Functionalised oligoenes with unusual topologies: synthesis, electrochemistry and structural studies on redox-active

Synthesis and properties of tetrathiafulvalenes bearing 6-aryl-1,4-dithiafulvenes

Novel multistage redox tetrathiafulvalenes (TTFs) bearing 6-aryl-1,4-dithiafulvene moieties were synthesized by palladium-catalyzed direct C–H arylation. In the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)₂, P(t-Bu₃)·HBF₄, and an excess of Cs₂CO₃, the C–H arylation of TTF with several aryl bromides bearing 1,3-dithiol-2-ylidenes took place efficiently to produce the corresponding π-conjugated molecules. We also succeeded in the estimation of the oxidation potentials and number of electrons involved in each oxidation step of the obtained compounds by digital simulations.

Synthesis of highly functionalized [3]dendralenes and their Diels–Alder reactions displaying unexpected regioselectivity

Sequential olefinations were applied for the synthesis of acyclic tetrasubstituted [3]dendralenes, which did not cyclodimerize and displayed unusual regioselectivity in the Diels–Alder reaction.

Synthesis and applications of tricarbonyliron complexes of dendralenes

[3]Dendralene and [4]dendralene are converted smoothly into tricarbonyliron complexes. The structures of four complexes analyzed by DFT and single-crystal X-ray analysis show that, in contrast to free hydrocarbons, complexed dendralenes prefer a roughly in-plane conformation. The complexes are stable towards Fe(CO)(3) group migration up to 150 °C. The synthetic value of Fe(CO)(3) complexation in the dendralene series is demonstrated through a variety of selective synthetic manipulations (Diels-Alder reaction, dipolar cycloaddition, Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation, dihydroxylation, olefin cross metathesis) that are not achievable by direct transformation of the free hydrocarbons. Application to the synthesis of a previously unreported, highly reactive linear/cross-conjugated hydrocarbon is also described.

Controlling the conformational changes in donor-acceptor [4]-dendralenes through intramolecular charge-transfer processes

The synthesis of two [4]-dendralene compounds incorporating thiophene-(p-nitrophenyl) donor-acceptor units is presented. The dendralenes adopt two different conformers in solution and solid state and the transformation between the structures can be controlled by light and heat. The electron-donating components of the dendralenes are represented by bromothienyl (in 13) and ethylenedioxythiophene(EDOT)-thienyl (in 15) end-groups. The most facile transformation involves the isomerisation of donor-acceptor conjugated systems (a conformers) into structures in which only the thiophenes are conjugated (b conformers), and this process is driven by ambient light. The structures of the two conformers of compound 13 are confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies and the structural changes in both compounds have been monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy and absorption studies. The transformations were found to be first-order processes with rate constants of k=0.0027 s(-1) and k=0.00022 s(-1) for 13 and 15, respectively. Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G* level give credence to the proposed mechanism for the a-->b conversion, which involves photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) as the key step. The EDOT derivative (15) can be polymerised by electrochemical oxidation and a combination of cyclic voltammetry and UV/Vis spectroelectrochemical experiments indicate that the a conformer can be trapped and stabilised in the solid state.

Facile Synthesis and Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions of 2,3-Bis(pinacolatoboryl)-1,3-butadiene

Treatment of 1,1-bis(pinacolatoboryl)ethene with an excess of 1-bromo-1-lithioethene gave 2,3-bis(pinacolatoboryl)-1,3-butadiene in high yield. Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of the resulting diborylbutadiene with aryl iodides took place smoothly in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)2/PPh3 and aqueous KOH to give 2,3-diaryl-1,3-butadienes in good yields. The coupling reaction with commercially available 4-acetoxyphenylmethyl chloride under the same conditions followed by hydrolysis of the acetyl groups gave anolignan B in a one-pot manner. A variety of [3]- to [6]dendralenes were synthesized by palladium-catalyzed coupling of the diene or 1,1-bis(pinacolato)borylethene with alkenyl or dienyl halides, respectively, in good yields.

Push-pull bithienyl chromophore with an unusual transverse path of conjugation

The synthesis, structure, and electronic properties of a novel cross-conjugated 10H-bisthienodithiocin-10-dicyanoethylene are reported. The X-ray single-crystal structure of the compound reveals a nonplanar conformation. The FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of the compound show a great resemblance, which is a spectroscopic observation common to many push-pull systems. The UV-vis spectrum in CHCl3 displays a strong absorption at 370 nm accompanied by a shoulder at 430 nm so that the optical gap is 2.88 eV. On the other hand, the electrochemical gap amounts to 2.38 V. DFT and TDDFT quantum chemical calculations, at the B3LYP/6-31G** level, have been also performed to (i) determine the minimum-energy molecular structure, (ii) gain knowledge about the equilibrium atomic charges distribution, the topologies, and absolute energies of the frontier molecular orbitals around the gap and about the molecular vibrations which give rise to the most outstanding Raman bands experimentally evidenced, and (iii) to analyze the nature of the vertical one-electron excitations associated to the strongest UV-vis absorptions.

Thiolated π-Extended Tetrathiafulvalenes: Versatile Multifunctional π-Systems

Derivatives of 9,10-bis(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-9,10-dihydroanthracene (ex-TTF) have been synthesized by a new synthetic methodology, viz., direct phosphite-mediated cross-couplings of anthraquinone with 1,3-dithiole-2-thione derivatives. These ex-TTFs bear one, two, or four cyanoethyl-protected thiol groups on the dithiole rings. Deprotection (NaOMe, MeOH, DMF, 20 degrees C) and trapping of the transient thiolates with electrophiles have afforded the new ex-TTF trimer 19, dimeric cyclophanes 22 and 25, the tetrakis(hydroxyethylthio) derivative 23, and the strained cyclophane 24. Solution redox properties have been studied by cyclic voltammetry. For compounds 19, 22, and 25 each ex-TTF unit behaves as an independent 2-electron redox system giving rise to a single, quasi-reversible 6-, 4-, and 4-electron wave, respectively. The Eox value for 24 (0 --> 2+ wave) is positively shifted by 290 mV compared to that of its precursor 15 due to the short bridge in 24 obstructing the conformational change which accompanies oxidation. X-ray crystal structures of 23.2.5MeOH, 23.1.5MeCN, 24.CH2Cl2, and 24.1.5CH2Cl2 show the saddle-shape folding (typical of ex-TTF derivatives), which in 24 is enhanced by the pentamethylene chain bridging the dithiole units. Both solvates of 23 show an unprecedented crystal packing motif due to hydrogen bonding.

Remarkable Interplay of Redox States and Conformational Changes in a Sterically Crowded, Cross-Conjugated Tetrathiafulvalene Vinylog

Derivatives of 9-[2-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)ethylidene]thioxanthene have been synthesized using Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reactions of (1,3-dithiol-2-yl)phosphonate reagents with thioxanthen-9-ylidene-acetaldehyde (5). Further reactions lead to the sterically crowded cross-conjugated "vinylogous tetrathiafulvalene" derivative 9-[2,3-bis-(4,5-dimethyl-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-propylidene]thioxanthene (10). X-ray crystallography, solution electrochemistry, optical spectroscopy, spectroelectrochemistry, and simultaneous electrochemistry and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, combined with theoretical calculations performed at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level, elucidate the interplay of the electronic and structural properties in these molecules. For compound 10, multistage redox behavior is observed: the overall electrochemical process can be represented by 10-->10(.+)-->10(2+)-->10(4+) with good reversibility for the 10-->10(.+)-->10(2+) transformations. At the tetracation stage there is the maximum gain in aromaticity at the dithiolium and thioxanthenium rings. Theory predicts that for 10, 10(.+), and 10(2+) the trans isomers are more stable than the cis isomers (by ca. 2-18 kJ mol(-1)), whereas for 10(4+) the cis isomer becomes more stable than the trans isomer (by ca. 25 kJ mol(-1)) [trans and cis refer to the arrangement of the two dithiole moieties with respect to the central ==C(R)--C(H)== fragment]. These data explain the detection in cyclic voltammograms of both trans and cis isomers of 10 and 10(.+) during the reduction of 10(4+) at fast scan rates (>100 mV s(-1)) when the cis-trans isomerization is not completed within the timescale of the experiment. The X-ray structure of the charge-transfer complex (CTC) of 10 with 2,4,5,7-tetranitrofluorene-9-dicyanomethylenefluorene (DTeF) [stoichiometry: 10(.+)(DTeF)(2) (.-)2 PhCl] reveals a twisted conformation of 10(.+) (driven by the bulky thioxanthene moiety) and provides a very rare example of segregated stacking of a fluorene acceptor in a CTC.

Synthesis, Structure, and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Cross-Conjugated Perphenylatediso-Polydiacetylenes

Monodisperse, cross-conjugated perphenylated iso-polydiacetylene (iso-PDA) oligomers, ranging from monomer 15 to pentadecamer 25, have been synthesized by using a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling protocol. Structural characteristics elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis demonstrate a non-planar backbone conformation for the oligomers due to the steric interactions between alkylidene phenyl groups. The electronic absorption spectra of the oligomers show a slight red-shift of the maximum absorption wavelength as the chain length increases from dimer 17 b to pentadecamer 25, a trend that has saturated by the stage of nonamer 22. Fluorescence spectroscopy confirms that the pendent phenyl groups present on the oligomer framework enhance emission, and the relative emission intensity consistently increases as a function of chain length n. The molecular third-order nonlinearities, gamma, for this oligomer series have been measured via differential optical Kerr effect (DOKE) detection and show a superlinear increase as a function of the oligomer chain length n. Molecular modeling and spectroscopic studies suggest that iso-PDA oligomers (n>7) adopt a coiled, helical conformation in solution.

Salts of extended tetrathiafulvalene analogues: relationships between molecular structure, electrochemical properties and solid state organisation

By considering the structures of many salts derived from extended TTF analogues, relationships between the molecular architecture of the donors with their electrochemical properties and their stacking mode in the salts are presented in this critical review. Three categories of donors corresponding to their extension modes have been considered. Firstly, for linearly extended TTFs the crucial role of the spacer in modifying the electrochemical properties and the packing mode in the salts is presented. Secondly, bidimentional extension of the donors obtained by linking several dithiafulvenyl units on a TTF core led to materials with increased dimensionality. Finally, the last class corresponds to the fusion, directly or across a benzene ring, of TTF frameworks. The former are the base of many salts with metallic behaviour. (148 references.).

Iterative synthesis and characterization of cross-conjugated iso-polydiacetylenes

An iterative synthesis of cross-conjugated iso-polydiacetylenes (iso-PDAs) is reported based on three fundamental building blocks: vinyl triflates 8, 9, and 25. An efficient sequence of palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of vinyl triflates and terminal alkynes has been employed to extend the chain length of these oligomers. The longest member of the series, nonamer 19, spans 3.4 nm from Si to Si atom. The stability and solubility of the conjugated oligomers have been evaluated as a function of pendant substitution. Assessment of solid-state structural properties was achieved via X-ray crystallographic analyses of monomer 12 and trimer 14. The electronic characteristics of the monodisperse oligomers have been fully analyzed by UV-vis spectroscopy in solution and as thin films, and these studies suggest that pi-electron communication is present along the enyne framework, but quickly reaches saturation by the stage of nonamer 19.