Synthesis of 7-hydroxy-6H-naphtho[2,3-c]coumarin via a TsOH-mediated tandem reaction

Nickel-Catalyzed Directed Cross-Electrophile Coupling of Phenolic Esters with Arylmethyl Trimethylammonium Triflates

In this context, we successfully utilize polycyclic aryl-activated alkyl ammonium triflates as the electrophilic aryl-activated alkylating agent in the nickel-catalyzed hydroxyl- or sulfonamide-directed cross-electrophile coupling reaction with an array of phenyl benzoates, allowing for the synthesis of various aryl ketones under mild conditions.

Polarized, V-Shaped, and Conjoined Biscoumarins: From Lack of Dipole Moment Alignment to High Brightness

Eleven conjoined coumarins possessing a chromeno[3,4-c]chromene-6,7-dione skeleton have been synthesized via the reaction of electron-rich phenols with esters of coumarin-3-carboxylic acids, catalyzed by either Lewis acids or 4-dimethylaminopyridine. Furthermore, Michael-type addition to angular benzo[f]coumarins is possible, leading to conjugated helical systems. Arrangement of the electron-donating amino groups at diverse positions on this heterocyclic skeleton makes it possible to obtain π-expanded coumarins with emission either sensitive to, or entirely independent of, solvent polarity with large Stokes shifts. Computational studies have provided a rationale for moderate solvatochromic effects unveiling the lack of collinearity of the dipole moments in the ground and excited states. Depending on the functional groups present, the obtained dyes are highly polarized with dipole moments of ∼14 D in the ground state and ∼20–25 D in the excited state. Strong emission in nonpolar solvents, in spite of the inclusion of a NO₂ group, is rationalized by the fact that the intramolecular charge transfer introduced into these molecules is strong enough to suppress intersystem crossing yet weak enough to prevent the formation of dark twisted intramolecular charge transfer states. Photochemical transformation of the dye possessing a chromeno[3,4-c]pyridine-4,5-dione scaffold led to the formation of a spirocyclic benzo[g]coumarin.

Tandem Synthesis of 1,3-Disubstituted Naphthalenes via TfOH-Promoted Directed-Aldol and Friedel-Crafts Reactions

A TfOH-promoted tandem synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted naphthalenes is developed via a directed-aldol reaction and a Friedel-Crafts reaction. Two new C-C bonds and one new benzene ring are created efficiently in one pot due to the discovery of a TfOH-promoted highly chemoselective directed-aldol reaction between two different ketones with α-hydrogens.