Regiospecific Synthesis of 1,2-Disubstituted (Hetero)aryl Fused Imidazoles with Tunable Fluorescent Emission

A bioinspired catalytic aerobic oxidative C-H functionalization of primary aliphatic amines: synthesis of 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles

Aerobic oxidative CH functionalization of primary aliphatic amines has been accomplished with a biomimetic cooperative catalytic system to furnish 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles that play an important role as drug discovery targets. This one-pot atom-economical multistep process, which proceeds under mild conditions, with ambient air and equimolar amounts of each coupling partner, constitutes a convenient environmentally friendly strategy to functionalize non-activated aliphatic amines that remain challenging substrates for non-enzymatic catalytic aerobic systems.

Synthesis of yellow and red fluorescent 1,3a,6a-triazapentalenes and the theoretical investigation of their optical properties

To expand the originally developed fluorescent 1,3a,6a-triazapentalenes as fluorescent labelling reagents, the fluorescence wavelength of the 1,3a,6a-triazapentalenes was extended to the red color region. Based on the noteworthy correlation of the fluorescence wavelength with the inductive effect of the 2-substituent, electron-deficient 2-(2-cyano-4-methoxycarbonylphenyl)-1,3a,6a-triazapentalene and 2-(2,6-dicyano-4-methoxycarbonylphenyl)-1,3a,6a-triazapentalene were synthesized. The former exhibited yellow fluorescence and the latter exhibited red fluorescence, and both compounds exhibited large Stokes shifts, and the 1,3a,6a-triazapentalene system enabled the same fluorescent chromophore to cover the entire region of visible wavelengths. The potential applications of the 1,3a,6a-triazapentalenes as fluorescent probes in the fields of the life sciences were investigated, and the 1,3a,6a-triazapentalene system was clearly proven to be useful as a fluorescent reagent for live cell imaging. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to investigate the optical properties of the 1,3a,6a-triazapentalenes. These calculations revealed that the excitation involves a significant charge-transfer from the 1,3a,6a-triazapentalene skeleton to the 2-substituent. The calculated absorption and fluorescence wavelengths showed a good correlation with the experimental ones, and thus the system could enable the theoretical design of substituents with the desired optical properties.

Copper-catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with amidines: synthesis of 1,2,4-trisubstituted-1H-imidazole-5-carbaldehydes

A convenient synthesis of 1,2,4-trisubstituted-1H-imidazole-5-carbaldehydes was developed, which features high atom economy, cheap catalysts and mild conditions.

Rhodium-catalyzed annulation between 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and alkynes leading to pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives

A rhodium-catalyzed annulation between 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and alkynes was developed, leading to pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives in moderate to excellent yields.

Multifunctional Benzothiadiazole-Based Small Molecules Displaying Solvatochromism and Sensing Properties toward Nitroarenes, Anions, and Cations

Aryl or heteroaryl 5-substituted imidazo-benzothiadiazole derivatives were synthesized and shown to display remarkable solvatofluorochromism and selectively sense mercury(II) cations, acetate anions, and nitroaromatic derivatives, with discrimination between p-nitrophenol and picric acid. These novel sensors are of importance these days, as the detection of explosives is a high priority in issues of national security and environmental protection. To determine the ion binding properties of the sensors, their absorption and fluorescence emission spectra upon binding different cations and anions were compared. Significant shifts in the spectra were only observed for mercury(II) and acetate. The binding of these two ions was further studied using (1)H NMR. The binding properties of different nitroaromatic compounds were also determined, and the results showed the importance of the presence of a phenol group in the guest molecule. Specifically, the two sensors were shown to discriminate between p-nitrophenol and picric acid. Finally, the mechanism of fluorescence quenching upon addition of nitrophenols was determined by computational methods.

Tetrahydro[5]helicene-based imide dyes with intense fluorescence in both solution and solid state

Tetrahydro[5]helicene-based imide dyes with intense fluorescence and large Stokes shifts in solution and solid state were developed and theoretically investigated.

Cascade palladium catalysis: a predictable and selectable regiocontrolled synthesis of N-arylbenzimidazoles

By choice: The palladium-catalyzed cascade reaction of 2-chloroaryl sulfonates with arylamine and amide nucleophiles provides direct access to N-arylbenzimidazoles. This strategy selectively produces the heterocycles based on chemoselective oxidative addition. 2-Chloroaryl triflates (Tf) produce one regioisomer and the corresponding 2-chloroaryl mesylates (Ms) deliver the other in a selectable manner.

Aqueous synthesis of 1-H-2-substituted benzimidazoles via transition-metal-free intramolecular amination of aryl iodides

A straightforward method has been developed for the synthesis of the benzimidazole ring system through a carbon-nitrogen cross-coupling reaction. In the presence of 2.0 equiv. of K₂CO₃ in water at 100 °C for 30 h, the intramolecular cyclization of N-(2-iodoaryl)benzamidine provides benzimidazole derivatives in moderate to high yields. Remarkably, the procedure occurs exclusively in water and doesn’t require the use of any additional reagent/catalyst, rendering the methodology highly valuable from both environmental and economical points of view.

One-pot synthesis of highly fluorescent 2,5-disubstituted-1,3a,6a-triazapentalene

A one-pot synthetic method was established for the preparation of 2,5-disubstituted-1,3a,6a-triazapentalenes. The fluorescence observation of the synthetic 2,5-disubstituted-1,3a,6a-triazapentalenes revealed that the introduction of a substituent at the C5 position allowed a substantial change in the fluorescence quantum yield with little effect on the fluorescence wavelength.