Synthesis and modification of terrylenediimides as high-performance fluorescent dyes

Two new synthetic approaches to terrylenediimides, highly photostable fluorescent dyes, are described. For the first time terrylenediimide has been synthesised in a straightforward procedure that makes large quantities available. The second route includes an efficient cross-coupling reaction followed by a cyclodehydrogenation. Monofunctionalisation of the imide structure allows terrylenediimides now to be coupled with a variety of compounds, for example, by Suzuki cross-coupling, which can lead to an array of terrylenediimides with new functional groups such as hydroxy, amino, or carboxy groups needed to link up with other molecules. The functionalisation in the bay region is used to tune the properties of terrylenediimides and extend the range of applications, for example, by introducing water solubility. These tetrasubstituted terrylenediimides offer, depending on the substituents used, exciting features such as good solubility in common organic solvents, water solubility, or NIR absorption.     

UV spectra and excitation delocalization in DNA: influence of the spectral width.

The singlet excited states of the model DNA duplex (dA)10.(dT)10 are studied. Calculations are performed in the exciton theory framework. Molecular dynamics calculations provide the duplex geometry. The dipolar coupling is determined using atomic transition charges. The monomer transition energies are simulated by Gaussian functions resembling the absorption bands of nucleosides in aqueous solutions. Most of the excited states are found to be delocalized over at least two bases and result from the mixing of different monomer states. Their properties are only weakly affected by conformational changes of the double helix. On average, the highest oscillator strength is carried by the upper eigenstates. The duplex absorption spectra are shifted a few nanometers to higher energies with respect to the spectra of noninteracting monomers. The states with larger spatial extent are located close to the maximum of the absorption spectrum.     

Understanding the conformational dependence of spin-spin coupling constants: through-bond and through-space J(31P,31P) coupling in tetraphosphane-1,4-diides [M(L)x]2[P4R4

The characteristic dependence of J(31P,31P) spin-spin coupling constants of alkali metal tetraphosphane-1,4-diides on structure and composition has been analyzed by density functional methods. The computations confirm that the structure of the contact ion pairs is conserved in solution. Calculations on model systems M2P4H4, on naked P4H4(2-) anions, and on models including point charges, show that the role of the cations is mainly structural and to a smaller extent electrostatic. Three of the four J(P,P) coupling constants depend characteristically on the conformation of the anion, which in turn is determined by the substituents R and by cation-anion interactions. Several couplings exhibit a large through-space component and are thus strongly dependent on the relative orientation of nonbonding electron pairs on the phosphorus atoms involved. This is shown by visualization of coupling pathways using the recently introduced coupling energy density (CED), in combination with the electron localization function (ELF).     

Development of resin-to-resin transfer reactions (RRTR) using Sonogashira chemistry

Sonogashira chemistry can be used according to the ‘resin-to-resin transfer reaction’ (RRTR) concept. Two fragments, one containing the halide moiety and the second one incorporating the alkyne functionality, are anchored on different solid supports using allyl and/or Wang-type linkages. Treatment with Pd(0) cleaves the allyl-linked fragment(s) which subsequently undergo Sonogashira coupling under the same conditions.     

Enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral 1-(1-naphthyl)isoquinolines and 2-(1-naphthyl)pyridines through sulfoxide ligand coupling reactions

Racemic 1-(1′-isoquinolinyl)-2-naphthalenemethanol rac-12 was prepared through a ligand coupling reaction of racemic 1-(tert-butylsulfinyl)isoquinoline rac-7 with the 1-naphthyl Grignard reagent 10. Resolution of rac-12 was achieved through chromatographic separation of the Noe-lactol derivatives 14 and 15, providing (R)-(−)-12 of >99% ee and (S)-(+)-12 of 90% ee. The ligand coupling reaction of optically enriched sulfoxide (S)-(−)-7 (62% ee) with Grignard reagent 10 furnished rac-12, with the absence of stereoinduction resulting from competing rapid racemisation of the sulfoxide 7. Reaction of optically enriched (S)-(−)-7 with 2-methoxy-1-naphthylmagnesium bromide was also accompanied by racemisation of the sulfoxide 7, and furnished optically active (+)-1-(2′-methoxy-1′-naphthyl)isoquinoline (+)-3b in low enantiomeric purity (14% ee). The absolute configuration of (+)-3b was assigned as R using circular dichroism spectroscopy, correcting an earlier assignment based on the Bijvoet method, but in the absence of heavy atoms. Optically active 2-pyridyl sulfoxides were found not to undergo racemisation analogous to the 1-isoquinolinyl sulfoxide 7, with the ligand coupling reactions of (R)-(+)- and (S)-(−)-2-[(4′-methylphenyl)sulfinyl]-3-methylpyridines, (R)-(+)-17 and (S)-(−)-17, with 2-methoxy-1-naphthylmagnesium bromide providing (−)- and (+)-2-(2′-methoxy-1′-naphthyl)-3-methylpyridines, (−)-18 and (+)-18, in 53 and 60% ee, respectively. The free energy barriers to internal rotation in 3b and 18 have been determined, and the isoquinoline (R)-(−)-12 examined as a ligand in the enantioselectively catalysed addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde; (R)-(−)-12 was also converted to (R)-(−)-N,N-dimethyl-1-(1′-isoquinolinyl)-2-naphthalenemethanamine (R)-(−)-19, and this examined as a ligand in the enantioselective Pd-catalysed allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate.     

Palladium-benzimidazolium salt catalyst systems for Suzuki coupling: development of a practical and highly active palladium catalyst system for coupling of aromatic halides with arylboronic acids

Palladium-benzimidazolium salt catalyst systems have been studied for the Suzuki coupling. A different substitutent effect has been uncovered with respect to nitrogen substituents in the benzimidazolium salts from the palladium-imidazolium salt analogs. A practical and highly active palladium catalyst system, PdCl₂/N,N′-dibenzylbenzimidazolium chloride 2, has been identified for the Suzuki coupling of aromatic halides with arylboronic acids. The coupling of a wide array of aromatic halides with arylboronic acids with the PdCl₂-2 catalyst system gave good to excellent yields. The effective palladium loading could be as low as 0.0001 mol% and 0.01-0.1 mol% for iodide and bromide substrates, respectively. The coupling of unactivated aromatic chlorides with arylboronic acids also gave good results using Cs₂CO₃ as base with a 2 mol% palladium loading. The electronic factors from aromatic halides exert a significant influence on the Suzuki coupling catalyzed by the PdCl₂-2 system while the electronic effect from the arylboronic counterparts is negligible. The aromatic halides with modest steric hindrance could also couple smoothly with phenylboronic acids using the PdCl₂-2 catalyst system.     

Design of highly active heterogeneous palladium catalysts for the activation of aryl chlorides in Heck reactions

In situ generation of highly active palladium species by intermediate dissolution of Pd from solid supported catalysts has been demonstrated to be a very successful approach for the activation of aryl chlorides in Heck reactions. The new ‘heterogeneous’ Pd catalysts act as reservoir for molecular Pd species with unsaturated coordination sphere in solution. Crucial Pd leaching and re-deposition onto the support can be controlled by optimization of reaction conditions and by the properties of the catalysts. Pd is re-deposited onto the support at the end of the reaction. The catalysts, palladium supported on activated carbon, on various metal oxides or fluorides and Pd complexes in zeolites, are easy to prepare, though the preparation conditions are crucial. The catalysts convert all aryl bromides completely within minutes (TON 100,000). Aryl chlorides (even deactivated ones) are converted with high yields, within 2-6 h. The catalysts belong to the most active ones in Heck reactions at all (including best homogeneous systems) and fulfill all relevant requirements for practical applications in laboratory and industry.     

Use of tetrahydropyrimidinium salts for highly efficient palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides and chlorides

New, sterically demanding 1,3-dialkyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidinium salts (2) as NHC precursors have been synthesized and characterized. These salts, in combination with palladium acetate, provided active catalysts for the cross-coupling of aryl chlorides and bromides under mild conditions. The catalytic system was applied to the Heck, Suzuki and benzaldehyde (Kumada) coupling reactions. Catalyst activity was found to be influenced by the presence of a methoxy group on the ring of the p-position of benzyl substituent of the ligand precursor.     

Synthesis of cordiaquinone J and K via B-alkyl Suzuki-Miyaura coupling as a key step and determination of the absolute configuration of natural products

A versatile methodology for the synthesis of various terpenoids via B-alkyl Suzuki-Miyaura coupling as a key step is established. Synthesis of cordiaquinone J and K, new antifungal and larvicidal meroterpenoids, was achieved by using this methodology. The absolute configurations of cordiaquinone J and K were confirmed by the synthesis.     

Synthesis of new axially dissymmetric ligand with large perfluoroalkyl groups

A new axially dissymmetric ligand with large perfluoroalkyl groups, 2,2′-bis(1-hydroxy-1H-perfluorooctyl)biphenyl (1c), which could not be obtained by the coupling reaction of the aryl bromide using copper powder, was synthesized successfully by the coupling reaction using Ni(COD)₂. This ligand showed much higher asymmetric induction in the reaction of diethylzinc with benzaldehyde than the trifluoromethyl (1a) or pentafluoroethyl (1b) analogues.