CH3-deprotonation of 9-methylanthracene under mild conditions.

The chromophore building-block 9-methylanthracene is selectively deprotonated at the methyl group and activated for reactions with electrophiles.

Oligoene-Based π-Helicenes or Dispiranes? Winding up Oligoyne Chains by a Multiple Carbopalladation/Stille/(Electrocyclization) Cascade.

A domino approach consisting of up to five consecutive steps to access either highly substituted dispiranes or π-helicenes from oligoyne chains is reported. The domino sequence consists of several carbopalladation reactions, a Stille cross-coupling to obtain the helicenes, and, depending on the steric demands of the helicene, a final 6π-electrocyclization to afford the dispiranes. Formally, the latter transformation contravenes the Woodward-Hoffmann rules, as revealed by X-ray crystallography of the dispirane. Additionally, the racemization barrier of the (Z,Z,Z)-triene-based helicene has been determined by a kinetic analysis and compared with results from density functional theory calculations. Characteristic points on the reaction coordinate were further analyzed according to their relaxed force constants (compliance constants).

Lewis-base stabilized diiodine adducts with N-heterocyclic chalcogenamides.

Oxidation reactions of stable chalcogenamides with iodine are intriguing due to their broad application in various organic syntheses. In the present study we report on the utilization of N-heterocyclic carbene and cyclic-alkyl-amino carbenes L(1-3): (L(1): = :C[N(2,6-iPr2-C6H3)CH]2, L(2): = :C(CH2)(CMe2)(C6H10)N-2,6-iPr2-C6H3, L(3): = :C(CH2)(CMe2)2N-2,6-iPr2-C6H3) for the syntheses of chalcogenamides L(1-3)=E (E = S, Se, Te) 1-4 and zwitterionic adducts L(1-3)=E-I-I 5-8. The synthesis of compounds 1-4 involved the addition reaction of ligand L(1-3): and elemental chalcogen. Treatment of 1-4 with iodine resulted in the formation of adducts 5-8. Compounds 5-8 are well characterized with various spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray structural analysis.