"Rim-Differentiated" Pillar[6]arenes.

A "rim-differentiated" pillar[6]arene (RD-P[6]) was obtained successfully, with the assistance of a dimeric silver trifluoroacetate template, among eight different constitutional isomers in a direct and regioselective manner. The solid-state conformation of this macrocycle could switch from the 1,3,5-alternate to a truly rim-differentiated one upon guest inclusion. This highly symmetric RD-P[6] not only hosts metal-containing molecules inside its cavity, but also can form a pillar[6]arene-C60 adduct through co-crystallization on account of donor-acceptor interactions. The development of synthetic strategies to desymmetrize pillararenes offers new opportunities for engineering complex molecular architectures and organic electronic materials.

Spontaneous and induced chiral symmetry breaking of stereolabile pillar[5]arene derivatives upon crystallisation.

Stereolabile pillar[5]arene (P[5]) derivatives, which are dynamic racemic mixtures in solution on account of their low inversion barriers, were employed as platforms to study chiral symmetry breaking during crystallisation. In the solid state, we showed that crystal enantiomeric excess of a conglomerate-forming P[5] derivative can be obtained by handpicking and Viedma ripening without the intervention of external chiral entities. On the other hand, in the presence of ethyl d/l-lactate as both optically-active solvents and chiral guests, the handedness of P[5] derivative crystals, either forming racemic compounds or conglomerates upon condensation, can be directed and subsequently inverted in a highly controllable manner.

Stereochemical Inversion of Rim-Differentiated Pillar[5]arene Molecular Swings.

To investigate the dynamic stereochemical inversion behavior of pillar[5]arenes (P[5]s) in more detail, we synthesized a series of novel rim-differentiated P[5]s with various substituents and examined their rapid rotations by variable-temperature NMR (203-298 K). These studies revealed for the first time the barrier of "methyl-through-the-annulus" rotation (ΔG‡ = 47.4 kJ·mol-1 in acetone) and indicated that for rim-differentiated P[5]s with two types of alkyl substituents, the smaller rim typically determines the rate of rotation. However, substituents with terminal C═C or C≡C bonds give rise to lower inversion barriers, presumably as a result of attractive π-π interactions in the transition state. Finally, data on a rim-differentiated penta-methyl-penta-propargyl P[5] exhibited the complexity of the overall inversion dynamics.

Tiara[5]arenes: Synthesis, Solid-State Conformational Studies, Host-Guest Properties, and Application as Nonporous Adaptive Crystals.

Tiara[5]arenes (T[5]s), a new class of five-fold symmetric oligophenolic macrocycles that are not accessible from the addition of formaldehyde to phenol, were synthesized for the first time. These pillar[5]arene-derived structures display both unique conformational freedom, differing from that of pillararenes, with a rich blend of solid-state conformations and excellent host-guest interactions in solution. Finally we show how this novel macrocyclic scaffold can be functionalized in a variety of ways and used as functional crystalline materials to distinguish uniquely between benzene and cyclohexane.

Base Controlled Three-Component Regioselective Synthesis of 2-Imino Thiazolines and 2-Thioxoimidazolin-4-ones.

Base-controlled regioselective synthesis of 2-imino thiazolines and 2-thioxoimidazolin-4-ones was achieved to use a one-pot reaction between chiral amino esters, isothiocyanates, and α-bromoketones/alkyl halides. This three-component coupling reaction in acetonitrile provides 2-imino thiazolines, whereas the formation of 2-thioxoimidazolin-4-ones was observed under basic conditions at ambient temperature. The corresponding products were obtained in good to excellent yield with broad substrate scope. Isolation of thiourea and thiohydantoin intermediates disclosed the course of the reaction mechanism.

Silver(I)-Catalyzed Regioselective Synthesis of Triazole Fused-1,5-Benzoxazocinones.

An efficient and regioselective synthesis of novel 1,2,3-triazole-fused-1,5-benzoxazocinones through intramolecular cyclization of substituted ethynyl triazoyl benzoic acids was explored. A crucial precursor 5-iodo-1,2,3-triazole benzoate was obtained from substituted 2-azido benzoic acid esters in a single step through a Copper-Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction using a CuI/NBS catalytic system. A carbon-carbon triple bond was installed through a Sonogashira coupling reaction by various terminal alkynes. Finally, the 1,4,5-substituted ethynyl triazoyl benzoic acids were cyclized by a AgOTf-mediated intramolecular cyclization to afford 8-endo-dig 1,2,3-triazole-fused-1,5-benzoxazocinones exclusively.

Skeletally Diverse Synthesis of Indole-Fused Diazocine and Diazepine Frameworks by One-Pot, Two-Component Cascade Reaction.

An expeditious and novel strategy has been explored for the synthesis of structurally diverse indole-fused diazocine and diazepine derivatives. A substrate-based diversification approach of methyl-3-aminoindole/indoline benzoates coupled with the Pictet-Spengler reaction and three different reaction cascades furnished indolodiazepine and indoloquinoxalines. The formation of indolodiazocines proceeds through an initial condensation followed by intramolecular alkylation.