Switching the on-surface orientation of oxygen-functionalized helicene.

Helicenes represent an important class of chiral organic material with promising optoelectronic properties. Hence, functionalization of surfaces with helicenes is a key step toward new organic materials devices. The deposition of a heterohelicene containing two furano groups and two hydroxyl groups onto copper(111) surface in ultrahigh vacuum leads to different adsorbate modifications. At low coverage and low temperature, the molecules tend to lie on the surface in order to maximize van der Waals contact with the substrate. Thermal treatment leads to deprotonation of the hydroxyl groups and in part into a reorientation from lying into a standing adsorbate mode.

Synthesis of Concave and Vaulted 2H-Pyran-Fused BINOLs and Corresponding [5] and [7]-Oxa-helicenoids: Regioselective Cascade-Concerted Route and DFT Studies.

Synthesis of concave and vaulted 2H-pyran-fused BINOLs has been achieved. A regioselective, path-breaking concerted cascade route allows the placement of six-membered heteroaromatic rings at the sterically crowded 7,8 and 7',8' positions of BINOL. DFT studies with relative energetics that support the kinetically controlled reaction pathway are preferred, matching the experimental results. The new BINOLs exhibit smaller dihedral angle than BINOL on the diol part; this structural feature can be an assisting factor for better ligation with metals in the metal-catalyzed reactions. Corresponding C2 symmetric [5] and [7]-oxa-helicenoids have an overlapping, sterically crowded geometry.

Directional Approach to Enantiomerically Enriched Functionalized [7]Oxa-helicenoids and Groove-Based Selective Cyanide Sensing.

Several regioselective functionalized mono- and disubstituted [7]oxa-helicenoids have been synthesized in the enantiomerically enriched (90-99% ee) form. These functionalized helicenoids exhibited pronounced spectral and chiroptical properties suitable for sensing applications. In particular, corresponding helicenoid's mono and dialdehydes have been effectively used as chemodosimeters for selective detection of cyanide anions over other anions, while simple aromatic aldehydes do not function as cyanide sensors. The groove available in the helical host plays a crucial role in the sensing. The enantiomerically enriched nature of the sensors allows the use of electronic circular dichroism as an uncommon detection tool for cyanide anions, along with conventional fluorescence and NMR methods.

Benzyne-Mediated Nonconcerted Pathway toward Synthesis of Sterically Crowded [5]- and [7]Oxahelicenoids, Stereochemical and Theoretical Studies, and Optical Resolution of Helicenoids.

Synthesis of [5]- and [7]oxahelicenoids via Diels-Alder reaction of sterically crowded bichromenes with benzyne is presented. Studies carried out on Diels-Alder addition product establish the unusual preference for a stepwise mechanism over the concerted reaction pathway. This high yielding general synthetic protocol affords unexpected anti cycloadducts [5]- and [7]oxahelicenoids, as confirmed by crystallographic analysis. To rationalize these intriguing antiaddition products, the reaction mechanism was elucidated by means of DFT analysis. Additionally, hydroxy-functionalized [7]oxahelicenoid has been resolved in its optically pure forms.

Sui Generis Helicene-Based Supramolecular Chirogenic System: Enantioselective Sensing, Solvent Control, and Application in Chiral Group Transfer Reaction.

A novel dioxa[6]helicene-based supramolecular chirogenic system (1) as a specific chiral recognition host for enantiopure trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine (2) is reported. Host 1 with an inherent free phenolic group and a (1S)-camphanate chiral handle on the opposite terminal rings of the helicene chromophore acted as an efficient turn on fluorescent sensor for S,S-2 with an excellent enantioselective factor, α = K SS /K RR = 6.3 in benzene. This specific host-guest interaction phenomenon is found to be solvent-dependent, which leads to an enantioselective chiral (camphanate) group transfer to the diamine guest molecule. In the case of R,R-2, the de value is up to 68% even at room temperature. Intriguingly, the induced helicity in dioxa[6]helicene diol 6, upon supramolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions, is of opposite sense with positive helicity for S,S-2 and negative helicity for R,R-2, as shown by circular dichroism spectroscopy and in combination with theoretical calculations. This chiral supramolecular system is found to be an excellent host-guest pair for enantiomeric recognition of 2, based on their electronic and steric factors.

Tailor-Made Supramolecular Chirogenic System Based on Cs-Symmetric Rigid Organophosphoric Acid Host and Amino Alcohols: Mechanistic Studies, Bulkiness Effect, and Chirality Sensing.

A Cs-symmetric, rigid, achiral organophosphoric acid host with differentiable tautomeric structures has been developed for induced circular dichroism (ICD) studies of vicinal amino alcohols. The structural features of the host and the substituent bulkiness of the guest, together, decide the preferred mode of hydrogen binding on equilibration with a resultant ICD signal. An unequivocal rule correlating the absolute configuration of the guest amino alcohol with the ICD outcome is proposed.

Size-Induced Chiral Discrimination Switching by (S)-(-)-2(α-Hydroxyethyl)Benzimidazole-Derived Azacrowns.

(S)-(-)-2-(α-Hydroxyethyl)benzimidazole (1)-derived diastereomeric monoaza-[18]crown-6 compounds 5 and 6 were synthesised with an additional chiral centre bearing a phenyl ring. The aim was to achieve enhanced enantioselective discrimination, compared with monoaza-[15]crown-5 (7). Surprisingly, reversal of enantioselective binding for chiral guest enantiomers between the two differently sized [15]crown-5 and [18]crown-6 azacrowns were discovered; all three were prepared from the same parent compound, 1. To complete the observations, another [18]crown-6-sized azacrown (10) without an additional chiral centre was synthesised from 1 and screened for its enantioselective binding abilities towards the chiral guest enantiomers investigated; these results corroborated the observations. Single-crystal XRD analysis and molecular docking studies revealed that changes to the conformational aspects of [18]crown-6 and [15]crown-5 azacrowns were the major contributing factors to this peculiar behaviour.

Asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction involving chiral benzimidazoles as organocatalysts.

(S)-(-)-2-(α-hydroxyethyl)-benzimidazole and (S)-(+)-2-(α-hydroxybenzyl)-benzimidazole work as chiral Brønsted bases (BBs) in Diels-Alder reaction between anthrone and maleimides under mild reaction condition. These chiral BBs cause asymmetric induction.

Enantioselective benzoylation of alpha-amino esters using (S)-1-benzoyl-2- (alpha-acetoxyethyl)benzimidazole, a chiral benzimidazolide.

A new chiral benzimidazolide is developed as a nonenzymatic acylating agent for enantioselective benzoylation of racemic alpha-amino esters. The process is highly efficient, which exhibits uniformly high enantioselectivity for alpha-amino esters with or without aryl substituents under mild reaction conditions. The chiral benzimidazolide is inexpensive and is easily accessible.

Furo-fused BINOL based crown as a fluorescent chiral sensor for enantioselective recognition of phenylethylamine and ethyl ester of valine.

A furo-fused BINOL based chiral crown was developed as an enantioselective chiral sensor for phenylethylamine and ethyl ester of valine. Fusion of furan to BINOL has resulted in a highly stereo-discriminating backbone for the chiral crown developed. This chiral crown exhibited a fluorescence enhancement difference of 2.97 times between two enantiomers of phenylethylamine and 2.55 times between two enantiomers of ethyl ester of valine. The ratio of association constants for two diastereomeric complexes of two enantiomers of phenylethylamine was found to be 11.30, and the ratio for two enantiomers of ethyl ester of valine was 7.02.

Aluminum chloride-mediated kinetic resolution of racemic gamma-substituted-gamma-lactones.

Preparation of chiral gamma-substituted-gamma-lactones (1) through kinetic resolution is described. (S)-(-)-1-Phenylethylamine (2) in the presence of anhydrous AlCl(3) shows satisfactory levels of enantioselection in reaction with racemic gamma-substituted-gamma-lactones 1, where (R)-1 remains unreacted, while (S)-1 is enantioselectively converted to the ring-opened amide (S,S)-4. The enantiopurity of (R)-(+)- gamma-substituted gamma-lactones recovered ranges from 62-98% ee.