Bright molecules with sense, logic, numeracy and utility

Using cartoons as an organizational aid, we illustrate how the 'fluorophore-spacer-receptor' format of fluorescent PET (photoinduced electron transfer) sensors and switches can be logically extended in many different directions. These include emissive sensors for various chemical species and properties, and exploit various kinds of emission. Common sensing issues such as dynamic range, internal referencing, selectivity, mapping and space resolution are addressed. The sensory output function is also developed into more complex forms, molecular logic/computation being one such example. Molecular logic leads to molecular arithmetic. Real-life applications to physiological monitoring, medical diagnostics and molecular computational identification of small objects are included.     

A new synthetic approach to 7-hydroxynitidine

Benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloid, 7-hydroxynitidine, was synthesized from readily available 2-benzyloxy-6-bromo-3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde 5 and napthylamine 6 using reductive amination followed by radical cyclization in eight steps. This method is highly efficient and better way to synthesize fully aromatized benzo[c]phenanthridine compounds.     

In situ EPR spectroscopy of aromatic diyne cyclopolymerization

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was successfully used for the first time to follow the Bergman cyclization of bis-ortho-diynyl arene (BODA) compounds. Five BODA monomers with different spacer (X) and terminal groups (R) were compared. In situ polymerization via EPR spectroscopy yielded first-order rate expressions. Monomers with spacer -O- or -C(CF(3))(2) and terminal group R = Ph exhibited similar kinetic behavior upon thermal polymerization, whereas monomers with pyridine and thiophene terminal groups gave significantly higher rates of polymerization over phenyl-terminated derivatives. A model compound, 1,2-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene, was used to probe the polymerization mechanism, and radical intermediates were found to be stable indefinitely at room temperature.     

Studies on TMPD:TCNB; a donor-acceptor with room temperature paramagnetism and n-pi interaction

A donor-acceptor compound based on N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylene-diamine and 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TMPD:TCNB) has been synthesized. The crystal structure of the black 1:1 complex formed between TMPD and TCNB has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction at room temperature. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 with cell dimensions: a = 7.4986(15) ?, b =7.6772(11) ?, c = 8.0764(15) ?, alpha = 78.822(12) degrees, beta = 83.3779(19) degrees, gamma = 86.289(17) degrees .TMPD and TCNB molecules are stacked alternately in infinite columns along the a-axis. The structure does not seem to show the usual pi-pi interaction between the two aromatic rings, but indicates an n-pi interaction localized between the nitrogen atoms of the donor and the cyano groups of the acceptor.     

Keggin-type heteropoly-11-molybdo-1-vanadophosphoric acid supported montmorillonite K-10 clay-catalysed one-pot multi-component synthesis of chromeno[2,3-b]indoles

One-pot three-component synthesis of twelve different chromeno[2,3-b]indole derivatives were achieved by the condensation of β-naphthol, oxindole and various substituted aldehydes. Two more chromeno[2,3-b]indole derivatives were also synthesized through one-pot two-component condensation of salicylaldehyde with oxindole/chlorooxindole. Both the condensations were achieved by using Keggin-type heteropoly-11-molybdo-1-vanadophosphoric acid, H₄[PVMo₁₁O₄₀] supported on montmorillonite K-10 clay for about 10% as catalyst under environmentally benign solvent-free reaction condition. Shorter reaction time, excellent yield of product, sustainability of catalytic material and simple workup procedure under green experimental conditions are the advantages of this protocol.

     

Stereocontrolled formation of beta-glucosides and related linkages in the absence of neighboring group participation: influence of a trans-fused 2,3-O-carbonate group

[reaction: see text] Phenyl 4,6-di-O-benzyl-2,3-O-carbonyl-beta-D-glucothiopyranoside and the regiosiomeric phenyl 2,6-di-O-benzyl-3,4-O-carbonyl-beta-D-glucothiopyranoside were prepared and studied as glucosyl donors at -60 degrees C in dichloromethane with preactivation by 1-benzenesulfinyl piperidine before addition of the acceptor alcohol. The 2,3-O-carbonate protected donor showed moderate to excellent beta-selectivity under these conditions depending on the acceptor employed, thereby providing a means for 1,2-trans-equatorial glycosidic bonds without recourse to neighboring group participation and its associated problem of ortho ester formation. In contrast, the 3,4-O-carbonate protected donor showed moderate to no beta-selectivity under the conditions employed. The results obtained in this study with carbonate protected glucopyranosyl donors are contrasted with those obtained previously in the manno- and rhamnopyranosyl series when the 2,3-O-carbonate protected is alpha-selective and the 3,4-O-carbonate is beta-selective.