Synthesis and Switching the Aromatic Character of Oxatriphyrins(2.1.1)

Triangularly shaped, contracted porphyrinoids belong to a group of molecules where the geometry significantly modifies the observed electronic properties. The need for a controllable, effective, and widely applicable approach to triphyrins drives extensive research towards macrocyclic materials that act as potential controlling motifs by switching their aromaticity. Two isomeric thiophene‐fused triphyrins(2.1.1) were synthesized by applying an innovative approach. Spectroscopic techniques (NMR, UV/Vis) show that both macrocycles are aromatic and quantitatively convert into anti‐aromatic structures after reduction with a zinc amalgam. The reduced forms were stabilized through boron(III) coordination, thereby allowing the observation of anti‐aromatic 16 π delocalization within a contracted porphyrin.     

meso‐(2‐Pyridyl)‐boron(III)‐subporphyrin: Perimeter Iridium(III) Coordination

Peripherally metalated porphyrinoids are promising functional π‐systems displaying characteristic optical, electronic, and catalytic properties. In this work, 5‐(2‐pyridyl)‐ and 5,10,15‐tri(2‐pyridyl)‐B^III‐subporphyrins were prepared and used to produce cyclometalated subporphyrins by reactions with [Cp*IrCl₂]₂, which proceeded through an efficient C?H activation to give the corresponding mono‐ and tri‐Ir^III complexes, respectively. While the mono‐Ir^III complex was obtained as a diastereomeric mixture, a C₃‐symmetric tri‐Ir^III complex with the three Cp*‐units all at the concave side was predominantly obtained in a high yield of 90 %, which displays weak NIR phosphorescence even at room temperature in degassed CH₂Cl₂, differently from the mono‐Ir^III complexes.     

Mixed Boron(III) and Phosphorous(V) Complexes of meso‐Triaryl 25‐Oxasmaragdyrins

Two unprecedented mixed B^III/P^V complexes of meso‐triaryl 25‐oxasmaragdyrins were synthesized in appreciable yields under mild reaction conditions. These unusual 25‐oxasmaragdyrin complexes containing one or two seven‐membered heterocyclic rings comprised of five different atoms (B, C, N, O, and P) were prepared by reacting B(OH)(Ph)‐smaragdyrin and B(OH)₂‐smaragdyrin complexes, respectively, with POCl₃ in toluene at reflux temperature. The products were characterized by HRMS and 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy. X‐ray crystallography of one of the mixed B^III/P^V smaragdyrin complexes indicated that the macrocycle is significantly distorted and contains a stable seven‐membered heterocyclic ring within the macrocycle. The bands in the absorption and emission spectra were bathochromically shifted with reduced quantum yields and singlet‐state lifetimes relative to the free base, meso‐triaryl 25‐oxasmaragdyrin. The mixed B^III/P^V complexes were difficult to oxidize but easier to reduce than the free base. The DFT‐optimized structure of the 25‐oxasmaragdyrin complex with two seven‐membered heterocycles indicated that it was a bicyclic spiro compound with two half‐chair‐like conformers. This was in contrast to the chair‐like conformation of the complex with a single seven‐membered heterocyclic ring. Moreover, incorporation of a second phosphate group in the former case stabilized the bonding geometry and resulted in higher stability, which was reflected in the bathochromic shift of the absorption spectra, more‐positive oxidation potential, and less‐negative reduction potential.     

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.     

Luminescent Materials: Locking π‐Conjugated and Heterocyclic Ligands with Boron(III)

Multidisciplinary research on novel organic luminescent dyes is propelled by potential applications in plastic electronics and biomedical sciences. The construction of sophisticated fluorescent dyes around a tetrahedral boron(III) center is a particular approach that has fueled the creativity of chemists. Success in this enterprise has been readily achieved with simple synthetic protocols, the products of which display unusual spectroscopic behavior. This account is a critical review of recent advances in the field of boron(III) complexes (excluding BODIPYs and acetylacetonate boron complexes) involving species displaying similar coordination features, and we outline their potential development in several disciplines.     

Theoretical Probing of Deltahedral closo‐AuroBoranes BxAux2‐ (x = 5—12)

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF.     

Reversible luminescence thermochromism of dibenzoyl(methanato)boron difluoride

Reversible luminescence thermochromism of dibenzoyl(methanato)boron difluoride was found. A substantial hypsochromic shift of the luminescence band maximum (60 nm) with a temperature decrease from 300 to 77 K was observed, and the luminescence color changed from green to blue. A considerable decrease (by 0.386 Å) in the unit cell parameters along the c axis was detected by X-ray diffractometry when the temperature of the crystal decreased from 293 to 123 K. Shortening of the distances between the planes of adjacent molecules (stacking factor) weakens the interaction between the dimers and enhances the monomeric and excimeric luminescence. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 1032–1034, April, 2005.     

Reversible Phase Transformation and Luminescence of Cadmium(II)–Dipyridylamide‐Based Coordination Frameworks

We have synthesized a series of 1D double‐zigzag ({[Cd(paps)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂}_n ( 1 ), {[Cd(papo)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂}_n ( 3 ), and {[Cd(papc)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂}_n ( 5 )) and 2D polyrotaxane frameworks ([Cd(papc)₂(ClO₄)₂]_n ( 6 )) by the reaction of Cd(ClO₄)₂ with dipyridylamide ligands N,N′‐bis(pyridylcarbonyl)‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl thioether (paps), N,N′‐bis(pyridylcarbonyl)‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl ether (papo), and N,N′‐(methylenedi‐p‐phenylene)bispyridine‐4‐carboxamide (papc), respectively, where their molecular structures have been determined by X‐ray diffraction studies. Based on the powder X‐ray data (PXRD) of compound 3 and its Zn^II analogue, heating the double‐zigzag framework of compound 3 can give the polyrotaxane framework of [Cd(papo)₂(ClO₄)₂]_n ( 4 ) and grinding this powder sample in the presence of moisture resulted in its complete conversion back into the pure double‐zigzag framework. In addition, heating the double‐zigzag frameworks of compounds 1 and 5 can induce structural transformation into their respective polyrotaxanes, whereas grinding these solid samples in the presence of moisture did not lead to the formation of the double zigzags. Herein, we investigated the effect of the metal (from Zn^II to Cd^II) on the assembly process and luminescence properties, as well as on the particularly intriguing structural transformation of a series of papx‐based frameworks. In fact, the assembly behavior and luminescence properties of the Cd^II? papx and Zn^II? papx frameworks were really similar. However, both Zn^II? papx (x=s, o) frameworks can perform reversible structural transformation, but only the Cd^II? papo framework can do it. Therefore, a delicate metal effect on such a new structural transformation can be observed.     

Reversible Hydrogenation of Graphene on Ni(111)—Synthesis of “Graphone”

Understanding the adsorption and reaction between hydrogen and graphene is of fundamental importance for developing graphene‐based concepts for hydrogen storage and for the chemical functionalization of graphene by hydrogenation. Recently, theoretical studies of single‐sided hydrogenated graphene, so called graphone, predicted it to be a promising semiconductor for applications in graphene‐based electronics. Here, we report on the synthesis of graphone bound to a Ni(111) surface. We investigate the formation process by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature‐programmed desorption (TPD), and density‐functional theory calculations, showing that the hydrogenation of graphene with atomic hydrogen indeed leads to graphone, that is, a hydrogen coverage of 1 ML (4.2 wt %). The dehydrogenation of graphone reveals complex desorption processes that are attributed to coverage‐dependent changes in the activation energies for the associative desorption of hydrogen as molecular H₂.     

New 3‐(Heteroaryl)‐2‐iminocoumarin‐based Borate Complexes: Synthesis,Photophysical Properties,and Rational Functionalization for Biosensing/Biolabeling Applications

Members of a series of boron difluoride complexes with 3‐(heteroaryl)‐2‐iminocoumarin ligands bearing both a phenolic hydroxyl group (acting as a fluorogenic center) and an N‐aryl substituent (acting as a stabilizing moiety) have been synthesized in good yields by applying a straightforward two‐step method. These novel fluorogenic dyes belong to the family of “Boricos” (D. Frath et al., Chem. Commun.­ 2013 , 49, 4908–4910) and are the first examples of phenol‐based fluorophores of which the photophysical properties in the green‐yellow spectral range are dramatically improved by N,N‐chelation of a boron atom. Modulation of their fluorescence properties through reversible chemical modification of their phenol moieties has been demonstrated by the preparation of the corresponding 2,4‐dinitrophenyl (DNP) ethers, which led to a dramatic “OFF‐ON” fluorescence response upon reaction with thiols. Additionally, to expand the scope of these “7‐hydroxy‐Borico” derivatives, particularly in biolabeling, amine or carboxylic acid functionalities amenable to (bio)conjugation have been introduced within their scaffold. Their utility has been demonstrated in the preparation of fluorescent bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugates and “Borico”‐DOTA‐like scaffolds in an effort to design novel monomolecular multimodal fluorescence‐ radioisotope imaging agents.     

Highly Emissive Diborylphenylene‐Containing Bis(phenylethynyl)benzenes: Structure–Photophysical Property Correlations and Fluoride Ion Sensing

A series of 2,5‐bis(dimesitylboryl)‐1,4‐bis(arylethynyl)benzenes 1 – 6 that contain various p‐substituents on the terminal benzene rings, including NPh₂ ( 1 ), OMe ( 2 ), Me ( 3 ), H ( 4 ), CF₃ ( 5 ), and CN ( 6 ) groups, were synthesized, and the effects of the p‐substituents on the absorption and fluorescence properties were investigated both in solution and in the solid state. Linear relationships were obtained not only between the Hammett σ_p⁺ constants of the p‐substituents and the absorption and fluorescence maxima, quantum yields, and excited‐state dynamics parameters in solution, but also between the σ_p⁺ constants and the fluorescence quantum yields in the solid state. An important finding extracted from these results is that the suppressed fluorescence quenching in the solid state is a common feature for the present laterally boryl‐substituted π‐conjugated skeletons. Hence, the diborylphenylene can serve as a useful core unit to develop highly emissive organic solids. In fact, most of the derivatives showed more intense emission in the solid state than in solution. In addition to these studies, the titration experiment of 1 by the addition of nBu₄NF was conducted, which showed the stepwise bindings of two fluoride ions with high association constants as well as a drastic change in the fluorescence spectra, while constantly maintaining high quantum yields (0.61–0.76), irrespective of the binding modes. This result also demonstrated the potential utility of the present molecules as an efficient fluorescent fluoride ion sensor.     

Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Potassium (Z)‐2‐Chloroalk‐1‐enyl Trifluoroborates: A Chemo‐ and Stereoselective Access to (Z)‐Chloroolefins and Trisubstituted Alkenes

Original and ambivalent : We describe the preparation of a series of new potassium trifluoroborates 1 , and the study of their behaviour in a Pd⁰‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction. We found that compounds 1 are endowed with original properties as they behave as nucleophilic cross‐coupling partners chemoselectively, but also as ambivalent synthons. The usefulness of this methodology has been successfully illustrated by the first total synthesis of an N‐acyl spermidine.