Aryl Acetylide Research Articles

N-heterocyclic carbene platinum-butadiyne Click/iClick complexes. Towards blue-violet phosphorescence

By employing two different methods, namely, Click and iClick, a series of four trans-NHC-Pt(II) triazole-acetylide complexes containing benzyl (3a), methylnaphthalene (3b), methylanthracene (3c), and phenyl (3d) substituents at the terminal triazole ring were synthesized and characterized. The traditional click approach involves first synthesizing a triazole-acetylene and then attaching to the Pt ion. In the iClick approach, the triazole is formed via cycloaddition by combining a trans-platinum butadiyne with the corresponding organic azide. The complexes were interrogated to determine the effects of conjugation and ligand substituent on their photophysical properties. Complex 3a exhibits a photoluminescence lifetime of 4.3 μs at 77 K. Ascribed to emission from conformers differing due to the torsion of the aryl acetylide ligands, employing different excitation wavelengths results in different emission spectra. Complex 3a emits in the violet region with CIE coordinates of (0.159, 0.021) under 290 nm excitation and shifts to CIE coordinates of (0.161, 0.019) under 320 nm excitation. Complex 3d, having a photoluminescence lifetime of 13.1 μs at room temperature, emits in the sky-blue region with CIE coordinates of (0.237, 0.355).

Platinum(II)-Substituted Phenylacetylide Complexes Supported by Acyclic Diaminocarbene Ligands.

We introduce phosphorescent platinum aryl acetylide complexes supported by tert-butyl-isocyanide and strongly σ-donating acyclic diaminocarbene (ADC) ligands. The precursor complexes cis-[Pt(CNtBu)2(C≡CAr)2] (4a-4f) are treated with diethylamine, which undergoes nucleophilic addition with one of the isocyanides to form the cis-[Pt(CNtBu)(ADC)(C≡CAr)2] complexes (5a-5f). The new compounds incorporate either electron-donating groups (4-OMe and 4-NMe2) or electron-withdrawing groups [3,5-(OMe)2, 3,5-(CF3)2, 4-CN, and 4-NO2] on the aryl acetylide. Experimental HOMO-LUMO gaps, estimated from cyclic voltammetry, span the range of 2.68-3.61 eV and are in most cases smaller than the unsubstituted parent complex, as corroborated by DFT. In the ADC complexes, peak photoluminescence wavelengths span the range of 428 nm (2a, unsubstituted phenylacetylide) to 525 nm (5f, 4-NO2-substituted), with the substituents inducing a red shift in all cases. The phosphorescence E0,0 values and electrochemical HOMO-LUMO gaps are loosely correlated, showing that both can be reduced by either electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents on the aryl acetylides. The photoluminescence quantum yields in the ADC complexes are between 0.044 and 0.31 and the lifetimes are between 4.8 and 14 μs, a factor of 1.8-10× higher (for ΦPL) and 1.2-3.6× longer (for τ) than the respective isocyanide precursor (ΦPL = 0.014-0.12, τ = 2.8-8.2 μs).

Metric-Based Analysis of Convergence in Complex Molecule Synthesis.

Convergent syntheses are characterized by the coupling of two or more synthetic intermediates of similar complexity, often late in a pathway. At its limit, a fully convergent synthesis is achieved when commercial or otherwise readily available intermediates are coupled to form the final target in a single step. Of course, in all but exceptional circumstances this level of convergence is purely hypothetical; in practice, additional steps are typically required to progress from fragment coupling to the target. Additionally, the length of the sequence required to access each target is a primary consideration in synthetic design.In this Account, we provide an overview of alkaloid, polyketide, and diterpene metabolites synthesized in our laboratory and present parameters that may be used to put the degree of convergence of each synthesis on quantitative footing. We begin with our syntheses of the antiproliferative, antimicrobial bacterial metabolite (-)-kinamycin F (1) and related dimeric structure (-)-lomaiviticin aglycon (2). These synthetic routes featured a three-step sequence to construct a complex diazocyclopentadiene found in both targets and an oxidative dimerization to unite the two halves of (-)-lomaiviticin aglycon (2). We then follow with our synthesis of the antineurodegenerative alkaloid (-)-huperzine A (3). Our route to (-)-huperzine A (3) employed a diastereoselective three-component coupling reaction, followed by the intramolecular α-arylation of a β-ketonitrile intermediate, to form the carbon skeleton of the target. We then present our syntheses of the hasubanan alkaloids (-)-hasubanonine (4), (-)-delavayine (5), (-)-runanine (6), (+)-periglaucine B (7), and (-)-acutumine (8). These alkaloids bear a 7-azatricyclo[4.3.3.01,6]dodecane (propellane) core and a highly oxidized cyclohexenone ring. The propellane structure was assembled by the addition of an aryl acetylide to a complex iminium ion, followed by intramolecular 1,4-addition. We then present our synthesis of the guanidinium alkaloid (+)-batzelladine B (9), which contains two complex polycyclic guanidine residues united by an ester linkage. This target was logically disconnected by an esterification to allow for the independent synthesis of each guanidine residue. A carefully orchestrated cascade reaction provided (+)-batzelladine B (9) in a single step following fragment coupling by esterification. We then discuss our synthesis of the diterpene fungal metabolite (+)-pleuromutilin (10). The synthesis of (+)-pleuromutilin (10) proceeded via a fragment coupling involving two neopentylic reagents and employed a nickel-catalyzed reductive cyclization reaction to close the eight-membered ring, ultimately providing access to (+)-pleuromutilin (10), (+)-12-epi-pleuromutilin (11), and (+)-12-epi-mutilin (12). Finally, we discuss our synthesis of (-)-myrocin G (13), a tricyclic pimarane diterpene that was assembled by a convergent annulation.In the final section of this Account, we present several paramaters to analyze and quantitatively assess the degree of convergence of each synthesis. These parameters include: (1) the number of steps required following the point of convergence, (2) the difference in the number of steps required to prepare each coupling partner, (3) the percentage of carbons (or, more broadly, atoms) present at the point of convergence, and (4) the complexity generated in the fragment coupling step. While not an exhaustive list, these parameters bring the strengths and weaknesses each synthetic strategy to light, emphasizing the key contributors to the degree of convergence of each route while also highlighting the nuances of these analyses.

Blue Phosphorescent trans-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Platinum Acetylides: Dependence on Energy Gap and Conformation.

A series of 11 complexes of the type trans-(NHC)2Pt(CC-Ar)2 (where NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) have been synthesized and their photophysics characterized. The complexes display moderately efficient deep blue to green phosphorescence from a triplet excited state that is localized mainly in the aryl acetylide ligand (CC-Ar). The emission energy varies with the substituent on CC-Ar, with the highest energy emission for Ar = 4-pyridyl. The emission quantum efficiency and lifetime for the series decreases with increasing emission energy (Eem), and the effect is identified as arising from an increase in the nonradiative decay rate (knr) with Eem. Temperature-dependent emission lifetime studies for three complexes give activation energies for the nonradiative decay process ∼1000 cm-1, and the thermally activated decay process is attributed to crossing to a nonemissive metal-centered (d-d) excited state. At a low temperature, two different emission progressions are observed. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the triplet energy varies with the torsion of the aryl acetylide rings relative to the plane defined by the PtC4 unit (where C = the carbon atoms bonded to Pt). The multiple emission is ascribed to emission from complexes differing with respect to the aryl acetylide ring torsion. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy reveals a fast relaxation (∼5 ps) that may also be due to aryl acetylide ring torsional relaxation in the triplet excited state.

Aromatic PCN pincer palladium complexes: forming and breaking C[sbnd]C bonds

Through a salt metathesis reaction, (t−BuPCN)Pd-ONO2 (2) was prepared and used as a precursor for producing (t−BuPCN)Pd-OH (3) and (t−BuPCN)Pd-aryl acetylide complexes 4 (phenyl acetylide) and 5 (p-tolyl acetylide). The aryl acetylide complexes could also be prepared through another synthetic route: by condensation of 3 with the corresponding aryl acetylene. The reactivity of complexes 3 and 4 toward carbon dioxide was studied and it was found that both reactions give the hydrogen carbonate complex (6). The low reactivity of the Pd-acetylide bond was further confirmed by the fact that the propiolate complex undergoes decarboxylation to give 4. PCN palladium complexes are good catalysts for the decarboxylative cross coupling reactions between acetylene carboxylic acids and aryl halides. The yield of the cross coupling product was improved by adding a catalytic amount of CuI.

One-pot synthesis of 3-arylaminomaleimides from terminal alkynes and isocyanates

The reaction of aryl acetylide anions with phenyl isocyanate and subsequent addition of a protonating agent such as ethanol affords good yields of 3-aminomaleimides, formed by the cyclization of one molecule of alkyne with two isocyanates. When the reaction is quenched with water instead, cyclopentadienone imines are formed as the major products.

Induced Circular Dichroism in Phosphine Gold(I) Aryl Acetylide Urea Complexes through Hydrogen-Bonded Chiral Co-Assemblies.

Phosphine gold(I) aryl acetylide complexes equipped with a central bis(urea) moiety form 1D hydrogen-bonded polymeric assemblies in solution that do not display any optical activity. Chiral co-assemblies are formed by simple addition of an enantiopure (metal-free) complementary monomer. Although exhibiting an intrinsically achiral linear geometry, the gold(I) aryl acetylide fragment is located in the chiral environment displayed by the hydrogen-bonded co-assemblies, as demonstrated by induced circular dichroism (ICD).

Oligothiophene‐Bridged Bis(arylene ethynylene) Small Molecules for Solution‐Processible Organic Solar Cells with High Open‐Circuit Voltage

A new series of conjugated oligothiophene-bridged bis(arylene ethynylene) small molecules have been designed, synthesized, and characterized by photophysical, electrochemical and computational methods. These compounds were found to have optimal LUMO levels that ensure effective charge transfer from these compounds to [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC70BM). They were utilized as good electron-donor materials that can be blended with electron-acceptor PC70BM in the fabrication of solution-processed molecular bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. All of these BHJ devices showed very high open-circuit voltage (V(oc)) of 0.90-0.97 V, and the best power conversion efficiency achieved was 3.68%. The high V(oc) is consistent with the deeper low-lying HOMO level and is relatively insensitive to the donor : acceptor blend ratio. The spin-coated thin films of these small molecules showed p-channel field-effect charge transport with the hole mobilities of up to 2.04×10(-4) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). These compounds illuminate the potential of solution-processible small-molecular aryl acetylide compounds for efficient power generation in photovoltaic implementation.

Tuning the photophysical properties of N^N Pt(ii) bisacetylide complexes with fluorene moiety and its applications for triplet–triplet-annihilation based upconversion

Fluorene-containing aryl acetylide ligands were used to prepare N^NPt(II) bisacetylide complexes, where aryl substituents on the fluorene are phenyl (Pt-1), naphthal (Pt-2), anthranyl (Pt-3), pyrenyl (Pt-4), 4-diphenylaminophenyl (Pt-5) and 9,9-di-n-octylfluorene (Pt-6) (where N^N ligand = 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine, dbbpy). All the complexes show room temperature (RT) phosphorescence. The emissive T1 excited states of Pt-1, Pt-5 and Pt-6 were assigned as metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer state (3MLCT), whereas for Pt-2, Pt-3 and Pt-4, the emissive T1 excited states were identified as the intraligand state (3IL), based on steady state emission spectra, the lifetime of the T1 state, emission spectra at 77 K, spin density analysis and the time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. Exceptionally long lived T1 excited state was observed for Pt-3 (τ = 66.7 μs) and Pt-4 (τ = 54.7 μs), compared to a model complex dbbpy Pt(II) Bisphenylacetylide (τ = 1.25 μs). RT phosphorescence of anthracene was observed at 780 nm with Pt-3. The critical role of the fluorene is to move the absorption of the complexes to the red-end of the spectra, but at the same time, without compromising the energy level of the T1 state of the complexes. The advantage of this unique spectral tuning effect and the long-lived T1 excited states of Pt-4 was demonstrated by the enhanced performance of the complexes as triplet sensitizers for triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA) based upconversion; an upconversion quantum yield (ΦUC) up to 22.4% was observed with Pt-4 as the sensitizer. Other complexes described herein show negligible upconversion. The high upconversion quantum yield of Pt-4 is attributed to its intense absorption of visible light and long-lived T1 excited state. Based on the result of Pt-4, we propose that weakly phosphorescent, or non-phosphorescent transition metal complexes can be used as triplet sensitizers for TTA upconversion, compared to the phosphorescent triplet sensitizers currently used for TTA upconversion. Our results will be useful for the design of transition metal complexes to enhance the light-absorption and thereafter the cascade photophysical processes, without decreasing the T1 excited state energy levels, which are important for the application of the complexes as triplet sensitizers in various photophysical processes.

Experimental Evidence for Magnetic Exchange in Di- and Trinuclear Uranium(IV) Ethynylbenzene Complexes

We report the preparation and magnetic property investigations of a structurally related family of mono-, di-, and trinuclear U(IV) aryl acetylide complexes. The reaction between [(NN'(3))UCl] and lithiated aryl acetylides leads to the formation of the hexacoordinate complexes [(NN'(3))U(CCPh)(2)(Li.THF)] (1) and [(NN'(3))(2)U(2)(p-DEB)(THF)] (2) as red-brown and yellow-green crystalline solids, respectively. In contrast, combining the uranacycle [(bit-NN'(3))U] (bit-NN'(3) = [N(CH(2)CH(2)NSi(t)BuMe(2))(2)(CH(2)CH(2)Si(t)BuMeCH(2)]) with stoichiometric amounts of mono-, bis-, and tris(ethynyl) benzenes affords the yellow-green pentacoordinate arylacetylide complexes [(NN'(3))U(CCPh)] (3), [(NN'(3))(2)U(2)(m-DEB)] (4), [(NN'(3))(2)U(2)(p-DEB)] (5), and [(NN'(3))(3)U(3)(TEB)] (6), where NN'(3) = [N(CH(2)CH(2)NSi(t)BuMe(2))(3)]. The measured magnetic susceptibilities for 1-6 trend toward non-magnetic ground states at low temperatures. Nevertheless, the di- and trinuclear pentacoordinate compounds 4-6 appear to display weak magnetic communication between the uranium centers. This communication is modeled by fitting of the direct current (DC) magnetic susceptibility data, using the spin Hamiltonian H = -2J(S(i) x S(j)). These results are consistent with weak ferromagnetic coupling for complexes 4-6 (J = 4.76, 2.75, and 1.11 cm(-1), respectively), while the fit for 2 is consistent with a near-negligible exchange interaction (J = -0.05 cm(-1)). Geometry-optimized Stuttgart/6-31 g* B3LYP hybrid DFT calculations were carried out (spin-orbit coupling omitted) on model complexes of 3-5. The mononuclear complex shows a triplet ground state with singly occupied degenerate f orbitals. The meta- and para-bridged species are computed to show very weak ferro- and antiferromagnetic coupling, respectively. All three complexes show only small net spin density on the acetylide-containing ligands. The monomeric phenylacetylide complex 3 undergoes a reversible redox couple at -1.02 V versus [Cp(2)Fe](+/0), assignable to an oxidation of U(IV) to U(V).

Use of a sonogashira-acetylide coupling strategy for the synthesis of the aromatic spiroketal skeleton of gamma-rubromycin.

[reaction: see text] The synthesis of the fused aromatic spiroketal core of gamma-rubromycin is described via addition of an aryl acetylide fragment to an aryl acetaldehyde fragment. In turn, the aryl acetylene precursor was readily prepared with use of a Sonogashira reaction.

New aryl ethynylene substituted silicon-centered molecules

The reactions of substituted dichlorosilane monomers,Cl2SiRR′, with two equivalents of lithium aryl acetylide(1), LiC ≡ C-4-C6H4-Ph, afford RR′Si(C ≡ C-4-C6H4-Ph)2 (6: R,R′ =CH3; 7: R = CH3, R′ = CH=CH2; 8: R,R′ = Ph). An isomeric mixture of meso, (R,R)- and (S,S)-Bis[2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)ferrocenyl]dichlorosilane (5) was used as starting chlorosilyl compound for reaction with LiC ≡ C-4-C6H4-Ph to give (FcN)2Si(C ≡ C-4-C6H4-Ph)2 (9). A detailedcharacterization of 6, 7, 8 and 9 has been carried out by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 29Si-NMR, IR and UV-VIS spectroscopy. The crystal structure of 9 has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry of diruthenium complexes linked by aryl acetylide bridges

The reactions between Ru 2( ap) 4Cl and the appropriate lithiated aryl acetylene resulted in the complexes Ru 2( ap) 4(CC4-C 6H 4CCX) with X as SiMe 3 ( 1), H ( 2) and Ru 2( ap) 4 ( 3), 1,3-[Ru 2( ap) 4(CC)] 2(C 6H 4) ( 4), 1,3-[{Ru 2( ap) 4(CC)} 2]C 6H 35-CCH ( 5) and 1-[Ru 2( ap) 4(CC)]C 6H 33,5-(CCH) 2 ( 6), where ap is 2-anilinopyridinate. The spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of the new complexes have been assessed. Complexes 3, 4 and 6 display two-electron oxidation and reductions, implying the absence of any significant electronic interaction between the two Ru 2( ap) 4 units in these complexes.

Photophysics of diimine platinum(II) bis-acetylide complexes.

A comprehensive photophysical investigation has been carried out on a series of eight complexes of the type (diimine)Pt(-C=C-Ar)(2), where diimine is a series of 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) ligands and -C=C-Ar is a series of substituted aryl acetylide ligands. In one series of complexes, the energy of the Pt --> bpy metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited state is varied by changing the substituents on the 4,4'- and/or the 5,5'-positions of the bpy ligand. In a second series of complexes the electronic demand of the aryl acetylide ligand is varied by changing the para substituent (X) on the aryl ring (X = -CF(3), -CH(3), -OCH(3), and -N(CH(3))(2)). The effect of variation of the substituents on the excited states of the complexes has been assessed by examining their UV-visible absorption, variable-temperature photoluminescence, transient absorption, and time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. In addition, the nonradiative decay rates of the series of complexes are subjected to a quantitative energy gap law analysis. The results of this study reveal that in most cases the photophysics of the complexes is dominated by the energetically low lying Pt --> bpy (3)MLCT state. Some of the complexes also feature a low-lying intraligand (IL) (3)pi,pi excited state that is derived from transitions between pi- and pi-type orbitals localized largely on the aryl acetylide ligands. The involvement of the IL (3)pi,pi state in the photophysics of some of the complexes is signaled by unusual features in the transient absorption, time-resolved infrared, and photoluminescence spectra and in the excited-state decay kinetics. The time-resolved infrared difference spectroscopy indicates that Pt --> bpy MLCT excitation induces a +25 to + 35 cm(-)(1) shift in the frequency of the C=C stretching band. This is the first study to report the effect of MLCT excitation on the vibrational frequency of an acetylide ligand.

Phase transfer Pd(O) catalyzed polymerization reactions. I. Synthesis of 1,2‐(4,4′;‐dialkoxyaryl) acetylene monomers and 1,4‐Bis[2‐(4′,4″‐dialkoxyphenyl)ethynyl]benzene derivatives by phase transfer Pd(O)/Cu(I) catalyzed coupling reactions

AbstractSeveral 1,2‐(4,4'‐dialkoxyaryl)acetylene monomers containing similar or dissimilar substituents were prepared by one of three variations of a one pot phase transfer Pd(O)/Cu(I) catalyzed coupling of aryl halides with a protected acetylene. The three steps within a single flask involved first coupling of the appropriate 1‐halo‐4‐alkoxybenzene derivative with 2‐methyl‐3‐butyn‐2‐ol, followed by cleavage of the carbinol group to form an aryl acetylide, and finally a second coupling of an aryl halide with the aryl acetylide. Best results were obtained when elevated temperatures and solid‐liquid phase transfer reaction conditions were used. Some 1,4‐bis[2‐(4',4”‐dialkoxyphenyl)ethynyl]benzene compounds were also prepared.