Eiichi Kayahara

Organoplatinum‐Mediated Synthesis of Cyclic π‐Conjugated Molecules: Towards a New Era of Three‐Dimensional Aromatic Compounds

This article describes the most recent developments in the synthesis of three-dimensional π-conjugated molecules and the elucidation of their properties made by our research group. Various cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) of different sizes and a cage-like 3D molecule were synthesized based on the platinum-mediated assembly of π-units and subsequent reductive elimination of platinum. The assembly of π-units by this method mimics the self-assembly process for the formation of supramolecular ligand-metal complexes with 3D cages and polyhedral structures. Furthermore, reductive elimination of platinum successfully took place with high efficiency, despite the high strain energy of the target molecule. Several size-dependent physical properties of CPPs, namely the photophysical, redox, and host-guest chemistries, were also clarified. These results are of use for a molecular-level understanding of CNT physical properties as well as fullerene peapods. Theoretical and electrochemical studies suggest that small CPPs and their derivatives should be excellent lead compounds for molecular electronics.

Synthesis and Characterization of [5]Cycloparaphenylene

The synthesis of highly strained [5]cycloparaphenylene ([5]CPP), a structural unit of the periphery of C60 and the shortest possible structural constituent of the sidewall of a (5,5) carbon nanotube, was achieved in nine steps in 17% overall yield. The synthesis relied on metal-mediated ring closure of a triethylsilyl (TES)-protected masked precursor 1c followed by removal of the TES groups and subsequent reductive aromatization. UV-vis and electrochemical studies revealed that the HOMO-LUMO gap of [5]CPP is narrow and is comparable to that of C60, as predicted by theoretical calculations. The results suggest that [5]CPP should be an excellent lead compound for molecular electronics.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties of [4]Cyclo‐2,7‐pyrenylene: Effects of Cyclic Structure on the Electronic Properties of Pyrene Oligomers

A cyclic tetramer of pyrene, [4]cyclo-2,7-pyrenylene ([4]CPY), was synthesized from pyrene in six steps and 18% overall yield by the platinum-mediated assembly of pyrene units and subsequent reductive elimination of platinum. The structures of the two key intermediates were unambiguously determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. DFT calculations showed that the topology of the frontier orbitals in [4]CPY was essentially the same as those in [8]cycloparaphenylene ([8]CPP), and that all the pyrene units were fully conjugated. The electrochemical analyses proved the electronic properties of [4]CPY to be similar to those of [8]CPP. The results are in sharp contrast to those obtained for the corresponding linear oligomers of pyrene in which each pyrene unit was electronically isolated. The results clearly show a novel effect of the cyclic structure on cyclic π-conjugated molecules.

Isolation and Characterization of the Cycloparaphenylene Radical Cation and Dication

Charged nanobelts: The radical cation and the dication of [8]cycloparaphenylene ([8]CPP) were prepared and isolated as hexahaloantimonate salts by the one- or two-electron chemical oxidation of [8]CPP with NOSbF6 or SbCl5 . ESR spectroscopy of CPP(.+) and single-crystal X-ray analysis of CPP(2+) demonstrated that the spin and charge were equally and fully delocalized over the para-phenylene rings.

Synthesis and physical properties of a ball-like three-dimensional π-conjugated molecule

Curved π-conjugated molecules with closed and three-dimensional (3D) structures, such as fullerenes and carbon nanotubes, have been the subject of intensive research due to their potential applications in molecular electronics. However, basic molecular skeletons of 3D molecules are limited because of the lack of a rational and selective synthetic method by organic synthesis. Here we report the synthesis of a 3D π-conjugated molecule based on the platinum-mediated assembly of four molecules of a stannylated trisubstituted benzene derivative forming a hexanuclear platinum complex with an octahedral shape, from which reductive elimination of platinum gave the target molecule. As many supramolecular transition metal-ligand complexes with 3D cages and polyhedral structures have been synthesized by self-assembly of ligands and metals, the current assembly/reductive elimination strategy could provide a variety of new 3D π-conjugated molecules with different structures and topologies, which are challenging to obtain using conventional synthetic methods.

Practical Synthesis of [n]Cycloparaphenylenes (n=5, 7–12) by H2SnCl4‐Mediated Aromatization of 1,4‐Dihydroxycyclo‐2,5‐diene Precursors

Cyclic precursors of cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) containing 1,4-dihydroxy-2,5-cyclohexadien-1,4-diyl units are prepared by modifying a synthetic method developed by Jasti and co-workers for the synthesis of corresponding 1,4-dimethoxy derivatives. Reductive aromatization of the diyl moieties by SnCl2/2 HCl takes place under mild conditions and affords the CPPs in good yields, incorporating 5 or 7-12 phenylene units. Highly strained [5]CPP is synthesized in greater than 0.3 g scale. (119)Sn NMR spectroscopy clarifies the in situ formation of an ate complex, H2SnCl4, upon mixing a 2:1 ratio of HCl and SnCl2, which serves as a highly active reducing agent under nearly neutral conditions. When more than 2 equivalents of HCl, in relation to SnCl2, are used, acid-catalyzed decomposition of the CPP precursors takes place. The stoichiometry of HCl and SnCl2 is critical in achieving the desired aromatization reaction of highly strained CPP precursors.

Development of an arylthiobismuthine cocatalyst in organobismuthine-mediated living radical polymerization: applications for synthesis of ultrahigh molecular weight polystyrenes and polyacrylates.

Diphenyl(2,6-dimesitylphenylthio)bismuthine (1a) serves as an excellent cocatalyst in organobismuthine-mediated living radical polymerization (BIRP). Both low and high molecular weight polystyrenes and poly(butyl acrylate)s (PBAs) with controlled molecular weights and low polydispersity indexes (PDIs) were synthesized by the addition of a catalytic amount of 1a to an organobismuthine chain-transfer agent, methyl 2-dimethylbismuthanyl-2-methylpropionate (3). The number-average molecular weight (M(n)) of the resulting polymers increases linearly with the monomer/3 ratio. Structurally well-defined polystyrenes with M(n)s in the range from 1.0 x 10(4) to 2.0 x 10(5) and PDIs of 1.07-1.15 as well as PBAs with M(n)s in the range from 1.2 x 10(4) to 2.8 x 10(6) and PDIs of 1.06-1.43 were successfully prepared under mild thermal conditions. Control experiments suggested that 1a reversibly reacts with the polymer-end radical to generate an organobismuthine dormant species and 2,6-dimesitylphenylthiyl radical (2a). This reaction avoids the occurrence of chain termination reactions involving the polymer-end radicals and avoids undesired loss of the bismuthanyl polymer end group. The bulky 2,6-dimesitylphenyl group attached to the sulfur atom may prevent the addition of thiyl radicals to the vinyl monomers to generate new polymer chains.

In-Plane Aromaticity in Cycloparaphenylene Dications: A Magnetic Circular Dichroism and Theoretical Study

The electronic structures of [8]cycloparaphenylene dication ([8]CPP(2+)) and radical cation ([8]CPP(•+)) have been investigated by magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy, which enabled unambiguous discrimination between previously conflicting assignments of the UV-vis-NIR absorption spectral bands. Molecular orbital and nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) analysis revealed that [8]CPP(2+) shows in-plane aromaticity with a (4n + 2) π-electron system (n = 7). This aromaticity appears to be the origin of the unusual stability of the dication. Theoretical calculations further suggested that not only [8]CPP(2+) but also all [n]CPP (n = 5-10) dications and dianions exhibit in-plane aromaticity.

Synthesis of Structurally Well‐Defined Telechelic Polymers by Organostibine‐Mediated Living Radical Polymerization: In Situ Generation of Functionalized Chain‐Transfer Agents and Selective ω‐End‐Group Transformations

Several organostibine chain-transfer agents possessing polar functional groups have been prepared by the reactions of azo initiators and tetramethyldistibine (1). Carbon-centered radicals thermally generated from the azo initiators were trapped by 1 to yield the corresponding organostibine chain-transfer agents. The high yields observed in the synthesis of the chain-transfer agents strongly suggest that distibines have excellent radicophilic reactivity. As the reactions proceeded under neutral conditions, functional groups that are incompatible with ionic conditions were incorporated into the chain-transfer agents. The chain-transfer agents were used in living radical polymerization to synthesize the corresponding alpha-functionalized polymers. As the functional groups in the chain-transfer agents did not interfere with the polymerization reaction, well-controlled polymers possessing number-average molecular weights (M(n)s) predetermined by the monomer/transfer agent ratios were synthesized with low polydispersity indices (PDIs). The organostibanyl omega-polymer ends were transformed into a number of different functional groups by radical-coupling, radical-addition, and oxidation reactions. Therefore, it was possible to synthesize well-controlled telechelic polymers with the same and also with different functional groups at their alpha- and omega-polymer ends. Distibine 1 was also found to increase PDI control in the living radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate (MMA) using a purified organostibine chain-transfer agent. Well-controlled poly(methyl methacrylate)s with M(n) values ranging from 10 000 to 120 000 with low PDIs (1.05-1.15) were synthesized by the addition of a catalytic amount of 1. The results have been attributed to the high reactivity of distibine 1 towards polymer-end radicals, which are spontaneously deactivated to yield organostibine dormant species.

Radical Ions of Cycloparaphenylenes: Size Dependence Contrary to the Neutral Molecules.

Cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) have attracted wide attention because of their interesting properties owing to distorted and strained aromatic systems and radially oriented p orbitals. For application of CPPs, information on their charged states (radical cation and radical anion) is essential. Here, we measured absorption spectra of the radical cations and the radical anions of CPPs with various ring sizes over a wide spectral region by means of radiation chemical methods. The peak position of the near-IR bands for both the radical cation and the radical anion shifted to lower energies with an increase in the ring size. This trend is contrary to what is observed for transitions between the HOMO and LUMO of the neutral CPP. The observed spectra of the CPP radical ions were reasonably assigned based on time-dependent density functional theory. These results indicate that the next HOMO and the next LUMO levels are important in the electronic transitions of radical ions.