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bromobenzene (0.0732 g, 0.4664 mmol, 2.2 equiv), and 2 mL of N-
methylpyrrolidone (previously degassed). The product was isolated as
a colorless paraffin-like solid, 70 mg (72% yield): 1H NMR (300 MHz,
CDCl3) δ 7.47−7.38 (m, 8H) 7.32−7.26 (m, 2H), 4.01 (t, 4H, J = 5.0
Hz), 3.88 (t, 2H, J = 7.1 Hz), 2.17 (quint, 2H, J = 5.0 Hz), 1.22−0.66
(br, m, 23H); 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ 137.3, 131.6, 129.8,
128.4, 126.6, 120.7, 72.4, 45.6, 35.2, 32.1, 30.1, 29.8, 29.8, 29.6, 29.5,
29.4, 28.9, 26.2, 22.9, 14.3; HRMS (ESI-TOF, M + H+) m/z calcd for
C31H41NO2H 460.3210, found 460.3196.
Potassium 5,5′-(1,4-Phenylene)bis(N-dodecyl-3,4-(propy-
lene-1,3-dioxy)pyrrole-2-carboxylate) (18). To a 50 mL round-
bottom flask containing a stir bar were added diester5 3 (0.262 g,
0.3145 mmol), THF (6 mL), and ethanol (6 mL). After the solid
dissolved, 3.8 mL of 5 M KOH (19 mmol, 60 equiv) was added, and
the mixture was degassed by bubbling argon for 10 min. The flask was
equipped with a condenser, and the reaction mixture was heated to
55−60 °C with strong stirring under argon for 72 h. The reaction
mixture was filtered using glass wool (to remove traces of palladium
black), and then the organic solvents (THF and ethanol) and part of
the water were carefully removed in a rotary evaporator at 25 °C,
which produced precipitation of the potassium decarboxylate salt. The
resulting solid was filtered, washed with slightly basic cold water, air-
dried for 5 min, and washed with hexanes. The pale yellow solid
(hydrated) was then put under vacuum (0.1 mmHg) at 115 °C for 72
h. The final product was received as a white solid, 0.247 g, 92% yield:
Route B: Diethyl 5,5′-(Benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole-4,7-diyl)-
bis(thiophene-5,2-diyl)bis(N-dodecyl-3,4-(propylene-1,3-
dioxy)pyrrole-2-carboxylate) (13). To a dry 25 mL round-bottom
flask containing a stir bar and under argon atmosphere were added
compound 65 (0.060 g, 0.1417 mmol, 2.2 equiv) and finely ground
anhydrous potassium bicarbonate (0.0142 g, 0.1417 mmol, 2.2 equiv).
The flask was equipped with an air-cooled condenser; an inlet vacuum
adapter was connected to the top of the condenser, and the system
was purged with vacuum-argon four times, then NMP (5.5 mL,
previously degassed) was added via syringe. The mixture was warmed
to 50 °C and stirred for 1 h (vacuum was slightly applied several times
to remove CO2 and help the neutralization process), then 4,7-bis(5-
bromothiophen-2-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (29.5 mg, 0.0644
mmol, 1 equiv), tri(o-tolyl)phosphine (1.2 mg, 0.0039 mmol, 6 mol
%), and palladium(II) acetylacetonate (0.6 mg, 0.0019 mmol, 3 mol
%) were added. The system was then equipped with a septum and a
bubbler (containing silicon oil); the reaction mixture was warmed to
90 °C and stirred for 24 h. The solvent was removed in a rotary
evaporator at 80 °C, then the crude was dissolved in 3:1 hexanes/ethyl
acetate and filtered through a short path (∼1 cm) of neutral alumina
(activity 3); the alumina was flushed with the hexanes/AcOEt mixture
to recover the entire product. The solvent was removed in a rotary
evaporator, and the resulting crude oil was dissolved in hexanes,
washed with deionized water (3×) and brine (1×), and dried over
Na2SO4. The mixture was filtered, and the solvent was removed in a
rotary evaporator; the resulting sticky solid was put under vacuum
overnight, then 2 mL of ethanol was added and the mixture was
slightly warmed; then diethyl ether was added until the solid dissolved.
Slow evaporation of the diethyl ether produced a purple powdery
solid, which was filtered, washed with ethanol, and air-dried for 2 min,
then put under vacuum to remove the solvent traces, 60.8 mg (89%
1H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d ) δ 7.24 (s, 4H), 4.23 (t, 4H, J = 6.9
6
Hz), 3.82 (dd, 8H, J = 5.9 Hz, J = 9.5 Hz), 2.04−1.90 (m, 4H), 1.32−
0.90 (br, m, 40H), 0.84 (t, 6H, J = 6.5 Hz); FTIR (KBr, pellet) νmax
̅
(cm−1) 3395.5 (br, w), 2924.7 (s), 2853.5 (s), 1566.0 (s), 1447.9 (s),
1417.5 (s), 1356.9 (s), 1081 (s), 1138.1 (w), 806.3 (m).
Potassium 5,5′-(3,4-(Ethylene-1,2-dioxy)thiophene-2,5-diyl)-
bis(N-dodecyl-3,4-(propylene-1,3-dioxy)pyrrole-2-carboxy-
late) (19). The reaction was performed using a similar procedure as
for 18, using 2.521 g of the EDOT derivative5 (2.810 mmol), 54 mL of
THF, 54 mL of EtOH, and 34 mL of 5 M KOH. The workup was
slightly modified as follows: After removal of the volatiles, the resulting
gum-like solid was filtered, washed with slightly basic cold water, and
air-dried for 10 min. The pale yellow solid was subjected to vacuum
overnight at room temperature, yielding an amber solid which was
ground in a mortar, producing a fine yellow powder, 2.548 g, 99%
1
yield: H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 4.25−4.10 (m, 8H), 3.90−
3.78 (m, 8H), 2.03−1.90 (m, 4H), 1.44−0.09 (m, 40H), 0.84 (t, 6H, J
= 6.5 Hz); 13C NMR (75 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 163.7, 138.3, 137.2,
137.2, 136.7, 120.2, 105.9, 105.9, 71.3, 71.0, 64.0, 34.6, 31.4, 31.4, 31.2,
29.1, 29.0, 29.0, 28.9, 28.6, 26.4, 22.0, 13.8; FTIR (KBr, pellet) νmax
̅
(cm−1) 3392.1 (m), 2924.2 (s), 2853.7 (s), 1580.8 (s), 1510.7 (m),
1462.0 (s), 1420.6, 1420.6 (s), 1358.6 (s), 1080.6, 954.9 (w), 806.9
(w).
Route C: 5,5′-(1,4-Phenylene)bis(N-dodecyl-2-(pyridin-4-yl)-
3,4-(propylene-1,3-dioxy)pyrrole) (15). To a dry 50 mL round-
bottom flask containing a stir bar and under argon atmosphere were
added compound 18 (0.233 g, 0.2725 mmol, 1 equiv), 4-
bromopyridine hydrochloride (0.1113 g, 0.5723 mmol, 2.1 equiv),
anhydrous K2CO3 (0.083 g, 0.600 mmol, 2.2 equiv), n-Bu4NBr (0.220
g, 0.6814 mmol, 2.5 equiv), tri(o-tolyl)phosphine (7 mg, 0.0229 mmol,
4 mol %), and palladium(II) acetylacetonate (3.5 mg, 0.0114 mmol, 2
mol %). The flask was equipped with an air-cooled condenser; then an
inlet vacuum adapter was connected to the top of the condenser, and
the system was purged with vacuum-argon four times; then N-
methylpyrrolidone (6 mL, previously degassed) was added via syringe.
The system was then equipped with a silicone-oil bubbler, and the
reaction mixture was warmed to 70−75 °C and stirred for 60 h. The
reaction mixture was concentrated to ∼1 mL by rotary evaporation at
80 °C, and then it was cooled to room temperature, partitioned
between diethyl ether and water, and then washed with water (5×)
and brine (1×), and dried over Na2SO4. The resulting crude was
purified by chromatographic column on basic alumina, using a gradient
1:0 to 0:1 Et2O/EtOAc as eluent, yielding 0.147 g of a yellow solid,
1
yield): H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.17 (d, 2H, J = 3.9 Hz), 7.89
(s, 2H), 7.24 (d, 2H, J = 3.9 Hz), 4.35 (q, 8H, J = 7.1 Hz), 4.20 (t, 4H,
J = 4.9 Hz), 4.09 (t, 4H, J = 5.1 Hz), 2.27−2.22 (m, 4H), 1.75−1.60
(m, 4H), 1.38 (t, 6H, J = 7.1 Hz), 1.15−1.10 (m, 34H), 0.84 (t, 6H, J
= 6.8 Hz); 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ 161.3, 152.8, 144.0, 140.5,
136.5, 131.8, 129.3, 127.9, 125.9, 125.7, 119.9, 109.3, 72.2, 72.1, 60.1,
46.5, 34.2, 32.1, 32.0, 29.9, 29.8, 29.8, 29.8, 29.6, 29.4, 26.8, 22.9, 14.8,
14.3; HRMS (DART-TOF, M + H+) m/z calcd for C58H78N4O8S3H
1055.5055, found 1055.5089.
Diethyl 5,5′-(Benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole-4,7-diyl)bis(N-do-
decyl-3,4-(propylene-1,3-dioxy)pyrrole-2-carboxylate) (14).
Using compound 65 (0.1700 g, 0.4014 mmol, 2.1 equiv), finely
ground anhydrous potassium bicarbonate (0.0398 g, 0.3976 mmol,
2.08 equiv), NMP (9 mL, previously degassed), 4,7-dibromobenzo-
[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (56.2 mg, 0.1911 mmol, 1 equiv), tri(o-
tolyl)phosphine (4.6 mg, 0.0153 mmol, 8 mol %), and palladium(II)
acetylacetonate (2.3 mg, 0.0077 mmol, 4 mol %), the reaction was run
for 72 h, using the same procedure as for 13, although the workup was
modified as follows: The solvent was concentrated by rotary
evaporation at 80 °C to ∼1 mL, then the mixture was dissolved in
diethyl ether, washed with water (5×) and brine (1×), and dried over
Na2SO4, then purified by chromatographic column on silica using 1:1
diethyl ether/hexanes as eluent. The product was isolated as an orange
solid (paraffin like), 0.160 g (94% yield): 1H NMR (300 MHz,
CDCl3) δ 7.63 (s, 2H), 4.50−3.80 (m, br, 16H), 2.30−2.10 (m, 4H),
1.50−1.28 (m, 10H), 1.28−0.88 (m, 36H), 0.84 (t, 6H, J = 7.1 Hz);
13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ 161.3, 154.2, 144.3, 136.8, 131.5, 123.5,
1
64% yield: H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.60 (d, 4H, J = 5.5 Hz),
7.49 (s, 4H) 7.37 (d, 4H J = 5.5 Hz), 4.03 (dd, 8H, J = 5.0 Hz, J = 9.7
Hz), 3.78 (t, 4H, J = 7.0 Hz), 2.28−2.13 (m, 4H), 1.24−0.72 (br, m,
46H); 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3) δ 149.8, 139.6, 139.1, 137.7,
129.6, 129.4, 122.96−123.17 (br), 123.0, 118.5, 72.3, 46.4, 34.8, 30.1,
29,81−29.75 (br), 29.6, 29.50, 29.46, 29.0, 26.2, 22.9, 14.3; HRMS
(MALDI, M + H+) m/z calcd for C54H74N4O4H 843.5783, found
843.5765.
122.6, 109.5, 72.0, 72.0, 60.0, 46.9, 34.3, 32.0, 31.8, 29.8, 29.7, 29.6,
29.6, 29.5, 29.2, 26.6, 22.8, 14.7, 14.2; HRMS (DART, M + H+) m/z
calcd for C50H74N4O8SH 891.5300, found 891.5295.
5,5′-(3,4-(Ethylene-1,2-dioxy)thiophene-2,5-diyl)bis(N-do-
decyl-2-(pyridin-4-yl)-3,4-(propylene-1,3-dioxy)pyrrole) (16).
The reaction was performed using the same procedure as for 15,
8627
dx.doi.org/10.1021/jo201770j|J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 8621−8628