Conformationally dynamic π-conjugation: probing structure-property relationships of fluorescent tris(N-salicylideneaniline)s.

We recently reported the design and synthesis of a series of conformationally dynamic chromophores that are built on the C(3)-symmetric tris(N-salicylideneaniline) platform. This system utilizes cooperative structural folding-unfolding motions for fluorescence switching, which is driven by the assembly and disassembly of hydrogen bonds between the rigid core and rotatable peripheral part of the molecule. Here, we report detailed time-resolved spectroscopic studies to investigate the structure-property relationships of a series of functionalized tris(N-salicylideneaniline)s. Time-resolved fluorescence decay spectroscopy was applied to determine the main relaxation mechanisms of these π-extended fluorophores, and to address the effects of hydrogen bonding, steric constraints, and extension of the π-conjugation on their relaxation dynamics. Our results agree well with the conformational switching model that was previously suggested from steady-state experiments. Notably, extension of the π-conjugation from peripheral aryl groups resulted in the stabilization of the excited states, as evidenced by longer lifetimes and lower nonradiative decay constants. As a consequence, an increase in the fluorescence quantum yields was observed, which could be explained by the suppression of the torsional motions about the C-N bonds from an overall increase in the quinoid character of the excited states. A combination of time-resolved and steady-state techniques also revealed intermolecular interactions through π-π stacking at higher concentrations, which provide additional de-excitation pathways that become more pronounced in solid samples.

Dendritic molecular switch: chiral folding and helicity inversion.

Appropriately designed chemical architectures can fold to adopt well-defined secondary structures without the need for structural motifs of biological origin. We have designed tris(N-salicylideneaniline)-based hyperbranched molecules that spontaneously collapse to compact three-blade propeller geometry of either (P)- or (M)-handedness. For a homologous series of compounds, a direct correlation was established between the absolute screw sense, either (P)- or (M)-, of this helical folding and the absolute configuration, either (R)- or (S)-, of the chiral alcohol groups introducing local asymmetric bias to the conformationally restricted molecular backbone. 1H NMR and CD spectroscopic studies provided significant insights into structural folding and unfolding of these chiral molecules in solution, which proceed via reversible assembly and disassembly of the C3-symmetric hydrogen-bonding network. Notably, solvents profoundly influenced this dynamic process. A strong correlation between the solvent donor number (DN) or solvent basicity (SB) parameters and the change in the Cotton effects pointed toward specific O-H...solvent interactions that drive structural unfolding and eventual refolding to apparently opposite helicity. This unusual chirality inversion process could also be induced by installation of chemical protecting groups that simulate specific solvent-solute interactions. Removal of this covalent mimic of the solvent shell restored the original screw sense of the parent molecule, thus establishing the feasibility of covalently triggered helicity inversion as a new mode of operation for chiroptical molecular switches.

Triferrocenes built on a C3-symmetric ligand platform: entry to redox-active pseudo-triphenylenes via chelation-driven stereoselection of triple Schiff bases.

An expedient tandem deprotonation-trapping protocol was employed to prepare a tris(difluoroboronyl) complex of a triferrocenyl ligand that is geometrically analogous to substituted triphenylenes. A triple Schiff base condensation reaction between 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol and aminoferrocene afforded the tris(N-salicylideneamine) adducts 5a + 5b in ca. 1:1 ratio. The keto-enamine tautomeric core of this isomeric mixture could be converted to a common enolate-imine intermediate. Subsequent trapping with BF3.Et2O cleanly afforded the tris(difluoroboronyl) adduct 6 in essentially quantitative yield. The electronic and structural properties of this new class of ferrocene compounds were investigated using various methods including UV-vis, cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and X-ray crystallography. In CH2Cl2-CH3CN, 6 displayed a reversible three-electron oxidation process at E1/2ox = +210 mV (vs Fc/Fc+). Despite the sharing of a common [pi,pi]/[n,pi]-conjugated core, no significant electronic communication was observed among the three ferrocenyl units in 6 under either CV or DPV conditions. On the other hand, the broad oxidation wave of 5a + 5b at E1/2ox = +60 mV in CH2Cl2-CH3CN was comprised of at least two major components at +20 and +90 mV, which collapsed to become a single peak in DMF electrolyte, despite that the ratios between the two isomers 5a,b remained essentially invariant to the change in solvent.

Regioselective [5,5]-sigmatropic rearrangement reactions of aryl hydrazides.

[reaction: see text] N,N'-Aryl hydrazides with substituents at the ortho or meta positions undergo highly regioselective [5,5]-sigmatropic rearrangement reactions to furnish benzidines in good to excellent isolated yields. The presence of single substituent at either the ortho or meta position provides sufficient bias, effectively suppressing the formation of diphenylene, the major byproduct of the conventional benzidine rearrangement reaction.

Acid-catalyzed rearrangement of diaryl hydrazides for the efficient synthesis of functionalized 2,2'-diamino-1,1'-biaryls.

Diaryl hydrazides prepared from the Pd(0)- or Cu(I)-catalyzed coupling reactions of aryl hydrazides and aryl halides underwent the acid-catalyzed rearrangements to a series of previously unknown 2,2'-diaminobiaryls in good overall yields. The mildness of the reaction conditions allows the presence of various functional groups.

Synthesis of novel 1,3,5-tris(arylazo)benzenes via Pd-catalyzed couplings and Cu(I)-mediated direct oxidations.

A series of novel 1,3,5-tris-azobenzenes were prepared from 1,3,5-trihalobenzene via Pd-catalyzed couplings of N-Boc aryl hydrazines and subsequent Cu(I)-mediated direct oxidations. The oxidation of tris-arylhydrazide provided the azobenzene as a mixture of all four of the possible E/Z-isomers; [E,E,E]-, [E,E,Z]-, [E,Z,Z]-, and [Z,Z,Z]-1,3,5-tris-azobenzenes. A slow removal of the solvent in the dark transformed the isomers into the all-trans, [E,E,E]-isomer.

Novel route to azobenzenes via Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions of aryl hydrazides with aryl halides, followed by direct oxidations.

[reaction: see text] N-Boc aryl hydrazines undergo Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions with aryl halides to provide N-Boc diaryl hydrazines in excellent yields. The resulting N-Boc diaryl hydrazines were directly oxidized with NBS/pyridine in CH(2)Cl(2) at room temperature to the azobenzenes.

Diels-Alder cycloadditions of 3,5-dibromo-2-pyrone: a new ambident diene.

D-A cycloadditions of 3,5-dibromo-2-pyrone were investigated with a series of electronically and sterically distinct dienophiles. Our results showed that it is a highly potent ambident diene, being more reactive and stereoselective than monobromo-2-pyrones, and thus capable of generating a variety of bicycloadducts in much higher chemical yields and endo/exo ratios than monobromo-2-pyrones. Another interesting feature of this study is that the two bromine groups on the cycloadducts could be independently manipulated to produce other synthetically useful bicyclolactones.