Chirogenesis and Amplification of Molecular Chirality Using Optical Vortices.

The study of chirogenesis of organic molecules is important to elucidate the origin of the homochirality of biomolecules on Earth. Here, we have accomplished chiral symmetry breaking from a racemate using optical vortices with orbital angular momentum and a helical wavefront. We propose a new methodology of asymmetric transformation by the combination of enantioselective crystal nucleation by irradiation with optical vortices and crystallization-induced dynamic optical resolution of conglomerate crystals. Chiral green vortices generated using a spiral phase plate (SPP) with a 532 nm CW-laser were used to irradiate a supersaturated solution of a racemic isoindolinone, leading to crystal nucleation. The handedness of the crystals were controlled by the winding direction of the chiral optical vortices. The molecular chirality of the isoindolinone was then amplified by dynamic crystallization.

Chiral Symmetry Breaking of Spiropyrans and Spirooxazines by Dynamic Enantioselective Crystallization.

Dynamic enantioselective crystallization enabled the chiral symmetry breaking of two spiropyrans and one spirooxazine. The three spiro compounds afforded racemic conglomerate crystals, and easily racemized in alcoholic solution without irradiation. Optically pure enantiomorphic crystals were obtained by vapor-diffusion crystallization or attrition-enhanced deracemization (Viedma ripening). Their absolute configurations were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis and each enantiomorphic crystal was correlated with its solid-state circular dichroism (CD) spectrum.

Stereoselective Photodimerization of 3-Arylindenones in Solution and in the Solid State.

Photodimerization of 3-arylindenones in solution and in the solid state was examined. Irradiation of 3-arylindenones in benzene exclusively gave C2-symmetric anti-HH cyclobutane dimers in good yields. In contrast, photolysis in the solid state afforded syn-HH cyclobutane dimers efficiently, which was considerably influenced by the molecular arrangement in the crystal lattice.

Asymmetric Diels-Alder Reaction Involving Dynamic Enantioselective Crystallization.

Asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction was achieved under achiral conditions. Reaction of prochiral 2-methylfuran and N-phenylmaleimide in heptane or hexane solution at 80 °C efficiently gave a conglomerate crystal of exo-type Diels-Alder adduct selectively, and continuous suspension of the reaction mixture with glass beads promoted attrition-enhanced deracemization, leading to an optically active exo-adduct in 90% ee.

Controllable Monobromination of Perylene Ring System: Synthesis of Bay-Functionalized Perylene Dyes.

Practical synthesis of bay-monofunctionalized perylene dyes has been developed based on controllable NBS bromination of tetrabenzyl perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylate. The ability to perform the convenient and high-yielding synthesis highlights the potential utility of our multifunctional approach to access a diverse range of new perylene systems.

Umpolung cyclization reaction of N-cinnamoylthioureas in the presence of DBU.

A novel regioselective cyclization reaction of N-cinnamoylthioureas leading to six- or five-membered heterocyclic compounds was developed. N-Cinnamoylthioureas in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) underwent the well-established intramolecular cycloaddition reaction to give 2-imino-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-1,3-thiazin-4-ones in good yields. On the other hand, the reaction with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) proceeded in an unprecedented "umpolung" cyclization fashion to afford five-membered 2-imino-1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones and/or 2-thioxoimidazolidine-4-ones. The reaction was considered to occur via a cycloadduct of DBU with the cinnamoyl moiety followed by intramolecular attack of the thiourea group.

Asymmetric Synthesis by Using Natural Sunlight under Absolute Achiral Conditions.

Irradiation of prochiral (E)-aroylacrylamide with sunlight gave single-handed pyrrolinone quantitatively and with an enantiomeric excess (ee) of over 99 % under absolutely achiral conditions. The phenomenon was explained by photoisomerization and reversible cyclization followed by dynamic crystallization involving deracemization.

Asymmetric Synthesis of an Amino Acid Derivative from Achiral Aroyl Acrylamide by Reversible Michael Addition and Preferential Crystallization.

Single-handed α-amino acid derivatives were generated from achiral precursors without an external chiral source. Conjugate addition of phenethylamine to an achiral aroyl acrylamide under homogeneous conditions gave the α-amino amides in quantitative yields, which crystallized as a conglomerate of a P21 crystal system. Dynamic preferential crystallization or attrition-enhanced deracemization resulted in the formation of enantiomorphic crystals of 99 % ee.

Regioselective Bay-Functionalization of Perylenes Toward Tailor-Made Synthesis of Acceptor Materials for Organic Photovoltaics.

The development of an efficient synthetic protocol for multiply bay-functionalized perylenes and application of these products to photovoltaics are reported. Tetrabenzyl 1-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylate underwent a regioselective bromination at the 7-position followed by a further bromination at the 12-position to provide a 7,12-dibromide in high 84% yield. This compound was transformed into a tetrasubstituted C2h -symmetric dibromide by a controlled monoetherification and a final bromination. The synthetic versatility of the new brominated precursors was demonstrated by their application to cross-coupling reactions, cyanation, and derivatization to the corresponding perylene diimide (PDI). Owing to the high solubility and the raised LUMO level, the obtained tetrasubstituted PDI showed significant advantages as an acceptor material for photovoltaic applications, exhibiting a remarkably high open-circuit voltage (VOC ) reaching 1.00 V. The observed high VOC could be understood by reduction of energy offset for charge separation and non-radiative recombination loss.

Absolute Asymmetric Synthesis of an Aspartic Acid Derivative from Prochiral Maleic Acid and Pyridine under Achiral Conditions.

The asymmetric synthesis of an aspartic acid derivative, N-succinopyridine, from prochiral starting materials involving dynamic enantioselective crystallization was accomplished without using any external chiral source. The aza-Michael addition reaction of prochiral maleic acid and pyridine afforded racemic conglomerate N-succinopyridine in water. Continuous stirring of the suspension of the reaction mixture with acetic acid promoted gradual deracemization to afford a crystal with an excellent optical purity of 99 % in 71 % yield.