Synthesis and rotational barriers of atropisomers of 1,2-bis[5-(11H-benzo[b]fluorenyl)]benzenes and related compounds

Several 1,2-bis[5-(11H-benzo[b]fluorenyl)]benzenes and related compounds were synthesized via a cascade reaction sequence of the corresponding benzannulated enyne-allene precursors. The X-ray structures showed that the two benzo[b]fluorenyl moieties attached via the C5 carbons to the adjacent carbon atoms of the central benzene ring are oriented essentially perpendicular to the central benzene ring. The rates of rotation around the carbon-carbon single bonds attaching the benzo[b]fluorenyl moieties to the central benzene ring are relatively slow, allowing several anti and syn atropisomers to be separated at ambient temperature.     

Synthesis of benzannulated steroid spiroketals by palladium-catalyzed spirocyclization of steroid alkynediols

Sonogashira coupling of 17β-acetoxy-4,5-secoandrost-3-yn-5-one with 2-iodobenzyl alcohol, followed by NABH₄ reduction afforded two epimeric steroid alkynediols that after separation underwent palladium-catalyzed spirocyclization to produce the corresponding benzannulated steroid spiroketals. The hitherto unknown spiroketals were characterized their NMR spectra and the structures were confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Synthesis and separation of the atropisomers of 2-(5-benzo[b]fluorenyl)-2′-hydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl and related compounds

Several syn and anti atropisomers of 2-(5-benzo[b]fluorenyl)-2′-hydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl and related compounds were synthesized from 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diol (BINOL). It was possible to separate the syn and anti atropisomers by silica gel column chromatography. The syn atropisomers are potential hetero-bidentate ligands for complex formation with metals. By starting from enantiomerically pure (R)-(+)-BINOL and (S)-(−)-BINOL, four optically active syn atropisomers and two anti atropisomers with high enantiomeric purity were obtained. The structures of two syn atropisomers and one anti atropisomer were established by X-ray structure analyses.     

Synthesis and structures of helical polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bearing aryl substituents at the most sterically hindered positions

A three-step synthetic sequence starting from condensation between a benzannulated enediyne and an aryl tert-butyl ketone was established to provide easy access to angularly fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bearing one or two aryl substituents at the most sterically hindered positions to cause helical twists. The dynamic behaviors involving the helix inversion and the restricted rotation of the aryl substituents were investigated by temperature-dependent NMR studies. The X-ray structure of an indeno-fused 1-phenylpentahelicene derivative showed severe distortion of the [5]helicene system from planarity.