Evidence for an Oxygen Anthracene Sandwich Complex

Structure and Photophysical Properties of 1,1,2,2-Tetra(1-anthryl)ethane: A C(sp3 )-C(sp3 ) Bond Substituted with Four Anthracene Units

The title aromatic compound comprising four anthracene units was synthesized by the McMurry coupling of di(1-anthryl) ketone as a hydrogenated product in 65 % yield. The molecule forms a C₂ symmetric structure with the ap conformation about the C(sp³ )-C(sp³ ) single bond, as revealed by X-ray analysis and DFT calculations. The UV/vis and fluorescence spectra of this compound were compared with those of anthracene, di(1-anthryl)methane, and 1,2-di(1-anthryl)ethane. The fluorescence spectrum showed a broad emission band at 450 nm having a long lifetime at 21 ns, which was assignable to an excimer-type emission, in contrast to the other reference compounds. The characteristic photophysical property is discussed in terms of the molecular structure with the aid of the noncovalent interaction plots and the conformational analysis.

Pyridinium Alkynylanthracenes as Sensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a mild but effective method to treat certain types of cancer upon irradiation with visible light. Here, three isomeric methylpyridinium alkynylanthracenes 1o─p were evaluated as sensitizers for PDT. Upon irradiation with blue or green light, all three compounds show the ability to initiate strand breaks of plasmid DNA. The mayor species responsible for cleavage is singlet oxygen (¹ O₂ ) as confirmed by scavenging reagents. Only isomers 1m and 1p can be incorporated into HeLa cells, whereas isomer 1o cannot permeate through the membrane. While isomer 1m targets the cell nucleus, isomer 1p assembles in the cellular cytoplasm and impacts the cellular integrity. This is in accordance with a moderate toxicity of 1p in the dark, whereas 1m exhibits no dark toxicity. Both isomers are suitable as PDT reagents, with a CC₅₀ of 3 μm and 75 nm, for 1p and 1m, respectively. Thus, derivative 1m, which can be easily synthesized, becomes an interesting candidate for cancer therapy.

Photo-Induced Polymer Cyclization via Supramolecular Confinement of Cyanostilbenes

Efficient synthesis of cyclic polymers has received much attention in polymer chemistry field. Although photochemical cycloaddition of terminal π-bonded units provides a plausible way toward cyclic polymerization, it remains challenging to avoid side reactions by manipulating the reaction selectivity. Herein supramolecular confinement has been developed as a promising strategy to address this issue, by introducing highly directional hydrogen bonds to the photo-reactive cyanostilbenes. The cyanostilbenes units on both ends of a telechelic macromonomer are orientationally aligned with high local concentrations, yielding [2+2] photo-cycloaddition products upon 430 nm light irradiation. It leads to the formation of cyclic polymers in the self-assembled state, in stark contrast to Z-E isomerization of cyanostilbenes in the monomeric state. Overall, supramolecular confinement effect exemplified in the current study provides new avenues toward cyclic topological polymers with high synthetic efficiency.

A Rational Approach to Tetra-Functional Photo-Switches

α,ω-Bis(1,8-dichloroanthracen-10-yl)alkanes with (CH2) n -linker units (n=1-4) were synthesized starting from 1,8-dichloroanthracen-10(9H)-one. This was transformed into anthracenes with allyl, bromomethyl and propargyl substituents in position 10; these were converted in various C-C-bond formation reactions (plus hydrogenation), leading to two anthracene units flexibly linked by α,ω-alkandiyl groups. 1,2-Ethandiyl- and 1,3-propandiyl-linked derivatives were functionalized with ethynyl groups in positions 1, 8, 1' and 8', and these terminally functionalized by Me3Sn groups using Me2NSnMe3. All linked bisanthracenes were subjected to UV light induced cyclomerization and a series of 9,10 : 9',10'-photo-cyclomers were obtained. Their thermal cycloreversion and (repeated) switchability was demonstrated. 1,3-Bis{1,8-bis[(trimethylstannyl)ethynyl]anthracen-10-yl}propane served as model compound for photo-switchable acceptor molecules and its open and closed forms were characterized by NMR and DOSY experiments.

Arene Ruthenium Metalla-Assemblies with Anthracene Moieties for PDT Applications

The synthesis and characterization of three metalla-rectangles of the general formula [Ru4(η6-p-cymene)4(μ4-clip)2(μ2-Lanthr)2][CF3SO3]4 (Lanthr: 9,10-bis(3,3’-ethynylpyridyl) anthracene; clip = oxa: oxalato; dobq: 2,5-dioxido-1,4-benzoquinonato; donq: 5,8-dioxido-1,4-naphthoquinonato) are presented. The molecular structure of the metalla-rectangle [Ru4(η6-p-cymene)4(μ4-oxa)2(μ2-Lanthr)2]4+ has been confirmed by the single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of [Ru4(η6-p-cymene)4(μ4-oxa)2(μ2-Lanthr)2][CF3SO3]4 · 4 acetone (A2 · 4 acetone), thus showing the anthracene moieties to be available for reaction with oxygen. While the formation of the endoperoxide form of Lanthr was observed in solution upon white light irradiation, the same reaction does not occur when Lanthr is part of the metalla-assemblies.

Base catalysed decomposition of anthracene endoperoxide

Anthracene endoperoxide (EPO) decomposes even under very mild basic conditions to anthraquinone (AQ) and hydrogen peroxide by an interesting mechanism, proposed herein.

Intramolecular Transfer of Singlet Oxygen

The intramolecular transfer of energy (FRET) and electrons (Dexter) are of great interest for the scientific community and are well-understood. In contrast, the intramolecular transfer of singlet oxygen ((1)O2), a reactive and short-lived oxygen species, has until now been unknown. This process would be very interesting because (1)O2 plays an important role in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Herein, we present the first successful intramolecular transfer of (1)O2 from a donor to acceptor. Also, we found a dependence of conformation and temperature comparable with those of FRET. We provide several pieces of evidence for the intramolecular character of this transfer, including competition experiments. Our studies should be interesting not only from the theoretical and mechanistic point of view but also for the design of new (1)O2 donors and applications in PDT.

Reactivity of a pyridinium-substituted dimethyldihydropyrene switch under aerobic conditions: self-sensitized photo-oxygenation and thermal release of singlet oxygen

A reversible photo-switch is converted into an endoperoxide when irradiated with red light under air. This photo-produced species thermally releases ¹O₂.

Internal and external stereoisomers of squaraine rotaxane endoperoxide: synthesis, chemical differences, and structural revision

Photooxygenation of permanently interlocked squaraine rotaxanes with anthracene-containing macrocycles produces the corresponding squaraine rotaxane endoperoxides (SREPs) quantitatively. SREPs are stored at low temperature, and upon warming, they undergo clean cycloreversion, releasing singlet oxygen and emitting light. The structural elucidation in 2010 assigned the structure as the SREP-int stereoisomer, with the endoperoxide unit directed inside the macrocycle cavity. New experimental and computational evidence reported here proves that the initial, kinetic photooxygenation product is the less stable SREP-ext stereoisomer with the endoperoxide unit directed outside the macrocycle. The photophysical properties and subsequent reactivity of mechanically strained SREP-ext depend on the size of the end groups of the encapsulated squaraine dye. If the end groups are sufficiently large to prevent dissociation of the interlocked components, the strained SREP-ext stereoisomer undergoes clean thermal cycloreversion. However, smaller squaraine end groups allow transient dissociation, resulting in a pseudorotaxane dissociation/association process that produces SREP-int as the thermodynamic stereoisomer that does not cyclorevert. The large difference in endoperoxide reactivity for the two SREP stereoisomers illustrates the power of the mechanical bond to induce cross-component steric strain and selective enhancement of a specific reaction pathway. The new insight enabled synthetic development of triptycene-containing squaraine rotaxanes with high fluorescence quantum yields and large Stokes shifts.