Pyrrole-Based Anion-Responsive π-Electronic Molecules as Hydrogen-Bonding Catalysts

Molybdenum Complex-Catalyzed N-Alkylation of Bulky Primary and Secondary Amines

Aliphatic allylic amines are present in a large number of complex and pharmaceutically relevant molecules. The direct amination of allylic electrophiles serves as the most common method toward the preparation of these motifs. However, the use of feedstock reaction components (allyl alcohol and aliphatic amine) in these transformations remains a great challenge. Such a challenge primarily stems from the high Lewis basicity and large steric hindrance of aliphatic amines, in addition to the low reactivity of allylic alcohols. Herein, we report a general solution to these challenges. The developed protocol allows an efficient allylic amination of allyl alcohols with sterically bulky aliphatic amines in the presence of an inexpensive earth-abundant molybdenum complex. This simple and economic protocol also enables regioselective branched amination; the practicality of the reaction was shown in an efficient, scaled-up synthesis of several drugs.

Remote control of anion binding by CH-based receptors

We show that the substitution of tetra(benzimidazole)resorcin[4]arenes with electron withdrawing groups on the upper rim enhances anion binding at the opposite edge by more than three orders of magnitude. Moreover, selective anion binding at either the OH/NH or CH binding sites is demonstrated.

Recent Strategies in the Nucleophilic Dearomatization of Pyridines, Quinolines, and Isoquinolines

Dearomatization reactions have become fundamental chemical transformations in organic synthesis since they allow for the generation of three-dimensional complexity from two-dimensional precursors, bridging arene feedstocks with alicyclic structures. When those processes are applied to pyridines, quinolines, and isoquinolines, partially or fully saturated nitrogen heterocycles are formed, which are among the most significant structural components of pharmaceuticals and natural products. The inherent challenge of those transformations lies in the low reactivity of heteroaromatic substrates, which makes the dearomatization process thermodynamically unfavorable. Usually, connecting the dearomatization event to the irreversible formation of a strong C-C, C-H, or C-heteroatom bond compensates the energy required to disrupt the aromaticity. This aromaticity breakup normally results in a 1,2- or 1,4-functionalization of the heterocycle. Moreover, the combination of these dearomatization processes with subsequent transformations in tandem or stepwise protocols allows for multiple heterocycle functionalizations, giving access to complex molecular skeletons. The aim of this review, which covers the period from 2016 to 2022, is to update the state of the art of nucleophilic dearomatizations of pyridines, quinolines, and isoquinolines, showing the extraordinary ability of the dearomative methodology in organic synthesis and indicating their limitations and future trends.

Direct Two Carbon Ring Expansion of 1-Indanones with Ynones: An Eco-Friendly, One-Flask Approach to Functionally Enriched 5H-Benzo[7]annulenes

Direct 2C-ring expansion of 1-indanones with ynones to 5H-benzo[7]annulenes has been observed, and its generality has been gauged (19 examples). Overall, this simple and convenient cascade process to 5H-benzo[7]annulenes involves engagement of 1-indanone with two ynone moieties with formation of three new C-C σ-bonds, cleavage of C-C σ-bond, and concurrent functionality amplification. The resulting seven-membered ring, laced with an opportunistic disposition of four proximal functional groups, offers avenues for their further productive interplay. Our new approach embraces many green and eco-friendly features.

Synthesis and Photovoltaic Properties of Boron β-Ketoiminate Dyes Forming a Linear Donor-π-Acceptor Structure

Organoboron complexes are of interest as chromophores for dye sensitizers owing to their light-harvesting and carrier-transporting properties. In this study, compounds containing boron β-ketoiminate (BKI) as a chromophore were synthesized and used as dye sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells. The new dyes were orange or red crystals and showed maximum absorptions in the 410-450 nm wavelength region on titanium dioxide substrates. These electrodes exhibited maximum efficiencies of over 80% in incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency spectra, suggesting that the continuous process of light absorption-excitation-electron injection was effectively performed. Open-circuit photovoltages were relatively high owing to the large dipole moments of the BKI dyes with a linear molecular structure. Thus, a maximum power conversion efficiency of 5.3% was successfully observed. Comparison of BKI dyes with boron β-diketonate dyes revealed certain differences in solution stability, spectral properties, and photovoltaic characteristics.

Targeted Synthesis of Regioisomerically Pure Dodecasubstituted Type I Porphyrins through the Exploitation of Peri-interactions

A targeted synthesis of dodecasubstituted type I porphyrins that utilizes the reaction of unsymmetrical 3,4-difunctionalized pyrroles and sterically demanding aldehydes was developed. This way, type I porphyrins could be obtained as the only type isomers, likely due to a minimization of the steric strain arising from peri-interactions. Uniquely, this method does not depend on lengthy precursor syntheses, the separation of isomers, or impractical limitations of the scale. In addition, single-crystal X-ray analysis was used to elucidate the structural features of the macrocycles.

A Family of BODIPY-like Highly Fluorescent and Unsymmetrical Bis(BF2) Pyrrolyl-Acylhydrazone Chromophores: BOAPY

A new family of pyrrolyl-acylhydrazones anchored with two BF₂ units, named BOAPY, have been developed as BODIPY-like and unsymmetrical bis(BF₂) chromophores via a simple one-pot reaction. The easily accessible scaffold enjoys excellent diversity due to the structural versatilities of 2-formylpyrroles and acylhydrazines. BOAPYs exhibit good molar absorption coefficients, large Stokes shifts, and excellent chemical stability. More importantly, most of them display excellent fluorescence quantum yields both in solution and the solid state (up to 0.88 and 0.64, respectively).

Base-catalyzed C-alkylation of potassium enolates with styrenes via a metal-ene reaction: a mechanistic study

Base-catalyzed, C-alkylation of potassium (K) enolates with styrenes (CAKES) has recently emerged as a highly practical and convenient method for elaboration or synthesis of pharmaceutically-relevant cores. K enolate-type precursors such as alkyl-substituted heterocycles (pyridines, pyrazines and thiophenes), ketones, imines, nitriles and amides undergo C-alkylation reactions with styrene in the presence of KOtBu or KHMDS. Surprisingly, no studies have probed the reaction mechanism beyond the likely initial formation of a K enolate. Herein, a synergistic approach of computational (DFT), kinetic and deuterium labelling studies rationalizes various experimental observations and supports a metal-ene-type reaction for amide CAKES. Moreover, our approach explains experimental observations in other reported C-alkylation reactions of other enolate-type precursors, thus implicating a general mechanism for CAKES.

Temporal control in tritylation reactions through light-driven variation in chloride ion binding catalysis – a proof of concept

A proof-of-concept on temporal control in the tritylation reactions has been demonstrated using a designed tripodal triazole-linked azo(hetero)arene-based photoswitchable catalyst.

Difluoroboron Chelation to Quinacridonequinone: A Synthetic Method for Air-Sensitive 6,13-Dihydroxyquinacridone via Boron Complexes

This study aims to perform the chelation of difluoroboron (BF₂ ) to quinacridonequinone (QQ). The resulting dark green solid was determined to be QA-BF₂ , which is a BF₂ complex of 6,13-dihydroxyquinacridone (QA-OH), and not QQ-BF₂ , which is a BF₂ complex of QQ. This result indicated that QQ-BF₂ was first generated as an O,O-bidentate chelate, which immediately underwent a two-electron reduction to produce QA-BF₂ . This compound was converted to air-sensitive QA-OH by undergoing hydrolysis in argon. Since QA-OH has a strong electron-donating property, it easily produced QQ via air oxidation in the solution. QA-OH also acts as a reducing reagent for quinones. The crystal packing of QA-OH is a herringbone type with short π⋅⋅⋅π contacts, and a good hole mobility has been suggested by theoretical calculations. Herein, a new synthetic method from QQ to QA-OH using BF₂ chelation and hydrolysis was proposed. QA-BF₂ and QA-OH are useful organic functional pigments and reducing reagents.