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2-Amino-4-arylazulene derivatives were prepared from 8-aryl-2 H -cyclohepta[ b ]furan-2-ones, which were converted into 6-aryl-7 H -naphth[3,2,1- cd ]azulen-7-ones through a several step process. The reaction of 8-aryl-2 H -cyclohepta[ b ]furan-2-ones bearing an ester group at the 3-position with malononitrile in the presence of triethylamine afforded 2-amino-4-arylazulenes. The prepared 2-amino-4-arylazulenes were converted to the corresponding 2-chloro derivatives by the Sandmeyer reaction, which were subsequently transformed into 2,4-diarylazulenes by Suzuki-Miyaura coupling with various aryl boronic acids. 2,4-Diarylazulenes underwent intramolecular cyclization between aryl and cyano groups by Brønsted acid to give 6-aryl-7 H -naphth[3,2,1- cd ]azulen-7-ones. UV/vis spectral analysis revealed that 6-aryl-7 H -naphth[3,2,1- cd ]azulen-7-one with a N , N -dimethylaminophenyl group at the 6-position exhibited a broad and strong absorption band in the visible region due to intramolecular charge transfer. Furthermore, 6-aryl-7 H -naphth[3,2,1- cd ]azulen-7-ones exhibited halochromism in 30% CF 3 CO 2 H/CH 2 Cl 2 . Although fluorescence was not observed in solution, 8-aryl-2 H -cyclohepta[ b ]furan-2-ones with an ester function were found to fluoresce in the solid state. 6-Aryl-7 H -naphth[3,2,1- cd ]azulen-7-ones also displayed spectral changes with good reversibility under the electrochemical redox conditions.

Pyrones and their aromatic ring-fused derivatives have gained significant attention due to their diverse biological activities and potential as foundational frameworks for advanced materials. In this paper, we describe a proficient approach for the preparation of azuleno[1,2- c ]pyran-1-ones, which are difficult to produce by using conventional methods. The synthesis was achieved through Bro̷nsted acid-mediated cyclization of 2-azulenylalkynes. The structural and optical properties of azuleno[1,2- c ]pyran-1-ones were characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis, NMR, UV/vis, and fluorescence spectroscopies. Under acidic conditions, these compounds displayed notable spectral alterations and emission, distinct from their spectra in neutral medium. These results suggest that azuleno[1,2- c ]pyran-1-ones hold great potential for applications in organic electronic materials and fluorescent pH sensors.

The synthesis of sulfur-embedded hexapyrrolohexaazacoronene (HPHAC) analog 2 and its corresponding desulfurized and rearranged compounds was achieved from tetrafluoroisothianaphthene. Structures of all the new π-skeletons were determined by X-ray crystallography. Comparison of the electronic spectrum of 2 with those of its derivatives revealed less involvement of the sulfur atom in π-conjugation. Similar to the reference HPHAC ( 1 ), compound 2 and its derivatives exhibited reversible oxidation behavior. The aromaticity of both neutral and dication states has been investigated through DFT calculations.

Synthesis of unusual phenanthroporphyrins was achieved by a stepwise precursor method. Precursor porphyrins fused with aryl-substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene afforded the corresponding arylbenzoporphyrins (arylBPs) by a retro Diels-Alder reaction. Unusual phenanthroporphyrins were obtained via the intramolecular Scholl reaction of arylBPs. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed a distorted, helical porphyrin plane. Red-shifted absorptions of tetraphenanthroporphyrin are observed at ca. 580 nm for the B band and at 700 - 900 nm for the Q bands. Analysis of magnetic circular dichroism spectra and time-dependent density functional theory calculations was used to explain the optical properties and electronic structures.

Dibenzofurans featuring a 2,2'-biazulene framework were prepared in good yields by Brønsted acid-promoted annulation of 2,3-di(1-azulenyl)benzofurans in 100% H 3 PO 4 . NMR, UV-Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopies were used to investigate the structural and optical properties of the products prepared. Remarkably, the annulated products exhibited fluorescence, with the longest wavelength of azulene derivatives reported to date, which extended into the near-infrared region under acidic conditions.

Starting with the reaction of 2 H -cyclohepta[ b ]furan-2-ones with an enamine, which was prepared from 4- tert -butylcyclohexanone and pyrrolidine, benz[ a ]azulenes having both formyl and tert -butyl groups were obtained in the three-step sequence. Subsequently, both the formyl and tert -butyl groups were eliminated by heating the benz[ a ]azulene derivatives in 100% H 3 PO 4 to give benz[ a ]azulenes without these substituents in high yields. In terms of product yield, this method is the best one ever reported for the synthesis of the parent benz[ a ]azulene so far. The conversion of the benz[ a ]azulene derivatives with a formyl group into cyclohept[ a ]acenaphthylen-3-one derivatives was also investigated via Knoevenagel condensation with dimethyl malonate, followed by Brønsted acid-mediated intramolecular cyclization. The structural features including the bond alternation in the benz[ a ]azulene derivatives were revealed by NMR studies, NICS calculations, and a single-crystal X-ray structural analysis. The optical and electrochemical properties of a series of benz[ a ]azulene derivatives were evaluated by UV/Vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and voltammetry experiments. As a result, we found that some benz[ a ]azulene derivatives showed remarkable luminescence in acidic media. In addition, the benz[ a ]azulene derivatives with the electron-withdrawing group and cyclohept[ a ]acenaphthylen-3-one derivative displayed good reversibility in the spectral changes under the electrochemical redox conditions.

Tropo(thio)ne-embedded homoHPHACs and their dications were synthesised by an electrophilic annulation of secoHPHAC and successive oxidation. 13 C NMR spectra of the dications represented global 22π homoaromaticity via homoconjugation, while alkylation of a thiocarbonyl-bridged homoHPHAC produced a 24π antiaromatic monocation.

A "3+3" condensation reaction of 1,3-di(2-pyrrolyl)azulene with aryl aldehyde followed by an oxidative aromatization afforded diazuliamethyrin, [24]diazulihexaphyrin(0.1.0.0.1.0). X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a relatively planar structure of diprotonated diazuliamethyrin with a mean plane deviation of 0.37 Å. A 24π non- or antiaromatic character was confirmed by 1 H NMR, absorption, MCD spectra, and TD-DFT calculations that included the NICS values and ACID plots.

Cyclo[9]pyrrole, a ring-expanded porphyrin without meso -bridges and having an odd number of pyrroles, was synthesized via the oxidative coupling of 2,2':5',2″-terpyrrole. X-ray crystallography showed a C 2 -like symmetry with a large root-mean-square deviation. The optical properties and electronic structures were analyzed using magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy and time-dependent density functional theory calculations.

Radially π-extended hexapyrrolohexaazacoronene (HPHAC 2 ) was synthesized in two steps with 2,5-di- tert -butyl-acenaphtho[1,2- c ]pyrrole and hexafluorobenzene. Like its parent HPHAC 1a , 2 exhibited reversible oxidation behavior. Crystal structures of not only the neutral and dicationic compounds but also the radical cation were all revealed. While analyzing its peculiar structure, the formation of a 1:1 complex with C 60 was observed in solution by NMR and absorption analyses. The spectroscopic analyses of 2 and 1a were performed based on magnetic circular dichroism and theoretical calculations.

Performing bottom-up synthesis by using molecules adsorbed on a surface is an effective method to yield functional polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nanocarbon materials. The intramolecular cyclodehydrogenation of hydrocarbons is a critical process in this synthesis; however, thus far, its elementary steps have not been elucidated thoroughly. In this study, we utilize the metal tip of a low-temperature noncontact atomic force microscope as a manipulable metal surface to locally activate dehydrogenation for PAH-forming cyclodehydrogenation. This method leads to the dissociation of a H atom of an intermediate to yield the cyclodehydrogenated product in a target-selective and reproducible manner. We demonstrate the metal-tip-catalyzed dehydrogenation for both benzenoid and nonbenzonoid PAHs, suggesting its universal applicability as a catalyst for nanographene synthesis.

Azulene derivatives with heterocyclic moieties in the molecule have been synthesized for applications in materials science by taking advantage of their unique properties. These derivatives have been prepared by various methods, involving electrophilic substitution, condensation, cyclization, and transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Herein, we present the development of the synthetic methods, reactivities, and physical properties for the heterocycle-substituted and heterocycle-fused azulenes reported in the last decade.

A bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene(BCOD)-fused bis(dipyrromethane) derivative was reacted with methylal in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid followed by oxidation with chloranil to give a doubly N-confused phlorin derivative, which did not undergo the retro-Diels-Alder reaction extruding an ethylene molecule on heating. In contrast, a 7-tert-butoxybicyclo[2.2.1]heptadiene(7-BuOBCHD)-fused bis(dipyrromethane) yielded benzene-ring-fused doubly N-confused porphyrins by following similar reaction sequences., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

In this paper, we describe an efficient and atom-economical synthesis of highly functionalized pyrroles, pentafulvenes, and pyrrolopyridines by [2+2] cycloaddition-retroelectrocyclization of N-substituted propargylamines with tetracyanoethylene, followed by the treatment of the resulting tetracyanobutadiene derivatives with silica gel. In this reaction, silica gel plays an important role to promote the intramolecular cyclization to afford the heterocyclic products from the tetracyanobutadiene intermediates. The products were obtained selectively depending on the substituent on the nitrogen atom of the starting propargylamines., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Synthesis of an azacoronene, in which both pyrrole and azulene moieties are circularly fused, was achieved just in three steps. This new azacoronene exhibited multistep reversible oxidations under electrochemical and chemical conditions. Formation of an aromatic 22π-electron conjugation and a tropylium cation (6π-electron conjugation) in the dicationic state was revealed by the single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis as well as the nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) and anisotropy of the induced current density (ACID) calculations.

The nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S N Ar) reaction of diethyl 6-bromoazulene-1,3-dicarboxylate (1) with a variety of amines afforded the corresponding 6-aminoazulene derivatives 2a-2j in good-to-excellent yields. 6-Aminoazulene derivatives 3a-3f without the 1,3-diethoxycarbonyl functions were obtained by the deesterification of 2a-2f with 100% H 3 PO 4 . The reactivity of 6-aminoazulenes toward the bromination, S N Ar, and palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions was also clarified. 6-Arylazoazulenes 13a-13c were also prepared via the S N Ar reaction of 1 with arylhydrazines, followed by oxidation with Pb(OAc) 4 in the presence of N 2 H 4 . The structural, optical, and electrochemical properties of the 6-amino- and 6-arylazoazulenes were revealed by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis, UV/vis spectroscopy, voltammetry analysis, spectroelectrochemistry, and theoretical calculations.

A core-expanded, pyrrole-fused azacoronene analogue containing two unusual N-doped heptagons was obtained from commercially available octafluoronaphthalene and 3,4-diethylpyrrole in two steps as a heteroatom-doped nonplanar nanographene. Full fusion with the formation of the tetraazadipleiadiene framework and the longitudinally twisted structure was unambiguously confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The edge-to-edge dihedral angle along the acene moiety was 63°. This electron-rich π-system showed four reversible oxidation peaks. Despite the nonplanar structure, the Hückel aromaticity owing to a peripheral π-conjugation in the dicationic state was concluded from the bond-length alternation and nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) and anisotropy of the induced current density (ACID) calculations.

We describe the comparative study of optical and electrochemical properties of tetracyanobutadienes (TCBDs) and dicyanoquinodimethanes (DCNQs) with a 2-methyl-1-azulenyl group and their derivatives with a 1-azulenyl substituent examined under the same conditions. TCBDs and DCNQs with a 2-methyl-1-azulenyl substituent have been prepared by the Sonogashira-Hagihara alkynylation of the 2-methyl-1-iodoazulene with arylalkyne derivatives, followed by the formal [2+2] cycloaddition-retroelectrocyclization (CA-RE) reaction with tetracyanoethylene and 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane. The optical properties of the TCBDs and DCNQs with a 2-methyl-1-azulenyl group were investigated through the comparison with those of TCBDs and DCNQs with a 1-azulenyl substituent by employing the UV/vis spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. The electrochemical properties of the TCBD and DCNQ derivatives were also examined by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry experiments, which elucidated their multistep redox properties. Furthermore, noticeable spectral changes of these chromophores were identified by the spectroelectrochemical measurements.

Benzene-fused bis(acenaphthoBODIPY)s prepared by retro-Diels-Alder reaction of bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene-fused precursors showed strong absorption bands in the near-infrared region and very weak absorptions in the visible region., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The preparation of azulene-substituted benzofurans and isocoumarins was established by two types of intramolecular cyclization reaction of 1-ethynylazulenes. 2-(1-Azulenyl)- and 2,3-bis(1-azulenyl)benzofurans were prepared by the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 1-iodoazulenes with 2-ethynylphenol and that of 1-ethynylazulenes with 2-iodophenol under Sonogashira-Hagihara reaction conditions following the intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the oxygen nucleophile to the presumed 1-arylethynylazulenes. In contrast, 1-(phenylethynyl)azulenes bearing an o-methoxycarbonyl function on the substituted phenyl moiety exhibited intramolecular cyclization either in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid or N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) to afford azulene-substituted isocoumarins and 4-iodoisocoumarins, and the structures were clarified by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The optical properties of these compounds were also investigated by UV/vis spectroscopy and theoretical calculations.

Controlling the structural deformation of organic molecules can drive unique reactions that cannot be induced only by thermal, optical or electrochemical procedures. However, in conventional organic synthesis, including mechanochemical procedures, it is difficult to control skeletal rearrangement in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Here, we demonstrate a reaction scheme for the skeletal rearrangement of PAHs on a metal surface using high-resolution noncontact atomic force microscopy. By a combination of organic synthesis and on-surface cyclodehydrogenation, we produce a well-designed PAH-diazuleno[1,2,3-cd:1',2',3'-fg]pyrene-adsorbed flatly onto Cu(001), in which two azuleno moieties are highly strained by their mutual proximity. This local strain drives the rearrangement of one of the azuleno moieties into a fulvaleno moiety, which has never been reported so far. Our proposed thermally driven, strain-induced synthesis on surfaces will pave the way for the production of a new class of nanocarbon materials that conventional synthetic techniques cannot attain.

The S N Ar reaction of 2-chloroazulene derivative 1 with ethoxycarbonyl groups at the 1,3-positions of the azulene ring with several amines afforded the corresponding 2-aminoazulenes 3-9 in excellent yields. 2-Chloroazulene (2) without the electron-withdrawing groups reacted with highly nucleophilic cyclic amines (i.e., morpholine, piperidine and pyrrolidine) under the high-temperature conditions in a sealed tube to produce the corresponding 2-aminoazulenes 10-12 in good yields. 2-Aminoazulenes 10-14 without the electron-withdrawing groups were also obtained in good yields by the treatment of compounds 3-7 with 100% H 3 PO 4 , but in the cases of the reaction of 8 and 9 with a secondary amine function, the decomposition of the products resulted. The synthesis of 2-arylazoazulenes 15-18 was also established via the S N Ar reaction of 1 with arylhydrazines. The optical and electrochemical properties of the 2-arylazoazulene derivatives were examined by UV/Vis spectroscopy, theoretical calculations and voltammetric experiments.

Synthesis of 2-aminofuran derivatives with an azulene or N,N-dimethylanilino substituent was established by the formal [2+2] cycloaddition-retroelectrocyclization of 3-(1-azulenyl or N,N-dimethylanilino)-2-propyn-1-ols with tetracyanoethylene, followed by intramolecular nucleophilic addition to the initially formed tetracyanobutadiene moiety of the internal hydroxyl group that come from 2-propyn-1-ol. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions with short reaction period. The products of the reaction are readily available through a simple purification procedure. 2-Aminofuran derivatives obtained by this reaction could be converted into 6-aminofulvene derivatives upon reaction with various amines. The structures of 2-aminofuran and 6-aminopentafulvene with a N,N-dimethylanilino substituent were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray structural analysis., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivatives with 2-azulenyl substituents 5-11 were prepared by the palladium-catalyzed direct arylation reaction of 2-chloroazulenes with TTF in good yield. Photophysical properties of these compounds were investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Redox behavior of the novel azulene-substituted TTFs was examined by using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry, which revealed their multistep electrochemical oxidation and/or reduction properties. Moreover, these TTF derivatives showed significant spectral change in the visible region under the redox conditions.

A series of porphyrins fused with acenaphthylene, phenanthroline, and benzofluoranthene polycyclic aromatic rings were prepared by means of a 3+1 porphyrin synthesis approach and subsequent retro-Diels-Alder reaction of bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene-fused precursors. Analysis of the magnetic circular dichroism spectra and the results of time-dependent DFT calculations are used to identify the reasons for the trends observed in the wavelengths and relative intensities of the Q bands of the products. Michl's perimeter model is used as a conceptual framework to explain the changes in the relative energies of the frontier π-molecular orbitals., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

An acenaphthylene-fused cyclo[10]pyrrole 1b was selectively synthesized via an oxidative coupling reaction of the corresponding 2,2'-bipyrrole with the appropriate dianion template, croconate anion. The structure of 1b as the isolated largest cyclo[n]pyrrole was elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The absorption spectrum exhibited a markedly red-shifted, intensified L band at 1982 nm, which was interpreted by application of Michl's perimeter and Gouterman's 4-orbital models, supported by magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) data and theoretical calculations.

Preparation of 2- and 6-thienylazulene derivatives was established by the palladium-catalyzed direct cross-coupling reaction of 2- and 6-haloazulenes with the corresponding thiophene derivatives in good yield. Several thienylazulene derivatives were also used in the reaction with 2-chloroazulene derivatives in the presence of the palladium-catalyst to afford the thiophene derivatives with two azulene functions in good yield.

Aryl-substituted 1,1,4,4-tetracyano-1,3-butadienes (FcTCBDs) and bis(1,1,4,4-tetracyanobutadiene)s (bis-FcTCBDs), possessing a ferrocenyl group on each terminal, were prepared by the reaction of a variety of alkynes with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in a [2+2] cycloaddition reaction, followed by retro-electrocyclization of the initially formed [2+2] cycloadducts (i.e., cyclobutene derivatives). The characteristic intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) between the donor (ferrocene) and acceptor (TCBD) moieties were investigated by using UV/Vis spectroscopy. The redox behaviors of FcTCBDs and bis-FcTCBDs were examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), which revealed their properties of multi-electron transfer depending on the number of ferrocene and TCBD moieties. Moreover, significant color changes were observed by visible spectroscopy under the electrochemical reduction conditions., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

1,3-Bis(azulenylethynyl)azulene derivatives 9-14 have been prepared by palladium-catalyzed alkynylation of 1-ethynylazulene 8 with 1,3-diiodoazulene 1 or 1,3-diethynylazulene 2 with the corresponding haloazulenes 3-7 under Sonogashira-Hagihara conditions. Bis(alkynes) 9-14 reacted with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in a formal [2+2] cycloaddition-retroelectrocyclization reaction to afford the corresponding new bis(tetracyanobutadiene)s (bis(TCBDs)) 15-20 in excellent yields. The redox behavior of bis(TCBD)s 15-20 was examined by using CV and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), which revealed their reversible multistage reduction properties under the electrochemical conditions. Moreover, a significant color change of alkynes 9-14 and TCBDs 15-20 was observed by visible spectroscopy under the electrochemical reduction conditions., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene-fused (BCOD-fused) bis(benzoborondipyrromethene)s (bisbenzoBODIPYs) bearing electron-withdrawing groups such as fluorine and cyano groups were prepared either by incorporating tetrafluoroisoindole moieties into BODIPY chromophores or by introducing cyano or ethoxycarbonyl groups at the 3,5-positions. The BCOD-fused bisbenzoBODIPYs were quantitatively converted to the corresponding benzene-fused bisbenzoBODIPYs by a retro-Diels-Alder reaction. The π-fused bisbenzoBODIPYs were found to have intense absorption in the near-infrared region and not to have any strong absorption bands in the visible region. Moreover, the bisbenzoBODIPYs were stable under atmospheric conditions.

P-n junction solar cells based on anthradithiophene (ADT) as a p-type semiconductor were fabricated by using the photoprecursor method in which an α-diketone-type precursor was spin-coated and then transformed to ADT in situ by photoirradiation. Combination with PC71BM as an n-layer material led to 1.54% photoconversion efficiency.

Acetylene derivatives with an azulenyl group at both terminals have been prepared by palladium-catalyzed alkynylation under Sonogashira-Hagihara conditions. These alkynes reacted with tetracyanoethylene and 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane in a formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition-retroelectrocyclization reaction to afford the corresponding new tetracyanobutadienes (TCBDs) and dicyanoquinodimethanes (DCNQs), respectively, in excellent yields. Intramolecular CT absorption bands were found in the UV-vis spectra of the novel chromophores, and CV and DPV showed that they exhibited a reversible two-stage reduction wave, due to the electrochemical reduction of TCBD and DCNQ moieties. Color changes were also observed during the electrochemical reduction.

Boron complexes of [14]triphyrins(2.1.1) were prepared from free-base [14]triphyrins(2.1.1) with phenylboron dichloride. The absorption spectrum of the meso-free β-alkyl-triphyrin boron complex in CH2Cl2 showed a broad weak band at around 640 nm assigned to transition from B-phenyl to the triphyrin, while that of the meso-aryl benzotriphyrin boron complex showed only Soret and Q bands.

An acenaphthylene-fused cyclo[8]pyrrole was synthesized by using an oxidative coupling reaction of the corresponding 2,2'-bipyrrole. Two conformational isomers 1 a and 1 b were isolated, and their molecular structures were elucidated by X-ray crystallographic studies. The less-polar and lower-symmetry 1 b isomer can be converted into the 1 a isomer through a thermal ring flip. Application of the perimeter model developed by Michl to magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopic data and theoretical calculations demonstrate that there is a marked redshift of the near-IR absorption maxima relative to cyclo[8]isoindole because there is a significant stabilization of the LUMO due to the differing effects of a fused ring expansion with acenaphthylene and benzene moieties on the frontier π molecular orbitals., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

9,10-Phenanthrenequinone (9,10-PQ) is one of the most abundant quinones among diesel exhaust particulates. Recent data have suggested that quinones induce apoptosis in immune, epithelial and tumor cells, leading to respirator illness; however, the mechanisms by which quinones induce apoptosis and the structure required for this remain unknown. We studied the antitumor activity of 9,10-PQ analogs against two human tumor cell lines, HCT-116 colon tumor cells and HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. The loss of the cis-orthoquinone unit in 9,10-PQ abrogated its ability to induce apoptosis in the two tumor cell lines, and the LC50 values of these analogs were indicated over 10 μM. An analog of 9,10-PQ in which the biaryl unit had been deleted displayed a reduced ability to induce tumor cell apoptosis, while the analogs 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (9) and pyrene-4,5-dione (10), which also had modified biaryl units, exhibited increased tumor cell apoptotic activity. The cis-orthoquinone unit in 9,10-PQ was identified as essential for its ability to induce apoptosis in tumor cells, and its biaryl unit is also considered to influence orthoquinone-mediated apoptotic activity., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The non-luminous precursor, 2-(1-pyrenyl)-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dione, was photochemically converted to highly-fluorescent 2-(1-pyrenyl)anthracene quantitatively in solution and in the PMMA film and the fluorescence quantum yield of the acene in benzonitrile was as high as 0.99.

1-, 2-, and 6-(Ferrocenylethynyl)azulene derivatives 10-16 have been prepared by palladium-catalyzed alkynylation of ethynylferrocene with the corresponding haloazulenes under Sonogashira-Hagihara conditions. Compounds 10-16 reacted with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in a [2+2] cycloaddition-cycloreversion reaction to afford the corresponding 2-azulenyl-1,1,4,4,-tetracyano-3-ferrocenyl-1,3-butadiene chromophores 17-23 in excellent yields. The redox behavior of the novel azulene chromophores 17-23 was examined by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), which revealed their multistep electrochemical reduction properties. Moreover, a significant color change was observed by visible spectroscopy under electrochemical reduction conditions., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Metalation of 6,13,20,21-tetrakis(4-methylphenyl)-22H-tribenzo[14]triphyrin(2.1.1) with PtCl(2) gave a platinum(II) complex having a square-planar coordination structure with two pyrrolic nitrogen atoms and two chloride ions, with a saddle-shaped macrocycle. This platinum(II) complex was easily oxidized by air to an octahedral platinum(IV) complex coordinated by three pyrrolic nitrogen atoms as a tridentate monoanionic cyclic ligand and three chloride ions. When platinum(II) triphyrin was crystallized in air, an oxygen atom was incorporated between two α-carbon atoms of the pyrroles as an oxygen bridge to intercept the 14π aromatic system.

Hole mobility was evaluated by top-contact bottom gate field effect transistor and time resolved microwave conductivity measurements in 2,6-dithienylanthracene and hexyl-substituted 2,6-dithienylanthracene films prepared by spin-coating of their α-diketone precursors followed by photoirradiation, revealing enough high potentials for semiconducting films with charge carrier mobilities of 0.8-0.9 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) in the photo-irradiated films.

Azulene-substituted butadiynes have been prepared by Cu-mediated cross- and homo-coupling reactions. The azulene-substituted butadiynes reacted with tetracyanoethylene in a formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction to afford the corresponding 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobutadiene chromophores, in excellent yields. Further [2 + 2] cycloaddition with TTF and TCNE gave novel donor-acceptor chromophores and novel azulene-substituted 6,6-dicyanofulvene derivatives.

Bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene (BCOD) fused azuliporphyrins were synthesized by 3+1 porphyrin synthesis of azulitripyrranes with diformylpyrroles. Subsequent retro-Diels-Alder reaction of the BCOD-fused azuliporphyrins afforded azulibenzo-, azulidibenzo-, and azulitribenzoporphyrins 1-5. NMR and UV/Vis spectra, as well as nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) calculations revealed that 1-5 and their diprotonated dications exhibit relatively low porphyrinoid aromaticity, which was dependent on the position and number of fused benzene rings present., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Benzene-fused bis-(borondipyrromethene)s (bis-BODIPYs) were synthesized by retro-Diels-Alder reaction of the corresponding bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene-fused (BCOD-fused) bis-BODIPYs, which were, in turn, prepared from 4,8-ethano-4,8-dihydropyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole derivatives. The π-fused bis-BODIPY chromophores were designed to show intensive absorption and strong fluorescence in the near-infrared region and not to have any strong absorption in the visible region. A 6,10-dibora-5a,6a,9a,10a-tetraaza-s-indaceno[2,3-b:6,5-b']difluorene derivative (syn-bis-benzoBODIPY) obtained by a thermal retro-Diels-Alder reaction of the corresponding BCOD-fused BODIPY dimer has strong absorption and emission bands at 775 and 781 nm, respectively. The absolute quantum yield is 0.36. The absorption is more than 5.0 times stronger than other absorptions observed in the visible region. In the case of 6,15-dibora-5a,6a,14a,15a-tetraaza-s-indaceno[2,3-b:6,7-b']difluorene derivatives (anti-bis-benzoBODIPY), the absorption and emission maxima exceed 840 nm.

Arylethynyl-2H-cyclohepta[b]furan-2-ones reacted with 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) in a formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction, followed by ring opening of the initially formed cyclobutene derivatives, to afford the corresponding dicyanoquinodimethane (DCNQ) chromophores in excellent yields. The intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) interactions between the 2H-cyclohepta[b]furan-2-one ring and DCNQ acceptor moiety were investigated by UV/Vis spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. The redox behavior of the novel DCNQ derivatives was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), which revealed their multistep electrochemical reduction properties depended on the number of DCNQ units in the molecule. Moreover, a significant color change was observed by visible spectroscopy under electrochemical reduction conditions.

Novel bisimide-fused acenes were synthesized via bismuth triflate mediated double-cyclization reaction of acid chlorides and isocyanates. Their optical and electrical properties revealed significantly smaller HOMO-LUMO gaps compared with those of their parent acenes. Fabricated OFET based on tetracene bisimide showed n-type OFET outputs.