An efficient preparation and spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of quinodimethane derivatives with four 3-(methoxycarbonyl)azulen-1-yl groups

Reaction of methyl 1-azulenecarboxylate (8) with terephthalaldehyde (9) in acetic acid in the presence of hydrochloric acid at 25 °C for 2 h gives 1,4-bis[bis(3-methoxycarbonyl-1-azulenyl)methyl]benzene (12), in 93% yield, which upon oxidation with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) in dichloromethane in the presence of hexafluorophosphoric acid at 25 °C for 1 h affords the dicarbenium-ion compound 15 in 94% yield. Furthermore, reduction of 15 with zinc powder in a mixed solvent of acetonitrile and chloroform at 25 °C for 1 h yields the target quinodimethane 18 in 90% yield. Similarly, as in the case of 18, the quinoid compounds 19 and 20 can be derived from the dicarbenium-ion compounds 16 and 17, quantitatively. A facile preparation as well as spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of 15-20 is reported.     

Two New Azulene Pigments from the Fruiting Bodies of the Basidiomycete Lactarius hatsudake

Two new azulene pigments, 7‐(1‐hydroxy‐1‐methylethyl)‐4‐methylazulene‐1‐carbaldehyde ( 1 ) and 4‐methyl‐7‐(1‐methylethyl)azulene‐1‐carboxylic acid ( 2 ), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Lactarius hatsudake, together with one known azulene pigment ( 3 ). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic means (including 2D‐NMR) and by HR‐TOF‐MS experiments.     

Electrochemical Methoxylation of 1,2,3-Trisubstituted Azulenes

1,2,3-Trisubstituted azulene analogs 6a and 6b easily underwent methoxylation in position 4 or 6 of an azulene ring via an electrochemical oxidation. It is a simple, convenient and selective method for introducing a methoxy group into a 7-membered ring of azulene analogs when compared with traditional chemical methods. It could be useful in preparing 2,4- and 2,6-azuloquinone analogs.     

Synthesis and liquid crystalline behavior of azulene-based liquid crystals with 6-hexadecyl substituents on each azulene ring

Hexakis(6-hexadecyl-2-azulenyl)benzene (1b) has been synthesized by Co₂(CO)₈-catalyzed cyclotrimerization reaction of bis(6-hexadecyl-2-azulenyl)acetylene (2b). The mesomorphic behaviors of 1b, 2b, and 6-hexadecyl-2-phenylazulene (3b) were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques and their mesomorphic properties were compared with those of their 6-octyl derivatives 1a, 2a, and 3a. Increase of the number of carbon atoms in the peripheral side chains drops the isotropization temperatures of 1b, 2b, and 3b by 56.9 °C, 33 °C, and 23.6 °C, respectively. Additionally, the phase-transition behavior varied with increase of the number of the peripheral chains, as well as decrease of the crystalline-mesophase transition temperatures, except for compound 3b. As the results, spontaneous monodomain homeotropic molecular alignment was revealed by compound 1b in its Col_hd mesophase on non-treated glass substrate, which would be attracted to the application for the device fabrication of molecular materials.     

Synthesis and Reactivities of 1,5- and 1,7-Azulenequinone Derivatives. A Highly Convenient,One-Pot Synthesis of 3-Bromo-1,5- and −1,7-Azulenequinones by Bromination of Azulene,

A very convenient, one-pot synthesis (over 80% yield) of 3-bromo-1,5- and ?1,7-azulenequinones has been developed by bromination of azulene in aqueous tetrahydrofuran. Reduction of 3-bromo-1,5- and ?1,7-azulenequinones with tin or zinc powder in acetic acid gave the parent 1,5- and 1,7-azulenequinones, and further reduction products.     

Two New Pigments from the Fruiting Bodies of the Basidiomycete Lactarius deliciosus

Two new, red‐colored azulene pigments, 7‐(1,2‐dihydroxy‐1‐methylethyl)‐4‐methylazulene‐1‐carbaldehyde ( 1 ) and 7‐acetyl‐4‐methylazulene‐1‐carbaldehyde ( 2 ), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Lactarius deliciosus, together with a related, known compound ( 3 ). Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence including 2D‐NMR experiments.     

Synthesis and properties of N,N,N′,N′-tetrasubstituted 1,3-bis(5-aminothien-2-yl)azulenes and their application as a hole-injecting material in organic light-emitting devices

Two title compounds, N,N,N′,N′-tetraphenyl-1,3-bis(5-aminothien-2-yl)azulene (3a) and 1,3-bis{5-(9-carbazolyl)thien-2-yl}azulene (3b), were synthesized from 1,3-di(2-thienyl)azulene (4) by a two-step sequence involving bromination and subsequent Pd-catalyzed amination. These compounds were characterized by spectroscopic analyses and the structure of 3a was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Their HOMO energy levels were estimated using their electrochemical oxidation potentials, and these compounds were used as a hole-injecting material in organic light-emitting devices. The device with 3a showed greater durability than that with copper phthalocyanine.     

Reactions of azulenes with 1,2-diaryl-1,2-ethanediols in methanol in the presence of hydrochloric acid: comparative studies on products, crystal structures, and spectroscopic and electrochemical properties

Although reaction of guaiazulene (1a) with 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediol (2a) in methanol in the presence of hydrochloric acid at 60 °C for 3 h under aerobic conditions gives no product, reaction of 1a with 1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-ethanediol (2b) under the same reaction conditions as 2a gives a new ethylene derivative, 2-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (3), in 97% yield. Similarly, reaction of methyl azulene-1-carboxylate (1b) with 2b under the same reaction conditions as 1a gives no product; however, reactions of 1-chloroazulene (1c) and the parent azulene (1d) with 2b under the same reaction conditions as 1a give 2-[3-(1-chloroazulenyl)]-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (4) (81% yield) and 2-azulenyl-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (5) (15% yield), respectively. Along with the above reactions, reactions of 1a with 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2-ethanediol (2c) and 1-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-2-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol (2d) under the same reaction conditions as 2b give 2-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylene (6) (73% yield) and (Z)-2-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-1-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1-phenylethylene (7) (17% yield), respectively. Comparative studies of the above reaction products and their yields, crystal structures, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties are reported and, further, a plausible reaction pathway for the formation of the products 3-7 is described.     

Formation of Azulenequinone Derivatives from Variously Functionalized Azulenes by Bromine-oxidation

Variously functionalized 1,5- and 1,7-azulenequinones were easily derived in one-pot in 30-50% yield from the bromine-oxidation of 2-methoxyazulene and 2-methyl derivatives of 1-cyano-, 1-methoxycarbonyl- and its 7-isopropyl derivatives, while 1-methoxycarbonylazulene afforded several unstable products from which we could not isolate any azulenequinones. 1-Acetylazulene afforded 3-bromo-1,5- and -1,7-azulenequinones via side-chain brominated intermediates in high yield. 1,3-Dichloroazulene afforded a mixture of 3-chloro-1,5- and −1,7-azulenequinones, while 1-fluoro- and 1,3-diiodoazulene gave a mixture of 3-bromoazulenequinones. Analogous oxidation of 1,3-difluoroazulene produced 3-fluoroazulenequinones, but we could not isolate them due to its instability. Hydroxy group of 2-(3-hydroxypropyl)azulene was intact during this quinone formation reaction.