Benzothiadiazole vs. iso-Benzothiadiazole: Synthesis, Electrochemical and Optical Properties of D–A–D Conjugated Molecules Based on Them

This paper presents an improved synthesis of 4,7-dibromobenzo[d][1,2,3]thiadiazole from commercially available reagents. According to quantum-mechanical calculations, benzo[d][1,2,3]thiadiazole (isoВТD) has higher values of ELUMO and energy band gap (Eg), which indicates high electron conductivity, occurring due to the high stability of the molecule in the excited state. We studied the cross-coupling reactions of this dibromide and found that the highest yields of π-spacer–acceptor–π-spacer type compounds were obtained by means of the Stille reaction. Therefore, 6 new structures of this type have been synthesized. A detailed study of the optical and electrochemical properties of the obtained π-spacer–acceptor–π-spacer type compounds in comparison with isomeric structures based on benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (BTD) showed a red shift of absorption maxima with lower absorptive and luminescent capacity. However, the addition of the 2,2′-bithiophene fragment as a π-spacer resulted in an unexpected increase of the extinction coefficient in the UV/vis spectra along with a blue shift of both absorption maxima for the isoBTD-based compound as compared to the BTD-based compound. Thus, a thorough selection of components in the designing of appropriate compounds with benzo[d][1,2,3]thiadiazole as an internal acceptor can lead to promising photovoltaic materials.

Total synthesis of dimeric Securinega alkaloids (−)-flueggenines D and I

The first total synthesis of dimeric securinega alkaloids (−)-flueggenines D and I was completed by a dimerization strategy that involves Stille reaction and stereoselective conjugate reduction.

Nickel-Catalyzed Decarbonylative Stannylation of Acyl Fluorides under Ligand-Free Conditions

Nickel-catalyzed decarbonylative stannylation of acyl fluorides under ligand-free conditions was disclosed. A variety of aromatic acyl fluorides are capable of reacting with silylstannanes in the presence of cesium fluoride. A one-pot decarbonylative stannylation/Migita-Kosugi-Stille reaction of benzoyl fluoride, giving rise to the direct formation of the corresponding cross-coupled products, further demonstrated the synthetic utility of the present method. This newly developed methodology with a good functional-group compatibility via C–F bond cleavage and C–Sn bond formation under nickel catalysis opens a new area for the functionalization of acyl fluorides in terms of carbon-heteroatom bond formation.

Towards the Total Synthesis of Schisandrene: Stereoselective Synthesis of the Dibenzocyclooctadiene Lignan Core

A stereoselective synthesis of the dibenzocyclooctadiene ­lignan core of the natural product schisandrene is described. Starting from readily available gallic acid, the synthetic strategy involves Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling, Stille reaction, and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) in the reaction sequence. The required asymmetric center at C-7′ was established by an asymmetric reduction of a keto compound using the Corey–Bakshi–Shibata (CBS) catalyst. In our approach, the eight-membered ring was achieved by RCM for the first time.