A New Member of the BN-Phenanthrene Family: Understanding the Role of the B-N Bond Position.

3,4-Dihydro-4-aza-3-boraphenanthrene, which shows the highest fluorescence quantum yield of all nonsubstituted BN-phenanthrenes reported to date (ϕF = 0.61), has been synthesized in only three steps (76% overall yield) from easily accessible 1-bromo-2-vinylnaphthalene, along with several substituted derivatives. The reactivity of these previously unknown BN-aromatic compounds toward organolithium compounds and bromine has been studied. This latter reaction affords bromo-substituted compounds that are suitable for further functionalization via Suzuki and Sonogashira couplings, with complete regioselectivity. The optical properties and excited state deactivation mechanisms of selected compounds were studied using computational methods.

Remarkable effect of alkynyl substituents on the fluorescence properties of a BN-phenanthrene.

A series of BN-phenanthrenes with substituents of a diverse nature have been synthesized by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of a common chloro-substituted precursor, which was made from readily available materials in only four steps. Evaluation of the photophysical properties of the prepared compounds unveiled an impressive effect of the presence of alkynyl substituents on the fluorescence quantum yield, which improved from 0.01 in the parent compound to up to 0.65 in derivatives containing a triple bond.

Synthesis of C2 Substituted Benzothiophenes via an Interrupted Pummerer/[3,3]-Sigmatropic/1,2-Migration Cascade of Benzothiophene S-Oxides.

Functionalized benzothiophenes are important scaffolds found in molecules with wide ranging biological activity and in organic materials. We describe an efficient, metal-free synthesis of C2 arylated, allylated, and propargylated benzothiophenes. The reaction utilizes synthetically unexplored yet readily accessible benzothiophene S-oxides and phenols, allyl-, or propargyl silanes in a unique cascade sequence. An interrupted Pummerer reaction between benzothiophene S-oxides and the coupling partners yields sulfonium salts that lack aromaticity and therefore allow facile [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. The subsequently generated benzothiophenium salts undergo a previously unexplored 1,2-migration to access C2 functionalized benzothiophenes.

Expanding the BN-embedded PAH family: 4a-aza-12a-borachrysene.

Previously unknown 4a-aza-12a-borachrysene has been synthesized in only four steps. The reactions of this BN-embedded PAH with bromine and organolithium compounds proceed with complete regioselectivity, resulting in the formation of nine derivatives. One of these, a phenylalkynyl-substituted derivative, exhibits a remarkably high fluorescence quantum yield (ΦF = 0.68).

Synthesis, Functionalization, and Optical Properties of 1,2-Dihydro-1-aza-2-boraphenanthrene and Several Highly Fluorescent Derivatives.

Previously unknown 1,2-dihydro-1-aza-2-boraphenanthrene has been synthesized in only three steps from 2-bromo-1-vinylnaphthalene. The reactivity of this new BN-phenanthrene, and of several substituted derivatives, has been tested against bromine and organolithium compounds. Bromination proceeded with complete regioselectivity, affording bromo-substituted compounds suitable for further functionalization via cross-coupling reactions. This new family of BN-phenanthrenes exhibits a substantial increase in the quantum yield (up to ϕF = 0.93) with respect to phenanthrene.

Synthesis of functionalized helical BN-benzo[c]phenanthrenes.

A novel parent BN-benzo[c]phenanthrene, with helical chirality and remarkable structural features, has been easily obtained in three steps with a global yield of 55%. Moreover, Cl-substituted derivatives have been prepared and these have served as useful starting materials for the development of palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions.

C-H Functionalization of BN-Aromatics Promoted by Addition of Organolithium Compounds to the Boron Atom.

Addition of an organolithium compound to a BN-phenanthrene with embedded B and N atoms is proposed to result in coordination of RLi to the boron atom. This coordination, supported by NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations, increases the nucleophilicity of the system in the ß position to the N atom and is therefore a useful tool for promoting regioselective C-H functionalization of BN aromatics.

Synthesis, Optical Properties, and Regioselective Functionalization of 4a-Aza-10a-boraphenanthrene.

4a-Aza-10a-boraphenanthrene has been synthesized in only four steps from commercially available materials with a remarkable overall yield of 62%. In contrast to other BN-isosteres of phenathrene, this isomer is weakly fluorescent, which has been explained by means of computational studies that found a low energy conical intersection for the nonradiative deactivation of the excited state. Moreover, a completely regioselective functionalization of 4a-aza-10a-boraphenanthrene at C-1 by reaction with activated electrophiles has been achieved.