Jan Storch

Synthesis of hexahelicene and 1-methoxyhexahelicene via cycloisomerization of biphenylyl-naphthalene derivatives.

The new approach provides nonphotochemical syntheses of helicenes based on the easy, convergent, and modular assembly of key biphenylyl-naphthalenes and their platinum-catalyzed double cycloisomerization. This sequence of reactions provides a synthetic route to helicenes in two steps from simply accessible building blocks. Furthermore, the method enables the introduction of substituents into the hexahelicene skeleton. The strategy developed is exemplified by the synthesis of 6,10-dimethylhexahelicene and 1-methoxy-6,10-dimethylhexahelicene.

Synthesis of 2-aza[6]helicene and attempts to synthesize 2,14-diaza[6]helicene utilizing metal-catalyzed cycloisomerization.

A modular synthetic approach leading to 2-aza[6]helicene is reported. It involves assembly of key hetero biphenylylnaphthalenes from functionalized building blocks and study of their metal catalyzed cycloisomerization.

Experimental and theoretical study on cation–π interaction of Ag+ with [6]helicene

By employing electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, it was proven experimentally that the [6]helicene–Ag+ complex (i.e., [Ag(C26H16)]+) exists in the gas phase. Further, applying quantum mechanical DFT calculations, the most probable structure of this cationic complex [Ag(C26H16)]+ was derived. Finally, in the solid state, the complex [6]helicene–silver triflate–monohydrate (i.e., C26H16–AgCF3SO3–H2O), crystallizing in the monoclinic system with the centro-symmetric P21/c space group, was prepared and analyzed. The characteristic feature of this complex packing in the solid state is the formation of the separated [6]helicene and silver triflate domains. In both of these binding modes, the investigated [6]helicene ligand functions as a molecular tweezer for the univalent silver cation.Graphical abstract

The rearrangement of 1-methylcyclohex-1-ene during the hydrodesulfurization of FCC gasoline over supported Co(Ni)Mo/Al2O3 sulfide catalysts: the isolation and identification of branched cyclic C7 olefins

In the study of the simultaneous hydrodesulfurization of 1-benzothiophene and the olefin hydrogenation of 1-methylcyclohex-1-ene (1-MCH), we encountered a rearrangement of 1-MCH during the first step of catalytic hydrogenation, which yielded various branched cyclic olefins; mainly ethylcyclopentene and dimethylcyclopentene isomers. The volatile isomerization products were isolated directly from the diluted reaction mixture via the combination of chromatographic techniques including preparative gas chromatography, and were undoubtedly assigned by NMR spectroscopy. The precise identification of the isomerization products was required for a detailed kinetic study.

Development of separation methods for the chiral resolution of hexahelicenes.

In this short communication we report optimized procedures for the chiral separation of non-charged [6]helicene (1) and cationic derivative 1-butyl-3-(2-methyl[6]helicenyl)-imidazolium bromide (2) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) methods. The possibility of using capillary electrophoresis (CE) was also tested. The satisfactory results were obtained with SFC, where the highly selective resolution of four enantiopure 1 and 2 helicenes was achieved in a single run within 5min. The semi-preparative procedure for the isolation of P and M enantiomers of compound 2, including circular dichroism data, is reported here for the first time. The results could be used in further separations and analytical applications targeting carbohelicenes vs. positively charged helicene derivatives.

2-Bromo[6]helicene as a Key Intermediate for [6]Helicene Functionalization

The synthesis of 2-bromo[6]helicene was revised and improved up to 51% yield. Its reactivity was thoroughly investigated, and a library of 17 different carbon, boron, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen and sulfur substituted derivatives was prepared. The racemization barrier for 2-bromo[6]helicene was determined, and the usage of enantiomers in the synthesis of optically pure helicenes was rationalized. The three most energy-demanding reactions using enantiomerically pure 2-bromo[6]helicene were tested in order to confirm the predicted enantiomeric excess.

Liquid Phase Behavior in Systems of 1-Butyl-3-alkylimidazolium bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}imide Ionic Liquids with Water: Influence of the Structure of the C5 Alkyl Substituent

In the present paper a study of the liquid phase behavior in aqueous systems of imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) with the bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}imide anion is addressed. To highlight the influence of the C5 alkyl side group structure on their properties, a series of ILs with linear, branched, and cyclic substituents was studied. As was already shown in our previous work, very subtle changes in the cation structure at the molecular scale can have a significant and unexpected impact on the bulk properties. Therefore, in this work, the mutual solubilities of 1-butyl-3-alkylimidazolium bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}imide ionic liquids and water were studied, both experimentally and by modeling, at atmospheric pressure as a function of temperature from 293.15 to 328.15 K. The solubilities of the ionic liquids in water are very low, typically around 10−5 mole fraction units and were measured by a direct analytical method, making use of UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The solubilities of water in the ionic liquids were found to be around 0.20 mole fraction units and were measured using the cloud-point method. In addition to the experimental data, the liquid–liquid equilibria in the systems were modeled using the COSMO-RS methodology. Phase diagrams and the critical solution points were also estimated by applying the universal scaling laws based on the 3D Ising model, taking into account the non-linearity of the diameter and crossover to mean-field behavior.

A comprehensive LC/MS analysis of novel cyclopentenedione library

Cyclopentenediones (CPDs) are compounds with a variety of applications ranging from the preparation of functional polymers to the development of antimicrobial agents, suggesting the potential use of CPDs as novel bioactive compounds or drugs. For this reason, a detailed characterization of CPDs and the development of robust analytical methods for their trace analysis are being sought. Here we focused on the design and synthesis of a library of novelized benzylidene CPD derivatives that were consequently characterized by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) on-line connected with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The library design was based on a 2-benzylidene-4-cyclopentene-1,3-dione skeleton substituted with a variety of hydroxy, methoxy, halogen, linear aliphatic, heterocyclic and saccharide moieties, primarily modulating the skeletons hydrophobicity. The prepared CPDs were effectively ionized by positive/negative atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). After careful optimization of the dopant composition and flow rate, positive-mode APPI proved to be more sensitive than APCI. In negative mode, both ionization techniques gave similar results. Further, a detailed MS fragmentation study was performed, confirming the structure of the compounds and enabling positional isomers of CPDs to be differentiated on the basis of their collision spectra analysis. Finally, an optimization of the composition of the mobile phase and reversed-phased separation mode were done, followed by a selection of the most suitable UHPLC stationary phases, i.e. C18, C8 and phenyl. The applicability of the method was evaluated by the inclusion of the other two substances in the study, i.e. monomeric and dimeric bioactive CPDs, compound TX-1123 and nostotrebin 6 with cytostatic and antimicrobial activities, respectively. The results presented here could be used in further investigations of the chromatographic retention and MS behavior of CPDs, which could be utilized for their isolation, detailed characterization and analysis in biological systems.