Three-state switching in a double-pole change-over nanoswitch controlled by redox-dependent self-sorting.

The four-arm nanomechanical switch 1 with four different terminals exhibits two switching arms (contacts A and D) and two distinct stations for binding (contacts B and C). In switching State I, the azaterpyridine arm is intramolecularly coordinated to a zinc(ii) porphyrin station (connection A ↔ B) while contact D (a ferrocenylbipyridine unit) and contact C (phenanthroline) remain disconnected. After addition of copper(i) ions (State II) both connections A ↔ B and C ↔ D are established. Upon one-electron oxidation, double-pole change-over switching cleaves both connections A ↔ B & C ↔ D and establishes the new connection A ↔ C (State III). Fully reversible three-state switching (State I → State II → State III → State II → State I) was achieved by adding appropriate chemical and redox stimuli.

Synthesis of Pyrrole-Fused C,N-Cyclic Azomethine Imines and Pyrazolopyrrolopyrazines: Analysis of Their Aromaticity Using Nucleus-Independent Chemical Shifts Values.

The AgOTf-catalyzed reaction of C-2 substituted pyrrole hydrazones having an N-propargyl group was studied. The selective 6-endo-dig mode of cyclization was observed, giving rise to the formation of pyrrole-fused C,N-cyclic azomethine imine derivatives. The reaction of one azomethine imine derivative with various dipolarophiles resulted in the formation of cycloadducts having a pyrazolopyrrolopyrazine skeleton. The aromaticity of C,N-cyclic azomethine imines as well as that of pyrazolopyrrolopyrazines was determined by calculating of nucleus-independent chemical shifts values.

Gold-catalyzed oxime-oxime rearrangement.

The gold-catalyzed reaction of pyrrole and indole oximes having a propargyl group attached to the nitrogen atom was studied. The selective 6-endo-dig mode of cyclization was observed for the terminal alkynes giving rise to the formation of pyrazine N-oxides in the presence of a gold catalyst. However, the reaction with substituted alkyne transferred the oxime functionality intramolecularly from one carbon atom to another via the 7-endo-dig cyclization process. This transformation is unprecedented in the literature and is named an oxime-oxime rearrangement.

Modular Synthesis of Optically Active Tröger's Base Analogues.

For the first time, enantioselective catalysis was applied for the preparation of Tröger's base derivatives affording N-stereogenic building blocks not only in excellent enantiomeric purity but also in an easily scalable fashion. Enzymatic kinetic resolution proved efficient to yield functionalized Tröger's bases, which can be subsequently modified by various chemical methods without any erosion of stereogenic information. In concert with a preparatively convenient protocol for the synthesis of the racemic substrates from commercially available anilines, a highly practicable and flexible route towards a wide range of enantiopure Tröger's base analogues is provided.