Role of anions in the synthesis of cyclobutane derivatives via [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction in the solid state and their isomerization in solution

Solid-state [2+2] photodimerization of eniminium salts: stereoselective syntheses of 1,3-diacetylcyclobutanes

Solid-state [2+2] photodimerization of eniminium ions oriented in a head-to-tail manner controlled by cation-π interactions produced synHT dimers in high yields. As the resulting dimer is readily converted to 1,3-diacetylcyclobutane, the iminium serves as a removable orientation-controlling group for the conjugated ketones.

Isolation of elusive cyclobutane ligands via template assisted photochemical [2+2] cycloaddition reaction and their utility in engineering crystalline solids

Solid-state photochemical [2+2] cycloaddition reactionis one of the promising routes to isolate highly strained cyclobutane derivatives whichmay otherwise be very difficult to obtain via conventional synthetic methodology. Various methods have...

Design of Green-Emitting Salts from Substituted Pyridines: Understanding the Solid-State Photodimerization of trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene

Polymorphic salts of trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe), 2[bpeH₂ ] ⋅ (SO₄ )(2HSO₄ ) (1) and [bpeH₂ ] ⋅ 2HSO₄ (2) have been synthesized and their structures determined by X-ray crystallography. The Schmidt postulate predicts that neither of the salts will give rise to photodimerization so they can both potentially be applied as green light emitters. Despite the predictions, 1 undergoes a stereospecific solid-state photodimerization reaction with 100 % yield. This is due to UV induced combination of sliding and pedal-like movement of the pyridyl ring system that influences the alignment of C=C bonds. The sliding motion is restricted in 2. Consequently, the green emission from 1 is completely quenched after photodimerization. It is evident that counter ions play a dominant role in dis- and enabling photodimerization; their degree of protonization and lattice placement are important solvent controlled design parameters towards crystal structures that can act as future light emitters.

Amine hydrochloride salts as bifunctional reagents for the radical aminochlorination of maleimides

Amine hydrochloride salts have been typically used as amination reagents.

Reversible photoswitching of the DNA-binding properties of styrylquinolizinium derivatives through photochromic [2 + 2] cycloaddition and cycloreversion

It was demonstrated that styrylquinolizinium derivatives may be applied as photoswitchable DNA ligands. At lower ligand:DNA ratios (≤1.5), these compounds bind to duplex DNA by intercalation, with binding constants ranging from K b = 4.1 × 104 M to 2.6 × 105 M (four examples), as shown by photometric and fluorimetric titrations as well as by CD and LD spectroscopic analyses. Upon irradiation at 450 nm, the methoxy-substituted styrylquinolizinium derivatives form the corresponding syn head-to-tail cyclobutanes in a selective [2 + 2] photocycloaddition, as revealed by X-ray diffraction analysis of the reaction products. These photodimers bind to DNA only weakly by outside-edge association, but they release the intercalating monomers upon irradiation at 315 nm in the presence of DNA. As a result, it is possible to switch between these two ligands and likewise between two different binding modes by irradiation with different excitation wavelengths.

On the planarity of the cyclobutane ring in the crystal of dimethyl 2,4-bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)cyclobutane-1,3-dicarboxylate: a natural bond orbital and Hirshfeld surface analysis study

The α-form of this 1,3-di-(substituted)-2,4-bis-(substituted)-cyclobutane derivative displays a planar ring in the gas phase and solution. The intermolecular interactions in the crystal have been determined.

Varying the regiochemistry of a [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction within isostructural hydrogen bonded cocrystals containing 4-stilbazole

Cocrystallization of 4-stilbazole with 4,6-diX resorcinol (X = Cl or Br) yields a pair of similar photoreactive solids that leads to different photoproducts.

In Situ Raman Monitoring of Silver(I)-Aided Laser-Driven Cleavage Reaction of Cyclobutane

The cyclobutane cleavage reaction is an important process and has received continuous interest. Herein, we demonstrate the visible laser-driven cleavage reaction of cyclobutane in crystal form by using in situ Raman spectroscopy. Silver(I) coordination-induced strain and thermal effects from the laser irradiation are the two main driving forces for the cleavage of cyclobutane crystals. This work may open up a new avenue for studying cyclobutane cleavage reactions, as compared to the conventional routes using ex situ techniques.

Structurally Flexible C₃-Symmetric Receptors for Molecular Recognition and Their Self-Assembly Properties

The bioinspired design and synthesis of building blocks and their assemblies by the supramolecular approach has ever fascinated scientists to utilize such artificial systems for numerous purposes. Flexibility is a basic feature of natural systems. However, in artificial systems this is difficult to control, especially if there is no preorganization of the component(s) of a system. We have designed and synthesized a series of C3 -symmetric N-bridged flexible receptors and successfully utilized them to selectively entrap the notorious and toxic nitrate anion in aqueous medium. This was the first report of highest binding affinity for the nitrate anion in aqueous medium. An impressive self-sorting phenomenon of reversibly formed hydrogen-bonded capsules, which self-assembled from flexible tripodal receptors having branches of similar size and bearing the same amide functionality, has been disclosed. Encapsulated nitrate anion has been further utilized for the photochemical [2+2] cycloaddition reaction for the synthesis of strained four-membered ring structures through dynamic self-assembly. In this Personal Account, we summarize these results showing the utility of naturally inspired flexibility in artificial systems.

Thermally stable polylactides by stereocomplex formation and conjugation of both terminals with bio-based cinnamic acid derivatives

A series of polylactide stereocomplexes with conjugation of both terminals showed high thermal stability and photoreactivity, and are useful as high performance polymers and photoreactive polymers based on natural products.

Features of styryl dye crystal packings and their influence on [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction with single crystal retention

Only in two of three crystal modifications the initial dye is subjected to the SC–SC [2 + 2]-photocycloaddtion under visible light irradiation.

Oxygen-initiated stereoselective thermal isomerisation of a cyclobutane derivative in the solid state

Solid-state [2+2] photochemical cycloaddition reactions have been extensively studied after the classical work of Schmidt in the 1960s. Of these, trans-1,2-bis(4'-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe) is one of the well-studied alkenes to synthesize tetrakis(4-pyridyl)cyclobutane (tpcb). However, almost all the solid-state [2+2] cycloaddition reactions of bpe yielded, almost exclusively, one of the four possible isomers, namely, the rctt-tpcb (r=regio c=cis and t=trans). Here we describe a stereoselective synthesis of the tetrahedrally disposed rtct-tpcb by the solid-state thermal isomerization of the rctt-isomer in atmospheric air. We propose that this isomerization occurs through a topochemical unimolecular mechanism by a radical chain pathway, initiated by molecular oxygen. This is supported by the nature of products formed in air and nitrogen, detection of a radical in ESR spectral studies, ESI-MS crossover experiments, VT PXRD studies along with QM, MD and docking calculations. The formation of a unique isomer by thermal isomerization may be a general phenomenon to quantitatively synthesize other useful stereoisomers from the existing isomers of cyclobutane derivatives.

Design and Synthesis of Two Oxazine Derivatives Using Several Strategies

Several oxazine derivatives have been synthesized; nevertheless, expensive reagents and special conditions are required. Therefore, in this study, two oxazine derivatives (2-chloro-3-{{2-[-(3-chloro-2-oxo-cyclobutyl)-(2,3-dimethoxy-9,10-dihydrostrychnid-10-yl)-amino]-ethyl}-[1,5-dimethyl-4-(1H-naphtho[1,2-e][1,3-oxazin-2-yl)-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]-amino}-cyclobutanone and 2-chloro-3-{{2-[(3-chloro-2-oxo-cyclobutyl)-(1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-amino]-ethyl}-[1,5-dimethyl-4-(1H-naphtho[1,2-e][1,3]oxazin-2-yl)-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]-amino}-cyclobutanone) were synthesized using several strategies. The structure of compounds obtained was confirmed by elemental analysis, spectroscopy, and spectrometry data. In conclusion, the methods used offer some advantages such as good yields, simple procedure, low cost, and ease of workup.

Crystal engineering of topochemical solid state reactions

Solid state reactions offer a unique opportunity for synthesizing complex molecules with amazing regio- and stereo-specificity otherwise difficult to synthesize by conventional organic synthetic methodologies. In particular, the solid state [2 + 2] reaction is a well studied reaction in terms of a crystal engineering perspective. The main challenge in performing solid state reactions is bringing the molecules into reactive orientations such that the reactive groups are within a certain proximal distance. The out surge in organic and inorganic crystal engineering studies offers several strategies for bringing the molecules together in the crystal lattice. These strategies include from weak interactions (halogen bonds, halogen···halogen, π···π, cation···π) to strong hydrogen bonds (O-H···O, N-H···O, O-H···N and N-H···N) to coordination complexes/polymers. To date many studies are available which use such strategies for conducting single, double, triple or multiple [2 + 2] reactions, [4 + 4] reactions, Diels-Alder reactions and polymerization reactions of acetylene molecules. Some of the crystal engineering strategies include the use of external templates which can be removed after the reaction and some of the other strategies deals with the modification of reactant molecules. In this review, the current status of various strategies will be outlined with respect to the nature of the interactions involved.