Photochromic dihetarylethenes. 13. Optimization of conditions for the acylation of 2,5-dimethylthiophene with squaric acid dichloride

The conditions for acylation of 2,5-dimethylthiophene with squaric acid dichloride were optimized, and 3,4-bis(2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)cyclobut-3-ene-1,2-dione was obtained in good yield. X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that the by-product has the structure of 1a,1b-dichloro-5-(2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)-3-hydroxy-4,5a-dimethyl-1b,4a,5,5a-tetrahydro-1aH-1-thiacyclopropa[a]pentalen-2-one.     

Photochromic dihetarylethenes. 14. Synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical dihetarylcyclobutene-1,2-diones

A procedure was developed for the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical cyclobutene-1,2-dione derivatives bearing thiophene and thieno[3,2-b]thiophene substituents by the Friedel—Crafts reaction of the corresponding heterocyclic compounds with squaric acid dichloride in the presence of AlCl₃. In addition to the target dihetarylcyclobutenediones, monoacylation products of methyl (2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)acetate and methyl 5-methylthieno[3,2-b]thiophene-2-carboxylate with squaric acid dichloride were isolated and characterized.