Synthesis of a ditopic cyclophane based on the cyclobutane ring by chalcone photocycloaddition

The intramolecular photocycloaddition of chalcones to give cyclobutanes has proven to be a fast and simple method to shrink a cyclophane ring to a tricyclic system, in order to prepare potential ditopic receptors. In particular, the chalcone 1, having dioxyethylene chains as spacers, is converted in high yield to the cyclobutane 2. NOESY spectroscopy indicates that the formation of 2 occurs by a head-to-head syn ring closure.     

Study of the reaction of bis- and tris-pyrylium and -thiopyrylium cations with methoxide ion. Electronic effects of the heterocyclic rings as substituents

The bis- and tris-pyrylium and thiopyrylium cations 1-4 were prepared in gram scale by heterocyclization of the corresponding bis- and tris-1,5-pentanediones 6 and 8. Their reaction with CD3ONa in CD3OD was studied by 1H NMR at -40 degrees C and at +25 degrees C. At low temperature, kinetically controlled mixtures of 2H and/or 4H adducts were detected, whereas at room temperature the mixtures equilibrated to yield, in all of the cases, the more stable 2H adducts exclusively. A spectrophotometric study of the reactions with sodium methoxide in methanol was carried out at 25.0 degrees C with the aim of determining the stepwise equilibrium constants for the addition of MeO- at the alpha position of the heteroaromatic rings. The obtained equilibrium constants allowed the evaluation of the electronic effects of chalcogenopyrylium and 2H-chalcogenopyran subunits as substituents. Despite the different sensitivity to electronic effects, pyrylium and thiopyrylium rings have a similar electron-withdrawing effect with a sigma(+)p approximately 0.8 and a sigma(+)m approximately 0.5. Apart from the expected importance of the inductive effect due to the positive charge, the difference between these two values remarks the importance of the resonance contribution. In contrast both the neutral 2H-pyranyl and thiopyranyl rings have a negligible effect as substituents, independently of the position, para or meta, they occupy.     

Synthesis and structure of new compounds with Pt-Ga bonds: Insertion of the bulky gallium (I) bisimidinate Ga(DDP) into Pt-Cl bond

Reactions of the sterically bulky mono-valent group 13 bisimidinate gallium(I), Ga(DDP) (1) (DDP = 2-{(2, 6-diisopropylphenyl)amino}-4-{(2, 6-diisopropylphenyl)imino}-2-pentene, HC(CMeNC₆H₃-2,6-ⁱPr₂)₂) with olefin supported group 10 complexes, [(diene)PtCl₂] [diene = 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD), endo-dicyclopentadiene (dcy)] and [(COD)Pd(Me)(OTf)] (OTf = O₃SCF₃) are reported. These reactions afforded [(COD)Pt(Cl){ClGa(DDP)}] (2), [(dcy)Pt(Cl){ClGa(DDP)}] (3) and [(DDP)Ga(Me)(OTf)] (4) in moderate yields. Compounds 2-4 were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR (¹H, ¹³C) spectroscopy and also by single crystal X-ray structural analysis. The solid state structures of complexes 2 and 3 reveal the oxidative insertion of Ga(DDP) into the Pt-Cl bond without altering the π-coordinated double bonds in the olefin.     

Reduction of amine N-oxides by diboron reagents

Facile reduction of alkylamino-, anilino-, and pyridyl-N-oxides can be achieved via the use of diboron reagents, predominantly bis(pinacolato)- and in some cases bis(catecholato)diboron [(pinB)(2) and (catB)(2), respectively]. Reductions occur upon simply mixing the amine N-oxide and the diboron reagent in a suitable solvent, at a suitable temperature. Extremely fast reductions of alkylamino- and anilino-N-oxides occur, whereas pyridyl-N-oxides undergo slower reduction. The reaction is tolerant of a variety of functionalities such as hydroxyl, thiol, and cyano groups, as well as halogens. Notably, a sensitive nucleoside N-oxide has also been reduced efficiently. The different rates with which alkylamino- and pyridyl-N-oxides are reduced has been used to perform stepwise reduction of the N,N'-dioxide of (S)-(-)-nicotine. Because it was observed that (pinB)(2) was unaffected by the water of hydration in amine oxides, the feasibility of using water as solvent was evaluated. These reactions also proceeded exceptionally well, giving high product yields. In constrast to the reactions with (pinB)(2), triethylborane reduced alkylamino-N-oxides, but pyridine N-oxide did not undergo efficient reduction even at elevated temperature. Finally, the mechanism of the reductive process by (pinB)(2) has been probed by (1)H and (11)B NMR.     

Template effects in the formation of [2]pseudo-rotaxanes containing diazapyrenium units

The template effects exerted by guests 14 and 15 in the ring closure reaction of 3 have been quantitatively evaluated. The rate largely increases in the presence of the two templates. The results are compared with those relative to the ring closure reaction of 1 yielding cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene), 2. The comparison indicates that the formation of tetracationic aromatic cycles templated by aromatic donors benefits from the use of extended pi surfaces both in the acceptor and in the donor components.     

A molecular clip throws new light on the complexes formed by a family of cyclam-cored dendrimers with Zn(II) ions. Efficient energy transfer in the heteroleptic complexes

Complexation of Zn(II) ions by cyclam cored dendrimers appended with four (G0), eight (G1) and 16 naphthyl chromophores (G2) at the periphery have been investigated in CH?CN-CH?Cl? 1?:?1 (v/v) solution by absorption and emission, ESI-mass and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The results obtained can be interpreted by the formation of complexes of 2?:?1 dendrimer to metal stoichiometry, at low metal ion concentration, and 1?:?1 complexes upon further addition of Zn(II) ions, for all the dendrimer generations. Upon addition of a molecular clip C2? consisting of two anthracene sidewalls bridged by a benzene group with two sulfate substituents in the para positions, heteroleptic complexes of general formula [GnZnC] are formed. Interestingly, in these complexes, a very efficient quenching (practically 100%) of the dendrimer naphthyl luminescence and sensitization (ca. 90%) of the clip anthracene emission take place. The complex [G2ZnC] exhibits a very high molar absorption coefficient in the UV spectral region owing to the 16 naphthyl chromophores of the dendrimer and the two anthracene units of the clip (ε = 1.7 × 10? M?1 cm?1 at 263 nm). Furthermore, the excitation energy absorbed by the naphthyl chromophores is efficiently funneled to the two anthracene units of the clip, which emits in the blue spectral region.     

A new synthetic route to cyclophosphadithiatriazenes: synthesis and X‐ray structural characterization of the first spirocycle containing thiadiazaphosphetidine and phosphadithiatriazene heterocycles

The phosphetidine 2,4‐Di‐tert‐butyl‐3‐chloro‐1λ⁶‐thia‐2,4‐diaza‐3‐phosphetidine‐1,1‐dioxide, O₂S (^tBuN)₂PCl, reacts with tetrasulfur tetranitride, S₄N₄, in benzene under reflux to afford the novel 4,6‐spirocycle in moderate yield. The deep‐blue crystals of the spirocycle are airstable and high melting in nature. The spiro phosphorus atom subtends a four‐membered P^VS^VIN₂ ring which is saturated, and a six‐membered P^VS N₃ ring which is unsaturated. The single‐crystal X‐ray structure of this first example of the spirocycle reveals a planar PSN₂ ring and a puckered PS₂N₃ ring and the molecule is symmetric in nature. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.