Photorearrangement of dihetarylethenes as a tool for the benzannulation of heterocycles

Metal-free, visible-light-mediated phototransformations of ortho-biaryl appended chalcones: access to oxathia[5]helicenes and 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted cyclobutanes

Visible-light-mediated metal-free irreversible phototransformations of ortho-bihetaryl appended chalcones are reported. Isosteric replacement of one of the aryl residues with a chalcone fragment in diarylethene (terarylene) molecules leads to a significant expansion of the synthetic capabilities of these compounds, thereby opening up access to a wide range of new functional materials. It was found for the first time that protonation of the carbonyl group in the chalcone moiety of ortho-bihetarylchalcones exclusively promotes 6π-photocyclization leading to the formation of oxathia[5]helicenes, whereas 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted cyclobutanes are preferably formed upon photolysis in toluene in the presence of triethylamine. The formation of the helicene framework is due to visible light-induced 6π-electrocyclization of the hexatriene system of bihetaryl chalcones, and [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition is facilitated by the aggregation of chalcone molecules, which is a consequence of the formation of a head-to-head excimer due to π-π-stacking interactions of naphthofuran polyaromatic systems. These results will provide valuable information on the photocyclization of new diarylethene analogues, which can be used to develop new efficient protocols for the synthesis of fused heteroaromatic frameworks and promising materials with wide applications in material science, molecular electronics and medicine.

Dehydrogenative Photocyclization of 3-Styryl Indoles to Fused Indole Systems

The synthesis of 5-aryl- or 5,6-diaryl-11H-benzo[a]carbazoles has been achieved from 3-styryl indoles through catalyst-free photoinitiated dehydrogenative cyclization transformation, providing a range of structurally diverse products in excellent yields under mild conditions. The protocol is also applicable to furan and thiophene samples. This Mallory-type reaction takes place in an argon atmosphere without external oxidants. Finally, detailed mechanistic studies were performed, and kinetic isotope effect experiments indicate that dehydrogenative annulation reaction involves photoinduced 6π-electrocyclic ring-closing and hydrogen evolution cascade processes.

Photoreactions of Semi-Stiff-Diarylethenes Based on the Cyclohexenol Motif

Nonsymmetric diarylethenes with an additional "stiff" cyclohexenol ring undergo various types of tandem transformations launched by light-induced 6π-photocyclization. Among these, there are two novel reactions (formal [1,3]-H migration and complete aromatization to an anthracene derivative) as well as photorearrangement and formal methane elimination. This diverse reactivity demonstrates the great potential of semi-stiff-diarylethenes in synthetic photochemistry.

Preparation of Carbazoles Involving 6π-Electrocyclization, Photoredox-, Electrochemical-, and Thermal Cyclization Reactions: Mechanistic Insights

Carbazole is a heterocyclic motif that can be found in a diverse array of natural and unnatural products displaying a wide range of biological and physiological properties. Furthermore, this heterocycle is part of electronic materials like photoconducting polymers and organic optoelectronic materials owing to its excellent photophysical characteristics. Consequently, the development of synthetic strategies for carbazole scaffolds holds potential significance in biological and material fields. In this regard, a variety of preparation methods has been developed to exploit their efficient and distinct formation of new C-C and C-heteroatom bonds under mild conditions and enabling broad substrate diversity and functional group tolerance. Therefore, this review focuses on the synthesis of a set of carbazole derivatives describing a variety of methodologies that involve direct irradiation, photosensitization, photoredox, electrochemical and thermal cyclization reactions.

2,3-Diarylmaleate salts as a versatile class of diarylethenes with a full spectrum of photoactivity in water

There is incessant interest in the transfer of common chemical processes from organic solvents to water, which is vital for the development of bioinspired and green chemical technologies. Diarylethenes feature a rich photochemistry, including both irreversible and reversible reactions that are in demand in organic synthesis, materials chemistry, and photopharmacology. Herein, we introduce the first versatile class of diarylethenes, namely, potassium 2,3-diarylmaleates (DAMs), that show excellent solubility in water. DAMs obtained from highly available precursors feature a full spectrum of photoactivity in water and undergo irreversible reactions (oxidative cyclization or rearrangement) or reversible photocyclization (switching), depending on their structure. This finding paves a way towards wider application of diarylethenes in photopharmacology and bioinspired technologies that require aqueous media for photochemical reactions.

Skeletal photoinduced rearrangement of diarylethenes: ethene bridge effects

A skeletal photorearrangement involving UV-induced 6π-electrocyclization of diarylethenes with various ethene bridges has been studied. It has been found that deprotonation is the predominant step among the three possible alternative reaction pathways (radical abstraction, deprotonation, or sigmatropic shift) following 6π-electrocyclization, and incorporation of an electronegative carbonyl group into the geminal position to the phenyl residue results in a reduction in the reaction time and an increase in the yield of the desired product. The significant increase in the reaction time in less polar solvents (toluene, TCM) also indicates a large contribution of the deprotonation step to the skeletal photorearrangement of diarylethenes. Performing the reaction in toluene in the presence of tertiary amines leads to a reduction in the reaction time and an increase in the yield of the desired product. The best results were achieved when the reaction was carried out in toluene in the presence of DIPEA. The experimental results are in good agreement with the DFT calculations.

Ketone Derivatives of Propargylamines as Synthetic Equivalents of Conjugated 2,4,1-Enynones in the Synthesis of Acetylenic 2-Pyrazolines and Pyrazoles

An interaction of 1,5-diaryl-3-X-pent-4-yn-1-ones (where X stands for piperidin-1-yl, morpholin-4-yl, 4-methylpiperazin-1-yl) with arylhydrazines proceeds at room temperature and results in 3-aryl-5-arylethynyl-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazoles with up to 57-73% yields. Under similar conditions, the cyclocondensation of conjugated 2,4,1-enynones with arylhydrazine proceeds only in the presence of cyclic amines. 1,5-Diaryl-3-X-pent-4-yn-1-ones are reported as synthetic equivalents of conjugated 2,4,1-enynones in reactions with arylhydrazines. On the basis of obtained data, there are highly efficient methods developed for the synthesis of 5-arylethynyl-substituted 4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazoles, as well as for similarly structured 1H-pyrazoles prepared by oxidation in AcOH. Presented products possess quite marked fluorescent abilities. Emission maximum wavelengths are located at 453-465 and 363-400 nm, respectively; certain compounds show extremely large Stokes shifts that may reach 91,000 cm^-1.

Light-driven photoswitching of quinazoline analogues of combretastatin A-4 as an effective approach for targeting skin cancer cells

A novel quinazoline series of photoswitchable combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) analogues were synthesized and their photochemical properties and antiproliferative activity against A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells were studied. It was found that quinazoline analogues, in contrast to the majority of the known CA-4, exhibit high antiproliferative activity in the E-form as well. Photoswitching of the E-form to the Z-form resulted in a multiple (9-fold) increase in antiproliferative activity. 1H NMR monitoring showed that these compounds are very resistant to UV (λ = 365 nm) or sunlight irradiation and do not undergo photodegradation with a loss of antiproliferative activity that is inherent in heterocyclic analogues of CA-4. Similar photoswitching and an increase in antiproliferative activity are observed on exposure to sunlight. A selected compound (1a-Z51) in sub-micromolar concentrations induced apoptosis in A431 cells, while rad50/ATM/p53 were not involved in cell death. The growth of A431 cells was significantly inhibited after combination treatment with compound 1a-Z51 and chemotherapy drugs (cisplatin or 5-fluorouracil). In summary, the quinazoline analogues of CA-4 represent a promising strategy to achieve a photoswitchable potency for the treatment of cancers, including the development of combination therapies.

Stitching Ynones with Nitromethanes: Domino Synthesis of Functionally Enriched Benzofurans and Benzothiophenes

A convenient one-pot benzannulation of regioisomeric 2- or 3-substituted furan and thiophene ynones with a range of nitromethanes has been discovered to directly access densely and diversely functionalized benzofurans and benzothiophenes. In this protocol, the nitro group in nitromethanes functions as recursive carbanion activator to setup tandem Michael addition-6π-electrocyclization, and its eventual sacrificial elimination facilitates aromatization and overall benzannulation. This benzannulation was also explored with furan/thiophene based o-halo ynones wherein a Michael addition-S_NAr process operates and nitromethanes leave their imprint to deliver nitro substituted benzo-furans and -thiophenes.

Photocyclization of Diarylethenes: The Effect of Electron and Proton Acceptors as Additives

The effect of electron and proton acceptors on the photocyclization of diarylethenes has been studied. Without any additives, the deprotonation reaction is predominant, although other processes, including the sigmatropic shift, are not excluded. A deuterium exchange experiment has shown that a strong base (DABCO) facilitates the deprotonation reaction, thereby limiting the sigmatropic shift. In the presence of an oxidizing agent or additional sources of radicals (O₂, I₂, TEMPO), the processes of deprotonation and rearrangement (H-shift) are practically not observed, and the reaction proceeds along a radical pathway with the formation of phenanthrene or its heterocyclic analogue.

Benzannulation strategies for the synthesis of carbazoles, indolocarbazoles, benzocarbazoles, and carbolines

This review presents a critical and authoritative analysis of several exciting benzannulation approaches developed in the past decade for the construction of carbazoles, indolocarbazoles, benzocarbazoles, and carbolines.

Switching the Mallory Reaction to Synthesis of Naphthalenes, Benzannulated Heterocycles, and Their Derivatives

This review analyzes the new life of a long-known reaction, the photocyclization of diarylethenes, which became a classical tool for the synthesis of phenanthrenes and their heterocyclic analogues (Mallory reaction). It has been shown in recent years that certain diarylethenes undergo photorearrangement to naphthalenes, benzannulated heterocycles, or related products with bicyclic unit. Herein, I analyze how the Mallory reaction path can be altered to obtain bicyclic rather than tricyclic products. The mechanistic aspects and scope of the reaction are discussed.

Mechanism of photochromic transformations and photodegradation of an asymmetrical 2,3-diarylcyclopentenone

A mechanistic study of the photochromic properties and photodegradation processes of an asymmetrical diarylcyclopentenone bearing thiophene and benzothiophene units using stationary photolysis, nanosecond laser flash photolysis and time-resolved luminescence was performed. It was found that the light-induced reversible isomerization of (3-(2,5-dimethyltiophen-3-il)-2-(2-methyl-1-benzylthiophen-3-il)cyclopent-2-en-1-one, compound 1) from open to closed form is a common photochromic transformation inherent to diarylethenes, while the photodegradation process proceeds in two ways. The first is a formal 1,2-dyotropic rearrangement, proceeding without the participation of oxygen. The second is the oxygen-dependent mechanism involving the excitation of the open form 1A into the triplet state, quenching of the latter by dissolved oxygen, and oxidation of the initial compound by singlet oxygen.

Photochemical rearrangement of diarylethenes: synthesis of functionalized phenanthrenes

A novel protocol for the synthesis of functionalized phenanthrenes through photocyclization of diarylethenes (DAE) under UV irradiation is proposed. The reaction proceeds through 6π-electrocyclization with the formation of a cyclic (closed) intermediate that undergoes a rearrangement affording unsymmetrical phenanthrenes in good yields. However, in contrast to benzene derivatives, the photocyclization of naphthalene diarylethenes proceeds more slowly, which is confirmed by DFT calculations. The transformation was performed on a 1 mmol scale. The scalability showed that the diarylethenes bearing oxazole, thiazole, pyrazole and imidazole as aryl moieties are more prone to photorearrangement and can be used in preparative organic synthesis.

Sequential Annulations to Interesting Novel Pyrrolo[3,2-c]carbazoles

Herein we report a significant, valuable extension of a recently implemented pyrrole benzannulation methodology that, employing versatile nitrodienes from our lab as useful C₄ building blocks, led to indole derivatives characterized by unusual patterns of substitution. The 6-nitro-7-arylindoles resulting from suitably derivatized, non-symmetric dienes are of foreseeable synthetic interest in search for new polyheterocyclic systems. As an example, pyrrolocarbazoles with a rarely reported ring fusion were synthesized with the classical Cadogan protocol. Furthermore, the proven easy reducibility of the nitro group to amine will surely open the way to further interesting elaborations.