Electron-rich Alkynes Research Articles

Adapting semiconducting polymer doping techniques to create new types of click postfunctionalization

After the historical development from the insoluble polyacetylene film to soluble and processible aromatic polymers, donor-acceptor-type aromatic polymers have recently emerged as a new class of semiconducting polymers. The polymer energy levels and band gaps can be tuned by the appropriate selection of the donor and acceptor moieties, and some of these polymers showed good optoelectronic or photovoltaic performances. The conventional synthetic method for achieving donor-acceptor-type aromatic polymers is based on the metal-catalyzed polycondensation between donor-type monomers and acceptor-type co-monomers. In this tutorial review, a new methodology for introducing donor-acceptor chromophores into semiconducting polymers is described. The donor-acceptor structures are constructed in the main chains and side chains of semiconducting polymers using a polymer reaction based on high-yielding addition reactions between the electron-rich alkynes and strong acceptor molecules, such as tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) and 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ). Considering the p-type doping features of TCNE and TCNQ, the experimental procedure is the same as the conventional doping technique for semiconducting polymers. However, the resulting donor-acceptor type polymers are chemically stable due to the absence of unstable unpaired electrons (polarons). The donor-acceptor alternating polymers were achieved in one step from the precursor poly(aryleneethynylene)s and poly(arylenebutadiynylene)s. When the side chain alkynes were post-functionalized, the polymer energy levels were controlled by the species and amount of the employed acceptor molecules. These atom-economic acceptor additions satisfy most of the requirements of the "click chemistry" concept. In contrast to the conventional click chemistry reactions, the reactions between electron-rich alkynes and acceptor molecules provide a wide variety of polymers with promising optoelectronic applications.

Photochemical control of a highly efficient addition reaction between electron-rich alkynes and tetracyanoethylene

The electron density of an alkyne moiety is enhanced by the photochromic ring closure of a diarylethene derivative, which allows the thermal addition reaction with a small π-acceptor, tetracyanoethylene, at room temperature.

Acetoxypalladation of unactivated alkynes and capture with alkenes to give 1-acetoxy-1,3-dienes taking dioxygen as terminal oxidant

A new and general protocol for the synthesis of 1-acetoxy-1,3-dienes by an acetoxypalladation/Heck cross-coupling/β-H elimination tandem process is described in which dioxygen is the terminal oxidant. Electron-rich and electron-deficient alkynes are both effective substrates in this system. It is the first example of acetoxypalladation of diarylalkynes.

Homo and Heterocoupling of Terminal Alkynes Using Catalytic CuCl2 and DBU

Homocoupling of terminal alkynes has been efficiently achieved using catalytic amounts of CuCl2 and DBU. This methodology could be extended to couple two different terminal alkynes together by taking one of the alkyne partners, preferably the electron rich alkyne, in five fold excess than the other.

Highly regioselective Lewis acid-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of alkynes with donor–acceptor oxiranes by selective carbon–carbon bond cleavage of epoxides

A novel, efficient, highly regioselective Sc(OTf)(3)-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of electron-rich alkynes with donor-acceptor oxiranes via highly chemoselective C-C bond cleavage under mild conditions was developed.

Postfunctionalization of Alkyne-Linked Conjugated Carbazole Polymer by Thermal Addition Reaction of Tetracyanoethylene.

The postfunctionalization of the main chain alkyne moieties of carbazole containing poly(arylenebutadiynylene)s was attempted by using a high yielding addition reaction between electron rich alkynes and a strong acceptor molecule, tetracyanoethylene (TCNE). After successful postfunctionalization, the polymer band gap decreased due to the intramolecular donor-acceptor interactions. The resulting donor-acceptor alternating polymer showed a very broad charge-transfer band in the visible region as well as redox activities in both anodic and cathodic directions. The optical band gap showed good agreement with the electrochemical band gap. Furthermore, the thermal stability was enhanced after postfunctionalization. These features of the donor-acceptor alternating polymer are expected to be useful for high performance activities in organic solar cell applications.

Nonplanar Push–Pull Chromophores for Opto-Electronic Applications

Donor-substituted cyanoethynylethenes (CEEs) are planar push-pull chromophores featuring intense intramolecular charge-transfer (CT) interactions and high third-order optical nonlinearities. Their thermal stability allows for the formation of crystalline thin films by vapor-phase deposition. On the other hand, high-quality amorphous thin films are preferred for opto-electronic applications and such films can be prepared using nonplanar push-pull chromophores with a less pronounced propensity to crystallize. By taking advantage of a versatile, atom-economic 'click-chemistry'-type transformation, involving a formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition of tetracyanoethene (TCNE) to electron-rich alkynes, followed by cycloreversion, stable donor-substituted 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobuta-1,3-dienes (TCBDs) are obtained in high yield and large quantities. These nonplanar push-pull chromophores also feature intense intramolecular CT and, in many cases, high third-order optical nonlinearities. Some of these compounds form high-optical-quality amorphous thin films by vapor-phase deposition, and first applications in next-generation opto-electronic devices have already been demonstrated. Chiral derivatives display high helical twisting power and are efficient dopants to translate molecular into macroscopic chirality, by switching nematic into cholesteric liquid crystalline phases.

Double Click Synthesis and Second-Order Nonlinearities of Polystyrenes Bearing Donor−Acceptor Chromophores

Donor−acceptor chromophores were almost quantitatively introduced into the side chains of a polystyrene derivative by sequential “click chemistry”-type addition reactions as an efficient postfunctionalization method. The first click reaction is the conventional Cu(I)-catalyzed azide−alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), and the second one is the atom-economic addition of strong acceptor molecules, such as tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) and 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), to the aniline-substituted electron-rich alkynes. Steric hindrance was found to be an important factor in determining the reactivity of alkyne-acceptor addition reactions. All obtained polymers showed good solubility in common organic solvents, and they were fully characterized by GPC, 1H NMR and IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. After the acceptor addition, the polymers showed an intense charge-transfer (CT) band centered at ca. 480 nm for the TCNE adducts and ca. 710 nm for the TCNQ adducts. Electrochemical measurements of these poly...

NHC-Catalyzed Hydroacylation of Unreactive Alkynes

An intramolecular N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed hydroacylation of unactivated alkynes is described. In this paper, electron-rich alkynes are less reactive than electron-poor analogues, and less reactive alkynes are applied well to the cascade Stetter reaction. This work is the first example of a NHC-catalyzed cascade reaction involving the hydroacylation of unreactive alkynes without metal catalysts.

Click synthesis of donor–acceptor-type aromatic polymers

A high-yielding addition reaction between electron-rich alkynes and a small acceptor molecule, tetracyanoethylene (TCNE), was employed as a new click reaction to construct donor–acceptor chromophores in the polymer main chains and side chains. The donor–acceptor alternating conjugated polymers were prepared from the ferrocene-containing poly(aryleneethynylene)s in one step and atom-economic fashion. The energy levels and thermal properties of the aromatic polyamines substituted by electron-rich alkynes as a side chain can be tunable by the amount of the added TCNE. The resulting donor–acceptor-type polymers feature broad charge-transfer (CT) bands in the visible region, potent redox activities, and improved thermal properties.

Sequential Five‐Component Construction of the Cyclopenta[e][1,3]oxazine Skeleton using Stable 2‐Azetine Derivatives

Small-ring heterocycles are of prominent importance because of their potential as bioactive compounds and synthetic building blocks. Whilst the chemistry of three-membered nitrogen heterocycles has been widely reported, studies on their four-membered counterparts have focused primarily on 2-azetidinones and, to a much lesser extent, azetidine rings. The 2-azetine system 1,2-dihydroazete, which has a strained cyclic enamine ring, is particularly elusive. Most 2-azetine compounds undergo spontaneous electrocyclic ring opening to afford their 1-azadiene analogues; as such, there are few examples of stable 2-azetines in the literature and those reported require electron-withdrawing substituents, for example, carbonyl, carboxyl, sulfonyl, or nitro groups, attached to the nitrogen atom. As a consequence, the chemistry of 2azetines remains largely unexplored, and has been predominantly focused on their potential as a precursor to azadienes. Moreover, there are no general synthetic routes to 2azetines. Although, the [2+2] cycloaddition of alkynes and imines appears to be a convenient route to this type of heterocyclic framework, only a few specific examples have been reported; in these cases, electron-rich alkynes, as ynamines, alkynyl selenides, or alkynyl sulphides, are able to form the expected 2-azetine skeleton, which is not isolated but rapidly opens to the azadiene system. The [2+2] cycloaddition of electron-poor alkynes and imines has only previously been suggested as an intermediate in the cyclization reaction between an alkynyl(ethoxy)carbene of tungsten and imine fluorenones to afford pyrroline derivatives. As part of our interest in Fischer-type metal carbenes, we have recently considered more-electrophilic metal carbenes, the so-called non-heteroatom-stabilized carbenes. These compounds are particularly useful in organic synthesis, and our preliminary results have revealed significant differences in the reactivity of both heteroatomand non-heteroatomstabilized systems. Herein, we report the [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of alkynyl-substituted (pentacarbonyl)chromium or -tungsten carbene complexes with imines as a suitable procedure for accessing stable 2-azetine derivatives. Moreover, the conjugation of the resulting azetine unit with the metal carbene allows for a facile synthesis of novel cyclopenta[e][1,3]oxazines involving treatment with alkynes. This threecomponent process (azetine, alkyne, and CO ligand) features cleavage of the azetine C3 C4 bond, rather than the expected N C4 bond, and the formation of three C C bonds and one C O bond (Scheme 1).

Sequential double click reactions: a highly efficient post-functionalization method for optoelectronic polymers

A new post-functionalization method based on the Huisgen's 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between azides and alkynes, followed by the atom-economic addition reaction between electron-rich alkynes and tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) was developed to introduce the donor–acceptor chromophores into polystyrene derivatives in remarkably high yields.

Efficient Synthesis of Block Copolymers Bearing Donor-Acceptor Chromophores for Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Applications

Block copolymers composed of unsubstituted polystyrene and electron-rich alkyne functionalized polystyrene segments were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of N,N-didodecyl-4-[(4-vinylphenyl)ethynyl]aniline (2) with bromine-terminated polystyrene (1). Subsequently, the atom-economic addition reaction between electron-rich alkynes and tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) was applied as an efficient post-functionalization method to introduce donor-acceptor chromophores. All polymers were comprehensively characterized by GPC, 1H NMR, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopies, and electrochemistry. The TCNE-adducted polymers showed intense charge-transfer (CT) bands, well-defined redox activities, and good thermal stability. Furthermore, the second harmonic generation (SHG) of the spin-coated polymer thin films on a glass slide was measured before and after electric poling, and the SHG coefficient (d33) of the poled thin film reached 3.0 pm V-1.

Reactions of alkynes with phosphido niobocenes: a combined experimental and theoretical study

The reactions of phosphido complexes [Nb(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)SiMe(3))(2)(L)(PPh(2))] [L = CO (1), CNxylyl (2), CNCy (3)] with alkynes have been carried out. The new diphenylphosphinoalkenyl niobocene complexes [Nb(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)SiMe(3))(2)(eta(1)-C-C(CO(2)CH(3))=C(R)PPh(2))(CO)] [R = H (4), CH(3) (5)] and [Nb(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)SiMe(3))(2)(eta(1)-C-C(CO(2)R)=C(CO(2)R)PPh(2))(CO)] [R = CH(3), (6), R = (t)Bu, (7)] were successfully synthesized by the reaction of with methyl propiolate (HC[triple bond]CCO(2)CH(3)) or methyl 2-butynoate (CH(3)C[triple bond]CCO(2)CH(3)) and dimethyl 2-butynedioate [(CH(3) O(2)C)C[triple bond]C(CO(2)CH(3))] or di(tert-butyl) 2-butynedioate [((t)BuO(2)C)C[triple bond]C(CO(2)(t)Bu)], respectively. However, reaction was not observed with more electron-rich alkynes. Complex reacted with methyl propiolate, methyl 2-butynoate (MeC[triple bond]CCO(2)Me) or di(tert-butyl) 2-butynedioate to give surprising new heteroniobacycle complexes [Nb(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)SiMe(3))(2)(eta(1)-C-C(=NXylyl)C(R(1))=C(R(2))PPh(2)-kappa(1)-P)] [R(1) = H, R(2) = CO(2)Me (8); R(1) = Me, R(2) = CO(2)Me (9); R(1) = CO(2)(t)Bu, R(2) = CO(2)(t)Bu (10)]. Finally, the phosphido complexes and reacted with phenylacetylene (PhC[triple bond]CH) to give new diphenylphosphinoalkenyl niobocene derivatives [Nb(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)SiMe(3))(2)(eta(1)-C-C(C(6)H(5))=C(H)PPh(2))(CNR)] [R = xylyl (11), Cy (12)]. All of these compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and the molecular structure of was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Theoretical studies were also carried out by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the insertions of alkynes into the Nb-P bond in the phosphido niobocenes.

Highly Regioselective Au(I)-Catalyzed Hydroamination of Ynamides and Propiolic Acid Derivatives with Anilines

A highly regioselective hydroamination of unsymmetrical electron-poor and electron-rich alkynes with anilines catalyzed by Au(I) under mild conditions is reported. In addition, applications toward indole syntheses are presented including an example of a one-pot synthesis from a nonfunctionalized aniline.

Silver-Catalyzed Synthesis of 2,3-Dihydro-pyrroles

Wender and Strand report the synthesis of 2,3-dihydropyrroles 3 via a formal [3+2] cycloaddition between aziridines 1 and unactivated acetylenes 2 under either Lewis or Brønsted acid catalysis. The silver-catalyzed process is tolerant of a wide range of substrates, including electron-rich and electron-poor acetylenes, and exhibits excellent levels of regioselectivity (>20:1 in favor of C2 R5 aryl products). The reaction is not limited to aryl acetylenes, with vinyl and alkyl groups also being tolerated, although Sc(OTf)3 was required as catalyst to effect the reaction of the latter substrate. Competition studies showed that electron-rich acetylenes undergo the reaction faster than electron-poor ones, indicating the capture of a cationic intermediate in the product-forming step.

New donor–acceptor chromophores by formal [2+2] cycloaddition of donor-substituted alkynes to dicyanovinyl derivatives

The efficient methodology of the cycloaddition between electron-rich alkynes and tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) or 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), followed by retro-electrocyclisation, is extended to dicyanovinyl derivatives to produce new donor-acceptor push-pull 1,1-dicyanobutadienyl chromophores in excellent to quantitative yield (63-98%) that express strong charge-transfer (CT) absorptions from 300 to 600 nm. The scope of this reaction is established by both varying the nucleophilic and electrophilic components. Electrochemical studies show that the CT properties of these systems are readily tunable by substitution on the electrophile, which has the largest effect on the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). Non-reversible reduction potentials range from ca. -1.2 to -1.9 V in CH(2)Cl(2), against the ferricinium/ferrocene couple (Fc(+)/Fc) according to cyclovoltammetry (CV) and rotating disk voltammetry (RDV). The chromophores show a significant non-planarity between the N,N-dimethylanilino donor and the 1,1-dicyanovinyl acceptor moieties, with torsional angles around 40 degrees from X-ray analysis, but retain strong quinoidal character. The mechanism of this reaction has been studied computational using density functional methods in the gas-phase and using the polarizable continuum model (PCM) for addressing solvent effects. The complete reaction free-energy profile has been determined for the reaction of 1,1-dicyanoethene and 4-ethynyl-N,N-dimethylaniline. The process proceeds through formal [2+2] cycloaddition followed by retro-electrocyclisation. The formation of a zwitterionic intermediate in the cycloaddition step is shown.

Synthesis of 1,1-Disubstituted Alkyl Vinyl Sulfides via Rhodium-Catalyzed Alkyne Hydrothiolation: Scope and Limitations

Described herein are the scope and limitations using Tp*Rh(PPh(3))(2) as a catalyst for alkyne hydrothiolation with alkyl thiols. In general, catalytic hydrothiolation proceeds in high yields and with high regioselectivity for a wide range of alkynes and thiols. A variety of functional groups were well-tolerated, including nitriles, amines, halogens, ethers, esters and silanes, although strongly coordinating groups were found to be incompatible with hydrothiolation. Both sterically encumbered alkynes and thiols were successful in hydrothiolation. Electron rich alkynes react more rapidly than electron deficient alkynes. Overall, this hydrothiolation protocol provides convenient access to a variety of functionalized branched alkyl vinyl sulfides.

Investigation of an Efficient Palladium-Catalyzed C(sp)−C(sp) Cross-Coupling Reaction Using Phosphine−Olefin Ligand: Application and Mechanistic Aspects

A pi-acceptor phosphine-electron-deficient olefin ligand was found effective in promoting Pd-catalyzed C(sp)-C(sp) cross-coupling reactions. The new protocol realized the cross-coupling of a broad scope of terminal alkynes and haloalkynes in good to excellent yields with high selectivities. Electron-rich alkynes, which are normally difficult substrates in Glaser couplings, could be employed as either nucleophiles or electrophiles. Alkynes bearing similar substituents, such as n-C5H11CCBr and n-C4H9CCH, which usually suffer from homocoupling side reactions under Cadiot-Chodkiewicz conditions, were successfully cross-coupled in the system. Preliminary kinetic studies revealed that the reaction rate was zero-order in the concentrations of both haloalkynes and terminal alkynes and first order in the loading of Pd(dba)2 and exhibited no obvious dependence on the loading of the copper salt. Control experiments with other phosphines such as PPh3 and DPPF as the ligand were carried out. All the kinetic evidence indicated that the phosphine-olefin ligand facilitated the reductive elimination in the catalytic cycle.

Synthesis of cyclopentenones from cyclopropanes and silyl ynol ethers.

Synthesis of cyclopentenones from cyclopropanes and silyl ynol ethers.