Synthesis of 3-trifluoromethylbenzo[b]furans from phenols via direct ortho functionalization by extended Pummerer reaction.

A concise and diversity-oriented route to trifluoromethylbenzo[b]furans has been devised. A variety of phenols are directly converted to the corresponding 2-methylthio-3-trifluoromethylbenzo[b]furans by new triflic-anhydride-mediated extended Pummerer annulation reactions with trifluoromethylketene dithioacetal monoxide. The methylthio group of the products undergoes further transformations, which increase the diversity of available trifluoromethylbenzo[b]furans.

Aromaticity and Antiaromaticity in the Excited States of Porphyrin Nanorings.

Aromaticity can be a useful concept for predicting the behavior of excited states. Here we show that π-conjugated porphyrin nanorings exhibit size-dependent excited-state global aromaticity and antiaromaticity for rings containing up to eight porphyrin subunits, although they have no significant global aromaticity in their neutral singlet ground states. Applying Baird's rule, even rings ([4 n] π-electrons) are aromatic in their lowest excited states, whereas the lowest excited states of odd rings ([4 n + 2] π-electrons) are antiaromatic. These predictions are borne out by density functional theory (DFT) studies of the nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) in the T1 triplet state of each ring, which reveal the critical importance of the triplet delocalization to the emergence of excited-state aromaticity. The singlet excited states (S1) are explored by measurements of the radiative rate and fluorescence peak wavelength, revealing a subtle odd-even alternation as a function of ring size, consistent with symmetry breaking in antiaromatic excited states.

Cross-conjugation increases the conductance of meta-connected fluorenones.

Charge transport is strongly suppressed by destructive quantum interference (DQI) in meta-connected 1,1'-biphenyl-containing molecules, resulting in low electrical conductance. Surprisingly, we have found that DQI is almost entirely overcome by adding a bridging carbonyl, to yield a cross-conjugated fluorenone. This contrasts with other π-systems, such as para-connected anthraquinone, where cross-conjugation results in low conductance.

Intermolecular reductive radical addition to 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-1,3-dithiane 1-oxide: experimental and theoretical studies.

Tin hydride mediated radical addition of organic halide to 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-1,3-dithiane 1-oxide has been devised. The reaction is equivalent to an unrealizable radical addition to trifluoromethylketene, providing useful α-trifluoromethyl carbonyl equivalents. The trifluoromethyl and the sulfoxide groups of the substrate play key roles for the success of the radical addition, lowering the barrier of the radical addition step and controlling the stereoselectivity of the reaction, which DFT calculations have elucidated.

Synthesis of bulky arylphosphanes by rhodium-catalyzed formal [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction and their use as ligands.

Treatment of 1-alkynylphosphane sulfides with 1,6- or 1,7-diynes in the presence of a cationic rhodium catalyst results in a formal [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction to afford the corresponding aromatic phosphane sulfides. The aromatic rings formed in the cycloaddition naturally bear one or two substituents at the ortho positions to the phosphorus atom, which creates a sterically hindered environment around the phosphorus atom. The following desulfidation of the products is facile under radical conditions or with the aid of tris(dimethylamino)phosphane, providing the corresponding bulky phosphanes. Dicyclohexyl(2,6-diphenylaryl)phosphane, which is available through this sequence, proves to serve as an efficient ligand in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling amination reactions.