Conformational flexibility of fused tetracenedione propellers obtained from one-pot reductive dimerization of acetylenic quinones

Cascade Transformations of 1-R-Ethynyl-9,10-anthraquinones with Amidines: Expanding Access to Isoaporphinoid Alkaloids

The interaction of acetamidine and phenylamidine with peri-R-ethynyl-9,10-anthraquinones in refluxing n-butanol leads to the formation of cascade transformations products: addition/elimination/cyclization-2-R-7H-dibenzo[de,h]quinolin-7-ones and(or) 2-R-3-aroyl-7H-dibenzo[de,h]quinolin-7-ones. The anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties of the new 2-R-7H-dibenzo[de,h]quinolin-7-ones were investigated in vivo, in vitro, and in silico. The synthesized compounds exhibit high anti-inflammatory activity at dose 20 mg/kg (intraperitoneal injection) in the models of exudative (histamine-induced) and immunogenic (concanavalin A-induced) inflammation. Molecular docking data demonstrate that quinolinones can potentially intercalate into DNA similarly to the antitumor drug doxorubicin.

Optimization of atomic density-fitting basis functions for molecular two-electron integral approximations

A general procedure for the optimization of atomic density-fitting basis functions is designed with the balance between accuracy and numerical stability in mind. Given one-electron wavefunctions and energies, weights are assigned to the product densities, modeling their contribution to the exchange and second-order correlation energy, and a simple weighted error measure is minimized. Generally contracted Gaussian auxiliary basis sets are optimized to match the wavefunction basis sets [D. N. Laikov, Theor. Chem. Acc. 138, 40 (2019)] for all 102 elements in a scalar-relativistic approximation [D. N. Laikov, J. Chem. Phys. 150, 061103 (2019)].

Alkynes as Synthetic Equivalents of Ketones and Aldehydes: A Hidden Entry into Carbonyl Chemistry

The high energy packed in alkyne functional group makes alkyne reactions highly thermodynamically favorable and generally irreversible. Furthermore, the presence of two orthogonal π-bonds that can be manipulated separately enables flexible synthetic cascades stemming from alkynes. Behind these "obvious" traits, there are other more subtle, often concealed aspects of this functional group's appeal. This review is focused on yet another interesting but underappreciated alkyne feature: the fact that the CC alkyne unit has the same oxidation state as the -CH2C(O)- unit of a typical carbonyl compound. Thus, "classic carbonyl chemistry" can be accessed through alkynes, and new transformations can be engineered by unmasking the hidden carbonyl nature of alkynes. The goal of this review is to illustrate the advantages of using alkynes as an entry point to carbonyl reactions while highlighting reports from the literature where, sometimes without full appreciation, the concept of using alkynes as a hidden entry into carbonyl chemistry has been applied.

Unexpected formation of π-expanded isoquinoline from anthracene possessing four electron-donating groups via the Duff reaction

New synthetic methods leading towards π-expanded heterocycles are sought after mainly due to their promising opto-electronic properties. Subjecting 1,5,9,10-tetramethoxyanthracene to the modern Duff reaction conditions led to the formation of a compound possessing the 2-azabenzoanthrone (dibenzo[de,h]isoquinolin-7-on) skeleton instead of the expected dialdehyde. This non-typical course of reaction can be rationalized by the double electrophilic aromatic substitution at two neighboring electron-rich positions of anthracene followed by oxidation of the resulting intermediate to form a pyridine ring. Optical studies supported by the quantum chemistry calculations indicated the lack of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT); for energy reasons, only one tautomeric form, with a hydrogen atom bonded to one of the two nearby oxygen atoms, was populated in the electronic ground S0 and in the excited S1 states. Nonradiative depopulation of the S1 state proceeded via internal conversion stimulated by the presence of the low frequency vibrational modes. Our serendipitous discovery represents the most complex case of rearrangement of aromatic compounds under Duff reaction conditions and could help to design analogous processes. At the same time this is the simplest method for the synthesis of derivatives of 2-azabenzoanthrone.

(Hetero)aromatics from dienynes, enediynes and enyne–allenes

Recent advances in the synthesis of (hetero)aromatics starting from polyenes, such as dienynes, enediynes and enyne–allenes, are discussed.