A versatile synthesis of functionalized pentahelicenes.

A general synthetic methodology for the preparation of functionalized (hetero)helicenes has been developed. It employs the sequence of a double propargyl organometallics (Li, Mg, Ga/In) addition to a tolan-2,2'-dialdehyde-type intermediate, a cobalt-catalyzed/cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloisomerization of a triyne intermediate, and a double silica gel-assisted acetic acid elimination to receive pentahelicene, 1,14-diazapentahelicene, and 3,12-dichloro-, 3,12-dichloro-7-trimethylsilyl-, and 3,12-di-tert-butylpentahelicene. 3,12-Dichloropentahelicene undergoes a Suzuki-Miyaura coupling with aryl boronic acids (or ester) under palladium catalysis to afford 3,12-diarylpentahelicenes.

Synthesis of 3-hexahelicenol and its transformation to 3-hexahelicenylamines, diphenylphosphine, methyl carboxylate, and dimethylthiocarbamate.

A nonphotochemical synthetic route to 3-hexahelicenol is reported. It involves a key [2+2+2] cycloisomerization of CH(3)O-substituted triyne that is readily available from 1-methoxy-3-methylbenzene and 1-bromo-2-(bromomethyl)naphthalene. Further functional group transformations led to 3-CO(2)CH(3), 3-NH(2), 3-PPh(2), and 3-SC(O)N(CH(3))(2) substituted hexahelicenes.

Synthesis of [5]-, [6]-, and [7]helicene via Ni(0)- or Co(I)-catalyzed isomerization of aromatic cis,cis-dienetriynes.

An original approach to helicene frameworks exploiting atom economic isomerization of appropriate energy-rich aromatic cis,cis-dienetriynes has been developed. The new paradigm provides nonphotochemical syntheses of helicenes based on the easy, convergent, and modular assembly of key cis,cis-dienetriynes and their nickel(0)-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloisomerization. The potential of the methodology is underlined by the syntheses of the parent [5]helicene (2), 7,8-dibutyl[5]helicene (23), [6]helicene (24), and [7]helicene (25). The approach can be adapted to prepare functionalized helicenes as exemplified by the eight-step synthesis of 7,8-dibutyl-2,3-dimethoxy[6]helicene (34). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that bis[2-((1Z)-1-buten-3-ynyl)phenyl]acetylene (1) and isomeric [5]helicene (2) differ enormously in the Gibbs energy content (DeltaG = -136.6 kcal x mol(-1)) to favor highly the devised intramolecular simultaneous construction of three aromatic rings.