X-ray crystallographic analysis of N,N-diallylcoumarincarboxamides and the solid-state photochemical reaction

X-ray crystallographic analysis and the photochemical aspects of N,N-diallylcoumarincarboxamides were investigated. Irradiation of the corresponding amides promoted stereoselective intramolecular cyclobutane formation exclusively. The solid-state photoreaction of the coumarinamide without substituent on the 4-position proceeded in a crystal-to-crystal manner. On the other hand, photolysis of the amide possessing a methyl group at the 4-position also effected 2+2 cycloaddition; however, the reaction proceeded much slower. The difference in the reactivity was explainable on the basis of the molecular conformation in the crystal lattice.     

Turn-on fluorescence sensor based on the aggregation of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-based coumarin chromophores induced by Hg

We developed a new fluorescent sensor (PPC-S) for Hg²⁺ based on the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-based coumarin chromophore (PPC-O). Given the desulfurization reaction with Hg²⁺, AIE inactive PPC-S can be transformed into PPC-O with AIE activity, which can be employed for the fluorescence turn-on detection of Hg²⁺ with satisfactory selectivity and sensitivity in aqueous solutions.     

An N,N′-diaryl urea based conjugated polymer model system

An N,N′-diphenyl urea was designed as a model system for aggregation phenomenon in poly(phenyleneethynylenes) (PPEs). The unmethylated N,N′-diphenyl urea adopts an open, unfolded conformation in which the two diphenyl acetylene fluorophores are far enough away, mimicking the unaggregated state. Dimethylation forces the aromatic surfaces together into π-π contact, mimicking the aggregated state of PPEs. Analogous to bulk PPEs, this model system shows dramatic differences in quantum yield between the folded and unfolded states, with the unfolded urea having greater than 400-fold higher fluorescence quantum yield than its folded equivalent.     

Convenient and efficient Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions catalyzed by palladium complexes containing N,N,O-tridentate ligands

N,N,O-Tridentate ligands 1-9 were prepared from the condensation of amines with nine aromatic aldehydes or ketones. These ligands are thermally stable and neither air- nor moisture-sensitive. Combination of either 2-methoxy-6-[(pyridine-2-ylmethylimino)-methyl]-phenol, 1 or 2-(benzothiazol-2-yl-hydrazonomethyl)-4,6-di-tert-butyl-phenol, 6 with Pd(OAc)₂ furnished an excellent catalyst precursor for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of various aryl bromides with arylboronic acids. The effects of varying solvents, bases, and ligand/palladium ratios on the performance of the coupling reaction were investigated. The molecular structures of both free ligand 1 and its palladium acetate complex 10 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The DFT studies revealed that the catalytic performance of palladium complexes involving this type of a ligand may differ greatly upon a small variation in its structure.     

Simple pyridylmethylamines: efficient and robust N,N-ligands for Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions

A series of pyridylmethylamines have been synthesized in one step from commercially available starting material and identified as effective ligands for Pd-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation through Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction. The N,N-pyridylmethylamine-Pd catalytic systems appeared as an interesting and robust compromise between catalytic efficiency, substrate compatibility, and practical aspects.     

A new 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)benzonitrile (DMABN) derivative with tetrathiafulvalene unit: modulation of the dual fluorescence of DMABN by redox reaction of tetrathiafulvalene unit

A new derivative of 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)benzonitrile (DMABN) (compound 1) with TTF unit is reported. Compound 1 exhibits dual fluorescence, and moreover the dual fluorescence behavior can be modulated by reversible oxidation and reduction of TTF unit of 1 either chemically or electrochemically. Accordingly, a new molecular fluorescence switch is realized by coupling the features of TTF and DMABN.     

Drastic solid-state fluorescence enhancement behaviour of imidazo[4,5-a]naphthalene-type fluorescent hosts upon inclusion of polyethers and tert-butyl alcohol

As one of the most promising materials for the construction of desirable solid-state fluorescent system, new solid-state fluorescent host-guest system, which consists of the imidazo[4,5-a]naphthalene-type fluorescent hosts 2 and sterically hindered guest molecules were designed and prepared. The crystals of 2 exhibit sensitive colour change and drastic fluorescence enhancement behaviour upon polyethers (diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DGDM), diethylene glycol diethyl ether (DGDE) and diethylene glycol dibutyl ether (DGDB)) or tert-butyl alcohol. A comparison of the X-ray crystal structures of the guest-free and polyether- and tert-butyl alcohol-inclusion compounds indicates that the enclathrated polyether or tert-butyl alcohol molecule decrease the π-stacking between hosts and enlarge the distance between the host-host aromatic planes. On the bases of the spectral data and the crystal structures, the effects of the enclathrated sterically hindered guest on the drastic solid-state fluorescence enhancement behaviour of the host-guest crystals are discussed.     

A planar chiral non-metallocenic analogue of the most popular N,N-dimethylbenzylaminate palladacycle

A racemic planar chiral tertiary amine pCp-CH₂NMe₂ (HL¹, pCp = [2.2]paracyclophane-4-yl) was prepared by aminomethylation of the bromide pCp-Br with Eschenmoser’s salt. Direct cyclopalladation of this new ligand with palladium(II) acetate results in the formation of the racemic CN-dimer rac-3 in a moderate yield of 64%. The enantiomerically pure dimer (S_pl, S_pl)-3 was obtained by the standard procedure of racemic palladacycle resolution using (S_C)-prolinate as a chiral derivatising agent. The ortho-palladated structure, absolute configuration of the chiral plane and stereochemical peculiarities of the new CN-palladacycle were established by means of NMR spectroscopy and an X-ray diffraction study of its (S_C)-prolinate derivative.     

Synthesis of N,N,N′,N′-tetrasubstituted 1,3-bis(4-aminophenyl)azulenes and their application to a hole-injecting material in organic electroluminescent devices

After a preliminary search of the reaction conditions for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of haloazulenes with arylboronic acids, the title compounds were synthesized either by the direct coupling reaction between 1,3-dihaloazulene and the corresponding N,N-disubstituted 4-aminophenylboronic acids or by a two-step sequence involving the cross-coupling with 4-bromophenylboronic acid and subsequent Pd-catalyzed amination. Application of the title diamines to a hole-injecting material in organic electroluminescent devices was carried out to provide their prominent characteristics as a novel durable, non-cyanine and non-polyamine substance without color fade. The diamine derivatives, extended by an ethynyl unit between the azulenyl core and the 4-aminophenyl moiety, were also synthesized and found, unfortunately, unsuitable for vacuum deposition in preparing a multilayer composite.     

SnCl2 mediated efficient N,N-dialkylation of azides to tertiary-amine via potential stannaimine intermediate

A base free one-pot conversion of azides to N,N-dialkylamine is described. A two-step reaction pathway has been postulated invoking the intermediacy of stannaimine. This new carbon-nitrogen bond formation strategy adds to the repertoire of tin(II) chemistry.     

A convenient and efficient method for the synthesis of mono- and N,N-disubstituted thioureas

A convenient method for the synthesis of mono- and N,N-disubstituted thioureas by the debenzoylation of N-substituted- and N,N-disubstituted-N′-benzoylthioureas with hydrazine hydrate under solvent-free conditions has been developed. N-Substituted-N′-benzoylthioureas and hydrazine hydrate were mixed, and stirred at room temperature without a solvent to give the corresponding N-substituted thioureas in high yields.     

N-Alkyl- and N-aryl-dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole-containing organic dyes for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Two new organic sensitizers, 2-cyano-3-(6-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-4-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrol-2-yl)acrylic acid and 2-cyano-3-(6-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-4-(4-(hexyloxy)phenyl)-4H-dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrol-2-yl)acrylic acid, consisting of electron donating (triphenylamine) and electron accepting (cyanoacrylic acid) functionalities linked by two different rigidified π-spacers, N-alkyl- and N-aryl-dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole, were designed, synthesized and applied for dye-sensitized solar cells, respectively. The materials were successfully synthesized through Knoevenagel condensation reactions. Ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra revealed that the use of either of rigidified π-spacer resulted in similar charge transfer transition, however, enhanced spectral response was observed when compared with an oligothiophene analogue. In terms of their photovoltaic performance, new dyes outperformed the reference bithiophene sensitizer when tested with nitrile-based and ionic liquid-based electrolytes.     

N1,N3-Diacyl-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones: neutral acyl group transfer reagents

Readily available N1,N3-diacyl-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones efficiently acylate ammonia, primary and secondary amines to furnish primary, secondary and tertiary amides in good to excellent yields. The wide applicability of the procedure is demonstrated by running the reactions in a neutral medium, easy isolation of products, recycling of the innocuous by-product and chemoselectivity of the transformation.     

N,N,N′,N′-Tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine palladium(II) complex as efficient catalyst for the Suzuki/Miyaura reaction in water

A new water soluble palladium(II) complex (2) derived from N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine (edteH₄) (1) was synthesized in high yield and characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, HMQC and COSY NMR spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction studies on a single crystal of 2 confirmed the cis square planar geometry; the edteH₄ ligand (1) is κ² (N,N)-coordinated with four pendant CH₂CH₂OH groups. This new complex [PdCl₂(edteH₄)] (2) and the previously synthesized triethanolamine complex [Pd(OCH₂CH₂N(CH₂CH₂OH)₂)₂] (3) were tested as catalysts for the Suzuki/Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of various aryl bromides with phenylboronic acid in water. Electronically activated aryl bromides, such as 4-bromoacetophenone and 4-bromobenzaldehyde undergo the cross-coupling with extremely high turnover numbers (TON) of up to 1,00,000 without organic solvent.     

Synthesis of the end-capped 5-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthyl-1-ethynyl derivatives and their 1,4-di[5-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthyl]-1,3-butadiynes: anti rotamer structure

A new family of the end-capped 5-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthylethynyl chains were synthesized, as terminal acetylenes or poly(yne) structures, by heterocoupling between 5-iodo-N,N-dimethylnaphthalen-1-amine and 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol or 4-(5-iodo-1-naphthyl)-2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol, catalyzed by the palladium-copper system. Catalytic homocoupling of the terminal acetylenes, affords to 1,4-dinaphthyl-1,3-butadiyne nanostructures. X-ray diffraction analysis of 1,4-di(α-naphthyl)-1,3-butadiyne shows that the naphthalene rings are in the anti configuration along the acetylene axis. All the conjugated compounds show an important fluorescent emission radiation.     

An effective synthesis of N,N-dimethylamides from carboxylic acids and a new route from N,N-dimethylamides to 1,2-diaryl-1,2-diketones

Carboxylic acids were heated at 150 °C in DMF in the presence of 1.25 equiv of thionyl chloride to give corresponding N,N-dimethylamides in good yields. Tandem chlorination and amidation reactions occurred in the one-pot procedure. Dicarboxylic acids needed prolonged reaction time to produce bisamides in good yields. Some benzamides were efficiently converted into corresponding 1,2-diaryl-1,2-diketones (benzils) under acyloin condensation conditions in the presence of 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (DBB) in THF. Ultrasonic irradiation effectively accelerates the reaction, but it is not critical. However, the presence of DBB is fatal to the reaction. Although a few synthetic methods for benzils from benzoic acids have been reported so far, this method is one of the most convenient and highly reproducible procedures.     

Synthesis, photochemical, and electrochemical properties of naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic acid-bis-(N,N′-bis-(2,2,4(2,4,4)-trimethylhexylpolyimide)) and poly(N,N′-bis-(2,2,4(2,4,4)-trimethyl-6-aminohexyl) 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxdiimide)

Two new soluble polymers (naphthalene containing: TH-NPI, perylene containing: TH-PPI) have been synthesized via incorporation of branched chain substituent unit into their backbones. Because of existence of branched alkyl spacer, the polymers showed good solubility in common solvents such as chloroform without sacrificing their stability and caused a red shifted excimer-like emission. Their monomers (TH-NDI and TH-PDI) have been synthesized for comparison. The compounds are characterized by UV-vis, IR, MS, DSC, TGA, CV, GPC and viscosity measurements. Polymers TH-NPI and TH-PPI with inherent viscosities of 0.50 and 0.30 dL/g were obtained corresponding to their molecular weights 40,000 and 17,000 respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that TH-NDI, TH-NPI, TH-PDI and TH-PPI are thermally stable up to 380, 445, 512 and 515 °C respectively. The LUMO energy levels of these compounds are calculated as −3.66, −3.71, −3.62 and −3.61 eV respectively. The red-shifted (TH-NPI: 400-650 nm, TH-PPI: 535-800) excimer-like fluorescence in chloroform is attributed to the formation of ground state complexes probably due to intermolecular and intramolecular π-stackings of the polymers in solution. The fluorescence lifetimes, quantum yields and singlet-state energies are presented.     

An efficient synthesis of N-Boc-(2S,3S)-3-hydroxy-2-phenyl piperidine and N-Boc-safingol

An efficient strategy has been developed for the stereo selective synthesis of N-Boc-(2S,3S)-3-hydroxy-2-phenyl piperidine and N-Boc-safingol from benzaldehyde and N-Boc-imine.     

An efficient conversion of nitriles to amides: application in the synthesis of N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET™)

Arylnitriles react with magnesium amides to produce carboxamides in excellent yield. The method was applied for the preparation of the insect repellent DEET™.     

(-)-Menthol as a source of new N,N-diamine ligands for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

The synthesis of new chiral N-monotosylated-1,2-diamines based on the (-)-menthol skeleton is presented. The elimination of HCl from neomenthyl chloride obtained from an Appel reaction led to p-menth-3-ene in excellent yield. Further functionalization of the double bond in p-menth-3-ene with chloramine-T gave the corresponding N-tosylaziridines, which upon reaction with sodium azide and subsequent reduction of the azide functional group, formed the 1,2-diamine system. The synthesized chiral ligands proved effective in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones and an endocyclic imine.