Palladium-mediated cross-coupling reactions involving 3-substituted alkyl (E)-2,3-dibromopropenoates and arylzinc or aryltin derivatives

Engineering giant excitonic coupling in bioinspired, covalently bridged BODIPY dyads

Strong excitonic coupling in photosynthetic systems is believed to enable efficient light absorption and quantitative charge separation, motivating the development of artificial multi-chromophore arrays with equally strong or even stronger excitonic coupling. However, large excitonic coupling strengths have typically been accompanied by fast non-radiative recombination, limiting the potential of the arrays for solar energy conversion as well as other applications such as fluorescent labeling. Here, we report giant excitonic coupling leading to broad optical absorption in bioinspired BODIPY dyads that have high photostability, excited-state lifetimes at the nanosecond scale, and fluorescence quantum yields of nearly 50%. Through the synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, and computational modeling of a series of dyads with different linking moieties, we show that the strongest coupling is obtained with diethynylmaleimide linkers, for which the coupling occurs through space between BODIPY units with small separations and slipped co-facial orientations. Other linkers allow for broad tuning of both the relative through-bond and through-space coupling contributions and the overall strength of interpigment coupling, with a tradeoff observed in general between the strength of the two coupling mechanisms. These findings open the door to the synthesis of molecular systems that function effectively as light-harvesting antennas and as electron donors or acceptors for solar energy conversion.

C-As Bond Formation Reactions for the Preparation of Organoarsenic(III) Compounds

Potential widespread applications of organoarsenic chemistry have been limited by the inherent lack of safe and effective As-C bond formation reactions. Several alternative reagents and methods have been developed in the last few decades to address the hazards and drawbacks associated with traditional arsenic synthetic strategies. Herein, this minireview summarizes the advances made in nucleophilic, electrophilic, radical and metal-mediated As(III)-C bond formations while specifically highlighting the behavior of arsenic synthons with various well-established reagents (eg. Grignard reagents, organolithium compounds, organometallic reagents, radical initiators and Lewis/Brønsted bases). Avenues for asymmetric synthesis are also discussed, as are recent advances in organoarsenic chemistry suggesting that arsines exhibit novel reactivities independent from that of other relatively more well explored Group V cogeners.

Photoisomerization of Enediynyl Linker Leads to Slipped Cofacial Hydroporphyrin Dyads with Strong Through-Bond and Through-Space Electronic Interactions

Photoisomerization of 3,4-di(methoxycarbonyl)-enediyne linker in hydroporphyrin (chlorin or bacteriochlorin) dyads leads to thermally stable cis isomers, where macrocycles adopt a slipped cofacial mutual geometry with an edge-to-edge distance of ∼3.6 Å (determined by density functional theory (DFT) calculations). Absorption spectra exhibit a significant splitting of the long-wavelength Q_y band, which indicates a strong electronic coupling with a strength of V = ∼477 cm^-1 that increases to 725 cm^-1 upon metalation of hydroporphyrins. Each dyad features a broad, structureless emission band, with large Stokes shift, which is indicative of excimer formation. DFT calculations for dyads show both strong through-bond electronic coupling and through-space electronic interactions, due to the overlap of π-orbitals. Overall, geometry, electronic structure, strength of electronic interactions, and optical properties of reported dyads closely resemble those observed for photosynthetic special pairs. Dyads reported here represent a novel type of photoactive arrays with various modes of electronic interactions between chromophores. Combining through-bond and through-space coupling appears to be a viable strategy to engineer novel optical and photochemical properties in organic conjugated materials.

Investigating palladium pincer complexes in catalytic asymmetric hydrophosphination and hydroarsination

Given the periodic relationship of phosphines and arsines, is remodeling the catalytic asymmetric hydrophosphination reaction an efficient manner to develop the corresponding hydroarsination reaction? Herein, a chiral PCP-Pd(ii) pincer complex adept at generating enantioenriched phosphines was examined in the asymmetric hydroarsination reaction. Under distinct conditions, tertiary phosphines and arsines were generated in excellent yields (P: 96%, As: 91%) and ees (P: 90%, As: 85%). While secondary arsine reagents were not direct substitutes for the analogous phosphines, important parameters were identified which increased yield and ee of the hydroarsination reaction. Unlike the PCP-PdOAc pincer complex commonly used for hydrophosphinations, hydroarsination reactions involved a PCP-PdCl catalyst with 10 equiv. of CsF for optimal performance. Notable differences between the two reactions and their workup procedures were highlighted to guide further developments in the field. Lastly, respective mechanisms were proposed and contrasted for the activation of HEPh2 (E = P, As).

Nickel-catalyzed reductive arylation of activated alkynes with aryl iodides

The direct, regioselective, and stereoselective arylation of activated alkynes with aryl iodides using a nickel catalyst and manganese reductant is described. The reaction conditions are mild (40 °C in MeOH, no acid or base) and an intermediate organomanganese reagent is unlikely. Functional groups tolerated include halides and pseudohalides, free and protected anilines, and a benzyl alcohol. Other activated alkynes including an amide and a ketone also reacted to form arylated products in good yields.

(E)- and (Z)-stereodefined enol phosphonates derived from β-ketoesters: stereocomplementary synthesis of fully-substituted α,β-unsaturated esters

A versatile, robust, and stereocomplementary synthesis of fully-substituted (E)- and (Z)-stereodefined α,β-unsaturated esters 3 from accessible α-substituted β-ketoesters 1via (E)- and (Z)-enol phosphonates was achieved.

Palladium(II) thiocarboxamide complexes: synthesis, characterisation and application to catalytic Suzuki coupling reactions

A simple route to synthesise palladium(II) complexes from the reaction of N-substituted pyridine-2-thiocarboxamide ligands and PdCl(2)(PPh(3))(2) has been developed. The new complexes are very soluble in common solvents and have been fully characterised (elemental analysis, FT-IR, (1)H, (31)P, (13)C-NMR), including an X-ray diffraction analysis. The molecular structures of all the complexes were determined and reveal the presence of square planar geometry around Pd with little distortion. The complexes were tested in the Suzuki coupling of electronically deactivated aryl and heteroaryl bromides and were found to have much greater activity, without using any promoting additives or phase transfer agent under aerobic conditions. Higher reaction rates are obtained by varying R substituents on the aromatic ring of pyridine-2-thiocarboxamide. The effect of other variables on the cross-coupling reaction, such as temperature, solvent and base, is also reported.

General and efficient route for the synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted coumarins via Pd-catalyzed site-selective cross-coupling reactions

Palladium-catalyzed site-selective cross-coupling reactions of 3-bromo-4-trifloxycoumarin or 3-bromo-4-tosyloxycoumarin provide an efficient and facile route for the synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted coumarins, which include 3,4-diarylcoumarins, 3-amino-4-arylcoumarins, and 3-aryl-4-aminocoumarins. The order of reactivity of the (pseudo)halide substituents in the coumarins was found to be 4-OTf > 3-Br > 4-OTs.

Single-Isomer Tetrasubstituted Olefins from Regioselective and Stereospecific Palladium-Catalyzed Coupling of β-Chloro-α-iodo-α,β-unsaturated Esters

The efficient regioselective and stereospecific synthesis of tetrasubstituted olefins using a mild and convenient method is disclosed. 2-Alkynyl esters are selectively converted to E-beta-chloro-alpha-iodo-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters by exposure to Bu4NI in refluxing dichloroethane. These products are produced cleanly, regio- and stereoselectively, and in high yields. Single-isomer tetrasubstituted olefins bearing four different carbon substituents are then synthesized by sequential palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions. Selectivity results from reactivity differences in the intermediate substrates.