Synthesis and Optoelectronic Properties of New Methoxy-Substituted Diketopyrrolopyrrole Polymers.

The introduction of functional groups with varying electron-donating/-withdrawing properties at the ß-position of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) has been shown to affect the optoelectronic properties of the polymers. We report the synthesis of a new diketopyrrolopyrrole monomer wherein a strong electron-donating substituent, a methoxy group, was incorporated at the ß-position in an effort to modulate polymer properties. Homopolymers and co-polymers of the new ß-methoxy DPP and nonderivatized DPP were synthesized, and their properties were measured by cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis-near-infrared. Density functional theory computations also were employed to predict the degree of planarity of ß-methoxy oligomers to probe the significance of the newly introduced S-O conformational lock. The combined experimental and computational results showed a reduction in the gap between highest occupied molecular orbital/lowest unoccupied molecular orbital levels, a redshift toward the near-infrared region, and an increased planarity in the ß-methoxy polymers.

Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioconvergent Borylation of Racemic Secondary Benzylic Electrophiles.

Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling has emerged as the most versatile approach to date for achieving enantioconvergent carbon-carbon bond formation using racemic alkyl halides as electrophiles. In contrast, there have not yet been reports of the application of chiral nickel catalysts to the corresponding reactions with heteroatom nucleophiles to produce carbon-heteroatom bonds with good enantioselectivity. Herein, we establish that a chiral nickel/pybox catalyst can borylate racemic secondary benzylic chlorides to provide enantioenriched benzylic boronic esters, a highly useful family of compounds in organic synthesis. The method displays good functional group compatibility (e.g., being unimpeded by the presence of an indole, a ketone, a tertiary amine, or an unactivated alkyl bromide), and both of the catalyst components (NiCl2 ⋅glyme and the pybox ligand) are commercially available.

Tin-Free Direct C-H Arylation Polymerization for High Photovoltaic Efficiency Conjugated Copolymers.

A new and highly regioselective direct C-H arylation polymerization (DARP) methodology enables the reproducible and sustainable synthesis of high-performance π-conjugated photovoltaic copolymers. Unlike traditional Stille polycondensation methods for producing photovoltaic copolymers, this DARP protocol eliminates the need for environmentally harmful, toxic organotin compounds. This DARP protocol employs low loadings of commercially available catalyst components, Pd2(dba)3·CHCl3 (0.5 mol%) and P(2-MeOPh)3 (2 mol%), sterically tuned carboxylic acid additives, and an environmentally friendly solvent, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran. Using this DARP protocol, several representative copolymers are synthesized in excellent yields and high molecular masses. The DARP-derived copolymers are benchmarked versus Stille-derived counterparts by close comparison of optical, NMR spectroscopic, and electrochemical properties, all of which indicate great chemical similarity and no significant detectable structural defects in the DARP copolymers. The DARP- and Stille-derived copolymer and fullerene blend microstructural properties and morphologies are characterized with AFM, TEM, and XRD and are found to be virtually indistinguishable. Likewise, the charge generation, recombination, and transport characteristics of the fullerene blend films are found to be identical. For the first time, polymer solar cells fabricated using DARP-derived copolymers exhibit solar cell performances rivalling or exceeding those achieved with Stille-derived materials. For the DARP copolymer PBDTT-FTTE, the power conversion efficiency of 8.4% is a record for a DARP copolymer.

All-Polymer Solar Cell Performance Optimized via Systematic Molecular Weight Tuning of Both Donor and Acceptor Polymers.

The influence of the number-average molecular weight (Mn) on the blend film morphology and photovoltaic performance of all-polymer solar cells (APSCs) fabricated with the donor polymer poly[5-(2-hexyldodecyl)-1,3-thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione-alt-5,5-(2,5-bis(3-dodecylthiophen-2-yl)thiophene)] (PTPD3T) and acceptor polymer poly{[N,N'-bis(2-octyldodecyl)naphthalene-1,4,5,8-bis(dicarboximide)-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5'-(2,2'-bithiophene)} (P(NDI2OD-T2); N2200) is systematically investigated. The Mn effect analysis of both PTPD3T and N2200 is enabled by implementing a polymerization strategy which produces conjugated polymers with tunable Mns. Experimental and coarse-grain modeling results reveal that systematic Mn variation greatly influences both intrachain and interchain interactions and ultimately the degree of phase separation and morphology evolution. Specifically, increasing Mn for both polymers shrinks blend film domain sizes and enhances donor-acceptor polymer-polymer interfacial areas, affording increased short-circuit current densities (Jsc). However, the greater disorder and intermixed feature proliferation accompanying increasing Mn promotes charge carrier recombination, reducing cell fill factors (FF). The optimized photoactive layers exhibit well-balanced exciton dissociation and charge transport characteristics, ultimately providing solar cells with a 2-fold PCE enhancement versus devices with nonoptimal Mns. Overall, it is shown that proper and precise tuning of both donor and acceptor polymer Mns is critical for optimizing APSC performance. In contrast to reports where maximum power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) are achieved for the highest Mns, the present two-dimensional Mn optimization matrix strategy locates a PCE "sweet spot" at intermediate Mns of both donor and acceptor polymers. This study provides synthetic methodologies to predictably access conjugated polymers with desired Mn and highlights the importance of optimizing Mn for both polymer components to realize the full potential of APSC performance.

Synthesis of furans and pyrroles via migratory and double migratory cycloisomerization reactions of homopropargylic aldehydes and imines.

A novel gold-catalyzed divergent sysnthesis of furans and pyrroles employing readily available homopropargylic aldehydes and imines have been developed. The regiochemical outcome of this reaction is dependent on the substituent on the terminal alkyne of substrate. Thus, substrates possessing alkyl and aryl substituent at the alkyne moiety produce 2,3,5-substituted furans and pyrroles via a migratory cycloisomerizaton reaction. Whereas, their silicon analogues are capable to undergo a double migratory process leading to 2,3,4-substituted heterocycles.

Atom-efficient regioselective 1,2-dearomatization of functionalized pyridines by an earth-abundant organolanthanide catalyst.

Developing earth-abundant, non-platinum metal catalysts for high-value chemical transformations is a critical challenge to contemporary chemical synthesis. Dearomatization of pyridine derivatives is an important transformation to access a wide range of valuable nitrogenous natural products, pharmaceuticals and materials. Here, we report an efficient 1,2-regioselective organolanthanide-catalysed pyridine dearomatization process using pinacolborane, which is compatible with a broad range of pyridines and functional groups and employs equimolar reagent stoichiometry. Regarding the mechanism, derivation of the rate law from NMR spectroscopic and kinetic measurements suggests first order in catalyst concentration, fractional order in pyridine concentration and inverse first order in pinacolborane concentration, with C=N insertion into the La-H bond as turnover-determining. An energetic span analysis affords a more detailed understanding of experimental activity trends and the unusual kinetic behaviour, and proposes the catalyst 'resting' state and potential deactivation pathways.

Nickel-catalyzed coupling reactions of alkyl electrophiles, including unactivated tertiary halides, to generate carbon-boron bonds.

Through the use of a catalyst formed in situ from NiBr(2)·diglyme and a pybox ligand (both of which are commercially available), we have achieved our first examples of coupling reactions of unactivated tertiary alkyl electrophiles, as well as our first success with nickel-catalyzed couplings that generate bonds other than C-C bonds. Specifically, we have determined that this catalyst accomplishes Miyaura-type borylations of unactivated tertiary, secondary, and primary alkyl halides with diboron reagents to furnish alkylboronates, a family of compounds with substantial (and expanding) utility, under mild conditions; indeed, the umpolung borylation of a tertiary alkyl bromide can be achieved at a temperature as low as -10 °C. The method exhibits good functional-group compatibility and is regiospecific, both of which can be issues with traditional approaches to the synthesis of alkylboronates. In contrast to seemingly related nickel-catalyzed C-C bond-forming processes, tertiary halides are more reactive than secondary or primary halides in this nickel-catalyzed C-B bond-forming reaction; this divergence is particularly noteworthy in view of the likelihood that both transformations follow an inner-sphere electron-transfer pathway for oxidative addition.

Stereocontrolled 1,3-phosphatyloxy and 1,3-halogen migration relay toward highly functionalized 1,3-dienes.

A double migratory cascade reaction of α-halogen-substituted propargylic phosphates to produce highly functionalized 1,3-dienes has been developed. This transformation features 1,3-phosphatyloxy group migration followed by 1,3-shifts of bromine and chlorine as well as the unprecedented 1,3-migration of iodine. The reaction is stereodivergent: (Z)-1,3-dienes are formed in the presence of a copper catalyst, whereas gold-catalyzed reactions exhibit inverted stereoselectivity, producing the corresponding E products.

The Pyridyldiisopropylsilyl Group: A Masked Functionality and Directing Group for Monoselective ortho-Acyloxylation and ortho-Halogenation Reactions of Arenes.

A novel, easily removable and modifiable silicon-tethered pyridyldiisopropylsilyl directing group for C-H functionalizations of arenes has been developed. The installation of the pyridyldiisopropylsilyl group can efficiently be achieved via two complementary routes using easily available 2-(diisopropylsilyl)pyridine (5). The first strategy features a nucleophilic hydride substitution at the silicon atom in 5 with aryllithium reagents generated in situ from the corresponding aryl bromides or iodides. The second milder route exploits a highly efficient room-temperature rhodium(I)-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between 5 and aryl iodides. The latter approach can be applied to the preparation of a wide range of pyridyldiisopropylsilyl-substituted arenes possessing a variety of functional groups, including those incompatible with organometallic reagents. The pyridyldiisopropylsilyl directing group allows for a highly efficient, regioselective palladium(II)-catalyzed mono-ortho-acyloxylation and ortho-halogenation of various aromatic compounds. Most impor-tantly, the silicon-tethered directing group in both acyloxylated and halogenated products can easily be removed or efficiently converted into an array of other valuable functionalities. These transformations include protio-, deuterio-, halo-, boro-, and alkynyldesilylations, as well as a conversion of the directing group into the hydroxy functionality. In addition, the construction of aryl-aryl bonds via the Hiyama-Denmark cross-coupling reaction is feasible for the acetoxylated products. Moreover, the ortho-halogenated pyridyldiisopropylsilylarenes, bearing both nucleophilic pyridyldiisopropylsilyl and electrophilic aryl halide moieties, represent synthetically attractive 1,2-ambiphiles. A unique reactivity of these ambiphiles has been demonstrated in efficient syntheses of arylenediyne and benzosilole derivatives, as well as in a facile generation of benzyne. In addition, preliminary mechanistic studies of the acyloxylation and halogenation reactions have been performed. A trinuclear palladacycle intermediate has been isolated from a stoichiometric reaction between diisopropyl-(phenyl)pyrid-2-ylsilane (3a) and palladium acetate. Furthermore, both C-H functionalization reactions exhibited equally high values of the intramolecular primary kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD = 6.7). Based on these observations, a general mechanism involving the formation of a palladacycle via a C-H activation process as the rate-determining step has been proposed.

On the validity of Au-vinylidenes in the gold-catalyzed 1,2-migratory cycloisomerization of skipped propargylpyridines.

A mechanism of the Au-catalyzed cycloisomerization of propargylpyridines has been investigated. Both DFT computational and experimental results strongly support generation of a Au-carbene via a cyclization/proton transfer sequence over the previously proposed path involving a Au-vinylidene intermediate. For the ß-Si-substituted Au-carbene (G = SiR(3)), a 1,2-Si migration was shown to be kinetically favored over a 1,2-H shift. This study highlights the importance of alternative pathways that could explain reactivities commonly attributed to an alkyne-vinylidene isomerization in Au catalysis.

PyDipSi: a general and easily modifiable/traceless Si-tethered directing group for C-H acyloxylation of arenes.

A new general and easily installable silicon-tethered pyridyl-containing directing group (PyDipSi) that allows for highly efficient and regioselective Pd-catalyzed ortho C-H acyloxylation of arenes has been developed. It has also been demonstrated that this directing group can efficiently be removed as well as converted into a variety of other valuable functional groups. In addition, the installation of the PyDipSi directing group along with pivaloxylation and quantitative conversion of the PyDipSi group into a halogen functionality represents a formal three-step ortho oxygenation of haloarenes.

Computation-guided development of Au-catalyzed cycloisomerizations proceeding via 1,2-Si or 1,2-H migrations: regiodivergent synthesis of silylfurans.

A novel highly efficient regiodivergent Au-catalyzed cycloisomerization of allenyl and homopropargylic ketones into synthetically valuable 2- and 3-silylfurans has been designed with the aid of DFT calculations. This cascade transformation features 1,2-Si or 1,2-H migrations in a common Au-carbene intermediate. Both experimental and computational results clearly indicate that the 1,2-Si migration is kinetically favored over the 1,2-shifts of H, alkyl, and aryl groups in the beta-Si-substituted Au-carbenes. In addition, experimental results on the Au(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of homopropargylic ketones demonstrated that counterion and solvent effects could reverse the above migratory preference. The DFT calculations provided a rationale for this 1,2-migration regiodivergency. Thus, in the case of Ph(3)PAuSbF(6), DFT-simulated reaction proceeds through the initial propargyl-allenyl isomerization followed by the cyclization into the Au-carbene intermediate with the exclusive formation of 1,2-Si migration products and solvent effects cannot affect this regioselectivity. However, in the case of a TfO(-) counterion, reaction occurs via the initial 5-endo-dig cyclization to give a cyclic furyl-Au intermediate. In the case of nonpolar solvents, subsequent ipso-protiodeauration of the latter is kinetically more favorable than the generation of the common Au-carbene intermediate and leads to the formation of formal 1,2-H migration products. In contrast, when polar solvent is employed in this DFT-simulated reaction, beta-to-Au protonation of the furyl-Au species to give a Au-carbene intermediate competes with the ipso-protiodeauration. Subsequent dissociation of the triflate ligand in this carbene in polar media due to efficient solvation of charged intermediates facilitates formation of the 1,2-Si shift products. The above results of the DFT calculations were validated by the experimental data. The present study demonstrates that DFT calculations could efficiently support experimental results, providing guidance for rational design of new catalytic transformations.

Gold(I)-catalyzed synthesis of (1E,3E)-dienes from propargylic esters.

A mild and stereoselective gold(I)-catalyzed domino transformation of propargylic esters leading to substituted (1E,3E)-dienes has been developed. This cascade process proceeds via a sequence of 1,3-acyloxy- or 1,3-phosphatyloxy migrations to form allenic intermediate followed by a proton transfer.

Mechanistic insights into the gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of bromoallenyl ketones: ligand-controlled regioselectivity.

Through computational and experimental studies, the mechanisms of gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of bromoallenyl ketones in toluene have been elucidated. The divergent 1,2-migrations for the Au(I)- and Au(III)-catalyzed reactions have been investigated, and the results confirmed that the regiochemistry is ligand-dependent in cases of Au(PR3)L (L = Cl, OTf, BF4, and SbF6) catalysts.

Gold-catalyzed double migration-benzannulation cascade toward naphthalenes.

A novel gold(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of propargylic esters leading to unsymmetrically substituted naphthalenes has been developed. This cascade reaction involves an unprecedented tandem sequence of 1,3- and 1,2-migration of two different migrating groups. It is believed that this transformation likely proceeds via the formation of 1,3-diene intermediate or its precursor, which upon cyclization and aromatization steps transforms into the naphthalene core.

Metal-catalyzed 1,2-shift of diverse migrating groups in allenyl systems as a new paradigm toward densely functionalized heterocycles.

A general, mild, and efficient 1,2-migration/cycloisomerization methodology toward multisubstituted 3-thio-, seleno-, halo-, aryl-, and alkyl-furans and pyrroles, as well as fused heterocycles, valuable building blocks for synthetic chemistry, has been developed. Moreover, regiodivergent conditions have been identified for C-4 bromo- and thio-substituted allenones and alkynones for the assembly of regioisomeric 2-hetero substituted furans selectively. It was demonstrated that, depending on reaction conditions, ambident substrates can be selectively transformed into furan products, as well as undergo selective 6-exo-dig or Nazarov cyclizations. Our mechanistic investigations have revealed that the transformation proceeds via allenylcarbonyl or allenylimine intermediates followed by 1,2-group migration to the allenyl sp carbon during cycloisomerization. It was found that 1,2-migration of chalcogens and halogens predominantly proceeds via formation of irenium intermediates. Analogous intermediate can also be proposed for 1,2-aryl shift. Furthermore, it was shown that the cycloisomerization cascade can be catalyzed by Brønsted acids, albeit less efficiently, and commonly observed reactivity of Lewis acid catalysts cannot be attributed to the eventual formation of proton. Undoubtedly, thermally induced or Lewis acid-catalyzed transformations proceed via intramolecular Michael addition or activation of the enone moiety pathways, whereas certain carbophilic metals trigger carbenoid/oxonium type pathway. However, a facile cycloisomerization in the presence of cationic complexes, as well as observed migratory aptitude in the cycloisomerization of unsymmetrically disubstituted aryl- and alkylallenes, strongly supports electrophilic nature for this transformation. Full mechanistic details, as well as the scope of this transformation, are discussed.