Synthesis and self-assembly of a triphenylene-containing amphiphilic conjugated macrocycle

A new amphiphilic π-conjugated system containing a shape-persistent conjugated macrocycle with two triphenylene chromophores as the anchoring units has been successfully synthesized. The amphiphilic macrocycle has been found to self-assemble into robust and uniform microspheres, presumably due to the strong π−π stacking interaction between triphenylene chromophores.     

Synthesis of the proposed structure of queenslandon

The proposed structure of the benzolactone queenslandon (6) was synthesized utilizing a triol containing building block prepared from d-ribose. While a ring-closing metathesis approach did not lead to the macrocycle, alkylation of a benzyl(phenyl)selane, elimination to generate the styrene double bond, followed by Mitsunobu macrolactonization proved to be successful. Spectral data suggest that the structure of queenslandon should be revised, probably to the C11 epimer.     

Columnar self-assembly of rhomboid macrocyclic molecules via step-like intermolecular interaction. Crystal formation and gelation

Two macrocyclic compounds with a rhomboid molecular shape, composed of a π-conjugated framework and an imine or amine functionality, were synthesized. The amine-containing macrocycle crystallizes with step-like interaction of each molecule, forming a columnar arrangement, although dispersion of the imine gelates upon ultrasonification.     

Quinoxaline-walled π-stacking molecules: synthesis,conformation, and luminescence properties

A series of semi-rigid N-phenylsuccinimides I (11Xy), N-arylmethylsuccinimides II (18Xy), and N,N′-(1,4-arylenebis(methylene))disuccinimides III (19XyX) walled by quinoxaline (QX), dimethylquinoxaline (diMQX), or benzoquinoxaline (BQX) ring were synthesized. Intramolecular π–π interactions in solution were detected by NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy, in terms of reciprocal anisotropic shielding and exciplex formation, respectively. The X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed the preferential conformations in solid state, which were compatible with the results of conformational studies by NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results collectively indicated that 18Xy and 19XyX are driven by intramolecular π–π interactions in the mode of π-stacking (face-to-face) or T-shaped (edge-to-face) configuration to preferentially adopt the folded- and the double folded-conformation, respectively, where the spaced aromatic rings are oriented syn to each other in close proximity.     

Porphyrin acidity and metal ion coordination revisited: electronic substitution effects

Macrocycle acidity and Zn²⁺ ion coordination are reported for three porphyrin derivatives which differ in both steric and electronic substitution effects on the macrocycle π-conjugated system. The role of the electronic substitution effects in the macrocycle deprotonation and metal ion chelating was found to be dominating whereas the macrocycle nonplanar distortions contribute to the acidity and metal chelation rate of the studied porphyrins in less extent. The contributions of both resonance and inductive electronic substitution effects have been distinguished based on the relationship between the weighted sum of resonance and inductive Hammett constants and the acidity and metal ion chelation rate.     

A preliminary evaluation of a metathesis approach to bryostatins

Preliminary investigations into the synthesis of bryostatins using ring-closing metathesis to form the C(16)-C(17) double bond led to a synthesis of the bryostatin analogue 51; precursors 26 and 52, which possess the geminal dimethyl group at C-18, did not undergo the required ring-closing metathesis.     

Design,synthesis and physical property of a π-conjugated photo-excited organic high-spin systems toward the functional material

In this paper, we report a design, synthesis and electronic state of a π-conjugated stable verdazyl radical, 1, which electron donor property is improved by an attachment of dimethylamino group. The photo-excited quartet high-spin state was observed by a time-resolved ESR experiment and CV measurement has clarified that the π-HOMO of the ground state is located higher ca. 0.1 eV in energy than 2 reported previously. These results show that the electron donor property is improved and the nature of the photo-excited high-spin state is conserved. In addition, A CT complex 1-BQF₄ was synthesized using 1 as an electron donor.     

Gelation-induced emission enhancement in a “butterfly”-shaped π-conjugated organogelator and its reversible response to acid/base

In this work, we find that a new “butterfly”-shaped π-conjugated molecule, namely SY1, has the ability to undergo gelatinization in several solvents. Even though the SY1 moiety is not modified by normal auxiliary groups, the gel formation/dissolution process is reversible for many cycles upon heating and cooling processes, indicating that the gel of SY1 has reliable stability during gelation. Results also demonstrate that the gel of SY1 exhibits bright orange emission with the gelation-induced emission enhancement character. Interestingly, the gel shows reversible response upon acid/base treatment. After addition of normal acid, the gel turns into darker colour and its fluorescence undergoes quenching. Increasing pH value of the system by adding NaOH aq. leads to fluorescence emission recovery. Therefore, SY1 represents a π-conjugated organogelator without normal auxiliary groups, and exhibits gel-induced emission enhancement as well as reversible response to acid/base. The findings in this work enrich our fundamental understanding of the organogel system.     

Domino intramolecular enyne metathesis/cross metathesis approach to the xanthanolides. Enantioselective synthesis of (+)-8-epi-xanthatin

The first total synthesis of (+)-8-epi-xanthatin (1) has been achieved in 14 steps starting from the commercially available ester 24, which was converted into aldehyde 23 in six steps. An enantioselective aldol reaction of 23 gave 30, which was transformed into triflate 22 in four steps, setting the stage for a palladium-catalyzed carbonylation reaction to form acrylate 34. Compound 34 was then subjected to a deprotection/lactonization sequence to furnish enyne 21, which underwent a domino enyne ring-closing metathesis/cross metathesis process to form a seven-membered carbocycle and (E)-conjugated dienone, thereby completing the synthesis of 1. This domino ruthenium-catalyzed metathesis reaction thus serves as an efficient method to construct the core of xanthanolide and other sesquiterpene lactones.     

Bent π-Conjugation within a Macrocycle: Asymmetric Total Syntheses of Spirohexenolides A and B

Macrocycles with bent π-conjugation motif are extremely rare in nature and synthetically daunting and anticancer haouamines and spirohexenolides were representative of such rare natural products with synthetically challenging bent π-conjugation within a macrocycle. While the total synthesis of haouamines has been elegantly achieved, spirohexenolides remains an unmet synthetic challenge due to the highly strained bent 1,3,5-triene conjugation within C15 macrocycle. Inspired by the chemical synthesis of cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) and haouamines, herein we devise a synthetic strategy to overcome the highly strained bent 1,3,5-triene conjugation within the macrocycle and achieve the first, asymmetric total synthesis of spirohexenolides A (>20 mg) and B (>50 mg). Our synthesis features strategic design of ring-closing metathesis (RCM) macrocyclization followed by double dehydration to achieve the C15 macrocycle with the deformed nonplanar 1,3,5-triene conjugation. In addition, we have developed a new enantioselective construction of highly functionalized spirotetronate fragment (northeast moiety) through RCM and Ireland–Claisen rearrangement. Our in vitro bioassay studies reveal that both spirohexenolides are cytotoxic against a panel of human cancer cells with IC₅₀ 1.2–13.3 μM and spirohexenolide A is consistently more potent (up to 3 times) than spirohexenolide B, suggesting the importance of alcohol for their bioactivity and for medicinal chemistry development.     

Synthesis of B←N embedded indacenodithiophene chromophores and effects of bromine atoms on photophysical properties and energy levels

Developing novel fused π-conjugated chromophores has been an energetic research realm and knowing how to adjust their photophysical properties and energy levels through structure tailoring is of pivotal importance. Herein, based on the ladder-type π-conjugated indacenodithiophene (IDT) moiety, four B←N embedded IDT structures, namely, BNIDT, BNIDT-2Br, BNIDT-4Br, and BNIDT-6Br are synthesized and fully characterized. The influences of B←N unit embedded in the IDT backbone and Br atoms anchoring at the periphery on the photophysical properties and energy levels are discussed systematically. From IDT to BNIDT, a new intra-molecular charge transfer (ICT) transition band appears at lower energy (400–600?nm) in the absorption spectra with reduced optical bandgaps (E_g) from 3.25?eV to 2.11?eV and the fluorescence emission peaks red-shift from 390?nm to 565?nm along with remarkably extended fluorescence lifetimes from 1.2 ns to 12.4 ns due to the introduction of electron-deficient B←N into the backbone. Further anchoring Br atoms at the periphery of the backbone gives rise to depressed optical bandgaps, decreased fluorescence quantum yields (Φ), and shortened fluorescence lifetimes (τ) from BNIDT (E_g?=?2.11?eV, Φ?=?0.46, τ?=?12.4?ns), BNIDT-2Br (E_g?=?2.08?eV, Φ?=?0.18, τ?=?4.9?ns), BNIDT-4Br (E_g?=?1.67?eV, non-emission) to BNIDT-6Br (E_g?=?1.61?eV, non-emission). The HOMO and LUMO levels estimated from ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and optical bandgaps also experience synergetic lowering from IDT to BNIDT-6Br. This work indicates that backbone modification with electron-deficient B←N unit and side groups tailoring with halogen atoms are powerful to manipulate the optical properties and energy levels of fused π-conjugated chromophores.     

First asymmetric synthesis of achaetolide

The first asymmetric synthesis of the 10-membered macrolide achaetolide is reported in this article. The main highlight of the synthetic strategy is the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of intermediate 19, which in turn can be accessed from coupling between alcohol 11 and acid 18. The synthesis of 11 involves enzymatic kinetic resolution (EKR) coupled with a Mitsunobu inversion strategy, while 18 can be prepared by adopting a metal-enzyme combined dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) reaction followed by functional group manipulation.     

Push–pull organic semiconductors with planar indenothiophene bridges for solution-processed small-molecule organic solar cells

Novel push–pull organic semiconductors, bisDMFA-InTTh-MMN (1) and bisDMFA-InTTTh-MMN (2) containing planar and rigid indenothiophene or indenothienothiophene functionalities incorporated into a π-conjugated thiophene bridge were synthesized and the photovoltaic performances in solution-processed small molecule organic solar cells (SMOSCs) were investigated. The planar indenothiophene skeleton induced the effective inter- and intramolecular charge transfers of these materials. The most efficient SMOSCs based on this novel indenothiophene exhibited a moderate PCE of 3.21% from a skeleton comprised of a bisDMFA donor, MMN acceptor, and InTTTh π-linker.     

Photo- and electroluminescent properties of cyano-substituted styryl derivatives and synthesis of CN-PPV model compounds containing an alkoxy spacer for OLEDs

The series of cyano-substituted model compounds 18-20 for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) was prepared through Knoevenagel condensation reactions between the dialdehydes 3,6,9 and the differently substituted acetonitrile derivatives 11,16,17. The influence of the different substituents on the optical properties of the resulting α-cyanostyryl compounds 18-20 was investigated. Another series of dimeric cyano-substituted styryl compounds 26-28 were prepared, in which a flexible, nonconjugated spacer is present between the two cyanostyryl moieties. The spacer isolates the π-conjugated portions of dimeric compounds 26-28, improves their solubility in common organic solvents, and decreases their tendency to crystallize. These features are favorable for producing efficient luminescent films in OLEDs devices.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (+)-anatoxin-a via enyne metathesis

A concise synthesis of the potent nAChR agonist (+)-anatoxin-a (1) has been completed by a series of nine chemical operations and in 27% overall yield from commercially available d-methyl pyroglutamate (12). The strategy featured the application of a new protocol for the diastereoselective synthesis of cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines bearing unsaturated side chains and an intramolecular enyne metathesis to provide the bridged bicyclic framework of 1. Thus, d-methyl pyroglutamate (12) was converted in five steps to 32, which underwent facile enyne metathesis to deliver the bicyclic diene 33. Selective oxidative cleavage of the less substituted carbon-carbon double bond in 33 followed by deprotection furnished (+)-anatoxin-a (1).     

Design,synthesis and electronic states of an iminonitroxide radical with excited quartet high-spin state and photo-induced electron transfer in its CT complex

In this paper, we report the design, synthesis and electronic state of a π-conjugated stable iminonitroxide radical, 1, the electron donor property of which is improved by an attachment of dimethylamino group. The photo-excited quartet high-spin state was observed by a time-resolved ESR experiment. CV measurement has clarified that the π-HOMO of the ground state is located higher ca. 0.35 eV in energy than 2 reported previously. These results show that the electron donor property is improved and the nature of the photo-excited spin alignment is conserved. Two CT complexes (1-TCNQ and 1-BQF₄) were synthesized using 1 as an electron donor. Their complexes have shown strong CT bands. The time-resolved ESR signal without the fine-structure splitting was observed for 1-TCNQ CT complex. The signal may arise from the photo-induced electron transfer from the quartet excited state of 1 to the TCNQ acceptor.     

Synthesis and electrochemical studies of ferrocene-dithiafulvalenes (Fc-DTF) and 1,1′-bis(dithiafulvalenyl)ferrocene (DTF-Fc-DTF). An approach towards new conducting organic materials

Novel π-conjugated donor compounds based on the strong electron-donating ferrocene moiety and dithiafulvalene donors exhibited increased electron donor ability. The ferrocenylketones 4a,b, 5, 8 and 9 were synthesized via described methods, and allowed to react with 2-dimethoxyphosphinyl-1,3-benzodithiole (13) in the presence of n-BuLi at −78°C in dry THF to afford the corresponding ferrocene-dithiafulvalenes 14a,b, 18, 19 and 1,1′-bis(benzo-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)ethyl]ferrocene (15). Electrochemical properties of these new donor compounds were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and UV-Vis spectra. CV and absorption spectra of the new compounds were studied in comparison with ferrocene (6) and dibenzo-tetrathiafulvalene DB-TTF 3. Two-electron and three-electron redox behaviors were observed as two waves. The absorption spectra showed a red-shift with a slight increase in the absorption intensities.     

Synthesis and second-order nonlinear optical properties of new chromophores containing benzimidazole, thiophene, and pyrrole heterocycles

A new series of thermally stable benzimidazole-based nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores 4 and 5 have been developed. These chromophores possess a thienylpyrrolyl π-conjugated system attached to functionalized benzimidazole heterocycles. This feature leads to robust chromophores with excellent solvatochromic properties, high thermal stabilities and good molecular optical nonlinearities.     

Metathesis of carbonyl containing olefins by 2nd generation Ru alkylidene catalysts: A computational study

The metathesis reaction of cis-1,4-diacetoxy-2-butene (2) mediated by a second generation ruthenium alkylidene catalyst (IMesH₂)Cl₂RuCHPh (1) where IMesH₂ is 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene group has been modeled at PBE0/LACV3P*//PBE0/LACVP* level of theory. The calculations demonstrate that the driving force of the metathesis reaction is the formation of a Ru–O coordination bond in the corresponding Ru acetoxyethylidene complex 8a-II. The free activation energy of metathesis by 8a-II complex is higher than that of the metathesis reaction mediated by the conventional ruthenium alkylidene catalyst (8b), due to the additional stabilization of the Ru center by a carbonyl oxygen revealing lower reactivity of carbonyl containing ruthenium carbene species. It has been shown that conjugation between carbonyl and olefin double bonds decreases the reactivity of olefins due stabilization of nonproductive complex between Ru center and carbonyl group of the olefin.     

2D and 3D supramolecular assemblies of double cyclopalladated azobenzenes realized by C-H?Cl-Pd, π?π and C-H?π interactions

The double cyclopalladated complex with azobenzene, μ-[(E)-1,2-diphenyldiazene-C^2,8, N^1,2]-di-[chloro(dimethylsulfoxide)palladium(II)]; (DMSO)PdCl(μ-C₆H₄NNC₆H₄)(DMSO)PdCl (1) and its analogous complex with DMF as ancillary ligand, (DMF)PdCl(μ-C₆H₄NNC₆H₄)(DMF)PdCl; μ-[(E)-1,2-diphenyldiazene-C^2,8,N^1,2]-di-[chloro(dimethylformamide)palladium(II)] (2a) were synthesized and the function of cyclopalladated moiety in molecular assembling in the solid state is illustrated by their crystal packings. The polymorphism of 2a and 2b is discussed. The crystal structures reveal assemblies with molecular components self-organized by C-H?Cl-Pd hydrogen bonds, π?π, and C-H?π interactions. The double cyclopalladated complexes of azobenzene, with two Pd-Cl moieties participating in the hydrogen bond formation and π-conjugated system involved in the π?π or C-H?π interactions, represent a new class of building blocks for construction of solid state supramolecular assemblies.