Selectivity of Br/Li Exchange and Deprotonation of 4,4′-Dibromo-3,3′-bithiophene for Synthesis of Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical Dithienoheteroaromatic Rings

Synthesis and crystal structures of unsymmetrical wave-shaped heptathienoacenes

Three unsymmetrical wave-shaped heptathienoacenes (UHT-1, UHT-2 and UHT-3) with sulfur atoms at different isomeric locations in the two terminal thiophene rings were designed and synthesized. The synthetic strategy contains two crucial steps, including the cross-coupling of two different dithienothiophene isomers (DTT) from dithieno[2,3-b:3',2'-d]thiophene (bb-DTT), dithieno[2,3-b:2',3'-d]thiophene (bt-DTT) and dithieno[2,3-b:3',4'-d]thiophene (bs-DTT) as building blocks through the Negishi coupling and intramolecular cyclization reactions with (SnBu₃)₂S. X-ray crystal structures of UHT-1, UHT-2 and UHT-3 show that the molecules adopt a wave-shaped geometry with multiple intermolecular interactions, such as S-S, S-C and S-H, which result in different crystal packing patterns. The isomeric location of the sulfur atoms of the two terminal thiophene rings of UHT-1, UHT-2 and UHT-3 plays an important role in tuning π-electronic conjugation and spectroscopic behaviors.

Synthesis of All Thiophene-Based [7]Helicenes and Trithienothiepines with Isomeric Location of Sulfur Atoms Based on Intramolecular Selectivity of Deprotonation

Three unsymmetric thiophene-based [7]helicenes, namely, endo-exo-UH-1, endo-top-UH-2, and exo-top-UH-3, with different isomeric locations of sulfur atoms in two terminal thiophene rings were efficiently synthesized using dithieno[2,3-b:3',2'-d]thiophene (bb-DTT), dithieno[2,3-b:2',3'-d]thiophene (bt-DTT), and dithieno[2,3-b:3',4'-d]thiophene (bs-DTT) as building blocks via Suzuki cross-coupling and intramolecular cyclization reactions. Aside from these racemic [7]helicenes, two novel heterocyclic isomers, namely, trithienothiepines TTTP-1 and TTTP-2, were simultaneously obtained during the intramolecular cyclization. Two novel deprotonations of bi-DTTs and cyclization for synthesizing target compounds showed high selectivity and efficiently constructed both UHs and TTTPs. X-ray crystallographic analyses revealed that the UHs have typical helical molecular structures. The isomeric location of sulfur atoms in the two terminal thiophene rings in endo-exo-UH-1, endo-top-UH-2, exo-top-UH-3, and TTTP-1 allowed multiple intermolecular interactions, such as S···S, S···C, and S···H interactions, resulting in different crystal-packing patterns. Moreover, the absorption behaviors of these [7]helicenes, TTTP-1, and TTTP-2 were examined and theoretically calculated. Results indicated that the isomeric location of sulfur atoms plays a key role in tuning intramolecular π-electronic conjugation.

Highly efficient and facile alkylation of 4H-cyclopenta-[2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene in water

A facile and highly economical methodology for the dialkylation of 4H-cyclopenta-[2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene is reported.