Highly regioselective syntheses of substituted triphenylenes from 1,2,4-trisubstituted arenes via a Co-catalyzed intermolecular alkyne cyclotrimerization

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo400570b

Herein, we report the development of a new method for the syntheses of substituted triphenylenes from the corresponding 1,2,4-trisubstituted arenes, which were themselves generated in a highly regioselective manner according to an intermolecular alkyne cyclotrimerization reaction that was catalyzed by a novel Co-TMTU complex. This highly regioselective reaction for the formation of 1,2,4-trisubstituted arenes will be a valuable addition to the plethora of tools already available to synthetic chemists and encourage further mechanistic studies of this important alkyne trimerization process.

Full text of DOI:10.1021/jo400570b

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Note
Highly Regioselective Syntheses of Substituted
Triphenylenes from 1,2,4-trisubstituted Arenes via a Co-
Catalyzed Intermolecular Alkyne Cyclotrimerization
Lingmin Xu, Ruocheng Yu, Yuefan Wang, Jiahua Chen, and Zhen Yang
J. Org. Chem., Just Accepted Manuscript • DOI: 10.1021/jo400570b • Publication Date (Web): 01 May 2013
Downloaded from http://pubs.acs.org on May 2, 2013
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Highly Regioselective Syntheses of Substituted
Triphenylenes from 1,2,4-trisubstituted Arenes via a
Co-Catalyzed Intermolecular Alkyne Cyclotrimerization
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Lingmin Xu,† Ruocheng Yu,† Yuefan Wang,† Jiahua Chen,*,† Zhen Yang*,†,‡
† Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, and Beijing National
Laboratory for Molecular Science (BNLMS), Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Chemistry, Peking
University, Beijing, 100871
‡ Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate
School, Shenzhen, China, 518055
jhchen@pku.edu.cn, zyang@pku.edu.cn
RECEIVED DATE
Herein, we report the development of a new method for the syntheses of substituted triphenylenes from
the corresponding 1,2,4-trisubstituted arenes, which were themselves generated in a highly
regioselective manner according to an intermolecular alkyne cyclotrimerization reaction that was
catalyzed by a novel Co-TMTU complex. This highly regioselective reaction for the formation of
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1,2,4-trisubstituted arenes will be a valuable addition to the plethora of tools already available to
synthetic chemists and encourage further mechanistic studies of this important alkyne trimerization
process.
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The transition-metal-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction of alkynes has been reported as an
effective tool for the synthesis of substituted arenes.1 The formation of substituted arenes from alkynes,
namely the Reppe cyclotrimerization,2 has been studied extensively over the past three decades using a
large number of elaborated transition metal-catalyzed reactions.3 Given that structurally defined
aromatic compounds can be used as building blocks for the synthesis of new materials,4 the purity levels
of the aromatic compounds synthesized according to these cyclotrimerization procedures are particularly
important in determining the practical value of the procedures themselves.
Figure 1. Three types of alkyne cyclotrimerization.
On the other side, it should be noted that the regioselective construction of polysubstituted arenes
via homo-cyclotrimerizations of terminal alkynes can hardly be realized because it is difficult to control
the region-selectivity during both the initial metallacycle formation and subsequent regioselective
insertion of the third alkyne,5 which usually results in the undesired formation of a mixture of
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1,3,5-regioisomer and 1,2,4-regioisomer. Two methods have been utilized to solve this regioselective
issue,6 and these methods have been extensively applied to the construction of the core structures of
numerous molecules with important biological activities.7
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Of the many different metal catalysts available for the cyclotrimerization reactions of alkynes,8
cobalt complexes such as CpCo(CO)29 and CpCo(C2H4)210 are two of the most widely used catalysts to
affect transformation of this particular type. The practical application of these catalysts, however, has
been limited by the air-sensitive nature of these materials and the requirement for distilled and degassed
solvents. The development of a robust catalytic system capable of catalyzing the regioselective
trimerization reaction of alkynes is therefore highly desired.
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Herein, we report our latest efforts towards the development of a practical version of the
regioselective synthesis of 1,2,4-trisubstituted arenes from aryl alkynes using a novel Co-complex
derived from CoBr2/tetramethylthiourea (TMTU)/Zn.
We recently reported the use of a Co-TMTU complex derived from the in situ reduction of CoBr2
with Zn in the presence of TMTU as a catalyst for the Pauson-Khand reaction (PKR) under a balloon
pressure of CO, with the catalyst enabling the synthesis of a series of structurally diverse
cyclopentenones.11 To examine the effect of the substrate on the outcome of the observed PKR, the
reaction conditions were subsequently applied to phenyl acetylene and cyclopentene. Surprisingly,
1,2,4-triphenyl benzene was observed as the sole product of this reaction (Scheme 1). It is noteworthy
that there are several advantages associated with the use of CoBr2 and TMTU, including their stability
towards air and moisture, as well as their inexpensive commercial availability. With all of these factors
in mind, we decided to initiate a study towards the development of this transformation as a practical and
robust strategy for the cyclotrimerization of alkynes.
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Scheme 1: Synthesis of 1,2,4-triphenyl benzene 2a.
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Our research started with an investigation of the Co-catalyzed cyclotrimerization of phenyl
acetylene (Table 1, entry 1). Following a systematic investigation of the reaction conditions, the
Co-complex derived from the in situ reduction of CoBr2 (5 mol%) with Zn[12] (1.0 equiv) in the presence
of TMTU (30 mol%) was identified as an efficient catalyst for this intermolecular trimerization process,
with the annulated product 2a being obtained as the sole isomer in 87% yield (see Supporting
Information). To evaluate the scope of this reaction, a variety of different aryl alkynes were annulated
under the conditions listed in Table 1, and the desired products 2b-r were obtained in good yields.
For the sake of comparison, we carried out cyclotrimerization of phenylacetylen under Hilt’s
conditions (CoBr2, Zn, ZnI2, diimine, CH3CN, room temperature)12e for two times, and the ratio for
1,2,4-trisubstituted arene and 1,3,5-trisubstituted arene was 94:6, indicating our conditions provided
better selectivity than Hilt’s conditions (see Supporting Information for detail).
Scheme 2: Synthesis of triphenyl benzenes 2a and 3a.
Table 1: Co-TMTU-catalyzed Cyclotrimerization of Alkynes.
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We also tested the cyclotrimerization with internal acetylene [trimethyl(phenylethynyl)silane]
under the identical conditions listed in Table 1, however, no any cyclotrimerization was observed.
It is noteworthy that TMTU plays a pivotal role in this trimerization reaction of terminal aryl
alkynes. For example, when the reaction was carried out in the presence of CoBr2-TMTU with a ratio of
less than 1/3, none of the desired annulated product was obtained. The reaction also needs to be
conducted in the presence of CO during the reductive formation of the Co-TMTU complex, with the CO
presumably contributing to the formation of Co(I)13/TMTU complex.
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On the basis of the results obtained from these experiments, we following general trends were
confirmed: (1) substrates bearing electron-withdrawing (Table 1, entries 1-9) or electron-donating
(Table 1, entries 10-11 and 16) groups proceeded smoothly through the cyclotrimerization reaction to
give the annulated products as single isomers in good to excellent yields (see the Supporting
Information for the NMR studies confirming the high regioselectivity); (2) a variety of different
functional groups, including ester, aldehyde, ketone, nitrile and acetal groups were well tolerated under
the optimized conditions; (3) the selective formation of a benzene ring over the pyridine ring was
observed when a nitrile group was present in the substrate (Table 1, entry 7);14 and (4) in contrast to
results previously published in the area,15 ortho-substituted aryl arenes could also be formed effectively
under the current conditions with a high level of regioselectivity (Table 1, entries 14 and 16).
The reaction mechanism16 for this highly regioselective formation of 1,2,4-trisubstituted arenes
remains unclear and we are currently working towards the development of a detailed understanding of
the role of TMTU in this reaction in our laboratory. In line with the mechanisms proposed for the related
reactions,17 and in the absence of a detailed mechanism for the current transformation, we have
proposed the following mechanism to account for the observed formation of the 1,2,4-triphenyl
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benzenes. Thus, the initially formed Co(I)-TMTU complex derived from the CoBr2/TMTU/Zn mixture
could form a Co(III) cobaltacycle A (see Figure 2) by oxidative addition of two alkynes, which could
then insert a third equivalent of alkyne to give regioselectively the 1,2,4-triphenylbenzene after
reductive elimination..
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Figure 2: Intermolecular Co-catalyzed [2+2+2] Cycloaddition.
With a highly regioselective method for the synthesis of 1,2,4-trisubstituted arenes in hand, we
proceeded to investigate the use of these 1,2,4-trisubstituted arenes as starting materials for the
construction of substituted triphenylenes (TPs), which are useful building blocks for the construction of
complex materials in the field of materials science.18
With this in mind, we began to profile different oxidative reagents for the proposed
cyclodehydrogenation reaction of the trisubstituted arenes. Although FeCl3 is well-known as an
effective oxidative agent19 to mediate this type of oxidative coupling reaction, its application to the
current annulation reaction was unsuccessful, with none of the desired product detected. We later found
out that the use of phenyliodine (III) bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA)20 and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-
1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) under acidic conditions20a,21 could effectively promote the desired annulation
reaction, with the expected products being obtained in good to acceptable yields (Table 2). It is
noteworthy that electron-rich substrates 2k and 2r were oxidatively converted to the substituted TP’s in
yields of 68 to 72% using DDQ in the presence of methyl sulfonic acid.. For the other substrates, PIFA
was found to be the most effective oxidative reagent for the oxidative annulations.
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Table 2: Oxidative Cyclodehydrogenationa
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In summary, we have identified a novel type of Co-complex derived from CoBr2/TMTU/Zn that is
capable of catalyzing the highly regioselective cyclotrimerization of terminal aryl alkynes for the
formation of structurally diverse 1,2,4-trisubstituted arenes in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, the
resulting arenes could be oxidatively converted to the substituted TPs. Given the practical and robust
nature of this new CoBr2/TMTU/Zn catalyzed trimerization process, it is envisaged that this reaction
could be used for the synthesis of structurally diverse of substituted TPs, which could find application in
the synthesis of new materials.
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EXPERIMENTAL SECTION:
General procedure for the intermolecular [2+2+2] reaction: To a solution of molecular sieves (4Å,
160 mg) in toluene (1.5 mL) in schlenk tube was added anhydrous CoBr2 (0.050 mmol, 10.9 mg, 5
mol%), TMTU (0.3 mmol, 39.7 mg, 0.30 equiv.) and zinc dust (1.0 mmol, 65 mg, 1.0 equiv.), and the
o
mixture was stirred under a balloon pressure of CO at 70 C for 3 h, and the color of the reaction
mixture was changed from original deep green to colorless or yellowish. To this solution was added the
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alkyne (1.00 mmol, 1.0 equiv.), and the resulting mixture was stirred at 90 C for additional 12 hours.
After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was worked up by addition of a saturated
NH4Cl solution, and extracted with ethyl acetate (3 x 5 mL). The combined organic extracts were dried
with Na2SO4, The solution was filtered, and the solvent was removed under pressure, and the residue
was purified by a flash column chromatography on silica gel with gradient solvent (petroleum ether and
ethyl acetate) to give the corresponding product.
Synthesis of 4'-phenyl-1,1':2',1''-terphenyl (2a).22 Alkyne (158.1 mg, 1.55 mmol); eluent: petroleum
ether/EtOAc = 80/1, product obtained 137.5 mg (0.449 mmol) in yield 87%; white solid, mp: 100-101
oC; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.69-7.64 (m, 4H), 7.52 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.48-7.44 (m, 2H),
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7.38-7.34 (m, 1H), 7.25-7.16 (m, 10H) ; C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 141.5, 141.1, 140.9, 140.6,
140.3, 139.5, 131.1, 129.9, 129.8, 129.4, 128.8, 127.9, 127.9, 127.4, 127.1, 126.6, 126.5, 126.1; IR
(neat): 3059 (w), 3024 (w), 1470, 1258, 1076, 1026, 794, 760, 695 cm-1; EI-MS (m/z): 306 (M+).
Synthesis of 4'-phenyl-1,1':2',1''-terphenyl (2a) via Hilt’s conditions.
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To a solution of molecular sieves (4 Å, 160 mg) in dry CH3CN (1.0 mL) in a flame dried schlenk tube
was added CoBr2 (cy-diimine) (44 mg, 0.1 mmol, 5.0 mol%), zinc dust (13 mg, 0.2 mmol, 10.0 mol%)
and anhydrous ZnI2 (64 mg, 0.2 mmol, 10.0 mol%), and the mixture was refluxed under N2 atmosphere
was reflexed for 1 minute. After cooling to room temperature, phenylacetylene (204 mg, 0.22ml, 2.0
mmol) was added to the above reaction mixture, and the newly generated mixture was stirred at room
temperature for 15 min. The reaction mixture was worked up by addition of a saturated NH4Cl solution
(3 mL), and the mixture was extracted with EtOAc (3 x 3 mL). The combined extracts were dried with
Na2SO4. The solution was filtered, and solvent was removed under pressure, and the residue was
purified by a flash chromatography on silica (petroleum ether/EtOAc = 50/1) to give product 2a (200
mg, 0.654 mmol) in yield 98%, the ratio of 2a/3a is 94:6 according to the 1NMR analysis.
Synthesis of 4,4''-difluoro-4'-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,1':2',1''-terphenyl (2b).22 Alkyne (200.7 mg, 1.67
mmol); eluent: petroleum ether/EtOAc = 80/1, product obtained 173.3 mg (0.481 mmol) in yield 86%;
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white solid, mp: 148-149 C; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.62-7.55 (m, 4H), 7.46 (d, J = 8.0 Hz,
1H), 7.16-7.08 (m, 6H), 6.96-6.91 (m, 4H) ; 13C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3): δ 163.6, 162.9, 162.8, 161.7,
160.9, 160.9, 140.0, 139.6, 138.5, 137.2, 136.8, 136.5, 131.4, 131.3, 131.2, 131.1, 129.1, 128.7, 128.6,
126.1, 115.8, 115.7, 115.1, 114.9; 19F NMR (470.6 MHz, CDCl3): δ -114.96 (s), -115.43 (s), -115.55 (s)
ppm; IR (neat): 1604, 1523, 1509, 1482, 1223, 1158, 836, 821 cm-1; EI-MS (m/z): 360 (M+).
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Synthesis of 4,4''-dichloro-4'-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1':2',1''-terphenyl (2c).23 Alkyne (235.5 mg, 1.72
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mmol); eluent: petroleum ether/EtOAc = 80/1, product obtained 211.9 mg (0.517 mmol) in yield 90%;
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white solid, mp: 190-191 C; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.60-7.54 (m, 4H), 7.45-7.40 (m, 3H),
7.23-7.20 (m, 4H), 7.09-7.05 (m, 4H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 139.8, 139.6, 139.4, 139.0,
138.6, 138.5, 133.8, 133.0, 132.9, 131.1, 131.0, 131.0, 129.0, 129.0, 128.4, 128.3, 128,2, 126.3; IR
(neat): 1473, 1090, 1013, 1004, 828, 811, 741 cm-1; EI-MS (m/z): 408 (M+), 338 (M+-2Cl).
Synthesis of 4,4''-dibromo-4'-(4-bromophenyl)-1,1':2',1''-terphenyl (2d).24 Alkyne (234.7 mg, 1.30
mmol); eluent: petroleum ether/EtOAc = 80/1, product obtained 193.6 mg (0.357 mmol) in yield 82%;
white solid, mp: 172-173 oC; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.61-7.55 (m, 4H), 7.51-7.49 (m, 2H), 7.46
(d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.40-7.36 (m, 4H), 7.04-7.00 (m, 4H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 139.8, 139.8,
139.6, 139.5, 139.1, 138.5, 132.0, 131.4, 131.4, 131.3, 131.3, 131.1, 129.0, 128.6, 126.3, 122.0, 121.3,
121.2; IR (neat): 1488, 1470, 1074, 1009, 1002, 811, 750 cm-1; EI-MS (m/z): 542 (M+), 544 (M+), 382
(M+-2Br), 384 (M+-2Br).
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Synthesis of 4,4''-diiodo-4'-(4-iodophenyl)-1,1':2',1''-terphenyl (2e).25 Alkyne (167.6 mg, 0.735
mmol); eluent: petroleum ether/EtOAc = 80/1, product obtained 143.6 mg (0.210 mmol) in yield 86%;
white solid, mp: 256-257 oC; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.79 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.60-7.53 (m,
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6H), 7.44 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.38 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 6.91-6.87 (m, 4H); 13C NMR (100 MHz,
CDCl3): δ 140.4, 140.0, 139.8, 139.7, 139.6, 138.6, 138.0, 137.3, 137.3, 131.6, 131.6, 131.1, 129.0,
128.9, 126.3, 93.5, 92.9, 92.8; IR (neat): 1466, 1261, 1068, 1005, 999, 823, 814, 809, 751 cm-1; EI-MS
(m/z): 684 (M+), 558 (M+-I).
Synthesis of 4,4''-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4'-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1,1':2',1''-terphenyl (2f).
Alkyne (211.4 mg, 1.24 mmol); eluent: petroleum ether/EtOAc = 80/1, product obtained 140.2 mg
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(0.274 mmol) in yield 66%; white solid, mp: 170-171 oC; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.78-7.71 (m,
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5H), 7.66 (s, 1H), 7.56-7.52 (m, 5H), 7.31-7.25 (m, 4H) ppm; C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3): δ 144.3,
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144.0, 143.5, 139.9, 139.0, 131.4, 130.1, 130.3, 130.0, 129.8, 127.4, 127.1, 125.9, 125.3, 125.3, 125.2,
123.1, 123.0; 19F NMR (470.6 MHz, CDCl3): δ -62.44, -62.45; IR (neat): 1617, 1323, 1163, 1122, 1107,
1074, 845, 825 cm-1; HRMS (EI-TOF): m/z calcd for C27H15F9 [M]+: 510.1030, found 510.1035.
Synthesis of dimethyl 4'-(4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-[1,1':2',1''-terphenyl]-4,4''-dicarboxylate
(2g).25 Alkyne (222.2 mg, 1.39 mmol); eluent: petroleum ether/acetone = 20/1 to CH2Cl2/acetone =
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50/1, product obtained 196.0 mg (0.408 mmol) in yield 88%; white solid, mp: 224-225 C; H NMR
(400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 8.15 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.93-7.90 (m, 4H), 7.75-7.70 (m, 4H), 7.57 (d, J = 8.0
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Hz, 1H), 7.26-7.21 (m, 4H), 3.95 (s, 3H), 3.90 (s, 6H); C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 166.7, 166.7,
145.5, 145.1, 144.4, 140.2, 139.9, 139.3, 131.1, 130.2, 129.8, 129.7, 129.4, 129.4, 129.3, 129.3, 128.7,
128.6, 127.0, 126.9, 52.1, 52.0; IR (neat): 2952, 2925, 1719, 1608, 1435, 1276, 1113, 1103, 770, 731
cm-1; HRMS (FT-ICR): m/z calcd for C30H24NaO6 [M+Na]+: 503.1465, found 503.1458.
Synthesis of 4'-(4-cyanophenyl)-[1,1':2',1''-terphenyl]-4,4''-dicarbonitrile (2h). Alkyne (153.5 mg,
1.21 mmol); eluent: petroleum ether/acetone = 30/1 to 10/1, product obtained 134.0 mg (0.351 mmol),
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yield 87%; white solid, mp: 243-244 oC; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.80-7.78 (m, 5H), 7.65 (br,
1H), 7.60-7.56 (m, 5H), 7.29-7.25 (m, 4H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 144.9, 144.6, 144.1, 139.8,
139.6, 138.9, 132.8, 132.2, 132.1, 131.4, 130.4, 130.4, 129.4, 127.7, 127.5, 118.6, 118.4, 118.4, 111.8,
111.4, 111.3; IR (neat): 2227, 1606, 1480, 910, 821, 733 cm-1; HRMS (FT-ICR): m/z calcd for C27H16N3
[M＋H]+: 382.1339, found 382.1340.
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Synthesis of 4'-(4-formylphenyl)-[1,1':2',1''-terphenyl]-4,4''-dicarbaldehyde (2i). Alkyne (228.7
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mg, 1.76 mmol); eluent: petroleum ether/acetone = 30/1 to CH2Cl2/acetone = 40/1, product obtained 173
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mg (0.443 mmol) in yield 76%; white solid, mp: 216-217 C; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 10.09 (s,
1H), 10.00 (s, 1H), 9.99 (s, 1H), 8.02 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.86 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.80-7.74 (m, 6H),
7.62 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.38-7.33 (m , 4H); 13C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3): δ 191.6, 146.8, 146.5, 145.8,
140.1, 140.0, 139.4, 135.6, 135.0, 134.9, 131.3, 130.5, 130.4, 130.3(5), 129.6, 129.6, 129.5, 127.7, 127.3
; IR (neat): 2955, 2924, 2852, 1701, 1603, 1210, 1170, 837, 817 cm-1; HRMS (FT-ICR): m/z calcd for
C27H19O3 [M＋H]+: 391.1329, found 391.1335.
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Synthesis of 1,1'-(4'-(4-acetylphenyl)-[1,1':2',1''-terphenyl]-4,4''-diyl)diethanone (2j).25 Alkyne
(180.7 mg, 1.25 mmol); eluent: petroleum ether/acetone = 30/1 to CH2Cl2/acetone = 40/1, product
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obtained 148.9 mg (0.344 mmol) in yield 82%; white solid, mp: 258-259 C; H NMR (400 MHz,
CDCl3): δ 8.08 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.87-7.83 (m, 4H), 7.78-7.71 (m, 4H), 7.57 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H),
7.30-7.25 (m, 4H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 197.6, 197.5, 145.6, 145.2, 144.4, 140.1, 139.8,
139.2, 136.2, 135.5, 135.5, 131.2, 129.9, 129.9, 129.3, 129.0, 128.2, 128.2, 127.1, 126.9, 26.6, 26.5; IR
(neat): 1680, 1603, 1358, 1267, 958, 912, 820, 732 cm-1; EI-MS (m/z): 432 (M+), 417 (M+-Me).
Synthesis of 4,4''-dimethoxy-4'-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,1':2',1''-terphenyl (2k).25 Alkyne (160.8 mg,
1.22 mmol); eluent: petroleum ether/EtOAc = 30/1 to 25/1, product obtained 100.1 mg (0.252 mmol) in
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yield 62%; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.60-7.54 (m, 4H), 7.44 (d, J =8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.13-7.08 (m,
4H), 6.99 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H), 6.79-6.76 (m, 4H), 3.84 (s, 3H), 3.78 (s, 3H), 3.77 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (100
MHz, CDCl3): δ 159.2, 158.3, 158.2, 140.4, 139.6, 138.4, 134.1, 133.7, 133.2, 131.0, 130.9, 130.8,
128.9, 128.1, 125.3, 114.2, 113.4, 113.4, 55.3, 55.1; IR (neat): 2962, 2917, 1609, 1524, 1481, 1259,
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1247, 1177, 1091, 1031, 1019, 821, 800, 749 cm-1; HRMS (FT-ICR): m/z calcd for C27H25O3 [M+H]+:
397.1798, found 397.1808.
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Synthesis of 5,5',5''-(benzene-1,2,4-triyl)tris(benzo[d][1,3]dioxole) (2l). Alkyne (259 mg, 1.77
mmol); eluent: petroleum ether/EtOAc = 30/1 to 25/1, product obtained 179.7 mg (0.410 mmol), yield
69%; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.50-7.49 (m, 2H), 7.39 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.12-7.10 (m, 2H),
6.89 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 6.72-6.65 (m, 6H), 5.98 (s, 2H), 5.92 (s, 4H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ
148.2, 147.2, 147.2, 147.2, 146.4, 146.3, 140.4, 139.8, 138.7, 135.4, 135.1, 134.8, 131.0, 129.0, 125.6,
123.3, 123.2, 120.6, 110.3, 110.2, 108.6, 108.0, 108.0, 107.5, 101.2, 100.9, 100.9; IR (neat): 2896, 1472,
1223, 1038, 806, 732 cm-1; HRMS (FT-ICR): m/z calcd for C27H18NaO6 [M+Na]+: 461.0996, found
461.0997.
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Synthesis of 4,4''-dimethyl-4'-(p-tolyl)-1,1':2',1''-terphenyl (2m).26 Alkyne (157.6 mg, 1.36 mmol);
eluent: petroleum ether/EtOAc = 80/1, product obtained 135.2 mg (0.388 mmol) in yield 86%; 1H NMR
(400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.62-7.55 (m, 4H), 7.46 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.26 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.11-7.02
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(m, 8H), 2.40 (s, 3H), 2.32 (s, 3H), 2.31 (s, 3H); C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 140.8, 140.0, 139.1,
138.8, 138.4, 137.8, 137.1, 136.1, 136.0, 131.1, 129.7, 129.7, 129.5, 129.2, 128.7, 128.6, 126.9, 125.7,
21.1; IR (neat): 3023, 2919, 2016, 1513, 1481, 1265, 1111, 819, 807, 739 cm-1; EI-MS (m/z): 348 (M+),
333 (M+-Me), 318 (M+-2Me), 303 (M+-3Me).
Synthesis of 4,4''-di-tert-butyl-4'-(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)-1,1':2',1''-terphenyl (2n).26 Alkyne (147.2
mg, 0.930 mmol); eluent: petroleum ether/EtOAc = 80/1, product obtained 129.7 mg (0.273 mmol) in
o
yield 88%; white solid, mp: 145-146 C; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.66 (d, J = 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.60
(d, J = 8.0 Hz, 3H), 7.47-7.44 (m, 3H), 7.23-7.20 (m, 4H), 7.12-7.07 (m, 4H), 1.35 (s, 9H), 1.29 (s, 9H),
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1.28 (s, 9H); C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 150.2, 149.3, 149.2, 140.8, 139.9, 139.2, 138.7, 138.3,
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137.9, 131.0, 129.5, 129.5, 129.2, 126.8, 125.7, 124.7, 124.6, 34.5, 34.4, 31.4, 31.4; IR (neat): 2962,
1482, 1362, 1270, 1112, 1005, 835, 819 cm-1; EI-MS (m/z): 474 (M+).
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Synthesis of 2,2''-dimethyl-4'-(o-tolyl)-1,1':2',1''-terphenyl (2o).22 Alkyne (145.2 mg, 1.25 mmol);
eluent: petroleum ether/EtOAc = 100/1 to 80/1, product obtained 126.9 mg (0.364 mmol), yield 87%; 1H
NMR (500 MHz, d6-DMSO, 363 K): δ 7.38 (dd, J = 6.4 Hz, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.34 (d, J = 6.4 Hz, 1H),
7.31-7.28 (m, 2H), 7.27-7.25 (m, 2H), 7.19 (d, J = 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.11-7.04 (m, 4H), 6.99-6.95 (m, 4H),
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2.33 (s, 3H), 2.11 (6H); C NMR (125 MHz, d6-DMSO, 363 K): δ 140.4, 140.0, 139.8, 139.6, 139.5,
138.4, 134.6, 134.5, 134.3, 130.3, 129.8, 129.8, 129.6 (br), 129.1, 128.9, 126.9, 126.7, 126.3, 126.3,
125.3, 124.2, 19.4, 19.2, 19.2; IR (neat): 3060, 3019, 2921, 1472, 1457, 1010, 756, 725 cm-1; EI-MS
(m/z): 348 (M+), 333 (M+-Me), 318 (M+-2Me).
Synthesis of 2,2'',4,4'',5,5''-hexamethyl-4'-(2,4,5-trimethylphenyl)-1,1':2',1''-terphenyl (2p).
Alkyne (198.7 mg, 1.38 mmol); eluent: petroleum ether/EtOAc = 80/1, product obtained 177.2 mg
(0.410 mmol) in yield 89%; 1H NMR (500 MHz, d6-DMSO, 363 K): δ 7.29 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 1H), 7.24 (d,
J = 6.0 Hz, 1H), 7.09 (s, 1H), 7.05 (s, 2H), 6.84-6.80 (m, 4H), 2.50 (s, 9H), 2.24 (s, 3H), 2.12 (s, 3H),
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2.11 (s, 3H), 2.07 (s, 3H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 1.99 (s, 6H); C NMR (125 MHz, d6-DMSO, 363 K): δ 139.7,
139.3, 138.3, 137.9, 137.7, 137.6, 134.4, 133.7, 133.7, 132.8, 131.6, 131.5, 131.2, 131.0, 130.4, 130.3,
130.2, 129.7, 126.6, 18.9, 18.6, 18.6, 18.1, 18.1, 18.0, 17.9; IR (neat): 2920, 1480, 1450, 1020, 909, 871,
842, 736 cm-1; EI-MS (m/z): 432 (M+), 417 (M+-Me).
Synthesis of 3,3'',4,4'',5,5''-hexamethoxy-4'-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,1':2',1''-terphenyl (2q).25
Alkyne (148.5 mg, 0.773 mmol); eluent/petroleum ether/EtOAc/CH2Cl2 = 13/1/1 to petroleum
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ether/EtOAc = 2/1, product obtained 129.3 mg (0.224 mmol) in yield 87%; H NMR (400 MHz,
CDCl3): δ 7.66 (d, J = 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.63 (dd, J = 8.0 Hz, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.56 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 6.85 (s,
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2H), 6.45 (s, 2H), 6.42 (s, 2H), 3.95 (s, 6H), 3.92 (s, 3H), 3.84 (s, 3H), 3.84 (s, 3H), 3.68 (s, 12H); C
NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 153.5, 152.8, 152.7, 140.7, 140.7, 139.4, 137.8, 137.0, 136.9, 136.8, 136.4,
136.4, 130.4, 128.6, 126.2, 107.2, 107.1, 104.4, 60.9, 60.9, 56.2, 56.1, 56.0; IR (neat): 2936, 1582, 1484,
1239, 1124, 1006, 822, 730 cm-1; HRMS (FT-ICR): m/z calcd for C33H40NO9 [M+NH4]+: 594.2698,
found 594.2698.
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Synthesis of 4'-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3,3'',4,4''-tetramethoxy-1,1':2',1''-terphenyl (2r): Alkyne
(267.1 mg, 1.64 mmol); eluent: petroleum ether/EtOAc = 2/1 to 1/1, product obtained 187 mg (1.13
1
mmol), yield 70%; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.64 (d, J = 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.59 (dd, J = 8.0 Hz, 1.6
Hz, 1H), 7.50 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.23-7.18(m, 2H), 6.96 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 6.87-6.77 (m, 4H),
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6.68-6.64 (m, 2H), 3.94 (s, 3H), 3.91 (s, 3H), 3.85 (s, 6H), 3.62 (s, 3H), 3.60 (s, 3H); C NMR (100
MHz, CDCl3): δ 149.0, 148.5, 148.1, 148.0, 147.6, 147.6, 140.3, 139.8, 138.6, 134.2, 133.7, 133.4,
130.5, 128.5, 125.4, 121.6, 121.6, 119.2, 113.3, 113.2, 111.4, 110.7, 110.6, 110.2, 55.7, 55.7, 55.6, 55.6,
55.5, 55.4; IR (neat): 2929, 2361, 2342, 1522, 1486, 1249, 1141, 1026, 806 cm-1; HRMS (FT-ICR): m/z
calcd for C30H31O6 [M+H]+: 487.21152, found 487.21174.
Synthesis of 2,11-difluoro-6-(4-fluorophenyl)triphenylene 3b: To a stirring solution of 2b (102 mg,
0.28 mmol) and PIFA (3 equiv.) in dry CH2Cl2 (20 mL) was added BF3·Et2O (6 equiv) in a dropwise
fashion at room temperature and the mixture was stirred at room temperature until the substrate was
fully converted (as monitored by TLC). The reaction was quenched with a saturated aqueous solution of
NaHCO3. The aqueous layer was extracted with CH2Cl2 and the combined organic layers were dried
with anhydrous Na2SO4. The solvent was filtered, and the solvent was removed under pressure and the
residue was purified by a flash column chromatography on silica gel (petroleum ether/EtOAc = 300/1 to
100/1) to give product 3b (47 mg, 0.13 mmol, 46%); 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 8.53-8.50 (m, 2H),
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8.46-8.40 (m, 2H), 7.96-7.93 (m, 2H), 7.72-7.65 (m, 3H), 7.33-7.30 (m, 2H), 7.24-7.17 (m, 2H); C
NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3, 323 K): δ 163.8, 163.3, 163.2, 161.8, 161.3, 161.2, 139.0, 137.1, 137.0, 131.3,
131.3, 131.2, 131.2, 131.0, 130.9, 130.9, 130.9, 129.2, 128.9, 128.9, 127.9, 126.6, 126.4, 126.1, 125.7,
125.6, 125.6, 123.8, 121.4, 116.2, 116.2, 116.1, 115.9, 115.9, 115.8, 109.1, 109.1, 108.9, 108.9; IR
(neat): 2922, 2850, 1234, 1223, 1158, 822, 803, 799 cm-1; HRMS (FT-ICR): m/z calcd for C24H13F3
[M+H]+: 358.0964, found 358.0966.
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Synthesis of 2,11-dichloro-6-(4-chlorophenyl)triphenylene 3c: To a stirring solution of 2c (188 mg,
0.461 mmol) and PIFA (3 equiv.) in dry CH2Cl2 (20 mL) was added BF3·Et2O (6 equiv.) in a dropwise
fashion at room temperature and the mixture was stirred at room temperature until the substrate was
fully converted (as monitored by TLC). The reaction was worked up and purified by the same procedure
in the synthesis of compound 3b with the eluting solvent system (petroleum ether/EtOAc = 200/1 to
50/1) to give product 3c (140 mg, 0.345 mmol, 75%); mp = 239-240 oC; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ
8.66 (d, J = 1.2 Hz, 1H), 8.59 (dd, J = 9.2, 1.6 Hz, 2H), 8.53 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H), 8.46 (dd, J = 2.4, 2.4
Hz, 2H), 7.85 (dd, J = 8.4, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.64 (dd, J = 8.8, 1.6 Hz, 2H), 7.51 (d,
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J = 8.4 Hz, 2H); C NMR (100 MHz, d5-pyridine): δ 139.9, 139.6, 134.5, 131.3, 131.1, 130.3, 129.9,
129.7, 129.5, 129.3, 129.2, 129.1, 128.9, 127.4, 126.5, 126.4, 125.3, 124.5, 124.5, 122.5; IR (neat):
2976, 1084, 1042, 877 cm-1; HRMS (FT-ICR): m/z calcd for C24H13Cl3 [M]+: 406.0077, found
406.0082.
Synthesis of 2,11-dibromo-6-(4-bromophenyl)triphenylene 3d: To a stirring solution of 2d (220 mg,
0.405 mmol) and PIFA (3 equiv.) in dry CH2Cl2 (10 mL) was added BF3·Et2O (6 equiv.) in a dropwise
fashion at room temperature and the mixture was stirred at room temperature until the substrate was
fully converted (as monitored by TLC). The reaction The reaction was worked up and purified by the
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same procedure in the synthesis of compound 3b with the eluting solvent system (etroleum ether/EtOAc
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= 100/1 to DCM/MeOH = 10/1) to give product 3d (167 mg, 0.309 mmol, 76%): H NMR (400 MHz,
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CDCl3): δ 8.66-8.44 (m, 4H), 8.52 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H), 8.46 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.85 (d, J = 8.4 Hz,
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1H), 7.77 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.67-7.62 (m, 4H); C NMR (125 MHz, d5-pyridine, 363 K): δ 140.3,
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139.9, 135.7, 132.6, 131.7, 131.6, 131.4, 131.2, 130.3, 129.7, 129.5, 129.2, 127.2, 127.2, 127.2, 126.3,
126.2, 124.9, 122.8, 122.6, 122.5, 122.3; IR (neat): 2920, 2849, 1739, 1365, 1217, 804, 676 cm-1;
HRMS (FT-ICR): m/z calcd for C24H13Br3 [M+H]+: 537.8562, found 537.8550.
Synthesis of 2,11-dimethoxy-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)triphenylene (3k): To a stirring solution of 2k
(134 mg, 0.338 mmol) in dry CH2Cl2 (10 mL) containing MeSO3H (10% v/v) was added DDQ (1.5 eq.)
at 0 oC. After stirring at 0 oC for 40 min, the reaction was quenched with a saturated aqueous solution of
NaHCO3. The aqueous layer was extracted with CH2Cl2 and the combined organic layers were washed
with brine and dried with anhydrous Na2SO4. The solution was filtered, and solvent was removed under
pressure,and the residue was purified by a flash column chromatography on silica gel (petroleum
ether/EtOAc = 10/1 to 8/1) to give product 3k (90 mg, 0.230 mmol, 68%); mp = 182-183 oC; 1H NMR
(400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 8.54 (s, 1H), 8.50 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H), 8.37 (dd, J = 8.0, 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.81 (d, J =
2.0 Hz, 2H), 7.65-7.61 (m, 3H), 7.18-7.12 (m, 2H), 7.00 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 3.91 (s, 6H), 3.83 (s, 3H);
13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 159.2, 158.6, 158.5, 138.3, 133.8, 131.0, 130.6, 129.0, 128.2, 127.4,
125.0, 124.9, 124.8, 124.1, 124.0, 123.1, 120.4, 115.4(5), 115.4(3), 114.3, 106.0(6), 106.0(2), 55.4,
55.3; IR (neat): 2962, 2917, 1609, 1524, 1481, 1259, 1247, 1177, 1091, 1031, 1019, 821, 800, 749 cm-1;
HRMS (FT-ICR): m/z calcd for C27H25O3 [M+H]+: 397.1798, found 397.1808.
Synthesis of 2,11-dimethyl-6-(p-tolyl)triphenylene 3m: To a stirring solution of 2m (168 mg, 0.482
mmol) and PIFA (1.2 equiv.) in dry CH2Cl2 was added BF3·Et2O (2.4 equiv.) in a dropwise fashion at
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-78 C and the mixture was stirred at -78 C until the substrate was fully converted (as monitored by
TLC). The reaction was worked up and purified by the same procedure in the synthesis of compound 3b
with the eluting solvent system (petroleum ether/EtOAc = 100/1) to give product 3m (123 mg, 0.355
mmol, 74%); mp 179-180 oC; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 8.72 (d, J = 1.6 Hz, 1H), 8.55 (d, J = 8.8
Hz, 2H), 8.45 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 8.37 (br, 2H), 7.77 (dd, J = 8.8, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.67 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H),
7.42-7.39 (m, 2H), 7.31 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 2.57 (s, 6H), 2.42 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ
139.2, 138.4, 137.1, 136.7, 136.6, 129.8, 129.7, 129.6, 128.5, 128.5, 128.4, 127.6, 127.4, 127.2, 125.6,
123.5, 123.3, 123.2, 123.2, 121.1, 21.8, 21.1; IR (neat): 2921, 2850, 1260, 1091, 1018, 807, 802 cm-1;
HRMS (FT-ICR): m/z calcd for C27H22 [M+H]+: 347.1794, found 347.1796.
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Synthesis of 2,11-di-tert-butyl-6-(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)triphenylene 3n: To a stirring solution of 2n
(120 mg, 0.253 mmol) and PIFA (1.5 equiv.) in dry CH2Cl2 was added BF3·Et2O (3 equiv.) in dropwise
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fashion at -40 C and the mixture was stirred at 0 C until the substrate was fully converted (as
monitored by TLC). The reaction was worked up and purified by the same procedure in the synthesis of
compound 3b with the eluting solvent system (petroleum ether/EtOAc = 150/1) to give product 3n (61.5
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mg, 0.130 mmol, 51%): mp = 239-240 C; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 8.80 (d, J = 1.2 Hz, 1H),
8.68-8.61 (m, 4H), 8.57 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (dd, J = 8.4, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.74-7.69 (m, 4H), 7.56 (d, J
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= 8.4 Hz, 2H), 1.52 (s, 18H), 1.40 (s, 9H); C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 150.4, 149.8, 149.6, 139.2,
138.5, 129.8, 129.8, 129.6, 128.5, 127.7, 127.5, 127.0, 125.8, 125.1, 125.0, 123.6, 123.2, 121.4, 119.0,
118.9, 35.0, 34.6, 31.5, 31.4; IR (neat): 2961, 1486, 1362, 1265, 908, 813, 737 cm-1; HRMS (FT-ICR):
m/z calcd for C36H40 [M+H]+: 473.3203, found 473.3207.
Synthesis of 10-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,3,6,7-tetramethoxytriphenylene 3r: To a stirring solution
of substrate 2r (49 mg, 0.101 mmol) in dry CH2Cl2 containing MeSO3H (10% v/v) was added DDQ (1.5
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eq.) at 0 C. After stirring at 0 C for 40 min, the reaction was quenched with a saturated aqueous
solution of NaHCO3. The aqueous layer was extracted with CH2Cl2 and the combined organic layers
were washed with brine and dried with anhydrous Na2SO4. The solution was filtered, and the solvent
was removed under pressure, and the residue was purified by a flash column chromatography on silica
gel (petroleum ether/EtOAc = 3/2 to 1/1) to give product 3r (35 mg, 0.072 mmol) in 72% yield; mp =
235-236 oC; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 8.48 (d, J = 1.4 Hz, 1H), 8.44 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 1H), 7.90 (s,
1H), 7. 87 (s, 1H), 7.75 (dd, J = 8.6, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.64 (s, 2H), 7.34 (dd, J = 8.2, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.28 (d, J
= 2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.04 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 1H), 4.09 (s, 12H), 4.02 (s, 3H), 3.97 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (100 MHz,
CDCl3): δ 149.3, 149.2, 148.8, 148.7, 148.6, 138.5, 134.4, 128.9, 127.5, 125.0, 124.0, 123.6, 123.3,
123.2, 120.7, 119.8, 111.6, 110.9, 104.5, 104.4, 104.0, 56.1, 56.0, 55.9, 55.9, 55.8; IR (neat): 2932,
1507, 1465, 1413, 1263, 1250, 1216, 1156, 1026 cm-1; HRMS (FT-ICR): m/z calcd for C30H28NaO6
[M+Na]+: 507.17781, found 507.17728.
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Acknowledgment. This work has been supported by the National Science Foundation of China
(21072006 and 21072011), National 863 Program (2013AA090203).
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Supporting Information: H NMR and 13C NMR spectra are available free of charge via the
Internet at http://pubs.acs.org/.
References:
† Peking University
‡ Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School
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