Facile Synthesis and Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reactions of 2,3‐Bis(pinacolatoboryl)‐1,3‐butadiene

Treatment of 1,1‐bis(pinacolatoboryl)ethene with an excess of 1‐bromo‐1‐lithioethene gave 2,3‐bis(pinacolatoboryl)‐1,3‐butadiene in high yield. Palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of the resulting diborylbutadiene with aryl iodides took place smoothly in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)₂/PPh₃ and aqueous KOH to give 2,3‐diaryl‐1,3‐butadienes in good yields. The coupling reaction with commercially available 4‐acetoxyphenylmethyl chloride under the same conditions followed by hydrolysis of the acetyl groups gave anolignan B in a one‐pot manner. A variety of [3]‐ to [6]dendralenes were synthesized by palladium‐catalyzed coupling of the diene or 1,1‐bis(pinacolato)borylethene with alkenyl or dienyl halides, respectively, in good yields.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative C–Si Bond Formation: A Regioselective Cross‐Coupling Between Trialkyl Silanes and α,β‐Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids

This report presents the first example of nickel‐catalyzed mild decarboxylative cross‐coupling reaction for the regioselective formation of C–Si bond. An easily accessible and significantly stable Ni (dmg)₂ owes the role of key promoter. This reaction is highly functional group tolerant and offers α,β‐unsaturated silanes in synthetically useful yields. The reaction gives access to the successful utilization of otherwise difficult trialkyl silanes as coupling partners and operates at a moderate temperature, which is beneficial to deal with highly volatile silanes.     

Nonsymmetrical 3,4‐Dithienylmaleimides by Cross‐Coupling Reactions with Indium Organometallics: Synthesis and Photochemical Studies

The synthesis and photochemical study of novel nonsymmetrical 1,2‐dithienylethenes (DTEs) with a maleimide bridge have been carried out. The synthetic approach to the DTEs was based on successive selective palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions of 5‐susbtituted‐2‐methyl‐3‐thiophenyl indium reagents with 3,4‐dichloromaleimides. The required organoindium reagents were prepared from 2‐methyl‐3,5‐dibromothiophene by a selective (C‐5) coupling reaction with triorganoindium compounds (R₃In) and subsequent metal–halogen exchange. The coupling reactions usually gave good yields and have a high atom economy with substoichiometric amounts of R₃In. The results of photochemical studies show that these novel dithienylmaleimides undergo a photocyclization reaction upon irradiation in the UV region and a photocycloreversion after excitation in the visible region, thus they can be used as photochemical switches. ON–OFF operations can be repeated in successive cycles without appreciable loss of effectiveness in the process.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck Reaction of Aryl Sulfonates and Chlorides with Electronically Unbiased Terminal Olefins: High Selectivity for Branched Products

Achieving high selectivity in the Heck reaction of electronically unbiased alkenes has been a longstanding challenge. Using a nickel‐catalyzed cationic Heck reaction, we were able to achieve excellent selectivity for branched products (≥19:1 in all cases) over a wide range of aryl electrophiles and aliphatic olefins. A bidentate ligand with a suitable bite angle and steric profile was key to obtaining high branched/linear selectivity, whereas the appropriate base suppressed alkene isomerization of the product. Although aryl triflates are traditionally used to access the cationic Heck pathway, we have shown that, by using triethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, we can effect a counterion exchange of the catalytic nickel complex, such that cheaper and more stable aryl chlorides, mesylates, tosylates, and sulfamates can be used to yield the same branched products with high selectivity.     

Tetrahedral Oligothiophenes; Synthesis,X‐ray Analysis,and Optoelectronic Properties of Highly Symmetrical, 3D‐Branched Oligothiophenes

Tetrakis(bithienyl)methane and tetrakis(terthienyl)methane have been synthesized from tetrakis(2‐thienyl)methane by use of Suzuki–Miyaura coupling as a key reaction. Their trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives are also synthesized. X‐ray analysis reveals that each oligothiophene moiety tends to adopt anti‐conformations and show relatively small torsion angles between the adjacent thiophene rings. While the longest absorption maxima of these tetrakis(oligothienyl)methanes exhibit only a slight bathochromic shift compared to the corresponding linear oligothiophene derivative, tetrakis(bithienyl)methane and its TMS derivative exhibit an appreciable red‐shift in their fluorescence spectra. The intramolecular interaction between thienyl groups of tetrakis(2‐thienyl)methane is supported by DFT calculation.