Synthesis of environmentally sensitive 2′-deoxyguanosine containing solvatochromic pyrene fluorophore

The synthesis and photophysical property of novel solvatochromic pyrene derivative, Apa5 and fluorescent guanine ^ApaG8 were described. These newly synthesized fluorescent pyrene derivatives exhibited solvent polarity dependent fluorescence at longer wavelengths. Such environmentally sensitive pyrene derivatives can be used as a reporter probe that is sensitive to the changes in the microenvironment around DNA either in vitro or in vivo.     

Multiple hydrogen-bond-induced supramolecular nanostructure from a pincer-like molecule and a [60]fullerene derivative

A new supramolecular self-assembled system between a perylene bisimide bearing diaminopyridine-substituted isophthalamide groups (PP) and a [60]fullerene containing barbituric acid moiety (C₆₀bar) through a complementary six-point hydrogen-bonding interaction was constructed. The formation of hydrogen bonding was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectra studies in CDCl₃. Fluorescence quenching experiments indicated that the fluorescence of PP was greatly quenched by the hydrogen-bonded C₆₀bar (K_sv=2.71×10⁴ M⁻¹). A steady and rapid cathodic 0.15 μA cm⁻² photocurrent response of the PP/C₆₀bar film deposited onto an ITO electrode was produced under the irradiation of 20 mW cm⁻² white light, indicating the presence of photo-induced electron transfer between PP and C₆₀bar. TEM images showed that spherical particles were fabricated by the self-assembly of PP and C₆₀bar through hydrogen-bonding interaction.     

An efficient electrochemical method for a unique synthesis of new derivatives of 7H-thiazolo[3,2-b]-1,2,4-triazin-7-one

The electrochemical oxidation of catechols (1a-c) has been studied in the presence of 6-methyl-1,2,4-triazine-3-thion-5-one 3 in aqueous sodium acetate, using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. A plausible mechanism for the oxidation of catechols and their reaction with 3 is presented. All the catechol derivatives (1a-c) were converted into 7H-thiazolo[3,2-b]-1,2,4-triazin-7-one derivatives (6a-c) through a Michael-type addition reaction of 3 to anodically generated o-quinones. The electrochemical syntheses of 6a-c were successfully performed in one pot in an undivided cell using an environmentally friendly method with high atomic economy.     

Substituent effects on the properties of photochromic diarylethenes

Photochromic symmetrical diarylethenes 1o-5o bearing different electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substitutents have been synthesized, and the structures of 1o, 2o, 4o, and 5o were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Substitutent effects on their optoelectronic properties, including photochromism, fluorescence, and electrochemical properties were investigated in detail. The electron-withdrawing substituents can shift significantly the absorption maxima of the diarylethenes to a longer wavelength and increase their cyclization quantum yield, while the molar absorption coefficients increased with an increasing electron-donating ability. Diarylethenes 1, 2, and 4 show good photochromism both in solution and in the single crystalline phase; however, diarylethenes 5 show no photochromism in the crystalline phase because the distance between the reactive carbons become larger than 4.2 Å. Diarylethenes 1-3 exhibited good fluorescent switching upon alternating irradiation with UV and visible light, and their fluorescent conversions in the photostationary state were all larger than 80% in hexane. In addition, cyclic voltammetry tests showed that different electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents had a remarkable effect on the electrochemical behaviors of these diarylethenes.     

Synthesis of novel push-pull-type solvatochromic 2′-deoxyguanosine derivatives with longer wavelength emission

We synthesized novel push-pull-type fluorescent guanosine derivatives, ^CNG and ^AcG containing 1,6- and 2,7-disubstituted pyrene chromophores. 1,6-Disubstituted pyrene derivatives, 1,6-^CNG (3b) and 1,6-^AcG (3c), exhibited highly solvatochromic fluorescence emission at longer wavelength (∼540 nm). The environmentally sensitive fluorescent deoxyguanosines such as 3b and 3c can be used as powerful tools for structural studies of nucleic acids and molecular diagnostics.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of 8-arylbutadienyl 2′-deoxyguanosines

We have developed novel push-pull-type 8-arylbutadienyl 2′-deoxyguanosine derivatives, ^ABG (1a) and ^CBG (1b). These nucleosides exhibit strong solvent polarity dependent fluorescence emission at long wavelength (ca. 490-550 nm). These environmentally sensitive fluorescent deoxyguanosines are powerful tools for structural studies of nucleic acids and also in molecular diagnostics.     

A novel strategy to the synthesis of 4-anilinoquinazoline derivatives

A novel approach to prepare 4-anilinoquinazoline derivatives based on the transformation of indoline-2,3-dione to formamidine was developed. The processes with this approach are simple, efficient, and environmentally friendly. The efficiency of this approach was evaluated by synthesizing 17 4-anilinoquinazolines and comparing the obtained yields with those achievable through conventional synthetic methods. It was the first time that compounds 8d, 8e, 8h, and 13b–f were synthesized. The characteristics of the IR and the UV spectra of these compounds and the effects of their substituents on the spectra were observed.     

Synthesis and characterization of 2H-pyrano[3,2-c]coumarin derivatives and their photochromic and redox properties

A series of 2H-pyrano[3,2-c]chromen-5-one derivatives were synthesized and characterized. Their photochromic and redox properties were investigated by the UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. While compounds with one or two phenyl groups incorporated at the 2-position were present in both ring-opened (5a and 10a) and ring-closed (6a and 11a) forms, the incorporation of an N,N-dimethylamino group on either side of the aromatic ring resulted in formation of the ring-opened (5b and 10b) forms only. The ring-closed forms 13 and 18 with a methyl substituent at the 3-position of the pyran moiety failed to exhibit photochromic behavior. Compound 23 with an N,N-dimethylamino group on the aromatic ring displayed increasing shoulder absorption in the visible region and a distinct change of color upon UV irradiation. The non-fluorescent 10b instantly changed from dark red to colorless, when treated with sodium borohydride. The reduced 28 was blue fluorescent with a quantum yield of 0.46 and could be returned to its original color via DDQ oxidation.     

Pd(0) and Pd(II) derivatives with heteroannularly bridged chiral ferrocenyl diphosphine ligands - A stereochemical analysis

The ligands (S_c, S_p)-1-diphenylphosphino-2,1′-(1-dicyclohexylphosphinopropanediyl)ferrocene, (S_c, S_p)-PP^CyPF, and (S_c, S_p)-1-diphenylphosphino-2,1′-(1-diphenylphosphinopropanediyl)ferrocene, (S_c, S_p)-PP^PhPF, have been used in the synthesis of the new Pd(0) and Pd(II) derivatives [Pd(PP^CyPF)(DMFU)] (1) (DMFU = dimethylfumarate), [Pd(PP^CyPF)(MA)] (2) (MA = maleic anhydride), [Pd(η³-2-Me-C₃H₄)(PP)]OTf (PP = PP^CyPF, 3; PP^PhPF, 4) (OTf = triflate), [PdRR′(PP)] (R = Me, R′ = Cl, PP = PP^CyPF, 5, PP^PhPF, 6; R = R′ = Me, PP = PP^CyPF, 7, PP^PhPF, 8; R = R′ = C₆F₅, PP = PP^CyPF, 9, PP^PhPF, 10). The molecular structure of 7 has been determined by X-ray diffraction. In the cases of complexes 1-4 two isomers are formed depending on the orientation of the ancillary ligand with respect to the ferrocenyl core. The stereochemistry of these complexes has been determined. In complex 6 the two possible isomers are obtained whereas in complex 5 the derivative with the Me group trans to PPh₂ is selectively formed. Restricted rotation of the pentafluorophenyl groups with respect to the Pd-C bond has been found in 9 and 10. In all derivatives the conformation of the ferrocenyl ligand is the same as that seen by X-ray diffraction and deduced from NMR data.     

Combinatorial synthesis of isoxazole library and their liquid crystalline properties

Six types of isoxazoles including 60 molecules were synthesized using combinatorial synthesis on solid support in a parallel fashion. Highly regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the nitrile oxides to the triple bond of the solid-attached ethynylbenzamides gave isoxazoles on solid support in good yield. Thirty molecules of them exhibited mesomorphic properties. The combination of molecular mechanics calculations and X-ray diffraction experiments of 2g and 3g revealed that the smectic phase of 2g had a bilayer structure, whereas 3g showed a monolayer liquid crystalline phase. These are supported in comparison with the single crystal structures of 2g and 3g.     

Improved methodologies for synthesis of prenylated xanthones by microwave irradiation and combination of heterogeneous catalysis (K10 clay) with microwave irradiation

Eleven prenylated xanthone derivatives (4-9, 11-15) have been synthesized for the first time by the microwave irradiation method. Prenylation of the xanthone building blocks 1 and 2 with prenyl bromide in alkaline medium, using microwave irradiation, gave the oxyprenylated xanthones 4 and 6, as major products in high yields, as well as diprenylated by-products (5, 7, 8, and 9) in very low yields. Microwave irradiation of oxyprenylated xanthones 4 and 6 furnished three new Claisen rearranged products (11, 14, and 15), as well as the previously described dihydrofuranoxanthones (12, 13). Furthermore, three new (19, 20, 21) and three previously described (16, 17, 18) dihydropyranoxanthones have also been prepared by a one-pot synthesis from xanthones 1, 2, and 3, using Montmorillonite K10 clay as a heterogeneous catalyst and a combination of Montmorillonite K10 clay with microwave irradiation in various conditions. The presence of solvent and the type of the clay (commercial or dry) were found to have a strong influence on the product yields. This is the first report of using these methodologies for the synthesis of dihydropyranoxanthone derivatives. The structures of the prenylated xanthones obtained were established by IR, UV, HRMS, and NMR (¹H, ¹³C, HSQC, and HMBC) techniques.     

Regioselective addition of Grignard reagents to 2,6-dicyanoanilines and cyclization to new quinazoline derivatives under thermal/microwave irradiation conditions

Two strategies have been developed for the synthesis of novel quinazoline derivatives. 2,6-Dicyanoanilines were reacted with Grignard reagents followed by cyclization to give two quinazoline regioisomers 2 and 3. Alternately 2,6-dicyanoanilines on reaction with Grignard reagents gave imine regioisomers 4 and 5. Each imine regioisomer was separated and independently cyclized to give new quinazoline derivatives 6, 7 and 8, 9, respectively, under different microwave irradiation conditions.     

Liquid crystals in the series of 2,4,6-tristyryl-1,3,5-triazines

Alkaline condensation reactions of 2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3,5-triazine (1) and substituted benzaldehydes (2a-n) yield 2,4,6-tristyryl-1,3,5-triazines (3a-n). A sufficient number and length of the alkoxy chains at the benzene rings provide liquid crystalline phases Col_hd. A special structure was found for compound 3i with 9 hexyloxy chains; it exists in the solid state in a helical columnar arrangement, which is transformed by heating to a hexagonal columnar mesophase. Irradiation of the mesophases of 3i-3m leads to partial cyclodimerization reactions, which cause different textures and lower the clearing points. The border line between the irradiated and the unirradiated zones is preserved in the solid and the liquid crystalline temperature range but also over a surprisingly long period in the molten state. A detailed study of this imaging technique was performed for the LC phase of 3i.     

Synthesis and photochromic properties of novel yellow developing photochromic compounds

Two 1-thiazolyl-2-thienylcyclopentene derivatives, 1a and 2a, and a 1-thiazolyl-2-vinylcyclopentene derivative 3a have been synthesized in an attempt to obtain photochromic compounds which change the color from colorless to yellow, and have low photocycloreversion quantum yields and high absorption coefficients of the colored isomers. All of these compounds underwent reversible photochromic reactions. Compounds 1a and 2a in toluene solutions changed the color upon 313 nm light irradiation from colorless to orange and pink, in which absorption maxima were observed at 494 nm (ε=10,000 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹) and 525 nm (ε=8500 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹), respectively. On the other hand, the colorless toluene solution of 3a turned yellow upon irradiation with 313 nm light, in which the absorption maximum was observed at 416 nm (ε=17,100 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹). The photocyclization/cycloreversion quantum yields of 3 were 0.19 and 0.0014, respectively. The conversion from the open- to the closed-ring isomer of 3 in the photostationary state under irradiation with 313 nm light was close to 100%.     

Direct synthesis of carbonyl compounds from THP ethers with IBX in the presence of β-cyclodextrin in water

Water, an environmentally friendly reaction medium, has been utilized for the oxidative deprotection of tetrahydropyranyl ethers 1 with IBX at room temperature in the presence of β-cyclodextrin to give the corresponding carbonyl compounds 2.     

An efficient synthesis of benzofurans and their application in the preparation of natural products of the genus Calea

The intramolecular cyclization of the β-substituted olefins methyl 2-aryloxy-3-dimethylaminopropenoates 3a-3f catalyzed by Lewis acids leads to a short and novel synthesis of benzofurans 2a-2f. When the olefins 4-dimethylamino-3-aryloxy-3-buten-2-ones 4a-4f were used, the cyclization process was faster and provided the corresponding substituted 2-acetylbenzofurans 1a-1f. Among the latter, naturally occurring compounds calebertin (1a), caleprunin A (1b), and caleprunin B (1c) were prepared in good overall yields. These benzofurans were also obtained by direct treatment under MW irradiation of the precursors 1-aryloxypropan-2-ones 7a-7c with DMFDMA, followed by addition of the catalyst, resulting in a route that was one step shorter.     

New cyano-substituted organic dyes containing different electrophilic groups: aggregation-induced emission and large two-photon absorption cross section

Three aggregation-induced emission active dyes (3a–c) were synthesized and their one- and two-photon absorption properties have been investigated. They were all found to be weakly fluorescent in THF solution, while they exhibited dramatic fluorescence enhancement in water/THF mixtures. The solid fluorescence of 3a–c was recorded and their fluorescence quantum efficiency (Φ_F) values were determined to be 8.0%, 8.1%, and 16.4%, respectively. Moreover, the two-photon absorption (2PA) cross-sections (σ) of 3a–c were measured and 3a showed the highest value of 702 GM. The excellent aggregation-induced emission and 2PA properties provide a promising alternative for biophotonic materials.     

Solid-phase synthesis of 2-cyanoquinazolin-4(3H)-one and 2,3-dihydrooxazolo[2,3-b]quinazolin-5-one derivatives utilizing resin-bound anthranilic acid derivatives

We were able to obtain 2-cyanoquinazolin-4(3H)-ones 11 in 35-60% four-step overall isolated yields and 2,3-dihydrooxazolo[2,3-b]quinazolin-5-ones 12 in 20-71% four-step overall isolated yields utilizing polymer-bound anthranilic acid derivatives 1, and 6-amino-2-cyanoquinazolin-4(3H)-ones 19 in 30-44% six-step overall isolated yields making use of anthranilic acid derivative resin 2 via dithiazole resins 10 and 17. The reactions on solid phase were monitored by single bead ATR-FTIR spectroscopic method.     

Ratiometric fluorescent and colorimetric sensors for Cu based on 4,5-disubstituted-1,8-naphthalimide and sensing cyanide via Cu displacement approach

Two 4,5-disubstituted-1,8-naphthalimide derivatives 1 and 2 were synthesized as ratiometric fluorescent and colorimetric sensors for Cu²⁺, respectively. In 100% aqueous solutions of 1, the presence of Cu²⁺ induces a strong and increasing fluorescent emission centered at 478 nm at the expense of the fluorescent emission of 1 centered at 534 nm. Compound 2 senses Cu²⁺ by means of a colorimetric (primrose yellow to pink) method with a thorough quench in emission attributed to the deprotonation of the secondary amine conjugated to the naphthalimide fluorophore. 1-Cu²⁺ and 2-Cu²⁺ sense cyanide in ratiometric way via colorimetric and fluorescent changes.     

Highly emissive dimesitylboryl-substituted 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole derivatives: photophysical properties and efficient fluorescent sensor for fluoride anions

One symmetrical and two unsymmetrical dimesitylboryl-substituted BTD derivatives 1–3 were prepared through Pd(0)-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction. All these compounds display intense fluorescence not only in solution but also in the solid state due to steric bulkiness of the boryl group, which is effective to suppress the intermolecular interactions in the solid state. In addition, the boryl-substituted BTD 1 displays prompt fluorescence responses to fluoride ions with high sensitivity through the complexation of the boron center with fluoride, demonstrating its potential utility as fluorescent sensor for fluoride ions.