Halogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks (XOFs) Based on N⋠⋠⋠Br+⋠⋠⋠N Bonds: Robust Organic Networks Constructed by Fragile Bonds.

Organic frameworks face a trade-off between the framework stability and the bond dynamics, which necessitates the development of innovative linkages that can generate stable frameworks without hindering efficient synthesis. Although iodine(I)-based halogen-bonded organic frameworks (XOFs) have been developed, constructing XOFs based on bromine(I) is desirable yet challenging due to the high sensitivity of bromine(I) species. In this work, we present the inaugural construction of stable bromine(I)-bridged two-dimensional (2D) halogen-bonded organic frameworks, XOF(Br)-TPy-BF4/OTf, based on sensitive [N⋅⋅⋅Br⋅⋅⋅N]+ halogen bonds. The formation of XOF(Br)-TPy-BF4/OTf was monitored by 1H NMR, XPS, IR, SEM, TEM, HR-TEM, SEAD. Their framework structures were established by the results from PXRD, theoretical simulations and SAXS. More importantly, XOF(Br) displayed excellent chemical and thermal stabilities. They exhibited stable two-dimensional framework structures in various organic solvents and aqueous media, even over a wide pH range (pH 3-12), while the corresponding model compounds BrPy2BF4/OTf decomposed quickly even in the presence of minimal water. Furthermore, the influence of the counterions were investigated by replacing BF4 with OTf, which improved the stability of XOF(Br). This characteristic enabled XOF(Br) to serve as an efficient oxidizing reagent in aqueous environments, in contrast with the sensitivity of BrPy2BF4/OTf, which performed well only in organic media. This study not only deepens our fundamental understanding of organic frameworks but also opens new avenues for the development and application of multifunctional XOFs.

Regioselective and Diastereoselective Dearomative Multifunctionalization of In-Situ-Activated Azaarenes: An Access to Bridged Azaheterocycles.

Reported herein is an unprecedented multicomponent one-pot dearomative multifunctionalization of commercially available azaarenes through an in situ activation strategy, which not only achieved the first full exploitation of the reactive sites of the azaarenes, but also accomplished the efficient synthesis of bridged hydrogenated pyridines and (iso)quinolines in a highly regioselective and diastereoselective manner. In addition, we could successfully realize the step-controlled dearomative trifunctionalization and bifunctionalization of quinolines.

An unexpected multi-component one-pot cascade reaction to access furanobenzodihydropyran-fused polycyclic heterocycles.

An unexpected multi-component one-pot cascade reaction of hydroxyketones with ortho-hydroxychalcones has been developed to afford an array of new furanobenzopyran-fused polycyclic compounds with complex molecular architectures. This reaction not only establishes a new reaction mode of ortho-hydroxychalcones but also provides an expedient and convenient synthetic strategy to access complex furanobenzopyran-fused heterocycles.

An Unexpected FeCl3-Catalyzed Cascade Reaction of Indoles and o-Hydroxychalcones for the Assembly of Chromane-Bridged Polycyclic Indoles.

An unexpected FeCl3-catalyzed cascade reaction of simple indoles and o-hydroxychalcone was reported, leading to densely functionalized and strained chromane-bridged polycyclic indoles in moderate to good yields. This reaction not only establishes a new transformation of indoles and o-hydroxychalcones but also provides an efficient method for the synthesis of structurally complex and congested chromane-bridged polycyclic indoles.

Diastereoselective Construction of Indole-Bridged Chroman Spirooxindoles through a TfOH-Catalyzed Michael Addition-Inspired Cascade Reaction.

The first highly diastereoselective Michael addition/condensation/Friedel-Crafts alkylation cascade reaction of 3-indolyl-substituted oxindoles with ortho-hydroxychalcones was established, which afforded a wide range of polycyclic indole-bridged chroman spirooxindoles with novel and complex scaffolds in moderate to excellent yields.

Construction of bridged cyclic N,O-ketal spirooxindoles through a Michael addition/N,O-ketalization sequence.

The first highly diastereoselective TfOH-catalyzed Michael addition/N,O-ketalization sequence of 3-aminooxindoles and ortho-hydroxychalcones was achieved, delivering a wide range of bridged cyclic N,O-ketal spirooxindoles with complex and strained structures in 41-97% yields. Moreover, a gram-scale experiment and some chemical conversions were conducted to further demonstrate the synthetic value.

Diastereoselective construction of 4-indole substituted chromans bearing a ketal motif through a three-component Friedel-Crafts alkylation/ketalization sequence.

The first TfOH-catalyzed three-component Friedel-Crafts alkylation/ketalization sequence of indoles, alcohols and ortho-hydroxychalcones was developed to afford a wide range of 4-indole substituted chromans bearing a ketal motif in 77-99% yields. Notably, only a simple filtration was needed to purify them. By altering methanol to CHCl3, 2,4-bisindole substituted chroman with the same indole substituent at the C2 and C4 positions was afforded. Moreover, 2,4-bisindole substituted chromans with different indole substituents could be obtained by treatment of 4-indole monosubstituted chromans with another indole molecule.

Metal-free diastereoselective construction of bridged ketal spirooxindoles via a Michael addition-inspired sequence.

A TfOH-catalyzed highly diastereoselective Michael addition/ketalization sequence of 3-hydroxyoxindoles and ortho-hydroxychalcones was developed, leading to biologically important bridged ketal spirooxindoles in moderate to excellent yields. Moreover, some chemical transformations were carried out to further extend the structural complexity and diversity.