Synthesis, characterization, and optical properties of a cyano-functionalized 2,3,7,8-tetraaryl-1,6-dioxapyrene

Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Triple Aryl/Alkenyl C-H Bond Activation of Aryl Enaminones to Access Naphtho[1,8-bc]pyrans

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed triple C-H bond activation of aryl enaminones was achieved to access naphtho[1,8-bc]pyrans by oxidative annulation to internal alkynes. 1-Naphthols might be formed as the only products, depending on the steric and/or electronic environment around the aroyl moiety of the aryl enaminones or the electronic impact from the alkynes. With propargyl alcohols as the masked terminal alkynes, aryl enaminones underwent rhodium(III)- or rhodium(I)-catalyzed internal alkenyl C-H bond activation to afford functionalized but-2-ene-1,4-diones. The resultant naphtho[1,8-bc]pyrans are highly fluorescent and can be further transformed by chlorination, bromination, and difluoromethylation, demonstrating potential practicability of the synthetic protocol.

Oxidative [4 + 2] annulation of 1-naphthols with alkynes accelerated by an electron-deficient rhodium(III) catalysts

The 1,3-diethoxycarbonyl-2,4,5-trimethylcyclopentadienyl (Cp^E) rhodium(III) complex displayed high efficacy in the catalytic oxidative annulation of 1-naphthols with internal alkynes under mild conditions. DFT calculations revealed that lower activation energies for the concerted metalation-deprotonation and the reductive elimination steps are the key to improved reactivity.

Hydroxyl-Directed Ruthenium-Catalyzed peri-Selective C-H Acylmethylation and Annulation of Naphthols with Sulfoxonium Ylides

Herein, we report a highly efficient ruthenium-catalyzed peri-selective C(sp²)-H acylmethylation of 1-naphthols with α-carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides by utilizing hydroxyl as a weakly coordinating directing group. This new method imparts good reactivity, excellent chemo- and regioselectivity, and broad functional group tolerance and involves mild reaction conditions. The C-H acylmethylated products can be readily cyclized into fluorescent annulated pyrans by a one-pot process.

A new donor for charge-transfer systems: synthesis and properties of 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-1,6-dithiapyrene (TMDTP) and structure of (TMDTP)3(PF6)2·2THF and TMDTP–TCNQ

The heterocyclic donor molecule 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-1,6-dithiapyrene (TMDTP) has been synthesized in five steps. Oxidation of TMDTP is facile (E₁^1/2 = 0.27 V and E₂^1/2 = 0.79 V vs. SCE). The charge-transfer complex, TMDTP–TCNQ, has been prepared and the salt, (TMDTP)₃(PF₆)₂·2THF, obtained by electrocrystallization. The structure of TMDTP, TMDTP–TCNQ and (TMDTP)₃(PF₆)₂·2THF has been characterized by X-ray crystallography and computationally.

The heterocyclic donor molecule 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-1,6-dithiapyrene (TMDTP) has been synthesized in five steps. The charge-transfer complex, TMDTP–TCNQ, has been prepared and the salt, (TMDTP)₃(PF6)₂·2THF, obtained by electrocrystallization.

Synthetic Study on Naphthospironone A: Construction of Benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octene Skeleton with Oxaspirocycle

In connection with the total synthesis of naphthospironone A, a model study has revealed a promising approach to construct a benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octene skeleton possessing an oxaspirocycle by employing an intramolecular aldol cyclization.

Rhodium-catalyzed cascade oxidative annulation leading to substituted naphtho[1,8-bc]pyrans by sequential cleavage of C(sp2)-H/C(sp3)-H and C(sp2)-H/O-H bonds

The cascade oxidative annulation reactions of benzoylacetonitrile with internal alkynes proceed efficiently in the presence of a rhodium catalyst and a copper oxidant to give substituted naphtho[1,8-bc]pyrans by sequential cleavage of C(sp(2))-H/C(sp(3))-H and C(sp(2))-H/O-H bonds. These cascade reactions are highly regioselective with unsymmetrical alkynes. Experiments reveal that the first-step reaction proceeds by sequential cleavage of C(sp(2))-H/C(sp(3))-H bonds and annulation with alkynes, leading to 1-naphthols as the intermediate products. Subsequently, 1-naphthols react with alkynes by cleavage of C(sp(2))-H/O-H bonds, affording the 1:2 coupling products. Moreover, some of the naphtho[1,8-bc]pyran products exhibit intense fluorescence in the solid state.