In search of oligo(2-thienyl)-substituted pyridine derivatives: a modular approach to di-, tri- and tetra(2-thienyl)pyridines

Herein, we describe our attempts to systematically prepare a series of oligo(2-thienyl)-substituted pyridine derivatives. The crucial starting material, a β-alkoxy-β-ketoenamide, is easily available on a large scale by the reaction of lithiated methoxyallene with thiophene-2-carbonitrile and thiophene-2-carboxylic acid. This three-component reaction is followed by intramolecular cyclization to yield the suitably functionalized 2,6-di(2-thienyl)-substituted pyridine derivates. The two oxygen atoms allow the programmed activation of positions C-3, C-4, or C-5 of the pyridine ring to perform palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions with thiophene-2-boronic acid or 2-(tributylstannyl)thiophene, and alternatively, reductive removal of groups. With this concept, we were able to prepare five pyridine derivatives with 2-thienyl substituents in the 2,6-, 2,3,6-, 2,4,6-, 2,3,4,6-, and 2,3,5,6-positions. 2,3,4,5,6-Penta(2-thienyl)pyridine was not available with our methods. The UV/Vis and fluorescence spectra of all pyridines were recorded and showed a dependence on the substitution pattern and protonation state. For the protonated 2,3,5,6-tetra(2-thienyl)-substituted pyridine, a Stokes shift of about 180 nm with an emission at 515 nm was observed.     

A new enantiomerization mechanism for tripodal penta-coordinate Zn(II)(nta) complexes. Theoretical clarification of the observed 1H NMR spectrum

Based on DFT calculations (RB3LYP/LANL2DZp), the unexpected single-line 1H NMR spectrum of Zn(II)(nta), nta = 2,2',2'-nitrilotriacetate, can be ascribed to a non-dissociative enantiomerization process (deltadeltadelta<=>lambdalambdalambda) from C3viaC3v to C3 symmetry. The energy barrier is rather low and depends to a lesser extent on the nature of the co-ligand in [Zn(nta)X]2- (X: H-, CH3- NH2-, OCH3-, F-, Cl-, Br-, I-) and [Zn(nta)Y]- (Y: NCH, CO, N2, O(CH3)2), but more so on the overall charge of the complex. The energy barrier for enantiomerization of [Zn(nta)X]2- is between 5.7 and 6.7 kcal mol-1, and for [Zn(nta)Y]- between 2.2 and 3.1 kcal mol-1.