Low molecular weight organogelators derived from threefold symmetric tricarbamates

A group of new low molecular weight organogelators based on threefold symmetric tricarbamate were synthesized and characterized. The tricarbamates with long alkyl chains were able to gelate a wide range of polar and nonpolar organic solvents such as acetonitrile and cyclohexane, generally at concentrations lower than 20 g/L. The best organogel formation was obtained using a threefold symmetric tricarbamate in n-dodecane, in which a sufficiently transparent gel was formed at the critical gelation concentration 1 g/L. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding by the tricarbamate in a nonpolar solvent benzene-d₆ was indicated by ¹H NMR spectra. Its maximum UV absorption was 11 nm higher in chloroform than in n-dodecane, and this red shift indicated increased conjugation between the benzene core and the carbamate substituents, which confirmed a change in its conformation from nonpolar to polar solvent. The self-assembling behavior of the tricarbamate in dilute solutions was investigated by TEM. Fiber-like networks were observed in a large range of solution concentrations.     

Conformation of aromatic rings in isolable atropisomers of 2-arylindoline derivatives and kinetic evidences for π-π interaction

The equilibrium constants [K=anti/syn] of a pair of atropisomers due to restricted rotation about Csp³-Csp² bond for [2-(2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)-3,3-dimethylindolin-1-yl](4-substituted phenyl)methanone were determined in some solvents. The presence of the effective π-π interaction was demonstrated by the correlation between the equilibrium constants (K) and the substituent effect of the phenyl groups (σ_p), suggesting that the ‘neutral-type’ interaction is operative.     

Geländer Molecules with Orthogonal Joints: Synthesis of Macrocyclic Dimers

Orthogonal joints, understood as connections with an angle of 90°, were introduced in the design of the “Geländer” model compounds 1 and 2 . The banister, consisting of a conjugated carbazole dimer linked by either 1,3-butadiyne ( 2 ) or a single thiophene ( 1 ), wraps around an axis composed of a phthalimide dimer due to the dimensional mismatch of both subunits, which are interconnected by phenylene rungs. The “Geländer” structure was assembled from a monomer comprising the 1,4-diaminobenzene rung with one amino substituent as part of a 4-bromo phthalimide subunit forming the orthogonal junction to the axis, and the other as part of a masked 2-ethynyl carbazole as orthogonal joint to the banister. The macrocycle was obtained by two sequential homocoupling steps. A first dimerization by a reductive homocoupling assembled the axis, while an oxidative acetylene coupling served as ring-closing reaction. The formed butadiyne was further derivatized to a thiophene, rendering all carbons of the model compound sp² hybridized. Both helical structures were fully characterized and chirally resolved. Assignment of the enantiomers was achieved by simulation of chiroptical properties and enantiopure synthesis.     

Combined Dynamic Kinetic Resolution and C−H Functionalization for Facile Synthesis of Non-Biaryl-Atropisomer-Type Axially Chiral Organosilanes

Although asymmetric C−H functionalization has been available for the synthesis of structurally diverse molecules, catalytic dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) approaches to change racemic stereogenic axes remain synthetic challenges in this field. Here, a concise palladium-catalyzed DKR was combined with C−H functionalization involving olefination and alkynylation for the highly efficient synthesis of non-biaryl-atropisomer-type (NBA) axially chiral oragnosilanes. The chemistry proceeded through two different and distinct DKR: first, an atroposelective C−H olefination or alkynylation produced axially chiral vinylsilanes or alkynylsilanes as a new family of non-biaryl atropisomers (NBA), and second, the extension of this DKR strategy to twofold o,o′-C−H functionalization led to the multifunctional axially chiral organosilicon compounds with up to >99 % ee.     

Isolable atropisomers of 2-aryl indoline derivatives: determination of rotational barrier by density functional theory approach

The rotational process of 2-aryl ring in 1-acyl-2-aryl-3,3-dimethylindolines was determined by density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. The calculated barrier height for the rotational process of [2-(2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)-3,3-dimethylindolin-1-yl]phenylmethanone (1) was ca. 30 kcal/mol, comparable to the previously reported experimental values of 26–28 kcal/mol for the corresponding derivatives. The Hartree–Fock (HF) calculation overestimated the barrier. The DFT-calculated rotational barrier height provided valuable information for knowing whether the conformers were isolable or not. The transition structure analyses showed that the presence of 2,6-substituents on the aryl ring is essential for the isolation of the conformers at room temperature. Based on the DFT-calculated geometries, the rotational process and the intramolecular weak interactions in the restricted rotation were analyzed.     

Axially Chiral Dibenzazepinones by a Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Atropo‐enantioselective C−H Arylation

Atropo‐enantioselective C?H functionalization reactions are largely limited to the dynamic kinetic resolution of biaryl substrates through the introduction of steric bulk proximal to the axis of chirality. Reported herein is a highly atropo‐enantioselective palladium(0)‐catalyzed methodology that forges the axis of chirality during the C?H functionalization process, enabling the synthesis of axially chiral dibenzazepinones. Computational investigations support experimentally determined racemization barriers, while also indicating C?H functionalization proceeds by an enantio‐determining CMD to yield configurationally stable eight‐membered palladacycles.     

Visible Light Accelerated Vinyl C–H Arylation in Pd‐Catalysis: Application in the Synthesis of ortho Tetra‐substituted Vinylarene Atropisomers

A visible light accelerated C–H functionalization reaction in palladium‐catalyzed arylation of vinyl arenes with diaryliodonium salts is reported in the absence of additional photosensitizer. The kinetic isotope effect (k_H/k_D) was changed from 3.6 (under darkness) to 1.1 when irradiated by visible light, which indicated that the C–H functionalization step was the rate determining step under darkness and significantly accelerated by the irradiation of visible light. Finally the synthesis of ortho tetra‐substituted vinylarene atropisomers with high enantiospecificity was realized via this protocol.     

Enabling Racemization of Axially Chiral Subphthalocyanine-Tetracyanobutadiene-Aniline Enantiomers by Triplet State Photogeneration

In recent years, several tetracyanobuta-1,3-diene (TCBD) conjugates have been prepared by linking the tetracyano unit to various electroactive moieties. These push–pull conjugates, besides showing interesting physicochemical properties, are axially chiral, a feature arising from the restricted rotation around the central bond of the butadiene. Yet, only in a few cases, separation and isolation of the enantiomers have been successfully achieved, owing to the configurational lability of the corresponding enantiopure species. Herein, we report the first example of photo- and electroactive TCBD-based derivatives showing unprecedented configurational stability and a peculiar light-triggered enantiomer conversion mechanism enabled by triple-state photogeneration. These systems represent a nice addition to the fast-increasing arsenal of artificial, light-controllable molecular switches.     

Syntheses of helical polymers through the combination of axially dissymmetric segments

Wholly aromatic polymers with various helical structures were prepared through the combination of two axially dissymmetric bifunctional compounds. The palladium-catalyzed condensation of (R)-2,2-diethoxy-6,6′-dibromo-1,1′-binaphthyl with (R)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine and the reaction of (S)-2,2-diethoxy-6,6′-dibromo-1,1′-binaphthyl with (S)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine produced helical polyamines, and the chiral conformation was confirmed by their circular dichroism spectra and large specific rotations. The combination of (R)-2,2-diethoxy-6,6′-dibromo-1,1′-binaphthyl and (S)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine afforded polyamines with a zigzag conformation. The condensation of (R)-2,2′-dimethylbiphenyl-6,6′-dicarbonyl chloride with (R)-2,2′-diamino-6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl and the reaction of (S)-2,2′-dimethylbiphenyl-6,6′-dicarbonyl chloride with (S)-2,2′-diamino-6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl predominantly yielded cyclic dimers and tetramers because of the steric proximity of the reactive groups of the propagating species. The experimental results indicated that the structures of the obtained polymers depended on the combination of the chirality of the bifunctional atropisomeric compounds and the position of the functional groups on the aromatic rings. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4607–4620, 2004