Photoinduced Intramolecular formal [4 + 2] Cycloaddition of Aryl-Substituted o-Vinylstyryl-2-oxazoles To Form Benzo[f]quinoline Derivatives: Experimental Results and Theoretical Interpretation.

A new approach to benzo[f]quinoline derivatives has been found by an effective formal [4 + 2] photocycloaddition process from novel aryl-substituted o-vinylstyryl-2-oxazoles. All of the o-vinylstyryl-2-oxazoles were synthesized by a multicomponent Wittig reaction from the diphosphonium salt of α,α'-o-xylene dibromide, formaldehyde, and 5-tolyl-, 4-phenyl-5-methyl-, and 4,5-diphenyloxazole-2-carbaldehydes. TD-DFT calculations revealed that the intramolecular photocyclization in 2-(2-vinylstyryl)oxazoles to form benzo[f]quinoline derivatives proceeds on the S1 PES via a stepwise pathway, namely by 10π followed by 6π ring closure. On that path the existence of an S0/S1 conical intersection was indicated. The reactivity of the photocyclization steps depends on the substitution pattern at positions 4 and 5 of the oxazole ring, where the aryl group in position 5 deactivates the reaction.

Photochemical approach to functionalized benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octene structures via fused oxazoline derivatives from 4- and 5-(o-vinylstyryl)oxazoles.

Novel cis/trans-4- and cis/trans-5-(2-vinylstyryl)oxazoles have been synthesized by Wittig reactions from the diphosphonium salt of α,α'-o-xylene dibromide, formaldehyde and 4- and 5-oxazolecarbaldehydes, respectively. In contrast, trans-5-(2-vinylstyryl)oxazole has been synthesized by the van Leusen reaction from trans-3-(2-vinylphenyl)acrylaldehyde which is prepared from o-vinylbenzaldehyde and (formylmethylene)triphenylphosphorane. The 4- and 5-(2-vinylstyryl)oxazoles afford, by photochemical intramolecular cycloaddition, diverse fused oxazoline-benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octadienes, which are identified and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The photoproducts formed are relatively unstable and spontaneously or on silica gel undergo oxazoline ring opening followed by formation of formiato- or formamido-benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octenone derivatives. On irradiation of 4-(2-vinylstyryl)oxazole small quantities of electrocyclization product, 4-(1,2-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl)oxazole, are isolated and spectroscopically characterized.

Thermal reaction of [3,4]-benzo-8-substituted-3Z,5Z,7E-octatetraenes and quantum-chemical study of the (8π,6π)-electrocyclisation.

The first example of thermal (8π,6π)-electrocyclisation of 1,3,5,7-octatetraene with one double bond embedded in an aromatic moiety is described. By this process, [3,4]-benzo-8-substituted octatetraene derivatives, the cis,trans-1-(o-vinylphenyl)-4-(R = Me, Ph, 2-furyl)buta-1,3-dienes were transformed to a new endo-7-(R = Me, Ph, 2-furyl) and exo-7-(R = Me)-2,3-benzobicyclo[4.2.0]octa-2,4-dienes. Mechanism of reaction was also studied by DFT quantum-chemical calculations. The M06/6-311+G(d,p)//M06/6-31+G(d,p) calculations indicate that formation of the single endo-isomer in the case of phenyl and 2-furyl substituents is determined by higher activation barriers for exo-6π-electrocyclisation than for 8π-cycloreversion.

Photochemical approach to naphthoxazoles and fused heterobenzoxazoles from 5-(phenyl/heteroarylethenyl)oxazoles.

A new synthetic approach is presented for the synthesis of naphthoxazoles and fused heterobenzoxazoles. The starting 5-(aryl/furyl/thienyl/pyridyl ethenyl)oxazoles are prepared from the corresponding α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes using Van Leusen reagent in very good yields and are transformed into naphthoxazoles and fused heterobenzoxazoles on irradiation under aerobic conditions and in the presence of iodine.

Ultrafast photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer in push-pull distyryl furan and benzofuran: solvent and molecular structure effect.

The excited state deactivation pathways of push-pull distyryl furan and benzofuran derivatives in several organic solvents were investigated in detail by using time-resolved transient absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies, with nano- and femto-second time resolution. Solvent polarity was found to play a key role in determining the efficiencies of fluorescence, intersystem crossing and internal conversion. The triplet yield gradually decreased, while the internal conversion increased upon increasing the solvent dielectric constant. However the fluorescence showed a different solvent polarity effect in the low and high solvent polarity region, with a reversal of the trend of fluorescence properties (quantum yield and lifetime). This fact points to an emitting state of a different nature (smaller and larger dipole moments) in the two cases, as also suggested by the huge fluorosolvatochromism. In fact the ultrafast spectroscopic investigation evidenced the presence of two transients characterized by peculiar spectral shapes assigned to a locally excited (LE) and a charge transfer (CT) state. In the more polar solvents the CT state was the longer lived, fluorescent one and an intramolecular charge transfer process was found to be operative and to become faster (up to ∼200-250 fs) in the higher polarity media. On the contrary, distyrylfuran, which exhibits the same molecular skeleton without the push-pull character showed a similar excited state dynamics in solvents of different polarities.

Photochemical and thermal intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of new o-stilbene-methylene-3-sydnones and their synthesis.

New trans- and cis-o-stilbene-methylene-sydnones 3a,b were synthesized by transforming the trans- and cis-o-aminomethylstilbene derivative, obtained by reduction of corresponding o-cyano derivatives, into glycine ester derivatives (43 and 31% yield) followed by hydrolysis (90 and 96% yield), nitrosation and ring closure with acetic acid anhydride (30 and 40% yield). The products were submitted to photochemical and thermal intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloadditions to afford diverse heteropolycyclic compounds. Photochemical reactions afforded cis-3-(4-methylphenyl)-3a,8-dihydro-3H-pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoindole (11, 12.5% yield) and trans-3-(4-methylphenyl)-3a,8-dihydro-3H-pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoindole (12, 5% yield). Thermal reactions afforded 3-(4-methylphenyl)-3,3a,8,8a-tetrahydroindeno[2,1-c]pyrazole (14, 50% yield) and 11-(4-methylphenyl)-9,10-diazatricyclo[7.2.1.0(2,7)]dodeca-2,4,6,10-tetraene (15, 22% yield).

Azetidinone-isothiazolidinones: stereoselective synthesis and antibacterial evaluation of new monocyclic beta-lactams.

A simple and efficient procedure for the stereoselective synthesis of new azetidinone-isothiazolidinones has been developed. New compounds were tested in vitro on a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, some of them showing weak antibacterial activity.

Complete 1H and 13C NMR assignment of trans,trans-2,3-divinylfuran derivatives.

1H and 13C NMR spectra of trans, trans-2,3-divinylfuran derivatives (1-4) in CDCl3 were fully assigned using one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques. The 1H NMR resonances of ethylenic protons in position 2 with regard to the corresponding protons in position 3 of the furan ring are discussed.

Photochemistry of o-pyrrolylstilbenes and formation of spiro-2H-pyrroles and their rearrangement to dihydroindoles.

Excited states of stilbenylpyrroles 1a-1c deactivate by two photochemical processes: cis-trans-isomerization and hydrogen transfer of NH to the stilbene double bond. NH-transfer results in the formation of two quinone dimethane intermediates, 10 and 11, and biradicals 12. Intramolecular cyclization of intermediates 10-12 gives rise to polycyclic compounds spiro-2H-pyrroles 7, pyrroloisoindoles 3, and pyrroloisoquinolines 8. Spiro-2H-pyrroles 7 rearrange on silica gel, giving dihydroindoles 2.

Synthesis and photochemistry of beta,beta'-di(2-furyl)-substituted o-divinylbenzenes: intra- and/or intermolecular cycloaddition as an effect of annelation.

New heteroaryl-substituted o-divinylbenzenes, 2,2'-(1,2-phenylenedivinylene)difuran (9), 2,2'-(1,2-phenylenedivinylene)bisbenzo[b]furan (10), and 2,2'-(1,2-phenylenedivinylene)bisnaphtho[2,1-b]furan (11), were prepared and irradiated at various concentrations; intramolecular photocycloaddition and intermolecular [2+2] twofold photoaddition reactions took place to give bicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene derivatives 12-14 and cyclophane derivatives 15-17, respectively. Compound 11 was the most selective of these o-divinylbenzenes, which, owing to pi-pi intra- or intermolecular complexation, gave only the exo-bicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene derivative 14 at low concentrations, and only the cyclophane derivative 17 at high concentrations.

Complete 1H and 13C NMR spectral assignment of cis- and trans- 3-(2-[2-(4-methylphenyl)ethenyl]phenyl])sydnones.

1H and 13C NMR spectra of cis- and trans-3-(2-[2-(4-methylphenyl)ethenyl]phenyl])sydnones, the first stilbene-substituted mezoionic oxadiazolium rings, were fully assigned combining the information in various solvents, such as deuterated benzene, acetone and chloroform, using 2D NMR techniques.

Photochemical formation of novel pyrrolo[3,2-b]-6,7-benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octa- 2,6-diene.

The first synthesis of 1,4,9,10-tetrahydro-4,9-methanobenzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyrrole (11) was achieved by the photochemical intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition of N-phenoxycarbonyl- (5a) and N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-[2-(2-vinylphenyl)]pyrrole (6a), respectively, followed by basic hydrolysis of the isolated N-substituted 1,4,9,10-tetrahydro-4,9-methanobenzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyrroles (10a, 10b). Some competitively formed products were also isolated.

Photochemical transformations of 2,2'-(1,2-phenylenedivinylene)-dipyrroles.

The photochemistry of 2,2'-(1,2-phenylenedivinylene)dipyrroles (4a,b) has been investigated under various conditions. After excitation of the starting material, an electron transfer followed by hydrogen transfer and radical combination occurs giving 2-[[1-(2H-pyrrol-2-ylidene)methinyl]-2-indanyl]pyrrole (14) as the intermediate. The intermediate could not be isolated, but trapped by nucleophiles, like methanol and diethylamine, giving as addition products, new functionalised indanylpyrroles (9). Irradiation of 4a in the presence of triethylamine afforded the indanylidene-pyrroles 8.