Predicting New Ugi–Smiles Couplings: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study

Following our previous mechanistic studies of multicomponent Ugi‐type reactions, theoretical calculations have been performed to predict the efficiency of new substrates in Ugi–Smiles couplings. First, as predicted, 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol experimentally gave the corresponding aryl‐imidate. Theoretical predictions of nitrosophenols as good acidic partners were then successfully confirmed by experiments. In the latter case, the reaction offers a new access to benzimidazoles.     

Coverage‐ and Temperature‐Dependent Metalation and Dehydrogenation of Tetraphenylporphyrin on Cu(111)

Using temperature‐programmed desorption, supported by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy, a comprehensive overview of the main reactions of 5,10,15,20‐tetraphenyl‐21H,23H‐porphyrin (2HTPP) on Cu(111) as a function of coverage and temperature is obtained. Three reactions were identified: metalation with Cu substrate atoms, stepwise partial dehydrogenation, and finally complete dehydrogenation. At low coverage the reactions are independent of coverage, but at higher coverage metalation becomes faster and partial dehydrogenation slower. This behavior is explained by a weaker interaction between the iminic nitrogen atoms and the Cu(111) surface in the high‐coverage checkerboard structure, leading to faster metalation, and the stabilizing effect of T‐type interactions in the CuTPP islands formed at high coverage after metalation, leading to slower dehydrogenation. Based on the amount of hydrogen released and the appearance in STM, a structure of the partially dehydrogenated molecule is suggested.     

Combining Experimental and Computational Studies to Understand and Predict Reactivities of Relevance to Homogeneous Catalysis

This article showcases three major uses of computational chemistry in reactivity studies: the application after, in combination with, and before experiment. Following a brief introduction of suitable computational tools, challenges and opportunities in the implementation of computational chemistry in reactivity studies are discussed, exemplified with selected case studies from our and other laboratories.     

Electrochemically Generated Nanoparticles of Halogen‐Bridged Mixed‐Valence Binuclear Metal Complex Chains

Spherical nanoparticles composed of MMX chains can be made by a polymerization strategy driven by electrochemical processes. In particular, the [Pt₂(MeCS₂)₄I₂] (MMI₂) dimetal subunit is employed as a monomer for the formation of [Pt₂(MeCS₂)₄I]_n spherical nanostructures on surfaces. We have paid particular attention to elucidating the general mechanism of the deposition process on the basis of in situ electrochemical measurements. The reduction of MMI₂ to give the electrodeposition of nanostructures agrees well with formation of the reduced [MMI₂]^? species followed by a disproportionation mechanism mediated by iodide anions. The chemical composition of the particles was determined by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to reveal the MMI₂ polymer.     

Intermolecular and Regioselective Access to Polysubstituted Benzo‐ and Dihydrobenzo[c]azepine Derivatives: Modulating the Reactivity of Group 6 Non‐Heteroatom‐Stabilized Alkynyl Carbene Complexes

We highlight the versatility of non‐heteroatom‐stabilized tungsten–carbene complexes 3 synthesized in situ, which have been used in a modular approach to access 2‐benzazepinium isolable intermediates 5 . By employing very mild conditions, benzazepinium derivatives 5 have been obtained in high yield from simple compounds, such as acetylides 2 , Fischer‐type alkoxycarbenes 1 , and phenylimines 4 . The process, involving a formal [4+3] heterocycloaddition, occurs in a totally regioselective manner, which differs from the approach previously observed in similar procedures for other carbene analogues. This work, which involves three components, reveals a control of the reactivity of non‐heteroatom‐stabilized carbene complexes 3 ([4+3] vs. [2+2]‐heterocycloaddition reactions) depending on the acetylide substitution pattern. The influence of the substitution pattern in the behavior of the complexes has been computationally analyzed and rationalized. Finally, elaboration of the 2‐benzazepinium intermediates allows access to 3H‐benzo[c]azepines 6 and 3H‐1,2‐dihydrobenzo[c]azepines 7 – 9 with high control of the substitution of the nine positions of the heterocycle.     

Synthesis of Prenyl‐ and Geranyl‐Substituted Carbazole Alkaloids by DIBAL‐H Promoted Reductive Pyran Ring Opening of Dialkylpyrano[3,2‐a]carbazoles

The DIBAL‐H promoted reductive pyran ring opening of dialkylpyrano[3,2‐a]carbazoles provides a direct access to a broad range of prenyl‐ and geranyl‐substituted carbazoles. Formation of a pyran ring followed by reductive ring opening represents a new method for the introduction of prenyl and geranyl groups. In the course of the present work, we achieved the first total syntheses of the following eight carbazole alkaloids: clauraila‐E, 7‐hydroxyheptaphylline, 7‐methoxyheptaphylline, mukoenine‐B (clausenatine‐A), mukoenine‐A (girinimbilol), mahanimbinol (mahanimbilol), euchrestine‐A, and isomurrayafoline‐B.     

Oligotriarylamines with a Pyrene Core: A Multicenter Strategy for Enhancing Radical Cation and Dication Stability and Tuning Spin Distribution

Monoamine 1 , diamines 2 – 4 , triamine 5 , and tetraamine 6 have been synthesized by substituting dianisylamino groups at the 1‐, 3‐, 6‐, and/or 8‐positions of pyrene. Diamines 2 – 4 differ in the positions of the amine substituents. No pyrene–pyrene interactions are evident in the single‐crystal packing of 3 , 4 , and 6 . With increasing numbers of amine substituents, the first oxidation potential decreases progressively from the mono‐ to the tetraamine. These compounds show intense charge‐transfer (CT) emission in CH₂Cl₂ at around 530 nm with quantum yields of 48–68 %. Upon stepwise oxidation by electrolysis or chemical oxidation, these compounds were transformed into radical cations 1 ^?+– 6 ^?+ and dications 2 ²⁺– 6 ²⁺, which feature strong visible and near‐infrared absorptions. Time‐dependent density functional theory studies suggested the presence of localized transitions from the pyrene radical cation and aminium radical cation, intervalence CT, and CT between the pyrene and amine moieties. Spectroscopic studies indicated that these radical cations and dications have good stability. Triamine 5 and tetraamine 6 formed efficient CT complexes with tetracyanoquinodimethane in solution. The results of EPR spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations suggested that the dications 2 ²⁺– 4 ²⁺ have a triplet ground state, whereas 5 ²⁺ and 6 ²⁺ have a singlet ground state. The dication of 1,3‐disubstituted diamine 4 exhibits a strong EPR signal.     

An Unusual Triphenylphosphine Oxide Catalyzed Stereoselective 1,3‐Dichlorination of Unsaturated Ketoesters

An unusual Ph₃PO‐catalyzed stereoselective 1,3‐dicholorination of an unsaturated ketoester has been developed. The novel activation mode involved in this cascade reaction can promote consecutively elusive transformations. The products were obtained with good yields and excellent stereoselectivities. This reaction makes important complementation to the limitations associated with the field of dichlorination.     

Luminescent Mechanochromic Porous Coordination Polymers

Three 2D luminescent isomeric porous coordination polymers are synthesized and characterized. Their luminescence properties can be modified by grinding and they can act as mechanochromic materials and their properties are probably related to the weak interactions of cuprophilicity and π–π interactions.     

A Deadly Organometallic Luminescent Probe: Anticancer Activity of a ReI Bisquinoline Complex

The photophysical properties of [Re(CO)₃(L ‐N₃)]Br (L ‐N₃=2‐azido‐N,N‐bis[(quinolin‐2‐yl)methyl]ethanamine), which could not be localized in cancer cells by fluorescence microscopy, have been revisited in order to evaluate its use as a luminescent probe in a biological environment. The Re^I complex displays concentration‐dependent residual fluorescence besides the expected phosphorescence, and the nature of the emitting excited states have been evaluated by DFT and time‐dependent (TD) DFT methods. The results show that fluorescence occurs from a ¹LC/MLCT state, whereas phosphorescence mainly stems from a ³LC state, in contrast to previous assignments. We found that our luminescent probe, [Re(CO)₃(L ‐N₃)]Br, exhibits an interesting cytotoxic activity in the low micromolar range in various cancer cell lines. Several biochemical assays were performed to unveil the cytotoxic mechanism of the organometallic Re^I bisquinoline complex. [Re(CO)₃(L ‐N₃)]Br was found to be stable in human plasma indicating that [Re(CO)₃(L ‐N₃)]Br itself and not a decomposition product is responsible for the observed cytotoxicity. Addition of [Re(CO)₃(L ‐N₃)]Br to MCF‐7 breast cancer cells grown on a biosensor chip micro‐bioreactor immediately led to reduced cellular respiration and increased glycolysis, indicating a large shift in cellular metabolism and inhibition of mitochondrial activity. Further analysis of respiration of isolated mitochondria clearly showed that mitochondrial respiratory activity was a direct target of [Re(CO)₃(L ‐N₃)]Br and involved two modes of action, namely increased respiration at lower concentrations, potentially through increased proton transport through the inner mitochondrial membrane, and efficient blocking of respiration at higher concentrations. Thus, we believe that the direct targeting of mitochondria in cells by [Re(CO)₃(L ‐N₃)]Br is responsible for the anticancer activity.