Diazadibora[1.1.1.1]m,p,m,p‐cyclophanes: Ambipolar Conjugated Macrocycles with Different B–π–N Embedded Patterns

Are different B(boron)–π–N(nitrogen) embedded patterns to bring about significant different (opto)electronic properties for the same macrocyclic molecular backbone? A series of B–π–N‐embedded alternate‐meta‐para‐linked cyclophanes 1 – 3 have been prepared and characterized as a new class of ambipolar π‐conjugated B–π–N macrocycles. The answer to the opening question is yes. These macrocycles revealed the intramolecular charge transfer in the oxidized states and the intriguing photophysical proprerties in accordance with the embedded patterns, suggesting the electronic structures are tunable by introducing multiple B–π–N moieties.     

Synthesis of Giant π-Extended Molecular Macrocyclic Rings as Finite Models of Carbon Nanotubes Displaying Enriched Size-Dependent Physical Properties

Bottom-up synthesis of π-extended macrocyclic carbon rings is promising for constructing length- and diameter-specific carbon nanotubes (CNTs). However, it is still a great challenge to realize size-controllable giant carbon macrocycles. Herein, a tunable synthesis of curved nanographene-based giant π-extended macrocyclic rings (CHBC[n]s; n=8, 6, 4), as finite models of armchair CNTs, is reported. Among them, CHBC[8] contains 336 all-carbon atoms and is the largest cyclic conjugated molecular CNT segment ever reported. CHBC[n]s were systematically characterized by various spectroscopic methods and applied in photoelectrochemical cells for the first time. This revealed that the proton chemical shifts, fluorescence, and electronic and photoelectrical properties of CHBC[n]s are highly dependent on the macrocycle diameter. The tunable bottom-up synthesis of giant macrocyclic rings could pave the way towards large π-extended diameter- and chirality-specific CNT segments.     

Trinuclear Cage‐Like ZnII Macrocyclic Complexes: Enantiomeric Recognition and Gas Adsorption Properties

Three zinc(II) ions in combination with two units of enantiopure [3+3] triphenolic Schiff‐base macrocycles 1 , 2 , 3 , or 4 form cage‐like chiral complexes. The formation of these complexes is accompanied by the enantioselective self‐recognition of chiral macrocyclic units. The X‐ray crystal structures of these trinuclear complexes show hollow metal–organic molecules. In some crystal forms, these barrel‐shaped complexes are arranged in a window‐to‐window fashion, which results in the formation of 1D channels and a combination of both intrinsic and extrinsic porosity. The microporous nature of the [Zn₃ 1 ₂] complex is reflected in its N₂, Ar, H₂, and CO₂ adsorption properties. The N₂ and Ar adsorption isotherms show pressure‐gating behavior, which is without precedent for any noncovalent porous material. A comparison of the structures of the [Zn₃ 1 ₂] and [Zn₃ 3 ₂] complexes with that of the free macrocycle H₃ 1 reveals a striking structural similarity. In H₃ 1 , two macrocyclic units are stitched together by hydrogen bonds to form a cage very similar to that formed by two macrocyclic units stitched together by Zn^II ions. This structural similarity is manifested also by the gas adsorption properties of the free H₃ 1 macrocycle. Recrystallization of [Zn₃ 1 ₂] in the presence of racemic 2‐butanol resulted in the enantioselective binding of (S)‐2‐butanol inside the cage through the coordination to one of the Zn^II ions.     

Facile synthesis and characterization of novel benzo-fused macrocyclic dicarbonitriles and pyrazolo-fused macrocycles containing thiazole subunits

Abstract

Novel bis[2-(thiazol-2-yl)acetonitriles], linked to aliphatic cores via ethers, were prepared by the reaction of the appropriate bis(2-bromoethan-1-one) with 2-cyanothioacetamide in dioxane at reflux. Bis[2-(thiazol-2-yl)acetonitriles] were taken as key intermediates for the preparation of a new class of macrocyclic dicarbonitriles bearing two thiazole units and containing two O₂-donor sets and fused with two benzene units. The target macrocyclic dicarbonitriles were prepared by the cyclocondensation of bis[2-(thiazol-2-yl)acetonitriles] with the appropriate bis(aldehydes) in N,N-dimethylformamide in the presence of piperidine at reflux. Moreover, a new class of pyrazolo-fused macrocycles containing thiazole subunits were prepared by the reaction of macrocyclic dicarbonitriles with hydrazine hydrate in ethanol at reflux. The structures of the novel macrocycles bearing thiazole subunits were elucidated by considering their elemental analyses as well as their IR, mass, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectral data.     

Synthesis of macrocyclic bis(phenylbenzoxazole) derivatives via tandem claisen rearrangement and their fluorescence behavior

Novel macrocyclic bis(phenylbenzoxazole) derivatives were easily synthesized from macrocyclic isobutenyl bis(amide‐ether)s by tandem Claisen rearrangement and subsequent intramolecular cyclization of the amide‐phenol intermediates. The position of substitution of the oligoethylene glycol moiety on the phenylamido groups of the macrocycles did not have a large effect on the yields of the bis(benzoxazole)s for the meta and para derivatives. The fluorescence quantum yields of most of the macrocyclic bis(benzoxa‐zole)s were lower than those of the corresponding nonmacrocyclic bis(benzoxazole) model compounds. The quantum yields of the para‐substituted macrocyclic bis(benzoxazole)s were clearly lower than those of the model compounds and decreased with increasing length of the oligoethylene chain.     

Transimination: An efficacious reaction for the synthesis of macrocycles

A new family of main-chain liquid crystal polymers containing azomethine units have been synthesized and characterized. Our attention has been focused on their strong tendency to generate macrocyclic dimers (AB)² constituted with two mesogenic rods and siloxane spacers. In favourable conditions (diluted solution, acid catalysis) macrocycles may be rapidly formed and purely obtained by fractionation. Synthetic aspects and main thermotropic properties are discussed. In spite of their large size some macrocycles have been obtained as single crystals and then characterized by X-ray diffraction.     

Synthesis of macrocyclic 1,1′-biarenol derivatives by the tandem Claisen rearrangement and their binding properties

Crown ether-type macrocycles consisting of an enantiopure biarenol derivative and an oligoethylene glycol were synthesized by the Lewis acid-mediated tandem Claisen rearrangement. This is the first example of the successful application of the tandem Claisen rearrangement to the synthesis of enantiopure macrocyclic biarenol derivatives. The enantiopure macrocyclic biarenols were found to form 1:1 complexes with amino acid salts and to discriminate their chirality.     

Synthesis,isolation, characterization,and properties of small-size aromatic macrocycles for poly(arylene ether ketone)s

A series of macrocyclic arylene ether ketone oligomers from 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone, 2,4′-difluorobenzophenone and 1,3-bis(4′-fluorobenzoyl)benzene were prepared via aromatic nucleophilic substitution according to the pseudo-high dilution principle. Small-size aromatic macrocycles were isolated by silica gel column chromatography with cyclohexane/ethyl acetate as eluent. The chemical structures of these small-size macrocycles were characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time-of-flight–mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF–MS), IR, ¹⁹F-,¹H-, and ¹³C-NMR, and GPC techniques. Molecular chain length and steric hindrance of monomers affected the product compositions. The NMR results show that there are different chemical shifts in the different ring-size macrocyclic poly arylene ether ketones in spite of having the same repeating unit. The crystallizability and thermal properties of small-size arylene ether ketone macrocycles were also investigated by DSC, WAXD, TGA, and the results suggest that the crystallization and thermal properties are related to their intrinsic chemical structures. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1957–1967, 1999     

Phenylene segments of zigzag carbon nanotubes synthesized by metal-mediated dimerization

Well-studied cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) correspond to the simplest segments of armchair CNTs, whereas the corresponding macrocyclic oligophenylene strip of zigzag CNTs is still missing. Herein, we present two series of conjugated macrocycles (CM2PP and CN2PP) containing two meta-phenylene or 2,7-naphthylene units facing each other in the strip. CM2PP and CN2PP can be regarded as the shortest cyclic primitive segments of zigzag CNTs. They were synthesized by gold-mediated dimerization and unambiguously characterized. They adopted the tubular structures and can further pack into one-dimensional supramolecular nanotubes. In particular, the supramolecular nanotube of CM2P4P mimics the CNT(9, 0) structure. Structural analysis and theoretical calculation accounted for the reduced ring strain in CM2PPs and CN2PPs. CM2PPs and CN2PPs exhibited a large optical extinction coefficient and high photoluminescence quantum yield. CN2P8P can accommodate fullerene C₆₀, forming a Saturn-like C₆₀@CN2P8P complex, a mimic structure of zigzag CNT peapods.

Two types of macrocycles were synthesized by gold-mediated dimerization, representing the phenylene cutouts of zigzag carbon nanotubes. These macrocycles showed intriguing optical and supramolecular assembly properties.     

Synthesis and characterization of macrocyclic polystyrene block-copolymers

The synthesis of macrocyclic polystyrene- block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) and macrocyclic polystyrene- block-poly(dimethylsiloxane) was carried out by initiation of 2-vinylpyridine (2VP) and hexamethyl-cyclotrisiloxane (D3) by difunctional living polystyryllithium followed by coupling with 1,4-bis(bromethyl)benzene (1,4-DBX) and dichloro-dimethylsilane (Cl₂SiMe₂), respectively. A small portion of the living ABA precursors were protonated to serve as isobaric linear precursors. The linear and macrocyclic block copolymers were characterized by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). The ratios of apparent cyclic/linear SEC molecular-weight maxima versus degree of polymerization (DP) show increases with decreasing DP varying from 0.70 ± 0.03 at high DP ≤ 200 to 0.78 ± 0.044 at low DP (≥60) whereas that of the linear ABA block copolymers decreased. Increases in glass transition temperature (Tg) were also observed for the cyclic PS-b-PDMS copolymers with respect to the isobaric linear precursors. The macrocycles were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR and in the case of macrocyclic PS-b-PDMS by ²⁹Si NMR as well. Broadening in the NMR absorptions of the macrocyclic block copolymers is general and is similar to that observed for the homopolymers. Differemtial scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of the PS-b-P2VP macrocycles shows increases in Tg at lower molecular weight as was observed for the PS and P2VP macrocycles.     

Phormidolides B and C,Cytotoxic Agents from the Sea: Enantioselective Synthesis of the Macrocyclic Core

New cytotoxic polyketide macrolides named phormidolides B and C were isolated from a marine sponge of the Petrosiidae family collected off the coast of Pemba (Tanzania). The isolation, structure elucidation, and enantioselective synthesis of three diastereomers of the macrocyclic core is described herein. The described synthetic methodology started from 2‐deoxy‐D ‐ribose or 2‐deoxy‐L ‐ribose and afforded the desired macrocycles with high enantiomeric purity. The key step of the synthesis is the formation of the Z‐trisubstituted double bond using a Julia–Kocienski olefination. The versatility of the synthetic methodology may provide access to other enantiopure macrocycles by making changes in the starting materials or chiral inductors.     

Amide‐Based Oligocatenanes by an Iterative Template Strategy

A new pathway for the supramolecular synthesis of oligocatenanes is developed. It is based on a combination of most suitable macrocyclic structural units, obtained from tert‐butyl‐substituted isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid building blocks. These structural parts guarantee, on the one hand, the solubility of the catenanes and their intermediates, and, on the other hand, the preferred formation of larger ring sizes of the macrocycles to be intertwined. Acting as monotopic and ditopic concave templates, the tetra‐ and octalactam macrocycles were submitted to threading procedures to yield higher‐order catenanes of the amide type. By repetition of the threading steps, it was possible to isolate multiply mechanically connected [n]catenanes up to n=4 composed of various macrocyclic units.     

Imine- and Amine-Type Macrocycles Derived from Chiral Diamines and Aromatic Dialdehydes

The condensation of aromatic dialdehydes with chiral diamines, such as 1,2-trans-diaminocyclohexane, leads to various enantiopure or meso-type macrocyclic Schiff bases, including [2 + 2], [3 + 3], [4 + 4], [6 + 6] and [8 + 8] condensation products. Unlike most cases of macrocycle synthesis, the [3 + 3] macrocycles of this type are sometimes obtained in high yields by direct condensation without a metal template. Macrocycles of other sizes from this family can often be selectively obtained in high yields by a suitable choice of metal template, solvent, or chirality of the building blocks. In particular, the application of a cadmium(II) template results in the expansion of the [2 + 2] macrocycles into giant [6 + 6] and [8 + 8] macrocycles. These imine macrocycles can be reduced to the corresponding macrocyclic amines which can act as hosts for the binding of multiple cations or multiple anions.     

Efficient NMR enantiodiscrimination of bridge fluorinated paracyclophanes using lanthanide tris β-diketonate complexes

A selection of amino-substituted 1,1,2,2,9,9,10,10 octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophanes were tested for enantiodiscrimination by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy via their interaction with different lanthanide tris β-diketonate chiral shift reagents. The amino-, and the pseudo-ortho di-amino substituted octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophanes, both of which exhibit planar chirality, revealed significant shifts and splittings of various ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR signals upon the addition of the chiral shift reagents, which allowed the easy determination of the enantiomeric purity. When the chiral shift reagent was added to an inseparable mixture of the (chiral) pseudo-meta, and (achiral) pseudo-para diamino analogues, both the chiral and achiral molecules revealed NMR doubling. In the case of the achiral molecule, this NMR behavior is due to the meso nature of the pseudo-para species.     

Synthesis and Self‐Assembly of Cyclic 2,7‐Anthrylene Ethynylene 1,3‐Phenylene Ethynylene Trimer with a Planar Conformation

Cyclic arylene ethynylene hexamer 1 , composed of alternating 2,7‐anthrylene ethynylene units and meta‐phenylene ethynylene units, was synthesized. It shows C₃ symmetry and possesses a flat and rigid conformation with a large equilateral triangle‐like cavity. Macrocycle 1 self‐associates through π–π stacking interactions between the anthracene‐containing macrocyclic aromatic cores with indefinite‐association constant K_E=6980 m ^?1 in CDCl₃ at 303 K. Macrocycle 1 also self‐assembles into π‐stacked nanofibers in the drop‐cast film.     

Supramolecular 1D assemblies of polyfluorinated arylenediamines and 18-crown-6

Rods (1D assemblies) formed by alternate crown ether and arylenediamine molecules are the motif of the supramolecular architecture of crystals of molecular associates of 18-crown-6 with tetrafluoro-1,4- and -1,3-phenylenediamines, hexafluoro-2,6- and -2,7-naphthylenediamines. Molecules in the assemblies are arranged via H-bond predominantly between the crown ether oxygen atoms and the polyfluoroarene amino group hydrogen atoms. Influence of the amino groups mutual arrangement and the aromatic framework size on the crystal supramolecular architecture is characterized. Specific melting heats of the crystalline 1D assemblies of para- and pseudo-para-arylenediamines are higher than those of meta- and pseudo-meta-analogs; the associates having higher melting heats selectively crystallize from solutions of isomeric phenylene- or naphthylenediamine mixtures.     

Encapsulation of Pd(II) by N4 and N2O2 macrocyclic ligands: their use in catalysis and biology

New macrocyclic Schiff base Pd(II) compounds were synthesized by treating N₄ and N₂O₂ macrocycles with palladium chloride in a 1 : 1 ratio. The resulting macrocyclic compounds were characterized by elemental, IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, mass, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility, electronic spectra, and thermal analysis. These compounds were used as catalysts in the development of an efficient catalytic method for reduction of organic substrates having nitro, olefinic, acetylenic, and aldehyde groups under mild reaction conditions. The biological activities of all the macrocycles and macrocyclic Pd(II) compounds have been tested against gram positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and gram negative (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia) bacteria and found to be more active than commercially available antibacterial drugs like Streptomycin and Ampicillin.     

The unique properties observed for the unsymmetrical macrocyclic compounds with the highly distorted structure

A new class of aza-macrocycles with the highly distorted structure was found to exhibit unique properties. These macrocycles react with various lithium salts to form lithium complexes and their lithium complexation reactions depend on a substituent on the macrocyclic ring; slower rates and larger equilibrium constants were observed for the macrocycle with a bulkier substituent. The irradiation of these macrocycles by UV light was found to lead to the isomerization, and the photoisomerization rate of macrocycle with the bulky substituent was much faster. The highly distorted structure of these macrocycles makes it much easier to change the conformation of macrocyclic skeleton and these macrocycles have a variety of conformations. The factors to govern this conformational change were therefore explored. The solvent effect was examined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, because these macrocycles have a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond in the ring. As a result, the solvent was found to have a big effect on the ¹H NMR spectra of macrocycles that could be explained in terms of the conformational change of macrocycle. This finding suggests the solvent to be an important way of controlling the conformation.     

Calix[4]resorcinarene macrocycles

Supramolecular chemistry is an interdisciplinary scientific field, including chemical, physical and biological properties of more complex chemical species than the molecules themselves. Calixarenes/calixresorcinarenes are macrocyclic compounds, consisting of ‘n’ phenolic/resorcinolic units linked together by methylene bridges; these macrocycles are often used for molecular recognition. Thus, different modifications can be made to both the lower and upper rim, allowing the construction of well-defined multivalent buildings. In this work, three calix[4]resorcinarene macrocycles were synthesized, namely C-dec-9-en-1-ylcalix[4]resorcinarene (CAL 11U), C-trans-2, cis-6-octa-1,5-dien-1-ylcalix[4]resorcinarene (CAL 9U) and C-nonylcalix[4]resorcinarene (CAL 10) by a simple condensation reaction. The compounds CAL 11U and CAL 10 have been already synthesized by researchers, while the CAL 9U has been synthesized for the first time. Their structures were confirmed using ATR-FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. Thermal analysis combined with mass spectrometric evolved analysis of the vapors was used to study the thermal behavior of the different synthesized molecules, and they were the subject of characterization by X-ray powder diffraction in order to analyze their degree of crystallinity.

     

Synthesis of macrocyclic ligands incorporating sulfur and furan subunits

Abstract

Polyammonium macrocycles containing sulfur and furan units in the macrocyclic ring have been synthesized and studied for ATPase activity. The synthetic methodology involved using tosyl protection for the amines and the formation of macrocyclic Lactams, followed by reduction using borane in THF. Deprotection of the tosylated forms of the macrocycle was accomplished using sodium in butanol for the furan macrocycles, and HBr in HOAc for the sulfur containing macrocycle. The macrocycles were found to be poor catalysts for ATP hydrolysis compared to other similar polyammonium macrocycles.