Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Pyrrolidine‐Fused Spirooxindoles via Organocatalytic [3+2] 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides with Maleimides

In the presence of a Cinchona alkaloid‐based squaramide organocatalyst, the [3+2] cycloaddition of isatin‐derived azomethine ylides with maleimides proceeded readily, thus delivering the desired pyrrolidine‐fused spirooxindoles in 61–89% yields with >20:1 dr and 12 to >99 % ee. The absolute configuration of 5‐chloro‐1,5′‐dimethyl‐3′‐phenyl‐3′,3a′‐dihydro‐2′H‐spiro[indoline‐3,1′‐pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole]‐2,4′,6′(5′H,6a′H)‐trione was unambiguously determined by means of X‐ray single crystal structure analysis. The reaction mechanism was hypothesized to account for the enantioselective formation of 5‐chloro‐1,5′‐dimethyl‐3′‐phenyl‐3′,3a′‐dihydro‐2′H‐spiro[indoline‐3,1′‐pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole]‐2,4′,6′(5′H,6a′H)‐trione.

     

Synthesis,Thermal Stability and Impact Stability of Novel Tetranitro‐Dipyridotetraazapentalene Derivatives

The synthetic details for the construction of three new dipyridotetraazapentalene derivatives, 5H‐pyrido[3″,4″:4′,5′] [1,2,3]triazolo‐ [1′,2′:1,2][1,2,3]triazolo[5,4‐b]pyridin‐6‐ium inner salt ( 8 ), 5H‐pyrido[3″,2″:4′,5′] [1,2,3]triazolo[1′,2′:1,2] [1,2,3]triazolo[5,4‐b]‐pyridin‐6‐ium inner salt ( 15 ) and 5H‐pyrido[2″,3″:4′,5′] [1,2,3]‐triazolo[1′,2′:1,2][1,2,3]triazolo[4,5‐b]pyridin‐6‐ium inner salt ( 16 ) are presented. Nitration of ( 8 ) and ( 15 ) afforded the novel tetranitrodipyridotetraazapentalene derivatives, 2,4,8,10‐tetranitro‐5H‐pyrido[3″,4″:4′,5′][1,2,3]triazolo[1′,2′:1,2][1,2,3]‐triazolo[5,4‐b]‐pyridin‐6‐ium inner salt ( 3 ) and 2,4,8,10‐tetranitro‐5H‐pyrido[3″,2″:4′,5′][1,2,3]triazolo[1′,2′:1,2][1,2,3]‐triazolo[5,4‐b]‐pyridin‐6‐ium inner salt ( 4 ) in good yields. Both isomers, ( 3 ) and ( 4 ), exhibited high thermal stability (differential scanning calorimetric analysis and thermal gravimetric analysis) and were insensitive to impact (hammer/anvil test).     

Synthesis and characterization of novel wholly para‐oriented aromatic polyamide‐hydrazides containing sulfone‐ether linkages

Four novel wholly para‐oriented aromatic polyamide‐hydrazides containing flexibilizing sulfone‐ether linkages in their main chains have been synthesized from 4‐amino‐3‐hydroxy benzhydrazide (4A3HBH) with either 4,4′‐sulfonyldibenzoyl chloride (SDBC), 4,4′‐[sulfonylbis(1,4‐phenylene)dioxy]dibenzoyl chloride (SODBC), 4,4′‐[sulfonylbis(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene)dioxy]dibenzoyl chloride (4MeSODBC), or 4,4′‐(1,4‐phenylenedioxy)dibenzoyl chloride (ODBC) via a low‐temperature solution polycondensation reaction. A polyamide‐hydrazide without the flexibilizing linkages is also investigated for comparison. It was synthesized from 4A3HBH and terephthaloyl chloride (TCl) by the same synthetic route. The intrinsic viscosities of the polymer ranged from 2.85 to 4.83 dL g^?1 in N,N‐dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) at 30°C and decreased with introducing the flexibilizing linkages into the polymer. All the polymers were soluble in DMAc, N,N‐dimethyl formamide (DMF), and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP), and their solutions could be cast into films with good mechanical strengths. Further, they exhibited a great affinity to water sorption. Their solubility and hydrophilicity increased remarkably by introducing the flexibilizing linkages. The polymers could be thermally cyclodehydrated into the corresponding poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazolyl‐benzoxazoles) approximately in the region of 295–470°C either in nitrogen or in air atmospheres. The flexibilizing linkages improve the solubility of the resulting poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazolyl‐benzoxazoles) when compared with poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazolyl‐benzoxazoles) free from these linkages. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Palladium(II) Complexes of C2‐Bridged Chiral Diphosphines: Application to Enantioselective Carbonyl‐Ene Reactions

(11bR,11′bR)‐4,4′‐(1,2‐Phenylene)bis[4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐dinaphtho[2,1‐c:1′,2′‐e]phosphepin] [abbreviated as (R)‐BINAPHANE], (3R,3′R,4S,4′S,11bS,11′bS)‐4,4′‐bis(1,1‐dimethylethyl)‐4,4′,5,5′‐tetrahydro‐3,3′‐bi‐3H‐dinaphtho[2,1‐c:1′,2′‐e]phosphepin [(S)‐BINAPINE], (1S,1′S,2R,2′R)‐1,1′‐bis(1,1‐dimethylethyl)‐2,2′‐biphospholane [(S,S,R,R)‐TANGPHOS] and (2R,2′R,5R,5′R)‐1,1′‐(1,2‐phenylene)bis[2,5‐bis(1‐methylethyl)phospholane] [(R,R)‐i‐Pr‐DUPHOS] are C₂‐bridged chiral diphosphines that form stable complexes with palladium(II) and platinum(II) containing a five‐membered chelate ring. The Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE catalyst displayed good to excellent enantioselectivities with ee values as high as 99.0% albeit in low yields for the carbonyl‐ene reaction between phenylglyoxal and alkenes. Its Pt(II) counterpart afforded improved yields while retaining satisfactory enantioselectivity. For the carbonyl‐ene reaction between ethyl trifluoropyruvate and alkenes, the Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE catalyst afforded both good yields and extremely high enantioselectivities with ees as high as 99.6%. A comparative study on the Pd(II) catalysts of the four C₂‐bridged chiral diphosphines revealed that Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE afforded the best enantioselectivity. The ee values derived from Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE are much higher than those derived from the other three Pd(II) catalysts. A comparison of the catalyst structures shows that the Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE catalyst is the only one that has two bulky (R)‐binaphthyl groups close to the reaction site. Hence it creates a deep chiral space that can efficiently control the reaction behavior in the carbonyl‐ene reactions resulting in excellent enantioselectivity.     

2‐Amino[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐c]quinazolines and Derived Novel Heterocycles: Syntheses and Structure–Activity Relationships of Potent Adenosine Receptor Antagonists

2‐Amino[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐c]quinazolines were identified as potent adenosine receptor (AR) antagonists. Synthetic strategies were devised to gain access to a broad range of derivatives including novel polyheterocyclic compounds. Potent and selective A₃AR antagonists were discovered, including 3,5‐diphenyl[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐c]quinazoline ( 17 , K_i human A₃AR 1.16 nm ) and 5′‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydro‐3′H‐spiro[indole‐3,2′‐[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐c]quinazolin]‐2‐one ( 20 , K_i human A₃AR 6.94 nm ). In addition, multitarget antagonists were obtained, such as the dual A₁/A₃ antagonist 2,5‐diphenyl[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐c]quinazoline ( 13 b , K_i human A₁AR 51.6 nm , human A₃AR 11.1 nm ), and the balanced pan‐AR antagonists 5‐(2‐thienyl)[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐c]quinazolin‐2‐amine ( 11 c , K_i human A₁AR 131 nm , A_2AAR 32.7 nm , A_2BAR 150 nm , A₃AR 47.5 nm ) and 9‐bromo‐5‐phenyl[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐c]quinazolin‐2‐amine ( 11 q , K_i human A₁AR 67.7 nm , A_2AAR 13.6 nm , A_2BAR 75.0 nm , A₃AR 703 nm ). In many cases, significantly different affinities for human and rat receptors were observed, which emphasizes the need for caution in extrapolating conclusions between different species.     

Facile Palladium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of 3‐Arylpyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines

An efficient palladium‐catalyzed synthesis of 3‐arylpyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines has been investigated. The key step in the synthesis is a Suzuki biaryl coupling of 3‐bromo‐2,5‐dimethyl‐7‐aminopyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines with arylboronic acids to provide 3‐arylpyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines in moderate to good yield. The synthetic utility of this methodology has been demonstrated by a concise and convergent synthesis of R121920, a potent CRHR₁ antagonist recently undergoing clinical evaluations.     

Novel Scorpionate and Pyrazole Dioxovanadium Complexes,Catalysts for Carboxylation and Peroxidative Oxidation of Alkanes

The dioxovanadium(V) complexes [VO₂(3,5‐Me₂Hpz)₃][BF₄] ( 1 ) (pz=pyrazolyl), [VO₂{SO₃C(pz)₃}] ( 2 ), [VO₂{HB(3,5‐Me₂pz)₃}] ( 3 ) and [VO₂{HC(pz)₃}][BF₄] ( 4 ), bearing pyrazole or scorpionate ligands, were obtained by reaction of triethyl vanadate [VO(OEt)₃] with hydrotris(3,5‐dimethyl‐1‐pyrazolyl)methane [HC(3,5‐Me₂pz)₃] or 3,5‐dimethylpyrazole (3,5‐Me₂Hpz; 1 ), lithium tris(1‐pyrazolyl)methanesulfonate {Li[SO₃C(pz)₃], 2 }, potassium hydrotris(3,5‐dimethyl‐1‐pyrazolyl)borate {K[HB(3,5‐Me₂pz)₃], 3 } and hydrotris(1‐pyrazolyl)methane [HC(pz)₃, 4 ], respectively. Treatment of [VO(OEt)₃] with potassium hydrotris(1‐pyrazolyl)borate {K[HB(pz)₃]} led to the mixed η³‐tris(pyrazolyl)borate and η²‐bis(pyrazolyl)borate oxovanadium(IV) complex [VO{HB(pz)₃}{H₂B(pz)₂}, 5 ]. The compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, NMR and EPR spectroscopy, FAB and ESI mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry and, for 5 , also by single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. All complexes exhibit catalytic activity in the single‐pot carboxylation [in trifluoroacetic acid/potassium peroxodisulfate (CF₃COOH/K₂S₂O₈)] of gaseous alkanes (methane and ethane) to carboxylic acids (yields up to 40%, TONs up to 157) and in the peroxidative oxidation [in water/acetonitrile (H₂O/NCMe)] of liquid alkanes (cyclohexane and cyclopentane) to the corresponding alcohols and ketones (yields up to 24%, TONs up to 117), under mild conditions.     

Synthesis and spectroelectrochemistry of dithieno(3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d)pyrrole derivatives

New π‐conjugated polymers containing dithieno(3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d)pyrrole (DTP) were successfully synthesized via electropolymerization. The effect of structural differences on the electrochemical and optoelectronic properties of the 4‐[4H‐dithieno(3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d)pyrrol‐4‐yl]aniline (DTP–aryl–NH₂), 10‐[4H‐dithiyeno(3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d)pirol‐4‐il]dekan‐1‐amine (DTP–alkyl–NH₂), and 1,10‐bis[4H‐dithieno(3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d)pyrrol‐4‐yl] decane (DTP–alkyl–DTP) were investigated. The corresponding polymers were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, NMR (¹H‐NMR and ¹³C‐NMR), and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Changes in the electronic nature of the functional groups led to variations in the electrochemical properties of the π‐conjugated systems. The electroactive polymer films revealed redox couples and exhibited electrochromic behavior. The replacement of the DTP–alkyl–DTP unit with DTP–aryl–NH₂ and DTP–alkyl–NH₂ resulted in a lower oxidation potential. Both the poly(10‐(4H‐Dithiyeno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]pirol‐4‐il)dekan‐1‐amin) (poly(DTP–alkyl–NH₂)) and poly(1,10‐bis(4H‐dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]pyrrol‐4‐yl) decane) (poly(DTP–alkyl–DTP)) films showed multicolor electrochromism and also fast switching times (<1 s) in the visible and near infrared regions. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40701.     

8‐Benzyltetrahydropyrazino[2,1‐f]purinediones: Water‐Soluble Tricyclic Xanthine Derivatives as Multitarget Drugs for Neurodegenerative Diseases

8‐Benzyl‐substituted tetrahydropyrazino[2,1‐f]purinediones were designed as tricyclic xanthine derivatives containing a basic nitrogen atom in the tetrahydropyrazine ring to improve water solubility. A library of 69 derivatives was prepared and evaluated in radioligand binding studies at adenosine receptor (AR) subtypes and for their ability to inhibit monoamine oxidases (MAO). Potent dual‐target‐directed A₁/A_2A adenosine receptor antagonists were identified. Several compounds showed triple‐target inhibition; one of the best compounds was 8‐(2,4‐dichloro‐5‐fluorobenzyl)‐1,3‐dimethyl‐6,7,8,9‐tetrahydropyrazino[2,1‐f]purine‐2,4(1H,3H)‐dione ( 72 ) (human AR: K_i A₁ 217 nM , A_2A 233 nM ; IC₅₀ MAO‐B: 508 nM ). Dichlorinated compound 36 [8‐(3,4‐dichlorobenzyl)‐1,3‐dimethyl‐6,7,8,9‐tetrahydropyrazino[2,1‐f]purine‐2,4(1H,3H)‐dione] was found to be the best triple‐target drug in rat (K_i A₁ 351 nM , A_2A 322 nm; IC₅₀ MAO‐B: 260 nM ), and may serve as a useful tool for preclinical proof‐of‐principle studies. Compounds that act at multiple targets relevant for symptomatic as well as disease‐modifying treatment of neurodegenerative diseases are expected to show advantages over single‐target therapeutics.     

A General Method for the Enantioselective Hydrogenation of β‐Keto Esters using Monodentate Binaphthophosphepine Ligands

17 monodentate phosphepine ligands with a 4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐dinaphtho[2,1‐c;1′,2′‐e]phosphepine structural motif have been synthesized and tested in the asymmetric hydrogenation of various β‐keto esters. By variation of the substituents of the aryl group on the phosphorus atom a fine tuning of the selectivity of the catalytic system is possible. Quantitative yield and enantioselectivities up to 95% ee have been achieved for the hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate ( 7a ), methyl 3‐oxovalerate ( 7b ) and ethyl 4‐phenyl‐3‐oxo‐propionate ( 7d ) using 4‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐dinaphtho‐[2,1‐c;1′,2′‐e]phosphepine ( 4g ) as ligand. Best enantioselectivities were obtained at comparably high temperatures (100–120 °C), which had the advantage of increased reaction rates.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of the Roche Ester and its Derivatives by Rhodium‐INDOLPHOS‐Catalyzed Hydrogenation

(S)‐3‐Hydroxy‐2‐methylpropionate, known as the Roche ester, and several of its derivatives were successfully synthesized through asymmetric rhodium‐catalyzed hydrogenation, using INDOLPHOS (diisopropyl{1‐[(S)‐3,5‐dioxa‐4‐phosphacyclohepta[2,1‐a;3,4‐a′]dinaphthalen‐4‐yl]‐3‐methyl‐2‐indolyl}phosphine) as the chiral ligand, in excellent yield and the highest ee reported up to now (TOF over 5500 h⁻¹ at 25 °C; up to 98% ee at −40 °C).     

N,N‐Dimethylacetamide (DMA) as a Methylene Synthon for Regioselective Linkage of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine

A copper(II)‐catalyzed oxidative methylene‐bridged dimerization of two analogous imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines has been achieved using N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMA) as solvent cum methylene source. This reaction works with a variety of substituted imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines giving their products in moderate to good yields. Isotopic labelling experiments revealed that the methylene group in the product originates from the N,N‐dimethyl moiety of DMA.

     

Synthesis of 2,3‐Diarylbenzo[b]thiophenes via Nickel‐Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura Cross‐Coupling and Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative Arylation

We report a new approach to 2,3‐diarylbenzo[b]thiophenes based on the nickel‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling/palladium‐catalyzed decarboxylative arylation sequence of 3‐chloro‐2‐methoxycarbonylbenzo[b]thiophenes, which are readily accessible from the corresponding cinnamic acids. In addition, this methodology can be applied to the concise synthesis of π‐extended 2,3,6,7‐tetraarylbenzo[1,2‐b;4,5‐b′]dithiophenes. Their optical properties are also described.     

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Cascade for Synthesis of Pyrrolo[1,2‐a:2′,1′‐c]‐/Pyrido[2,1‐c]pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxalinones

An efficient and convenient method was developed for the one‐pot construction of the complex polycyclic heterocycles pyrrolo[1,2‐a:2′,1′‐c]‐/pyrido[2,1‐c]pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxalinones from two simple starting materials via a gold(I)‐catalyzed domino reaction. This strategy presents an atom economical and environmentally friendly transformation, in which two new C N bonds and one new C C bond are formed in a one‐pot reaction process.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct Arylations of 1,2‐Azolo[1,5‐a]pyridines using Copper(I) Chloride as a Lewis Acid Activator and the Synthesis of 2,6‐Disubstituted Pyridines

A direct method for the arylation of 1,2‐azolo[1,5‐a]pyridines has been developed. In the process, the fused pyridines react with aryl halides in the presence of the palladium complex Pd(OAc)₂(Phen) as a catalyst and copper(I) chloride (CuCl) as a Lewis acid to form arylated derivatives. While pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyridines and [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyridines are arylated at ortho‐positions of their pyridine rings using this method, in situ ring‐opening of the formed C‐7 arylated [1,5‐a]pyridine takes place to generate the 2,6‐disubstituted pyridine. Also, upon treatment with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA), C‐7 arylated pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyridine‐3‐carboxylates react to produce diversely substituted 2,6‐disubstituted pyridines. Finally, a sequential C‐3 arylation was accomplished through a two‐step sequence involving hydrolysis of pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyridine‐3‐carboxylates followed by the bimetallic Pd/Cu‐catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reaction with aryl bromide.

     

Synthesis and colour spectroscopic investigation of some hemicyanine dyes

New hemicyanine dyes with a benzo[2,3‐b;2′,3′‐b′]bis‐furo[3,2‐d]pyrazolium nucleus were prepared. Spectroscopic investigations were carried out in 95% ethanol for all the synthesised cyanine dyes and/or in pure solvents which have different polarities for some selected dyes. Structural identification was carried out via elemental analysis, infra‐red and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data.     

Stereoselective Synthesis and Binding Properties of Novel Concave‐Shaped Indolizino[3,4‐b]quinolines

Novel all‐cis‐configurated indolizino[3,4‐b]quinoline receptors 3, 4 were prepared via diastereoselective Lewis acid‐catalyzed cyclization of N‐arylimines 6, 7 as the key step. In order to obtain the indolizino[3,4‐b]quinoline derivative 21 without a gem‐dimethyl group at C‐7, an N‐arylimine precursor 18 bearing a vinyldisilane terminus was prepared in 8 steps from L‐prolinol 15 . In contrast to the known β‐effect of silyl groups cyclization of 18 proceeded via an α‐carbenium ion species to give the diastereomeric products 19, 20, which were desilylated to 21, 22 . The association constants for receptors 2 — 4 and 21 decreased in the order 21 > 2 > 4 > 3 for both acetic acid and N‐Z‐phenylalanine as substrates.     

A New Class of 3′‐Sulfonyl BINAPHOS Ligands: Modulation of Activity and Selectivity in Asymmetric Palladium‐Catalysed Hydrophosphorylation of Styrene

Palladium‐catalysed monophosphorylation of (R)‐2,2′‐bisperfluoroalkanesulfonates of BINOL (R^F=CF₃ or C₄F₉) by a diaryl phosphinate [Ar₂P(O)H] followed by phosphine oxide reduction (Cl₃SiH) then lithium diisopropylamide‐mediated anionic thia‐Fries rearrangement furnishes enantiomerically‐pure (R)‐2′‐diarylphosphino‐2′‐hydroxy‐3′‐perfluoralkanesulfonyl‐1,1′‐binaphthalenes [(R)‐ 8ab and (R)‐ 8g–j ], which can be further diversified by Grignard reagent (RMgX)‐mediated CF₃‐displacement [→(R)‐ 8c–f ]. Coupling of (R)‐ 8a–j with (S)‐1,1′‐binaphthalene‐2,2′‐dioxychlorophosphine (S)‐ 9 generates 3′‐sulfonyl BINAPHOS ligands (R,S)‐ 10a–j in good yields (43–82%). These new ligands are of utlility in the asymmetric hydrophosphonylation of styrene ( 1 ) by 4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaphospholane 2‐oxide ( 2 ), for which a combination of the chiral ligands with either [Pd(Cp)(allyl)] or [Pd(allyl)(MeCN)₂]⁺/NaCH(CO₂Me)₂ proves to be a convenient and active pre‐catalyst system. A combination of an electron‐rich phosphine moiety and an electron‐deficient 3′‐sulfone moiety provides the best enantioselectivity to date for this process, affording the branched 2‐phenethenephosphonate, (−)‐iso‐ 3 , in up to 74% ee with ligand (R,S)‐ 10i , where Ar=p‐anisyl and the 3′‐SO₂R group is triflone.     

Preparation and properties of thermally stable copolyimides based on novel second‐order nonlinear–optical chromophore containing diamines

Thermally stable copolyimides were prepared from two novel second‐order nonlinear optical chromophores containing diamines, 4‐nitro‐4′‐[N‐(4,6‐di‐β‐aminoethylamino)‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐yl]aminoazobenzene (M1) and 4‐nitro‐4′‐[N‐(4,6‐di‐4‐aminophenylamino)‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐yl]aminoazobenzene (M2); two codiamines, 4,4′‐diamino‐3,3′‐dimethyl diphenylmethane (MMDA) and bis‐(3‐aminopropyl)‐1,1′,3,3′‐tetramethyldisiloxane (SiDA); and 3,3′,4,4′‐diphenyl ether tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (OPDA). All copolyimides possess high glass transition temperatures (T_g's) between 237 and 271°C. Copolyimides based on M2 do not exhibit an obvious change in T_g as the M2 content is increased, while those based on M1 show a slight decrease in T_g as the M1 content is increased. All copolyimides exhibit high thermal decomposition temperatures. The copolyimides are soluble in aprotic solvents such as NMP, DMAc, DMF, DMSO, and 1,4‐butyrolactone. Some are even soluble in common low boiling point solvents such as THF and chloroform. The refractive index of a copolyimide is increased as the chromophore content is increased, while the birefringence of a copolyimide does not exhibit strong dependence on the chromophore content. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 1619–1626, 2000     

Gold‐Catalysis: Highly Efficient and Regio‐Selective Carbonyl Migration in Alkynyl‐Substituted Indole‐3‐Carboxamides Leading to Azepino[3,4‐b]indol‐1‐ones

An unprecedented rearrangement/anellation sequence allows the clean synthesis of azepino[3,4‐b]indol‐1‐ones from readily available starting materials. Alkyne‐substituted indole‐3‐carboxamides were prepared and converted to azepino[3,4‐b]indol‐1‐ones by the SPhosAuNTf₂ catalyst (SPhos=2‐dicyclohexylphosphino‐2′,6′‐dimethoxybiphenyl). The new connectivity, which involves an unprecedented 3,2‐shift of an acylamino group for the product formation, was proven by a crystal structure analysis.