RESUMEN
A selection of cyclic and acyclic acetylenic scaffolds bearing two tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) units was prepared by different metal-catalyzed coupling reactions. The bridge separating the two TTF units was systematically changed from linearly conjugated ethyne, butadiyne and tetraethynylethene (trans-substituted) units to a cross-conjugated tetraethynylethene unit, placed in either acyclic or cyclic arrangements. The cyclic structures correspond to so-called radiaannulenes having both endo- and exocyclic double bonds. Interactions between two redox-active TTF units in these molecules were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis-NIR and EPR absorption spectroscopical methods of the electrochemically generated oxidized species. The electron-accepting properties of the acetylenic cores were also investigated electrochemically.
RESUMEN
Stable bis(gold(I) alkynyl) complexes of tetraethynylethene (TEE) derivatives were readily prepared and employed in Sonogashira-like palladium-catalyzed phosphine-gold(I) halide elimination reactions with aryl iodides and redox-active tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) mono- and bisiodides. This presents a particularly convenient method for the preparation of symmetrical and asymmetrical tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-fused radiaannulenes in good yields.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The dihydroazulene (DHA)/vinylheptafulvene (VHF) system (with two cyano groups at C1) functions as a photo-/thermoswitch. Direct ionic bromination of DHA has previously furnished a regioselective route to a 7,8-dibromide, which by elimination was converted to a 7-bromo-substituted DHA. This compound has served as a central building block for functionalization of the DHA by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. The current work explores another bromination protocol for achieving the isomeric 3-bromo-DHA and also explores the outcome of additional bromination of this compound as well as of the known 7-bromo-DHA. RESULTS: Radical bromination on two different VHFs by using N-bromosuccinimide/benzoyl peroxide and light, followed by a ring-closure reaction generated the corresponding 3-bromo-DHAs, as confirmed in one case by X-ray crystallography. According to a (1)H NMR spectroscopic study, the ring closure of the brominated VHF seemed to occur readily under the reaction conditions. A subsequent bromination-elimination protocol provided a 3,7-dibromo-DHA. In contrast, treating the known 7-bromo-DHA with bromine generated a very labile species that was converted to a new 3,7-dibromoazulene, i.e., the fully unsaturated species. Azulenes were also found to form from brominated compounds when left standing for a long time in the solid state. Kinetics measurements reveal that the 3-bromo substituent enhances the rate of the thermal conversion of the VHF to DHA, which is opposite to the effect exerted by a bromo substituent in the seven-membered ring. CONCLUSION: Two general procedures for functionalizing the DHA core with a bromo substituent (at positions 3 and 7, respectively) are now available with the DHA as starting material.
RESUMEN
The dihydroazulene (DHA)/vinylheptafulvene (VHF) photo/thermoswitch has recently attracted interest as a molecular switch for molecular electronics. In this field, Buckminsterfullerene, C(60), has been shown to be a useful anchoring group for adhering a molecular wire to an electrode. Here we have combined the two units with the overall aim to elucidate how C(60) influences the DHA-VHF switching events. Efficient synthetic protocols for making covalently linked DHA-C(60) conjugates were developed, using Prato, Sonogashira, Hay, and Cadiot-Chodkiewicz reactions. These syntheses provide as well a variety of potentially useful DHA and C(60) building blocks for acetylenic scaffolding. The two units were separated by bridges of various lengths, such as oligo(phenyleneethynylene) (OPE2 and OPE3) wires. The distance of separation was found to influence strongly the light-induced ring-opening reaction of DHA to its corresponding VHF. Thus, C(60) was found to significantly quench this conversion when situated closely to the DHA unit.