Synthesis and Basicity Studies of Quinolino[7,8-h]quinoline Derivatives

Quinolino[7,8-h]quinoline is a superbasic compound, with a pK_aH in acetonitrile greater than that of 1,8-bis(dimethylaminonaphthalene) (DMAN), although its synthesis and the synthesis of its derivatives can be problematic. The use of halogen derivatives 4,9-dichloroquinolino[7,8-h]quinoline (16) and 4,9-dibromoquinolino[7,8-h]quinoline (17) as precursors has granted the formation of a range of substituted quinolinoquinolines. The basicity and other properties of quinolinoquinolines can be modified by the inclusion of suitable functionalities. The experimentally obtained pK_aH values of quinolino[7,8-h]quinoline derivatives show that N⁴,N⁴,N⁹,N⁹-tetraethylquinolino[7,8-h]quinoline-4,9-diamine (26) is more superbasic than quinolino[7,8-h]quinoline. Computationally derived pK_aH values of quinolinoquinolines functionalized with dimethylamino (NMe₂), 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidino (N═C(NMe₂)₂) or N,N,N',N',N″,N″-hexamethylphosphorimidic triamido (N═P(NMe₂)₃) groups are significantly greater than those of quinolino[7,8-h]quinoline. Overall, electron-donating functionalities are observed to increase the basicity of the quinolinoquinoline moiety, while the substitution of electron-withdrawing groups lowers the basicity.

Orthoamide und Iminiumsalze, IIC. Darstellung von N-(ω-Ammonioalkyl)-N,N′,N′,N″,N″-peralkylierten Guanidiniumsalzen und N-(ω-Aminoalkyl)-N′,N′,N″,N″-tetramethylguanidinen

N,N,N′,N′-Tetraalkylchlorformamidiniumchlorides 1a, b react with ω-dimethylaminoalkylamines 19, 20 to give mixtures of N-(ω-dimethylammonioalkyl)-guanidinium salts 12, 13 and N-(ω-dimethylaminoalkyl)-guanidinium salts 21, 22. These mixtures are transformed to mixtures of the ureas 15, 17 and N-(ω-dimethylaminoalkyl)-guanidines 23, 25 on treatment with aqueous sodium hydroxide. The reaction of N-(3-dimethylammoniopropyl)-guanidin 25a with dimethylsulfate in a molar ratio of 1:1 delivers a mixture of the N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N,N,N′,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyl-guanidinium salt 29a and the N-(3-dimethylammoniopropyl)-N,N′,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyl-guanidinium-bis (methylsulfate) 33a. The action of dimethylsulfate on the guanidines 23a, 25a in a molar ratio of 2:1 affords the bisquarternary salts 32a, 33a. Alkylating reagents as methyliodide, benzylbromide, allylbromide and chloroacetonitrile attack N-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-N′,N′,N″,N″-tetraethylguanidine (23b) in a molar ratio of 1:1 cleanly at the dimethylaminoethylgroup to give the ammonium salts 30a–d. As a strong base the guanidine 23b dehydrochlorinates β-Chlorpropionitrile and chloroacetone under formation of the guanidinium salt 21c. In contrast to this the reaction of ethyl bromoacetate with the N-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)guanidine 23b occurs at the guanidinogroup giving the guanidinium salt 28c. The methylation of the guanidinium chlorides 21a, 22a with dimethyl sulfate affords the bis-quaternary salts 35b, 36b with mixed anions. From the heterocyclic guanidines 14, 16 and the alkylating reagents benzylbromide and ethyl bromoacetate the heterocyclic guanidinium salts 37a, b, 39a, b can be obtained. The reactions with ethyl chloroformiate proceed in an analogous way giving the guanidinium salts 37c, 39c. The N-alkyl-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-(3-ureidopropyl)guanidinium salts 41a, b can be prepared from the N′,N′,N″,N″-tetramethyl-N′′-(3-ureidopropyl) guanidine 17a and the alkylating compounds dimethyl sulfate and benzyl bromide. Several compounds obtained that way were transformed to the corresponding tetraphenyloborates and bis(tetraphenylborates), respectively.

1,2,5,6-Tetrakis(guanidino)-Naphthalenes: Electron Donors, Fluorescent Probes and Redox-Active Ligands

New redox-active 1,2,5,6-tetrakis(guanidino)-naphthalene compounds, isolable and storable in the neutral and deep-green dicationic redox states and oxidisable further in two one-electron steps to the tetracations, are reported. Protonation switches on blue fluorescence, with the fluorescence intensity (quantum yield) increasing with the degree of protonation. Reactions with N-halogenosuccinimides or N-halogenophthalimides led to a series of new redox-active halogeno- and succinimido-/phthalimido-substituted derivatives. These highly selective reactions are proposed to proceed via the tri- or tetracationic state as the intermediate. The derivatives are oxidised reversibly at slightly higher potentials than that of the unsubstituted compounds to dications and further to tri- and tetracations. The integration of redox-active ligands in the transition-metal complexes shifts the redox potentials to higher values and also allows reversible oxidation in two potentially separated one-electron steps.

Metal-catalysed reactions enabled by guanidine-type ligands

A review of metal–guanidine complexes, which are selective and powerful catalysts for organic transformations, asymmetric synthesis, and polymerisation.

Redox-controlled hydrogen bonding: turning a superbase into a strong hydrogen-bond donor

Herein the synthesis, structures and properties of hydrogen-bonded aggregates involving redox-active guanidine superbases are reported. Reversible hydrogen bonding is switched on by oxidation of the hydrogen-donor unit, and leads to formation of aggregates in which the hydrogen-bond donor unit is sandwiched by two hydrogen-bond acceptor units. Further oxidation (of the acceptor units) leads again to deaggregation. Aggregate formation is associated with a distinct color change, and the electronic situation could be described as a frozen stage on the way to hydrogen transfer. A further increase in the basicity of the hydrogen-bond acceptor leads to deprotonation reactions.