Synthesis of an azobenzene-linker-conjugate with tetrahedrical shape

The synthesis of a tripodal linker system with an adamantane core unit and an azobenzene headgroup is reported for the preparation of photochromic SAMs on gold surfaces. For the final Sonogashira-coupling of the ethynylene-linker precursor 4 with the p-iodo substituted azobenzene 6 model studies were required to optimize the coupling step in the presence of a diazene functionality. The photochromic properties of the photoswitch-linker-conjugate 1 were investigated in solution, and compared to the behavior of the precursor 6.     

Unexpected formation of new photochromic compounds derived from 3,3-diphenyl-3H-naphtho[2,1-b]pyran-1-one

Two new unexpected photochromic compounds were obtained from naphtho[2,1-b]pyran-1-one 1. The reaction of this ketone with the silyl enol ether methyl trimethylsilyl dimethylketene acetal, catalyzed by TiCl₄, afforded the photochromic dihydronaphtho[2,1-b]pyranone 2. The Reformatsky reaction of ketone 1 with ethyl bromoacetate led to the formation of the expected alcohol that under acid treatment gave, unexpectedly, the novel photochromic benzocoumarin 6. UV irradiation compounds 2 and 6 in solution provided thermally stable photoproducts that returned to the initial uncoloured forms under visible irradiation. The photochromic behaviour of these compounds and the structures of the photoproducts formed in these reactions were characterized by 1D and 2D NMR.     

Coordination chemistry of anticrowns: Complexation of cyclic trimeric perfluoro-o-phenylenemercury with nitro compounds

Cyclic trimeric perfluoro-o-phenylenemercury (o-C₆F₄Hg)₃ (1) is capable of reacting with nitromethane to give complex {[(o-C₆F₄Hg)₃](CH₃NO₂)} (2) containing one molecule of the nitro compound per one macrocycle molecule. In this complex, the nitromethane ligand is bound to 1 by its both oxygen atoms, one of which is simultaneously coordinated to all three Hg centres of the macrocycle while the other interacts with a single Hg centre. The complex of similar composition, {[(o-C₆F₄Hg)₃](C₆H₅NO₂)} (3), is produced in the interaction of 1 with nitrobenzene. In this complex too, the both oxygen atoms of the nitro group are involved in the bonding to the macrocycle. A distinctive feature of 3 is that here one oxygen atom of the coordinated nitro derivative is bound by only two Hg centres of 1 whereas the other interacts again with a single Hg site. The reaction of 1 with 5-nitroacenaphthene affords a 1:1 complex, {[(o-C₆F₄Hg)₃](C₁₂H₉NO₂)} (4), having a polydecker sandwich structure in the crystal. Unlike in 3, the aromatic rings of the nitroarene units in 4 are disposed virtually in parallel to the macrocycles. The nitro compound in 4 behaves again as a bidentate ligand, forming three Hg-O bonds with one of the adjacent macrocycles and a single Hg-O bond with another molecule of 1. The complex is characterized also by shortened Hg-C contacts between the Hg centres of 1 and the carbon atoms of the nitroarene moiety as well as shortened C-C contacts between the carbon atoms of the nitroarene and the macrocycle. In the interaction of 1 with 1-nitropyrene, complexes of two compositions, viz. {[(o-C₆F₄Hg)₃](C₁₆H₉NO₂)} (5) and {[(o-C₆F₄Hg)₃](C₁₆H₉NO₂)₃} (6) are formed. An X-ray diffraction study of 6 has shown that in this adduct two of three coordinated molecules of the nitro compound are located on one side of the metallacycle plane while the third nitroarene molecule is disposed on its other side. The aromatic rings of all three nitropyrene ligands in 6 are practically parallel to the mean plane of the macrocycle. In contrast to 2-4, each molecule of the nitroarene in 6 is bonded to 1 by a single oxygen atom which is coordinated only to one Hg centre. In the case of one of the nitropyrene ligands that forms much longer Hg-O bond with 1 than two others, an additional contribution to the bonding is made by shortened Hg-C contacts between the macrocycle and the carbon atoms of the aromatic pyrene core and also by shortened C-C contacts between the carbon atoms of the coordinated nitroarene and 1. The synthesized adducts are the first examples of complexes of an anticrown with nitro compounds.     

Synthesis and photoresponsive study of azobenzene centered polyamidoamine dendrimers

A new series of novel polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers 4, 5 and 6 possessing azobenzene units specifically at the core were prepared and their reversible trans/cis photoisomerization properties were studied. PAMAM dendritic wedges as well as azo-based PAMAM dendrimers were fully characterized by means of FT-IR, NMR (¹H and ¹³C), mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), thermogravimetric and elemental analysis.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and photochromic properties of novel chiral Schiff base macrocycles

Enantiomerically pure and racemic forms of calixsalen-type macrocycles 1 and 2 were synthesized and their crystal structures were determined. The enantiomerically pure crystals of (S,S,S,S,S,S)-1 exhibited thermally reversible photochromism from yellow to orange-red upon photoirradiation in the solid state, while rac-crystals of 2 with the guest CH₃CN did not show any photocolouration.     

Syntheses and optoelectronic properties of four photochromic dithienylethenes

Four photochromic dithienylethene compounds, 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-naphthalene-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene 1a, 1,2-bis[2-methyl-5(p-fluorophenyl)-3-thienyl]perfluorocyclopentene 2a, 1,2-bis[2-methyl-5(p-ethoxyphenyl)-3-thienyl]perfluorocyclopentene 3a, and 1,2-bis[2-methyl-5(p-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-3-thienyl]perfluorocyclopentene 4a were synthesized, and their optoelectronic properties, such as photochromism in solution as well as in poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA) amorphous films, fluorescences and electrochemical properties were investigated in detail. These dithienylethenes have shown good photochromic behavior both in solution and in PMMA amorphous film. All of them exhibited relatively strong fluorescence and gave a bathochromic shift upon increasing concentration in THF. The irreversible anodic oxidation of 1a, 2a and 4a was observed by performing cyclic voltammetry experiments.     

CpCo(dithiolene) complexes of highly flexible oxddt ligand with two different Z-shaped and U-shaped structures

[CpCo(oxddt)] complex (2, oxddt = o-xylenediyldithioethylene-1,2-dithiolate, Cp = η⁵-cyclopentadienyl) was obtained from o-xylenediyldithioethylene-1,3-dithiol-2-one (OC(oxddt)) (1). 2 further reacted with diazoalkanes (N₂CHR) to form some alkylidene-bridged adducts [CpCo(CHR)(oxddt)] (R = H (3a), SiMe₃ (3b)). Adduct 3a further reacted with protic acids (HX) to give some S-methylated adducts [CpCo(X)(oxddt)(S-Me)] (X = Cl (4a), OCOCF₃ (4c)), followed by the Co-C bond cleavage in the three-membered cobaltathiirane ring. Two different Z-shaped and U-shaped molecular structures were observed by X-ray diffraction studies. In the former structure (Z), the dithiolene and o-xylylene planes are located at almost parallel position each other, and in the latter structure (U), both planes are not parallel but the o-xylylene moiety is located closer to the dithiolene plane than the Z-shaped one. The Z-shaped structure involves 1 and 2. The U-shaped structure involves 3a, 3b, 4a and 4c. Complex 1 showed a one-dimensional chain through intermolecular π-π interaction in the crystal. Complex 2 had a dimeric interaction between dithioethylenedithiolate moieties (S₂C₂S₂) in the oxddt. The SiMe₃ group in 3b was placed at an exo-position with respect to the cobaltadithiolene ring due to a steric hindrance from the U-shaped oxddt ligand. In 4a, the X and Me groups are located at the opposite side of the dithiolene plane (anti-form) but in 4c, both groups are presented at the same side of the dithiolene plane (syn-form). The NMR analysis of 4a in solution indicated existence of both anti- and syn-isomers (7:1).     

Informative secondary chiroptics in binary molecular organogel systems for donor-acceptor energy transfer

Pyrene-doped l-glutamide-based lipidic derivatives with different alkyl lengths (C_n-g-Pyr; n = 4, 8 and 12) were newly synthesized. All of the C_n-g-Pyr dissolved and showed thermotopically and lyotropically-induced excimer formations accompanied by induction of the positive Cotton effect in their CD spectra, indicating chirally ordered stacking. However, when C₄-g-Pyr and C₁₂-g-Pyr were mixed in a certain molar ratio, an unusual CD pattern from positive to negative ones was observed. In this study, energy transfer efficiency was investigated in a binary system of C_n-g-Pyr with C₁₂-g-TPP. The results revealed that simple modification of the alkyl length of C_n-g-Pyr enables enhancement of the energy transfer efficiency with C₁₂-g-TPP.     

The thermally stable silylene Si[(NCH2Bu)2C6H4-1,2]: reaction with pyridine and quinoline

Two equivalents of the thermally stable silylene Si[(NCH₂Bu^t)₂C₆H₄-1,2] (1) react with pyridine to yield the 1-aza-2,3-disilacyclobutane derivative (2), which is labile and slowly rearranges via a 1,3-H shift to the 2-pyridyldisilane (3). A similar reaction of 1 with quinoline gives 1-aza-2,3-disilacyclobutane derivative (4), which is stable. The X-ray structures of 2 and 3 are discussed.     

A convergent total synthesis of antiplasmodial C2 symmetric (+)-ekeberin D4

The first concise total synthesis of C₂ symmetric (+)-ekeberin D₄ (1) that exhibits antiplasmodial activity has been achieved in total nine steps and 27% yield from the known diol 4. The efficient synthetic method features the regio- and diastereoselective epoxidation of 4 and convergent coupling between half fragments 2 and 3 by taking into account the C₂ symmetric property.     

p-Cymene ruthenium thioether complexes

Thioethers PhC₂H₄SMe, PhC₃H₆SⁱPr and MeSAllyl form substitutionally labile monomeric adducts (p-cymene)RuCl₂(SRR′) (2a-c) upon treatment with the {(p-cymene)RuCl₂}₂ dimer (p-cymene = η⁶-MeC₆H₄ⁱPr-1,4). Pure adducts were obtained by crystallization from CH₂Cl₂/Et₂O, and 2a,c as well as the bis(thioether) complex (3) were studied by X-ray crystallography. The trichloro bridged diruthenium complex is formed as a byproduct in the preparation of 3 and was also crystallographically characterized. In solution, pure samples 2a-c equilibrate with free thioether and the dimeric starting complex 1. The amount of 1 present in these mixtures increases with increasing bulk of the thioether substituents. Attempts to thermally replace the cymene ligand by the dangling arene substituent of the thioether ligand of 2a,b failed. Complexes 2a-c as well as the dimethylsufide derivative 2d were studied by cyclic voltammetry and display a close to reversible (2a,c,d) or partially reversible (2b) oxidation near +0.85 V and an irreversible reduction at rather negative potential. New peaks observed after oxidation and reduction point to dissociation of the thioether ligand as the main decomposition pathway of the associated radical cations and anions.     

Different aliphatic dicarboxylates affected assemble of new coordination polymers constructed from flexible-rigid mixed ligands

In this article, seven coordination polymers: [Cd(C₅H₆O₄)(C₁₀H₈N₂)]_n (1), [Zn(C₅H₆O₄)(C₁₀H₈N₂)]_n (2), [Cd(C₆H₈O₄)(C₁₀H₈N₂)]_n (3), {[Mn(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)₄] (C₄H₄O₄)·4H₂O}_n (4), [Mn₅(C₄H₄O₄)₄(O)]_n (5), [Cd(C₄H₄O₄)(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)]_n (6) and [Zn(C₆H₆O₄)(C₁₂H₈N₂)(H₂O)]_n (7) were synthesized and characterized by single-crystallographic X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1 and 2 are two-dimensional layers connected by glutarate anions and 4,4′-bpy. Unlike compounds 1 and 2, compound 3 is a two-fold interpenetration network. Compound 4 is a one-dimensional chain-like structure, which is further extended to two-dimensional supramolecular layer structure with hydrogen bond. During the synthesis of compound 4, to our surprise, we got compound 5; compound 5 is an interesting three-dimensional network composed of pentanuclear Mn(II) building units and succinate anions. Compound 6 is also a two-dimensional supramolecular layer structure composed of one-dimensional chain-like structure with hydrogen bonds and Π-Π interactions. Compound 7 is also a one-dimensional chain-like structure, which is further connected with the same kind of interaction to generate two-dimensional supramolecular layer structure. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 2 both exhibit fluorescent property at room temperature.     

Synthesis of 6-vinyl and 5-vinylproline analogues of ascomycin

6-Vinyl (12) and (5R)- and (5S)-vinylproline (18, 19) analogues of ascomycin are synthesised starting from the known suitably protected (6S)-methoxy-9-hydroxy derivative (4) of ascomycin. The strategy involves hydrolytic cleavage of the C_ε-N bond of the pipecolic acid moiety, extension of the amino acid side chain by two or one carbon units, functional group manipulations, Pd-catalysed reinstallation of the C_ε-N or C_δ-N bonds, followed by deprotection and oxidation.     

Synthesis, crystal structures, and photochromic properties of 6,6′ or 7,7′ or 6,7′-dimethyl-[2,2′-bi-1H-indene]-3,3′-diethyl-3,3′-dihydroxy-1,1′-diones

New photochromic title compounds 1, 2, and 3 have been prepared starting from 4-methylphthalic anhydride. Compounds 3a and 3b are a pair of enantiomers and were obtained as a racemic mixture (numbered as 3). Compounds 1, 2, and 3 were successfully separated from the isomeric mixture product through fractional crystallization, and their structures are confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. UV-vis absorption and photochromic properties of 1, 2, and 3 have also been investigated. Results reveal that the substituents, even like the simple methyl, on the benzene rings of biindenylidenedione could considerably affect the photochromic property, as well as other properties of this kind of compounds.     

Synthesis of febrifugine derivatives and a solution to the puzzle of the structural determination of febrifugine

The stereo-structure of piperidine lactone (3), a synthetic intermediate of the antimalarial agent febrifugine ((+)-1) with a piperidine ring in the trans relative configuration, was re-revised to the cis-form. We determined that isomerization to the trans-form from the cis-form occurred in the stage (6 from 5) of deprotection in Baker's synthesis.     

Design,synthesis, photochromism and electrochemistry of a novel material with pendant photochromic units

In the present work, the synthesis, photochromism and electrochemistry of a novel material 1, 1-(4-[3,4-bis(2,5-dimethyl-3-thienyl)cyclopent-3-en-1-yl]phenyl)-2,5-di-2-thienyl-1H-pyrrole, with pendant dithienylethene (DTE) photochromic units are described. It should be noted that the system 1 can be reversibly and efficiently switched between open (1o) and closed (1c) states by light in both solution and in the solid poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix. It is also noteworthy that the two isomers (1o and 1c) of this novel system 1 can be smoothly polymerized on ITO by electrochemical means. Surprisingly, the DTE unit in 1 does not retain its photochemical switching properties after immobilization onto ITO. The morphology of the polymer film was investigated by AFM analysis. Furthermore, it was found that the polymer exhibited remarkable electrochromic features that can be switched from green in the neutral state to violet state under applied external potentials without disturbing the photochromic units.     

Gekreuzt konjugierte oligomere aus pyrrol-, benzol- und carbonyl-Bausteinen

Chalcones can serve as C₂ or C₃ components for the formation of 1H-pyrroles. In particular the reaction with tosylisocyanid could be applied to the oligochalcones 2d-g with up to 6 enone units. A series of cross-conjugated oligomers 8d-g was obtained; these compounds consist of a chain of 1,4-phenylene, carbonyl and 1H-pyrrole-3,4-diyl building blocks. The benzene rings bear two propoxy sidechains in order to enhance the solubility.     

Syntheses of aza and fluorine-substituted 3-(piperidin-4-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-benzo[d][1,3]diazepin-2(3H)-ones

A practical and expedient synthesis of the title compounds is described. They were prepared by Stille reaction of nitro halopyridines 4 or nitro fluro-halobenzenes 10, followed by Michael addition of tert-butyl 4-aminopiperidine-1-carboxylate to the resulting activated vinyl compounds 5 and 11, hydrogenation (-NO₂→-NH₂), cyclic urea formation, Boc removal, and HCl salt formation. However, N3 and F1 analogs could not be made by this general strategy. Activated vinyl compounds 5a and 5d when reacted with tert-butyl 4-aminopiperidine-1-carboxylate did not stop at the desired Michael addition stage; but proceeded to produce azaindolines 8 and 9. Michael addition did not occur to compound 11d; instead, the fluorine atom was displaced.     

Carbazole N-substituent effect upon DTMA: stabilizing and photochromic modulating

Dithienylmaleimide derivatives 7–27 were synthesized by introducing N-substituted carbazole for photo-stabilizing purpose, and the structures were fully confirmed. The photochromism and photo-stability were recorded via UV–vis spectra. Only ortho compounds 8–17 with N-substituents on carbazole moiety showed escalated photochromic change, while compound 7 and the para counterparts 18–27 showed no appreciable photochromism. Additionally, compounds 8–18 exhibited good photo-stability except 17 under 254 nm irradiation. The unstability of 17 may probably due to overrunning hindrance. These photochromic patterns indicated that hindrance and electronic effect mutually paid a decisive influence on the photochromism and photo-stability, which potentially exploited a new way to construct novel photochromic materials with regulable and conceivable performance.     

The first synthesis of secondary sugar sulfonic acids by nucleophilic displacement reactions

The 4-deoxy-4-C-sulfonic acid and 6-deoxy-6-C-sulfonic acid derivatives of methyl α-d-gluco- and α-d-galactopyranosides were prepared by triflate-mediated nucleophilic displacement reactions, either with NaHSO₃ or with AcSK. The triflate esters of methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl- 1, methyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-α-d-glucopyranoside 9 and methyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranoside 5 provided methyl 6-deoxy-6-C-sulfo-α-d-glucopyranoside 4, methyl 4-deoxy-4-C-sulfo-α-d-galactopyranoside 12 and α-d-glucopyranoside 8, respectively. The triflate derivative of methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranoside 13 gave methyl 3,6-anhydro-2,4-di-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranoside 14. Formation of the 3,6-anhydro derivative was prevented by using 3,4-O-isopropylidene acetal protection to obtain methyl 6-deoxy-6-C-sulfo-α-d-galactopyranoside 19. The aim of the research is to replace the sulfate esters by sulfonic acids in the repeating oligosaccharide units of glycosaminoglycans or in different oligosaccharide ligands.