Chemical Reduction and Dimerization of 1‐Chloro‐2,3,4,5‐tetraphenylborole

As neutral isoelectronic analogues of the elusive cyclopentadienyl cation, boroles have been of interest for their prospective applications as strong Lewis acids, chromophores, and electron acceptors. Recently our group discovered a π‐nucleophilic boryl anion based on the borole system. In an effort to extend borole chemistry, we now report the molecular structure of 1‐chloro‐2,3,4,5‐tetraphenylborole ( 1 ) and its corresponding borole dianion resulting from the two‐electron reduction of 1 with KC₈. The thermally induced dimerization of 1 yields an unprecedented boracyclohexadiene/borolene spiro‐bicyclic compound and the resulting dimer was fully characterized including a single‐crystal X‐ray analysis.     

A Neutral “Aluminocene” Sandwich Complex: η1‐ versus η5‐Coordination Modes of a Pentaarylborole with ECp* (E=Al,Ga; Cp*=C5Me5)

The pentaaryl borole (Ph*C)₄BXyl^F [Ph*=3,5‐tBu₂(C₆H₃); Xyl^F=3,5‐(CF₃)₂(C₆H₃)] reacts with low‐valent Group 13 precursors AlCp* and GaCp* by two divergent routes. In the case of [AlCp*]₄, the borole reacts as an oxidising agent and accepts two electrons. Structural, spectroscopic, and computational analysis of the resulting unprecedented neutral η⁵‐Cp*,η⁵‐[(Ph*C)₄BXyl^F] complex of Al^III revealed a strong, ionic bonding interaction. The formation of the heteroleptic borole‐cyclopentadienyl “aluminocene” leads to significant changes in the ¹³C NMR chemical shifts within the borole unit. In the case of the less‐reductive GaCp*, borole (Ph*C)₄BXyl^F reacts as a Lewis acid to form a dynamic adduct with a dative 2‐center‐2‐electron Ga?B bond. The Lewis adduct was also studied structurally, spectroscopically, and computationally.     

meso‐3,5‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl‐Substituted Expanded Porphyrins: Synthesis,Characterization, and Optical,Electrochemical, and Photophysical Properties

Trifluoroacetic acid‐catalyzed condensation of pyrrole with electron‐deficient and sterically hindered 3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde results in the unexpected production of a series of meso‐3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl‐substituted expanded porphyrins including [22]sapphyrin 2 , N‐fused [22]pentaphyrin 3 , [26]hexaphyrin 4 , and intact [32]heptaphyrin 5 together with the conventional 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)porphyrin 1 . These expanded porphyrins are characterized by mass spectrometry, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, UV/Vis/NIR absorption spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The optical and electrochemical measurements reveal a decrease in the HOMO–LUMO gap with increasing size of the conjugated macrocycles, and in accordance with the trend, the deactivation of the excited singlet state to the ground state is enhanced.     

Synthesis, coordination behavior, and reduction chemistry of cymantrenyl-1,3-bis(2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl)borole

We describe the synthesis of base-free bisborole [Cym(?)(BC(4)Ph(4))(2)]-Cym(?)=(OC)(3)Mn(η(5)-C(5)H(3))-and its transformation into two fully characterized Lewis acid-base adducts with pyridine bases of the type 4-R-NC(5)H(4) (R=tBu, NMe(2)). The results of electrochemical, as well as NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopic studies on [Cym(?)(BC(4 Ph(4))(2)] and the related monoborole derivative [Cym(BC(4)Ph(4))]-Cym=(OC)(3)Mn(η(5)-C(5) H(4))-provided conclusive evidence for 1) the enhanced Lewis acidity of the two boron centers that result from conjugation of two borole fragments, and 2) the fact that Mn-B bonding interactions between the Lewis acidic borole moieties and the Mn center are considerably less pronounced for bisborole [Cym(?)(BC(4)Ph(4))(2)]. In addition, the reduction chemistry of [Cym(?)(BC(4)Ph(4))(2)] has been studied in detail, both electrochemically and chemically. Accordingly, chemical reduction of [Cym(?)(BC(4)Ph(4))(2)] with magnesium anthracene afforded the corresponding tetraanion, which features a rare Mg-OC bonding mode in the solid state.     

Stepwise Reduction of 9,10‐Bis(dimesitylboryl)anthracene

Stepwise reduction of 9,10‐bis(dimesitylboryl)anthracene afforded an radical anion and a dianion, accompanied by stepwise changes of the aromaticity of the anthracene moiety. The radical has a planar semiquinoidal structure, while the dianion has a puckered quinoidal structure. The alteration of the geometries of the 9,10‐bis(dimesitylboryl)anthracene upon reduction is rationalized by the nature of the bonding. These results have been confirmed by cyclic voltammetry, X‐ray crystallography, NMR, EPR, and UV‐vis‐NIR spectroscopy, as well as DFT calculations.     

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of (Z + E)‐1‐[4‐(2‐(cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese)‐2‐oxo‐ethoxy)phenyl]‐1,2‐di(p‐hydroxyphenyl)‐but‐1‐ene against breast cancer cells

This paper describes the synthesis of (Z + E)‐1‐[4‐(2‐(cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese)‐2‐oxo‐ethoxy)phenyl]‐1,2‐di(p‐hydroxyphenyl)‐but‐1‐ene. Two synthetic pathways were explored. The best pathway consisted of the alkylation of 1,2‐bis‐[4‐(tert‐butyl‐dimethylsilyloxy)phenyl]‐1‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)but‐1‐ene with BrCH₂COOEt. The ester obtained was transformed into the Weinreb amide by reaction with HN(OMe)Me–HCl. The reaction of lithium manganese tricarbonylcyclopentadienide with the Weinreb amide produced 1‐[4‐(2‐(cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese)‐2‐oxo‐ethoxy)phenyl]‐1,2‐di(p‐tert‐butyldimethylsiloxyphenyl)‐but‐1‐ene. The deprotection of phenolic functions of the latter compound led to the formation of the final compound. The Z and E isomers could be separated but the isomerization of these isomers from one to another is an easy process. The Z + E compound 2 was tested against the hormone‐dependent MCF‐7 and hormone‐independent MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines. The IC₅₀ values of compound 2 were 4.80 ± 2.00 µm and 4.79 ± 0.70 µm for MCF‐7 cells and MDA‐MB‐231 cells, respectively, which was three times better than the ferrocenyl analogue. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrochemical Reduction of 1,2-Di（p-tolylimino）ethane and 1,2-Di（2,4-dimethylphenylimino）ethane in Dimethylformamide

1,2-Di（p-tolylimino）ethane （Ⅰ） and 1,2-Di（2,4-dimethylphenylimino）ethane （Ⅱ） were synthesized and their electrochemical behavior investigated in dimethylformamide using classical voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, controlled potential electrolysis and coulometry. Both bis-Schiff base ligands examined show a cathodic irreversible peak which corresponds to one-electron reduction of the substrate to form anion radical. According to the fact obtained from cyclic voltammetry, that the current function （ip/v^1/2） is a decreasing function of the scan rate, it can be concluded that there is a following coupling chemical reaction （EC mechanism）. Thus, the most probable mechanism of electroreduction of both ligands is the coupling of two radicals to form a dimer.     

One‐Electron Reduction of Acenaphthene‐1,2‐Diimine Nickel(II) Complexes

New nickel‐based complexes of 1,2‐bis[(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (dpp‐bian) with BF₄^? counterion or halide co‐ligands were synthesized in THF and MeCN. The nickel(I) complexes were obtained by using two approaches: 1) electrochemical reduction of the corresponding nickel(II) precursors; and 2) a chemical comproportionation reaction. The structural features and redox properties of these complexes were investigated by using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (XRD), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The influence of temperature and solvent on the structure of the nickel(I) complexes was studied in detail, and an uncommon reversible solvent‐induced monomer/dimer transformation was observed. In the case of the fluoride complex, the unpaired electron was found to be localized on the dpp‐bian ligand, whereas all of the other nickel complexes contained neutral dpp‐bian moieties.     

1,2‐Phosphaborines: Hybrid Inorganic/Organic P–B Analogues of Benzene

Photolysis of the cyclic phosphine oligomer [PPh]₅ in the presence of pentaarylboroles leads to the formation of 1,2‐phosphaborines by the formal insertion of a phenylphosphinidene fragment into the endocyclic C? B bond. The solid‐state structure features a virtually planar central ring with bond lengths indicating significant delocalization. Appreciable ring current in the 1,2‐phosphaborine core, detected in nuclear independent chemical shift (NICS) calculations, are consistent with aromatic character. These products are the first reported 1,2‐BPC₄ conjugated heterocycles and open a new avenue for B? P as a valence isoelectronic substitute for C? C in arene systems.     

(Azulene‐1,3‐diyl)‐bis(nitronyl nitroxide) and (Azulene‐1,3‐diyl)‐bis(iminonitroxide) and Their Copper Complexes

In contrast to diradicals connected by alternant hydrocarbons, only a few studies on those connected by nonalternant hydrocarbons have been reported. The syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of azulene‐1,3‐diyl linked bis(nitronyl nitroxide) (NN₂Az) and bis(iminonitroxide) (IN₂Az) diradicals and their Cu(hfac)₂ (hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetonate) complexes were investigated. NN₂Az was shown to have an intramolecular ferromagnetic interaction with J _obs/k _B=+10.0 K (H =−2J S ₁ ⋅S ₂) between (nitronyl nitroxide) spins, whereas IN₂Az was estimated to have a much weaker intramolecular magnetic interaction. The reactions of NN₂Az and IN₂Az with Cu(hfac)₂ gave a 1:2 [{Cu(hfac)₂}₂(NN₂Az)] complex and a 1:1 [Cu(hfac)₂(IN₂Az)] ⋅ C₆H₁₂ complex, respectively. [{Cu(hfac)₂}₂(NN₂Az)] showed strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions (J _1‐Cu‐R/k _B≈−800 K, J _2‐Cu‐R/k _B≈−500 K) between the Cu^II spins and the coordinating NN spins, whereas [Cu(hfac)₂(IN₂Az)] exhibited a ferromagnetic exchange interaction (J _obs‐Cu‐R/k _B=+114 K) between the Cu^II spin and the imino‐coordinated iminonitroxide spin.     

6‐(Diazomethyl)‐1,3‐bis(methoxymethyl)uracil,Synthesis and Transformation into Annulated Pyrimidinediones

6‐(Diazomethyl)‐1,3‐bis(methoxymethyl)uracil ( 5 ) was prepared from the known aldehyde 3 by hydrazone formation and oxidation. Thermolysis of 5 and deprotection gave the pyrazolo[4,3‐d]pyrimidine‐5,7‐diones 7a and 7b . Rh₂(OAc)₄ catalyzed the transformation of 5 into to a 2 : 1 (Z)/(E) mixture of 1,2‐diuracilylethenes 9 (67%). Heating (Z)‐ 9 in 12n HCl at 95° led to electrocyclisation, oxidation, and deprotection to afford 73% of the pyrimido[5,4‐f]quinazolinetetraone 12 . The Rh₂(OAc)₄‐catalyzed reaction of 5 with 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran and 2,3‐dihydrofuran gave endo/exo‐mixtures of the 2‐oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane 13 (78%) and the 2‐oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 15 (86%), Their treatment with AlCl₃ or Me₂AlCl promoted a vinylcyclopropane–cyclopentene rearrangement, leading to the pyrano‐ and furanocyclopenta[1,2‐d]pyrimidinediones 14 (88%) and 16 (51%), respectively. Similarly, the addition product of 5 to 2‐methoxypropene was transformed into the 5‐methylcyclopenta‐pyrimidinedione 18 (55%). The Rh₂(OAc)₄‐catalyzed reaction of 5 with thiophene gave the exo‐configured 2‐thiabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 19 (69%). The analoguous reaction with furan led to 8‐oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct‐2‐ene 20 (73%), and the reaction with (E)‐2‐styrylfuran yielded a diastereoisomeric mixture of hepta‐1,4,6‐trien‐3‐ones 21 (75%) that was transformed into the (1E,4E,6E)‐configured hepta‐1,4,6‐trien‐3‐one 21 (60%) at ambient temperature.     

Dianions as Formal Oxidants: Synthesis and Characterization of Aromatic Dilithionickeloles from 1,4‐Dilithio‐1,3‐butadienes and [Ni(cod)2]

Organolithium compounds can behave as reductants but never as oxidants in redox reactions. Reported herein is that 1,4‐dilithio‐1,3‐butadienes reacted with [Ni(cod)₂] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) to deliver dilithionickeloles. Single‐crystal X‐ray structural analysis revealed a coplanar structure of dilithionickeloles with an averaging of bond lengths. XPS data confirmed the oxidation state of Ni in dilithionickeloles was Ni²⁺. ⁷Li NMR spectra of dilithionickeloles and theoretical calculations revealed a considerable aromatic character. In this redox reaction, the dilithio dianionic compounds behaved as formal oxidants, thus oxidizing Ni⁰ into Ni²⁺. These results demonstrated that organolithium compounds with π‐conjugation could be used as oxidants and could continue to accept extra electrons.     

Electrochemical properties of a cobalt(II) complex with sulfadiazine and 1,3‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)propane

catena‐Poly[[bis{4‐[(pyrimidin‐2‐ylazanidyl)sulfonyl]aniline}cobalt(II)]‐bis[μ‐1,3‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)propane]], [Co(C₁₀H₈N₄O₄S₂)₂(C₁₃H₁₄N₂)]_n or [Co(L)₂(bpp)]_n, crystallizes as a one‐dimensional polymeric structure which is further stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The refined Flack parameter, −0.001 (10), indicates that the model represents the correct absolute structure. Investigation of the thermal stability shows that the complex is stable up to 543 K. The structure is of interest with respect to its electrochemical properties in the reduction reaction of H₂O₂ to H₂O.     

Luminescent copoly(aryl ether)s with new electron‐transporting bis(3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole or bis(3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)‐4‐(4‐hexyloxyphenyl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole segments

To investigate the effect of trifluoromethyl groups in enhancing electron affinity of aromatic oxadiazole and triazole chromophores, we prepared four new copoly(aryl ether)s ( P1 – P4 ) consisting of bis(3‐(trifluoromethyl) phenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole (ETO) or bis(3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)‐4‐(4‐hexyloxyphenyl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole (ETT) segments and hole‐transporting segments [2,5‐distyrylbenzene (HTB) or bis(styryl)fluorine (HTF)]. Molecular spectra (absorption and photoluminescence) and cyclic voltammetry were used to investigate their optical and electrochemical properties. The emissions of P1 – P4 are dominated by the hole‐transporting fluorophores with longer emissive wavelengths around 442–453 nm via efficient excitation energy transfer. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels of P1 – P4 , estimated from electrochemical data, are ?5.15, ?5.18, ?5.30, ?5.27, ?3.39, ?3.49, ?3.36, and ?3.48 eV, respectively. The LUMO levels of ETO and ETT segments are significantly reduced to ?3.39～?3.36 eV and ?3.48～?3.49 eV, respectively, as compared with ?2.45 eV of P5 containing a 2,5‐diphenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole segment. Moreover, electron and hole affinity can be enhanced simultaneously by introducing isolated hole‐ and electron‐transporting segments in the backbone. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5900–5910, 2004     

Enhanced redox stability and electrochromic properties of aromatic polyamides based on N,N‐bis(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐N′,N′‐bis(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylenediamine

A new bis(triphenylamine)‐type dicarboxylic acid monomer, N,N‐bis(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐N′,N′‐bis(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylenediamine, was prepared by a well‐established procedure and led to a new family of redox‐active aromatic polyamides with di‐tert‐butyl‐substituted N,N,N′,N′‐tetraphenylphenylenediamine (TPPA) segments. The resulting polyamides were amorphous with good solubility in many organic solvents, and most of them could be solution cast into flexible polymer films. The polyamides exhibited high thermal stability with glass‐transition temperatures in the range of 247–293 °C and 10% weight‐loss temperatures in excess of 500 °C. They showed well‐defined and reversible redox couples during oxidative scanning, with a strong color change from a colorless or pale yellowish neutral form to green and blue oxidized forms. They had enhanced redox stability and electrochromic performance when compared with the corresponding analogs without tert‐butyl substituents on the TPPA unit. The polyamide with TPPA units in both the diacid and diamine components shows multicolored electrochromic behavior. A polyamide containing both the cathodic coloring anthraquinone chromophore and the anodic coloring TPPA chromophore has the ability to show red, green, and blue states, toward single‐component RGB electrochromics. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis of 1,3‐Bis(tetracyano‐2‐azulenyl‐3‐butadienyl)azulenes by the [2+2] Cycloaddition–Retroelectrocyclization of 1,3‐Bis(azulenylethynyl)azulenes with Tetracyanoethylene

1,3‐Bis(azulenylethynyl)azulene derivatives 9–14 have been prepared by palladium‐catalyzed alkynylation of 1‐ethynylazulene 8 with 1,3‐diiodoazulene 1 or 1,3‐diethynylazulene 2 with the corresponding haloazulenes 3–7 under Sonogashira–Hagihara conditions. Bis(alkynes) 9–14 reacted with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in a formal [2+2] cycloaddition–retroelectrocyclization reaction to afford the corresponding new bis(tetracyanobutadiene)s (bis(TCBDs)) 15–20 in excellent yields. The redox behavior of bis(TCBD)s 15–20 was examined by using CV and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), which revealed their reversible multistage reduction properties under the electrochemical conditions. Moreover, a significant color change of alkynes 9–14 and TCBDs 15–20 was observed by visible spectroscopy under the electrochemical reduction conditions.     

Three p‐xylene‐solvated pseudopolymorphs of bis[1,3‐bis(pentafluorophenyl)propane‐1,3‐dionato]copper(II)

The Cu²⁺ ions in the title compounds, namely bis[1,3‐bis(pentafluorophenyl)propane‐1,3‐dionato‐κ²O,O′]copper(II) p‐xylene n‐solvate, [Cu(C₁₅HF₁₀O₂)₂]·nC₈H₁₀, with n = 1, (I), n = 2, (II), and n = 4, (III), are coordinated by two 1,3‐bis(pentafluorophenyl)propane‐1,3‐dionate ligands. The coordination complexes of (I) and (II) have crystallographic inversion symmetry at the Cu atom and the p‐xylene molecule in (I) also lies across an inversion centre. The p‐xylene molecules in (I) and (II) interact with the pentafluorophenyl groups of the complex via arene–perfluoroarene interactions. In the crystal of (III), two of the p‐xylene molecules interact with the pentafluorophenyl groups via arene–perfluoroarene interactions. The other two p‐xylene molecules are located on the CuO₄ coordination plane, forming a uniform cavity produced by metal...π interactions.     

2,2′‐(1,2‐Ethanediyldithio)bis(1,3‐benzothiazole)

In the title compound, C₁₆H₁₂N₂S₄, which is the result of the S‐alkyl­ation reaction of 2‐mercapto­benzo­thia­zole with ethyl­ene dibromide, the planes of the two benzo­thia­zole moieties form a dihedral angle of 3.84 (14)°. The bridging chain moiety, –SCH₂CH₂S–, adopts an antiperiplanar conformation. There are intermolecular S⃛S non‐bonded contacts of 3.6471 (9) Å, which stabilize the crystal packing.