Synthesis of Bis‐1,2,4‐triazines via Telescoped Condensation of [1,10]‐Phenanthroline‐2,9‐dicarbonitrile with Aromatic 1,2‐Dicarbonyls

Fifty Shades of Phenanthroline: Synthesis Strategies to Functionalize 1,10-Phenanthroline in All Positions

1,10-Phenanthroline (phen) is one of the most popular ligands ever used in coordination chemistry due to its strong affinity for a wide range of metals with various oxidation states. Its polyaromatic structure provides robustness and rigidity, leading to intriguing features in numerous fields (luminescent coordination scaffolds, catalysis, supramolecular chemistry, sensors, theranostics, etc.). Importantly, phen offers eight distinct positions for functional groups to be attached, showcasing remarkable versatility for such a simple ligand. As a result, phen has become a landmark molecule for coordination chemists, serving as a must-use ligand and a versatile platform for designing polyfunctional arrays. The extensive use of substituted phenanthroline ligands with different metal ions has resulted in a diverse array of complexes tailored for numerous applications. For instance, these complexes have been utilized as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells, as luminescent probes modified with antibodies for biomaterials, and in the creation of elegant supramolecular architectures like rotaxanes and catenanes, exemplified by Sauvage's Nobel Prize-winning work in 2016. In summary, phen has found applications in almost every facet of chemistry. An intriguing aspect of phen is the specific reactivity of each pair of carbon atoms ([2,9], [3,8], [4,7], and [5,6]), enabling the functionalization of each pair with different groups and leading to polyfunctional arrays. Furthermore, it is possible to differentiate each position in these pairs, resulting in non-symmetrical systems with tremendous versatility. In this Review, the authors aim to compile and categorize existing synthetic strategies for the stepwise polyfunctionalization of phen in various positions. This comprehensive toolbox will aid coordination chemists in designing virtually any polyfunctional ligand. The survey will encompass seminal work from the 1950s to the present day. The scope of the Review will be limited to 1,10-phenanthroline, excluding ligands with more intracyclic heteroatoms or fused aromatic cycles. Overall, the primary goal of this Review is to highlight both old and recent synthetic strategies that find applicability in the mentioned applications. By doing so, the authors hope to establish a first reference for phenanthroline synthesis, covering all possible positions on the backbone, and hope to inspire all concerned chemists to devise new strategies that have not yet been explored.

Synthesis of Fused [1,2,3]-Triazoloheteroarenes via Intramolecular Azo Annulation of N-Tosylhydrazones Catalyzed by 1,8-Diaza-bicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene

The structural diversity of triazoloheteroarenes render this moiety an attractive synthon for drug discovery, C-H functionalization, and complexant design for minor actinide separations. While contemporary work has demonstrated the capacity to leverage downstream functional group interconversion of the triazolopyridine, a broadly applicable method tolerant of diverse heteroaryl constructs and pendant functionality to obtain triazoloheteroarenes remains under reported. In this work, the serendipitous discovery of a metal, azide, and oxidant free transformation of various heteroaryl N-tosylhydrazones of carbaldehydes and ketones to the corresponding [1,2,3]-triazoloheteroarene via intramolecular azo annulation using a substoichiometric amount of 1,8-diaza-bicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene is described. These results substantively improve upon previous approaches offering efficient access to the described heterocycles. Discovery of reaction conditions, method optimization, complexant, pyridine, and heteroarene substrate scope, as well as relevant scale-up reactions are reported herein.

Next-Generation 3,3'-AlkoxyBTPs as Complexants for Minor Actinide Separation from Lanthanides: A Comprehensive Separations, Spectroscopic, and DFT Study

Progress toward the closure of the nuclear fuel cycle can be achieved if satisfactory separation strategies for the chemoselective speciation of the trivalent actinides from the lanthanides are realized in a nonproliferative manner. Since Kolarik's initial report on the utility of bis-1,2,4-triazinyl-2,6-pyridines (BTPs) in 1999, a perfect complexant-based, liquid-liquid separation system has yet to be realized. In this report, a comprehensive performance assessment for the separation of 241Am3+ from 154Eu3+ as a model system for spent nuclear fuel using hydrocarbon-actuated alkoxy-BTP complexants is described. These newly discovered complexants realize gains that contemporary aryl-substituted BTPs have yet to achieve, specifically: long-term stability in highly concentrated nitric acid solutions relevant to the low pH of unprocessed spent nuclear fuel, high DAm over DEu in the economical, nonpolar diluent Exxal-8, and the demonstrated capacity to complete the separation cycle with high efficiency by depositing the chelated An3+ to the aqueous layer via decomplexation of the metal-ligand complex. These soft-N-donor BTPs are hypothesized to function as bipolar complexants, effectively traversing the organic/aqueous interface for effective chelation and bound metal/ligand complex solubility. Complexant design, separation assays, spectroscopic analysis, single-crystal X-ray crystallographic data, and DFT calculations are reported.

Prediction of An(III)/Ln(III) Separation by 1,2,4-Triazinylpyridine Derivatives

The effect of frustrated Lewis donors on metal selectivity between actinides and lanthanides was studied using a series of novel organic ligands. Structures and thermodynamic energies were predicted in the gas phase, in water, and in butanol using 9-coordinate, explicitly solvated (H₂O) Eu, Gd, Am, and Cm in the +III oxidation state as reactants in the formation of complexes with 2-(6-[1,2,4]-triazin-3-yl-pyridin-2-yl)-1H-indole (Core 1), 3-[6-(2H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazine (Core 2), and several derivatives. These complexations were studied using density functional theory (DFT) incorporating scalar relativistic effects on the actinides and lanthanides using a small core pseudopotential and corresponding basis set. A self-consistent reaction field approach was used to model the effect of water and butanol as solvents. Coordination preferences and metal selectivity are predicted for each ligand. Several ligands are predicted to have a high degree of selectivity, particularly when a low ionization potential in the ligand permits charge transfer to Eu(III), reducing it to Eu(II) and creating a half-filled f⁷ shell. Reasonable separation is predicted between Cm(III) and Gd(III) with Core 1 ligands, possibly due to ligand donor frustration. This separation is largely absent from Core 2 ligands, which are predicted to lose their frustration due to proton transfer from the 2N to the 3N position of the pyrazole component of the ligands via tautomerization.

Synthetic Access to Functionalized Dipolarophiles of Lewis Basic Complexant Scaffolds through Sonogashira Cross-Coupling

Soft Lewis basic complexants that facilitate selective removal of discrete ions resident in spent nuclear fuel can decrease repository volume and radiotoxicity and are of significant interest. Optimization of chelation efficacy is predicated on modular access to synthons to rapidly evaluate structure-activity relationships. The following work highlights efficient access to functionalized synthons for use as potential dipolarophiles in subsequent cycloaddition processes via Sonogashira coupling of 3-(6-bromo-pyridin-2-yl)-[1,2,4]triazine scaffolds. The 41 examples explored during method development evaluated electrophile and nucleophile diversity affording the desired coupled products in 31-96% isolated yield. Method optimization, substrate scope, a scale-up reaction, and downstream product functionalization are reported herein.

Extraction of minor actinides, lanthanides and other fission products by silica-immobilized BTBP/BTPhen ligands

Novel BTBP [bis-(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine]/BTPhen [bis-(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline] functionalized silica gels have been developed to extract minor actinides, lanthanides and other fission products.

Modular Approaches to Diversified Soft Lewis Basic Complexants through Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling of Bromoheteroarenes with Organotrifluoroborates

Remediation or transmutation of spent nuclear fuel obtained as a function of energy production and legacy waste remains a significant environmental concern. Substantive efforts over the last three decades have focused on the potential of soft-Lewis basic complexants for the chemoselective separation of trivalent actinides from lanthanides in biphasic solvent systems. Recent efforts in this laboratory have focused on the concept of modularity to rapidly prepare complexants and complexant scaffolds not easily accessible via traditional linear methods in a convergent manner to better understand solubility and complexation structure/activity function in process-relevant solvents. The current work describes an efficient method for the construction of diversified complexants through multi-Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of bromoheteroarenes with organotrifluoroborates affording efficient access to 22 novel materials in 43-99% yield over two, three, or four cross-couplings on the same scaffold. Optimization of the catalyst/ligand system, application, and limitations are reported herein.

Pd-Catalyzed Diamination of 1,2,4-Triazinyl Complexant Scaffolds

As part of ongoing efforts in this laboratory to design and synthesize multidentate soft-N-donors as effective complexants for chemoselective minor actinide extraction from used nuclear fuel, a series of aminated mono-1,2,4-triazinylpyridines were required. This study focuses on streamlining convergent access to a diverse array of functionalized N-donors using Pd-catalysis from a common synthon affording access to pyridinyl triazines as the 4,4'-amino derivatives which are commercially limited and unsuccessful in traditional condensation chemistry. A general Pd-catalyzed method for the double amination of functionalized pyridinyl-1,2,4-triazines with low catalyst/ligand loadings enabling the formation of 16 novel complexants is presented.