Preparation, characterization, and solution tailored photoluminescence of all trans poly[distyrylbenzene-b-(ethylene oxide)]s

Two linear, stereoregular, and structurally defined PPV derivatives (PPVs), poly[distyrylbenzene-b-(ethylene oxide)]s, with respective 12 and 16 of ethylene oxide repeat units in the backbone, abbreviated as DE-1 and DE-2 thereinafter, have been prepared via a modified synthetic profile. Both DE-1 and -2 were soluble in organic solvents and able to form robust and transparent film upon spin casting. Instrument characterization, such as FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, revealed the final structures as designed and novel photophysical properties in solution. Apparent spectral evidences strongly suggested the all trans conjugated DE-1 and -2 and the successful isomeirization process adopted. It was found that the aggregates were formed for both DE-1 and -2 at approximately 60% of methanol in methanol/dichloromethane (MeOH/DCM). Both DE-1 and -2 exhibited solution tailorable absorption and emission properties. Before aggregating point, the absorption profile experienced a blue shift with the increase of MeOH and a slight increase in quantum yields (QYs). At aggregating point, however, an apparent blue shift in emission profile was observed along with a remarkable decrease of QY due to aggregate quenching.     

N-Glycosylation of 2,3-dideoxyfuranose derivatives having a (diethoxyphosphorothioyl)difluoromethyl group at the 3α-position

Lewis acid-mediated N-glycosylation of 2,3-dideoxyribofunanosides having a (diethoxyphosphorothioyl)difluoromethyl group at the 3α-position with silylated nucleobases was examined. The phosphorothioyldifluoromethyl was found to be an effective functional group for the diastereoselective synthesis of β-N¹-pyrimidine-nucleotide analogues 26 and 28-30. However, the method was not useful for the diastereoselective synthesis of adenine nucleotide analogues. The nucleotide analogue 26 was transformed to the difluoromethylenephosphonate analogue 31 of thymidine-3′-phosphate by oxidation with m-CPBA, followed by aqueous work-up.     

Total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-glucopyranoside, a component of blue flower pigment of Salvia patens, and seven chiral analogues

We have succeeded in the first total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1a), a component of blue pigment, protodelphin, from naringenin (2). Glycosylation of 2 according to Koenigs-Knorr reaction provided a monoglucoside 4a in 80% yield, and this was followed by DDQ oxidation to give apigenin 7-O-glucoside (12a). Further glycosylation of 4′-OH of 12a with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl fluoride (5a) was achieved using a Lewis acid-and-base promotion system (BF₃·Et₂O, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine, and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine) in 70% yield, and subsequent deprotection produced 1a. Synthesis of three other chiral isomers of 1a, with replacement of d-glucose at 7 and/or 4′-OH by l-glucose (1b-d), and four chiral isomers of apigenin 7-O-β-glucosides (6a,b) and 4′-O-β-glucosides (7a,b) also proved possible.     

Some novel observations on the reaction of 2-hydrazino-3-methylquinoxaline with trifluoromethyl-β-diketones

The reaction of 2-hydrazino-3-methylquinoxaline 1 with trifluoromethyl-β-diketones 2 not only yields the expected 5-trifluoromethyl-5-hydroxy-Δ²-pyrazolines 3a-3f and/or 3-trifluoromethylpyrazoles 4c-4f but also the unexpected products 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalines 5a-5f and/or 3(5)-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazoles 6c-6f. Furthermore, the acid-catalyzed dehydration of 5-hydroxypyrazolines 3a-3b resulted in the formation of unexpected 5a-5b along with the expected corresponding pyrazoles 7a-7b. These unprecedented observations provide evidence for the existence of equilibrium between the hydroxypyrazoline 3 and its open chain tautomer, ketoimine 9 in the mechanistic path leading to the formation of pyrazoles 7 and triazoles 5.     

Organofluorine compounds and fluorinating agents

Starting with 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-O-dodecyl-β-d-glucose (1), mixed alkyl-perfluoroalkyl substituted sugar derivatives with an anomeric perfluoroalkylthio group and an O-alkyl group in the 3 position were synthesized via 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-dodecyl-1-thio-β-d-glucose (4). The latter was S-perfluorohexylated with 1-iodoperfluorohexane in a dithionite initiated reaction yielding perfluorohexyl 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-dodecyl-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside (5). Experiments with the aim compound 5 completely to deacetylate ended in surprising results. Thus, methanolic methanolate solution produced the orthoester 7 as the result of α-fluoride replacement by methoxy groups as well as the methyl glucoside 8 as the result of a transglycosylation reaction. Alumina supported cesium fluoride cleaved regioselectively the two acetyl groups in the 4- and 6-position yielding perfluorohexyl 2-O-acetyl-3-O-dodecyl-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside (10). A complete deacetylation of 5 to amphiphile 11 succeeded only with methanolic tert-butanolate. However, the products 8 and 10 were likewise formed.     

Synthesis, molecular structure, and chemical reactivity of azuleno[1,2-a]acenaphthylene

The azuleno[1,2-a]acenaphthylene (1a) was prepared from 1-pyrrolidinylacenaphthylene (5) and 2H-cyclohepta[b]furan-2-one (6) by the method of the Takase-Yasunami azulene synthesis. Its ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra indicate that 1a comprises azulene and naphthalene rather than acenaphtylene and heptafulvene in accordance with speculation drawn from a previous study of the DEPE calculations. The solid-state structure of 1a was elucidated by X-ray crystallographical analysis, indicating that 1a is nearly planar and exhibits little bond alternation as seen in the optimized structure at the MB3LYP/6-311G^∗ level of theory. All bond lengths observed by the X-ray analysis are in good agreement within 0.024 Å with those calculated. Under pyrolytic conditions 1a underwent azulene-naphthalene rearrangement to give 9 and 10. The electrophilic substitution of 1a was observed at the 7-position and the second reaction at the 3-position. The cycloaddition reaction of 1a with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) yielded the 1:1 cycloadduct with a heptalene skeleton 16a and the 1:2 cycloadduct 19, along with the substitution product 17. The X-ray structural analysis of the cycloadducts 16a and 19 is also described.     

Synthesis and properties of novel 5-(cyclohepta-2′,4′,6′-trienylidene)pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-triones: methodology for synthesizing cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates

Novel condensation reaction of tropone with N-substituted and N,N′-disubstitued barbituric acids in Ac₂O afforded 5-(cyclohepta-2′,4′,6′-trienylidene)pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-trione derivatives (8a-f) in moderate to good yields. The ¹³C NMR spectral study of 8a-f revealed that the contribution of zwitterionic resonance structures is less important as compared with that of 8,8-dicyanoheptafulvene. The rotational barriers (ΔG^‡) around the exocyclic double bond of mono-substituted derivatives 8a-c were obtained to be 14.51-15.03 kcal mol⁻¹ by the variable temperature ¹H NMR measurements. The electrochemical properties of 8a-f were also studied by CV measurement. Upon treatment with DDQ, 8a-c underwent oxidative cyclization to give two products, 7 and 9-substituted cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates (11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻) in various ratios, while that of disubstituted derivatives 8d-f afforded 7,9-disubstituted cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborate (11d-f·BF₄⁻) in good yields. Similarly, preparation of known 5-(1′-oxocycloheptatrien-2′-yl)-pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-trione derivatives (14a-d) and novel derivatives 14e,f was carried out. Treatment of 14a-c with aq. HBF₄/Ac₂O afforded two kinds of novel products 11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a,c·BF₄⁻ in various ratios, respectively, while that of 14d-f afforded 11d-f. The product ratios of 11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻ observed in two kinds of cyclization reactions were rationalized on the basis of MO calculations of model compounds 20a and 21a. The spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of 11a-f·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻ were studied, and structural characterization of 11c·BF₄⁻ based on the X-ray crystal analysis and MO calculation was also performed.     

Effect of α-fluorination on asymmetric epoxidation of trans-olefins using α-fluorinated cyclohexanone dioxiranes

Epoxidations of trans-β-methylstyrene, trans-stilbene and trans-methyl p-methoxycinnamate using chiral dioxiranes derived from both enantiopure diastereomers of α-fluoro cyclohexanones, (2S, 5R)-3a-6a and (2R, 5R)-3e-6e are studied and compared. From ab initio calculations at the HF/6-31G^∗ level of conformational inter-conversion for (2S, 5R)-D5a and (2R, 5R)-D5e dioxiranes it was found that, due to the α-fluorine atom, conformer K1 is more stable in the case of (2S, 5R)-D5a while conformer K2 is more stable in the case of (2R, 5R)-D5e. However, in both cases, the more stable conformers, K1 and K2, undergo rapid inter-conversion. Therefore, based on slow epoxidation reactions and rapid ring inversion of six-membered ring dioxiranes the Curtin-Hammett principle holds. Conformation K2 with axial fluorine having been found to be more reactive, the inversion of configuration observed for the epoxides obtained with ketones 3e-6e (compared with ketones 3a-6a) could be rationalized from competitive reactions of K2 and K1 conformations leading to simultaneous production of both (−) and (+) epoxides in the case of ketones 3e-6e.     

An unexpected formation of pyrazolopyrimidines during the attempted to obtain 5-substituted tetrazoles from carbonitriles

In this Letter, we described the synthesis of new 5-(5-amino-1-aryl-1H-pyrazole-4-yl)-1H-tetrazoles 2a–c from 5-amino-1-aryl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitriles 1a–c as well as the unexpected 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives 6a–c from 5-amino-1-aryl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitriles 4a–c, instead of 5-(5-amino-1-aryl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-yl)-1H-tetrazoles 5a–c as desired. In an attempt to obtain these tetrazole derivatives containing the methyl group at C3-position in the pyrazole ring, the amino group in 5-amino-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile 4c was protected by the reaction with sodium hydride and di-tert-butyl-dicarbonate (Boc). The tetrazole derivative 5c was synthesized from the protected compound 7c using analogue methodology to obtain 2a–c and 6a–c.     

Sodium dithionite initiated regio- and stereoselective radical addition of polyfluoroalkyl iodide with norbornene analogs

Sodium dithionite initiated free-radical addition of polyfluoroalkyl iodides (2m-2s) with norbornene 1a and its derivatives, such as norbornene-2-carboxylates 1b and 1c, and norbornene-2-carboxylic acids 1d and 1e was investigated. In all the cases, the addition of R_F group was stereoselectively delivered at exo-position and the predominant configuration of products was trans. Under the similar condition, norbornene-2-carboxylic ethyl ester 1b reacted with 2p to give 6-exo-R_F-5-endo-iodo adduct 3bp and 5-exo-R_F-6-endo-iodo adduct 5bp in the ratio of 4:1. While 1c, which has a heavy crowded group in the 2-endo-position, gave 6-exo-R_F-5-endo-iodo adduct 3cp and polyfluoroalkylated product 4cp retaining the trans-configuration and the exo-orientation of R_F group. The fluoroalkylation-lactonization reaction occurred in the reaction of norbornene-2-endo-carboxylic acids 1d and 1e with polyfluoroalkyl iodides to afford the corresponding fluoroalkylated γ-lactone products (7dp-7ds, and 7em-7er). The configuration of the products was further confirmed by 2D NMR and X-ray diffraction analyses for the first time.     

Microwave assisted synthesis of novel imidazo [2,1-b]thiazole derivative attached to quinoxalinones

3-(6-Phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones (qunoxalinone) (6a-q) have been synthesized by the reaction of ethyl 2-oxo-2-(6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)acetates (4a-e) with suitably substituted o-phenylenediamines (5a-f) under microwave heating. The ethyl 2-oxo-2-(6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)acetates (4a-e) were prepared by the reaction of 6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles (3a-e) with ethyl chlorooxoacetate in refluxing 1,4-dioxane whereas the thiazoles (3a-e) were synthesized by the reaction of 2-bromo-1-phenylethanones (2a-e) with thiazol-2-amine in refluxing acetone.     

A simple approach for the regioselective synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidiones and pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones

Several imidazo and pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones of type 1 and 2 were synthesized through intramolecular cyclization of pyrimidines 9 or pyrimidinones 10 bearing a variety of β and γ-aminoalcohols at the 2-position. Ring closure of the pyrimidinones of type 10 under Mitsunobu conditions lead to mixtures of both bicyclic regioisomers 1 and 2. Treatment of pyrimidines of type 9 with H₂SO₄ provided an efficient and operationally simple one-pot hydrolysis-cyclization procedure for obtaining imidazo and pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones 1 in good yields as the sole regioisomeric bicyclic product.     

Synthesis and structure of {{amino(triorganosilyl)carbene}pentacarbonyltungsten(0)} complexes and attempted synthesis of {[2-bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl-3-triorganosilyl-2H-azaphosphirene-κP]pentacarbonyltungsten(0)}

First examples of tungsten aminocarbene complexes [(OC₅)W{C(SiR¹_nR²_3-n)NH₂}] 2a-d (R¹ = Ph, R² = Me) were synthesized via ammonolysis of the corresponding methoxycarbene complexes 1a-d. They were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, MS, IR, UV/Vis and elemental analysis, and in the case of the C-triphenylsilyl derivative 2a by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. The reaction of P-chloro alkylidenephosphane 3 with complexes 2a-d, meant to give 2H-azaphosphirene complexes, was monitored by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy to reveal the formation of the products 4-7, which were presumably formed via decomposition of the transient complexes 10a-d.     

Synthesis and chemistry of tricyclic cyclopropene-tricyclo[3.2.2.0]nona-2(4),6-diene

The 1,2-bridged tricyclic cyclopropene, tricyclo[3.2.2.0^2,4]nona-2(4),6-diene (1), has been synthesized by the elimination of 2-bromo-4-chlorotricyclo[3.2.2.0^2,4]-non-6-ene (5). Cyclopropene 1 will undergo different isomerizations in ether solution and in neat conditions. Compound 1 rearranged to an anti-Bredt compound 4 via diradical mechanism in ether and tricyclic compound 6 via vinyl carbene mechanism in neat conditions. Compound 1 can be trapped with DPIBF at different temperatures yielding different results: the exo-endo adduct 2 (exo-addition from the view of the cyclopropene and endo-addition from the view of bicyclo[2.2.2]octene) is a sole product at 0°C by slowly addition of methyllithium, and the exo-endo adduct 2, endo-endo adduct 9, anti-Bredt adduct 3, and styrene 8 are isolated at ether refluxing temperature. Styrene 8 is proposed to be formed from endo-endo adduct 9 by diradical mechanism. The chemistry of exo-endo adduct 2 and endo-endo adduct 9 is as well studied. The exo-endo adduct 2 undergoes hydration in trifluoroacetic acid to generate 1,3-cis-diol 11 followed by eliminations of water and formaldehyde to give naphthalene 12. The endo-endo adduct 9 reacts with water in tetrahydrofuran-containing silica gel to yield 1,4-cis-diol 10. Both 9 and 10 react with trifluoroacetic acid to form trans-3-hydroxy trifluoroacetate 13. Compound 13 will undergo hydrolysis and isomerization to generate 1,3-cis-diol 11 in trifluoroacetic acid.     

Marked difference in singlet-chemiexcitation efficiency between syn-anti isomers of spiro[1,2-dioxetane-3,1′-dihydroisobenzofuran] for intramolecular charge-transfer-induced decomposition

Spiro[1,2-dioxetane-3,1′-dihydroisobenzofuran] syn-3 bearing a hydroxy group at the 6-position (as a model syn-rotamer of parent dioxetane 4 bearing a 3-hydroxyphenyl group) and its isomer anti-3 (as a model anti-rotamer of 4) were synthesized. When these spiro-dioxetanes were treated with tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) in DMSO, anti-3 emitted light with high efficiency (Φ^CL = 0.41), while the respective value for syn-3 was only 1/10 for anti-3. This significant difference in Φ^CL between syn-3 and anti-3 was attributed to the difference in their singlet-chemiexcitation efficiencies.     

Synthesis of 2,3-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-ones by the domino Michael addition retro-ene reaction of 2-alkoxyiminoimidazolidines and acetylene carboxylates

2-Alkoxyiminoimidazolidines 2-3 react with acetylene dicarboxylates and ethyl phenylpropiolate to give 8-alkoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(3H)-ones C, which subsequently undergo a sterically induced multihetero-retro-ene fragmentation to give imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-ones 4-7 together with formaldehyde or benzaldehyde. On the other hand, a similar reaction of 2-3 with ethyl propiolate gives corresponding 8-alkoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(3H)-ones 8-10. The unsubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-one 11 can be prepared by retro-ene reaction of 9 upon prolonged heating in refluxing ethanol. A direct synthetic approach to 1-formyl-7-phenyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-5(1H)-one 14 is reported using DMF/sulfonyl chloride as a new Vilsmeier-type N-formylating reagent.     

Synthesis of arylated highly congested indans using a domino sequence

A novel and efficient regioselective synthesis of various arylated highly congested 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carbonitriles (3a-f), methyl 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylates (10a-e) and 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylic acids (11a-e) through base-catalyzed reaction of 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (1a-f) and methyl 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carboxylates (9a-e) by cyclopentanone (2) has been delineated. The synthetic potential of 2-pyranone was explored further to generate molecular diversity using 6-aryl-4-sec-amino-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (7a-h), 5,6-diaryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (5a,b) and methyl 5,6-diaryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carboxylates (12a,b) as precursors for the ring transformation by cyclopentanone to assess the effects of substituents on the course of the reaction to obtain highly congested indans, 6,7-diaryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carbonitriles (6a,b), 7-aryl-5-(piperidin-1-yl)indan-4-carbonitriles (8a-h) and methyl 6,7-diaryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylates (13a,b).     

Absolute stereochemistry of antifouling cembranoid epimers at C-8 from the Caribbean octocoral Pseudoplexaura flagellosa. Revised structures of plexaurolones

Eight cembranoid epimers at C-8 (1-8) were isolated from the organic extract of the Colombian Caribbean octocoral Pseudoplexaura flagellosa. Compounds 2, 4, and 6 are reported for the first time. Although compounds 1, 3, 5, 7, and 8 have been reported previously, their structures and NMR assignments are revised, completed or corrected. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of detailed analysis of their spectroscopic data. Furthermore, the relative configurations of compounds 1-3 and 7 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The absolute configurations of compounds 1-8 were determined using a combination of the modified Mosher method and unambiguous chemical interconversions. Evaluation of their antifouling properties using quorum sensing inhibition (QSI) and biofilm inhibition bioassays showed that compounds 3, 6, and 7 have excellent QSI activity against Chromobacterium violaceum, as measured by inhibition of the production of violacein pigment, without interfering with its growth. Furthermore, compounds 3, 5, 6, and 8 exhibited inhibition of biofilm maturation without interfering in the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio harveyi, and Staphylococcus aureus. This is the first report of cembranoids as inhibitors of bacterial biofilm and as compounds that interfere with QS in C. violaceum.     

Substituent-induced regioselective synthesis of 1,2-teraryls and pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-4,5-diones from 2H-pyran-2-ones

Substituent-controlled regioselective synthesis of highly functionalized 1,2-teraryls 3a-k has been achieved through ring transformation of 6-aryl-4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl/piperidin-1-yl)-2H-pyran-2-one-3-carbonitriles 1a-g by aryl acetones 2a-c in the presence of powdered KOH in DMF in very good yield. Under similar reaction conditions, 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2H-pyran-2-ones 5a-f afforded 1,7-diaryl-2-methyl-4H,5H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-4,5-diones 6a-j as major products and 3,4-diaryl-2-methyl-6-methylsulfanylbenzonitriles as minor constituents 7a-j.     

Syntheses of aryl- and arylethynyl-substituted N-confused porphyrins

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions under Suzuki, Sonogashira, and Stille conditions afford 3-aryl (9-12) and 3-arylethynyl N-confused porphyrin (NCP) silver(III) complexes (13-15) from the 3-bromo NCP complex (4) in ca. 70% yields along with the transmetalated products, 3-substituted NCP palladium(II) complexes (11-Pd to 15-Pd), in 10-30% yields. Substitution at 3-position was confirmed by the single crystal X-ray structures of 9, 13-Ag, and 13-Pd. The arylethynyl groups or five-membered heterocyclic aromatic rings at 3-position largely affected the optical properties of N-confused porphyrin, in which the longest absorption maxima of the Q-bands are shifted bathochromically by 30-120 nm. The electronic effect of substituent differs largely between palladium and silver complexes reflecting the different π-electron delocalization pathway of NCP cores. 3-Aryl- and 3-arylethynyl NCP silver(III) complexes were easily demetalated to afford the corresponding free base porphyrins by the treatment of sodium borohydride.