Preparation of extended di(4-pyridyl)thiophene oligomers

Nucleophilic Dearomatization of Activated Pyridines Using Vinyl Sulfoxonium Ylides: Application to the Synthesis of Bis-Heterocycles

A highly efficient method has been developed for synthesizing 4-dienyl dihydropyridines through the nucleophilic dearomatization of activated pyridines using vinyl sulfoxonium ylides. This reaction follows the sequence involving ylide addition to activated pyridine, [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, and subsequent sulfenic acid elimination. The resulting 4-dienyl dihydropyridines are then used in the synthesis of highly substituted bis-heterocyles. Control experiments and quantum chemical calculations were conducted to elucidate the selectivity and the mechanistic pathway.

Fabrication of Completely Polymer-Based Solar Cells with p- and n-Type Semiconducting Block Copolymers with Electrically Inert Polystyrene

It is widely recognized that fullerene derivatives show several advantages as n-type materials in photovoltaic applications. However, conventional [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) exhibits weak absorption in the visible region, and poor morphological stability, due to the facile aggregation. For further improvement of the device performance and durability, utilization of n-type polymeric materials instead of PCBM is considered to be a good way to solve the problems. In this study, we fabricated completely polymer-based solar cells utilizing p- and n-type block copolymers consisting of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and poly{[N,N′-bis(2-octyldodecyl)naphthalene-1,4,5,8-bis(dicarboximide)-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5′-(2,2′-bithiophene)} [P(NDI2OD-T2)], respectively, containing common polystyrene (PSt) inert blocks, which decreased the size of phase separated structures. Electron mobility in synthesized P(NDI2OD-T2)-b-PSt film enhanced by a factor of 8 compared with homopolymer. The root mean square roughness of the blend film of two block copolymers (12.2 nm) was decreased, compared with that of the simple homopolymers blend (18.8 nm). From the current density-voltage characteristics, it was confirmed that the introduction of PSt into both P3HT and P(NDI2OD-T2) improves short-circuit current density (1.16 to 1.73 mA cm⁻²) and power-conversion efficiency (0.24% to 0.32%). Better performance is probably due to the uniformity of the phase separation, and the enhancement of charge mobility.

Linquats: Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties of Linear Extended Diquats

We report an innovative synthetic route to linear extended diquats (linquats). Our approach is short and efficient and features a highly modular reaction sequence based on two-fold quaternization followed by the key intramolecular [2+2+2] alkyne cycloaddition. The physico-chemical properties of four new linquats were characterized by spectroscopic methods, X-ray crystallography, and electrochemistry complemented by information obtained from DFT calculations. Electron deficient N-heteroaromatic cations with linear extended diquat motif with high electron affinities have been recently recognized as attractive n-type semiconductors for chemical and biological sensing. Their advantageous redox properties such as very fast reversible electron transfers make the title compounds interesting for applications.

Oligoarylenes end-capped with carbazol-N-yl-carbazole as color tunable light-emitting and hole-transporting materials for solution-processed OLEDs

A series of oligoarylenes (CAr) exhibited blue to red fluorescence with hole-transporting properties. Simple structured solution-processed CAr-based OLEDs emitted stable colors spanning the visible spectrum and white light with luminance efficiencies up to 13.73 cd A⁻¹.

Electrochromic Polymer Films Containing Re(I) and Pt(II) Metal Centers

Three Re(I) complexes (3, 5, and 7) (Re(CO)3Cl(L)2) and three new Pt(II) complexes (4, 6, and 8) ([Pt(P(Et)3)2(L)2](OTf)2), where L = pyridine, 1 (4-Py-EDOT) or 2 (4-Py-bithiophene), were prepared and characterized. The solid-state structures of 4 and 5 were determined by X-ray crystallography. Electrochromic polymeric films of 2, 5, and 6 were prepared and characterized.

Dinuclear palladium–azido complexes containing thiophene derivatives: reactivity toward organic isocyanides and isothiocyanates

Cyclopalladated tetranuclear Pd(II) complexes, [Pd2(micro-Cl)2(Y)]2 (Y = L1 or L2; H2L1 = di(2-pyridyl)-2,2'-bithiophene; H2L2 = 5,5''-di(2-pyridyl)-2,2':5',2''-terthiophene), containing two pyridyl-alpha, alpha'-disubstituted derivatives of thiophene were prepared. Treating these products with PR3 and subsequently with NaN3 produced the dinuclear Pd-azido complexes [(PR3)2(N3)Pd-Y-Pd(N3)(PR3)2] (Y = L1 or L2) or a cyclometallated complex [(PR3)(N3)Pd-Y'-Pd(N3)(PR3)] (Y' = C,N-L2). Reactions of these Pd-azido complexes with CN-Ar (Ar = 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3), 2,6-i-Pr(2)C(6)H(3)) or R-NCS (R = i-Pr, Et, allyl) led to the complexes containing end-on carbodiimido groups [(PMe3)2(N[double bond]C[double bond]N-Ar)Pd-Y-Pd(N[double bond]C[double bond]N-Ar)(PMe3)2] or S-coordinated tetrazole-thiolato groups {(PMe3)2[CN4(R)]S-Pd-Y-Pd-S[CN4)(R)](PMe3)2}. Interestingly, when treated with elemental sulfur, the carbodiimido complexes transformed into the cyclometallated derivatives, [(PMe3)(N[double bond]C[double bond]N-Ar)Pd-Y'-Pd(N[double bond]C[double bond]N-Ar)(PMe3)] (Y' = C,N-L1, C,N-L2). We also report the preparation of linear, thienylene-bridged dinuclear Pd complexes [L2(N3)Pd-X(or X')-Pd(N3)L2] (L = PMe3 or PMe2Ph; H2X = 2,2'-bithiophene or H2X' = 2,2':5',2''-terthiophene) and their reactivity toward organic isocyanide and isothiocyanates.

One-step template-directed synthesis of a macrocyclic tetraarylporphyrin hexamer based on supramolecular interactions with a C3-symmetric tetraarylporphyrin trimer

Taking into consideration the model geometry of the macrocyclic hexaporphyrin 1 as a host molecule, the structure of a benzene-centered porphyrin trimer bearing pyridine rings at the apical positions has been designed with the aim to use the latter as a template for the synthesis of its own host. Indeed, in the presence of the porphyrin trimer 5, the yield of the cyclization of a linear porphyrin hexamer, as a precursor of 1, could be improved from 8 to 30% (variable yield) to 50% (reproducible yield). Even the condensation of equimolecular amounts of porphyrin monomers 20b and 21b in the presence of 5 led--probably through a loose preorganized complex between the latter and the Zn(II) chelate 20b--to the formation of 1 in only five steps from 19, as compared with 13 steps of the synthesis via linear porphyrin hexamer in the absence of template. As evidenced by 1H NMR spectroscopic analysis of the supramolecular complex between 5 and an analogue of 1b in which all H-atoms at the pyrrole rings have been replaced by deuterium, in the presence of unlabeled 1b, a rapid dissociation and recombination of the host and guest molecules forming the supramolecular complex takes place even at low temperature (-40 degrees C). As at 55 degrees C all six Zn(II) porphyrinate rings of the complex 1b + 5 become magnetically equivalent in the 500 MHz 1H NMR time scale, approximate kinetic data for the ligand exchange process could be obtained.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Highly Reducing Neutral “Extended Viologen” and the Isostructural Hydrocarbon 4,4‘ ‘‘ ‘-Di-n-octyl-p-quaterphenyl

The molecule 4,4''''-di-n-octyl-p-quaterphenyl was synthesized in one step by a nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction. Powder X-ray diffraction shows that it crystallizes in a layered structure with the long axis of the molecule nearly perpendicular to the layer plane. Differential scanning calorimetry indicates a transition to a liquid-crystalline phase at 81 degrees C. Reaction of 4,4'-bis(4-pyridyl)biphenyl with 1-bromooctane yields the dication 2(2+) 2Br-, an "extended viologen" isostructural with 4,4''''-di-n-octyl-p-quaterphenyl. Reduction of 2(2+) 2Br- with sodium amalgam in DMF yields 2, the first neutral extended viologen to be isolated. The molecule 2 is, to the best of our knowledge, the most reducing neutral organic molecule that has been synthesized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that a diradical form, either singlet or triplet, makes an important contribution to the electronic structure of 2. The broadened 1H NMR spectrum of 2 indicates the presence of a triplet, but it has not been possible to observe the triplet by ESR spectroscopy. The electronic structure of 2 appears to be closely related to that of a classic molecule, Chichibabin's hydrocarbon.

Palladium-catalyzed C-H homocoupling of thiophenes: facile construction of bithiophene structure

Palladium-catalyzed C-H homocoupling of thiophene derivatives takes place in the presence of silver(I) fluoride or acetate. A variety of bithiophenes are obtained in good to excellent yields. In particular, the reaction of 2-bromothiophene proceeds at room temperature to afford 5,5'-dibromo-2,2'-bithiophene, where the bromine atom is completely intact in the palladium-catalyzed reaction. XRD analysis reveals that silver fluoride is reduced to silver(0) during the reaction.

Cross-coupling reactions of phenylmagnesium halides with fluoroazines and fluorodiazines

The first nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions between fluoroarenes and aryl organometallics using commercially available ligands are described. The nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions between aryl Grignard reagents and fluoroazines and -diazines occurred in THF at room temperature using commercially available 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane, or 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene as ligand. Various fluoro substrates such as pyridines, diazines (pyrazine, pyridazine), benzodiazines (quinoxaline), and quinolines were successfully involved in the reaction with phenylmagnesium halides (phenylmagnesium chloride, 2-methoxyphenylmagnesium bromide, and 4-methoxyphenylmagnesium bromide). The conditions used also allowed the cross-coupling of 4-fluorotoluene with arylmagnesium reagents.

Sulfonamidopyrrolidinone factor Xa inhibitors: potency and selectivity enhancements via P-1 and P-4 optimization

Sulfonamidopyrrolidinones were previously disclosed as a selective class of factor Xa (fXa) inhibitors, culminating in the identification of RPR120844 as a potent member with efficacy in vivo. Recognizing the usefulness of the central pyrrolidinone template for the presentation of ligands to the S-1 and S-4 subsites of fXa, studies to optimize the P-1 and P-4 groups were initiated. Sulfonamidopyrrolidinones containing 4-hydroxy- and 4-aminobenzamidines were discovered to be effective inhibitors of fXa. X-ray crystallographic experiments in trypsin and molecular modeling studies suggest that our inhibitors bind by insertion of the 4-hydroxybenzamidine moiety into the S-1 subsite of the fXa active site. Of the P-4 groups examined, the pyridylthienyl sulfonamides were found to confer excellent potency and selectivity especially in combination with 4-hydroxybenzamidine. Compound 20b (RPR130737) was shown to be a potent fXa inhibitor (K(i) = 2 nM) with selectivity against structurally related serine proteinases (>1000 times). Preliminary biological evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness of this inhibitor in common assays of thrombosis in vitro (e.g. activated partial thromboplastin time) and in vivo (e.g. rat FeCl(2)-induced carotid artery thrombosis model).