Improved syntheses of high hole mobility phthalocyanines: A case of steric assistance in the cyclo-oligomerisation of phthalonitriles

Isolation, structure elucidation, and synthesis of antiplasmodial quinolones from Crinum firmifolium

Antiplasmodial bioassay guided fractionation of a Madagascar collection of Crinum firmifolium led to the isolation of seven compounds. Five of the seven compounds were determined to be 2-alkylquinolin-4(1H)-ones with varying side chains. Compounds 1 and 4 were determined to be known compounds with reported antiplasmodial activities, while 5 was believed to be a new branched 2-alkylquinolin-4(1H)-one, however, it was isolated in limited quantities and in admixture and therefore was synthesized to confirm its structure as a new antiplasmodial compound. Along with 5, two other new and branched compounds 6 and 7 were synthesized as well. Accompanying the five quinolones were two known compounds 2 and 3 which are inactive against Plasmodium falciparum. The isolation, structure elucidation, total synthesis, and biological evaluation of these compounds are discussed in this article.

Topological Control of Columnar Stacking Made of Liquid-Crystalline Thiophene-Fused Metallonaphthalocyanines

The spontaneous organization of two-dimensional polyaromatic molecules into well-defined nanostructures through noncovalent interactions is important in the development of organic-based electronic and optoelectronic devices. Two regioisomers of thiophene-fused zinc naphthalocyanines ZnTNcendo and ZnTNcexo have been designed and synthesized to obtain photo- and electroactive liquid crystalline materials. Both compounds exhibited liquid crystalline behavior over a wide temperature range through intermolecular π-π interactions and local phase segregation between the aromatic cores and peripheral side chains. The structural differences between ZnTNcendo and ZnTNcexo affected the stacking mode in self-assembled columns, as well as symmetry of the two-dimensional rectangular columnar lattice. The columnar structure in liquid crystalline phase exhibited an ambipolar charge-transport behavior.

Negishi coupling in the synthesis of advanced electronic, optical, electrochemical, and magnetic materials

Negishi coupling is an efficient and versatile tool for selective C–C bond formation in the synthesis of organic electronic, optical, electrochemical, and magnetic materials.

Synthesis and characterization of [1,4-bis(α,β-galactopyranos-6-yl)phthalocyaninato]zinc(II)

Herein we present the synthesis and full characterization of the water-soluble [1,4-bis(α,β-galactopyranos-6-yl)phthalocyaninato]zinc(II) (8). For a cross-condensation with phthalonitrile in presence of zinc bromide, bisglycosylated phthalonitrile (5) has been synthesized by nucleophilic displacement of triflyl groups or fluorine atoms by acetonide protected galactose in the appropriated phthalonitriles 1 and 2. Furthermore we prepared 3,6-bis(1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galactopyranos-6-yl)phthalonitrile (5) starting from 2,3-dicyanohydroquinone and 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galactopyranose using a Mitsunobu protocol. UV-vis spectra of 8 were measured in DMSO, water and PBS-buffer at different concentrations.

Routes to some 3,6-disubstituted phthalonitriles and examples of phthalocyanines derived therefrom: An overview

The paper reviews a selection of synthetic pathways that provide access to 3,6-disubstituted phthalonitriles, precursors for the synthesis of 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octasubstituted phthalocyanine derivatives. Early routes using Diels–Alder reactions for the synthesis of 3,6-dialkyl, 3,6-dialkoxymethyl, 3,6-dialkenyl and 3,6-diphenylphthalonitriles are appraised. However, the emphasis of the review focuses on the scope and applications of 2,3-dicyanohydroquinone as a starting material for obtaining 3,6-disubstituted phthalonitriles. The earliest example of the use of 2,3-dicyanohydroquinone concerned its O -alkylation to afford 3,6-dialkoxyphthalonitriles. These are immediate precursors to near-infrared absorbing phthalocyanine derivatives. Triflation of 2,3-dicyanohydroquinone extends the scope of the compound for phthalocyanine synthesis; the bis-triflate derivative is susceptible to S N Ar reactions and readily reacts with thiols to provide 3,6-bis(alkylsulfanyl) and 3,6-bis(arylsulfanyl)phthalonitriles. 3,6-Bis(phenylselenyl)phthalonitrile has also been obtained recently from the same precursor. Phthalocyanine derivatives obtained from them typically show a strongly bathochromically shifted Q-band absorption that is particularly sensitive to the central metal ion. The bis-triflate of 2,3-dicyanohydroquinone is also an ideal precursor for participation in cross-coupling reactions. Examples from the University of East Anglia group and elsewhere are presented which show the application of the nickel-catalyzed Negishi coupling reaction using alkylzinc halide derivatives. Yields of 3,6-dialkylphthalonitriles and 3,6-bis(substituted alkyl)phthalonitriles range from ca. 40 to 70%. Direct comparison for one example shows that the yield from the Negishi coupling method is higher than that using the Suzuki coupling protocol. Examples of the preparation of 3,6-diarylphthalonitriles from 2,3-dicyanohydroquinone bis-triflate using the Suzuki coupling reaction are reported with yields of the order of 65–70%. The review also includes a further application of 2,3-dicyanohydroquinone as a precursor to both monobromo and dibromo derivatives of 3,6-dibutoxyphthalonitrile. These compounds provide opportunities for cross-coupling at the brominated sites to provide more complex derivatives with the potential to serve as precursors of highly substituted phthalocyanine derivatives.