S. Gokulnath, V. Prabhuraja, J. Sankar, T. K. Chandrashekar
FULL PAPER
and dried with Na2SO4. The solvent was removed in a rotary evap-
orator and the resulting red solution was purified by column
chromatography [silica gel (100–200 mesh), ethyl acetate/petroleum
ether, 20:80]. The first moving orange fraction was identified as
containing 4-formyl-4Ј-hydroxyazobenzene (2a). Yield: 3.2 g
1 mmol) were dissolved in dry dichloromethane (250 mL) and the
mixture was stirred under nitrogen for 5 min. TFA (0.0068 mL,
0.1 mmol) was added and stirring was continued for a further
90 min. Chloranil (0.738 g, 3 mmol) was added and the reaction
mixture was exposed to air and refluxed for a further 90 min. The
solvent was then evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified by
1
(35%). FAB-MS: m/z (%) = 226 (100) [M+]. H NMR (300 MHz,
CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS): δ = 7.02 (d, J = 9 Hz, 2 H), 7.95 (m, 6 H), column chromatography on basic alumina, and the green band
10.09 (s, 1 H) ppm. C13H10N2O2 (226.23): calcd. C 69.02, H 4.46, which eluted with dichloromethane gave 0.195 g of 6a (25% yield),
N 14.14; found C 69.12, H 4.36, N 14.21. This procedure was re-
peated with 2,6-dimethylphenol instead of phenol to synthesize 2b.
Compound 2b: FAB-MS: m/z (%) = 254 (100) [M+]. 1H NMR
(300 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS): δ = 2.35 (s, 6 H), 7.62 (s, 2 H),
8.03 (m, 4 H), 10.09 (s, 1 H) ppm. C15H14N2O2 (254.28): calcd. C
70.85, H 5.55, N 12.58; found C 70.63, H 5.72, N 12.47.
which decomposed above 320 °C. This procedure was applied to
synthesize azobenzene–smaragdyrin conjugates 6b–d and 7a–d
from the corresponding precursors.
Compound 6a: FAB-MS: m/z (%) = 754 (100) [M+]. 1H NMR
(300 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS): δ = 2.74 (s, 6 H), 3.97 (s, 3 H),
7.13 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2 H), 7.62 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 4 H), 8.02 (d, J =
4.2 Hz, 2 H), 8.12 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 4 H), 8.38 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2 H),
8.47 (d, J = 4.2 Hz, 2 H), 8.55 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2 H), 8.80 (s, 2 H),
9.03 (d, J = 4.2 Hz, 2 H), 9.42 (d, J = 4.4 Hz, 2 H), 9.49 (d, J =
4-Formyl-4Ј-methoxyazobenzene (3a):
A solution of 2a (3 g,
13 mmol) in dmf (30 mL) was added dropwise to a suspension of
K2CO3 (3.7 g, 27 mmol) in dmf (15 mL) and the mixture stirred
under N2 for 30 min. CH3I (1.65 mL, 27 mmol) was added drop-
wise to this solution at 0 °C. The resulting mixture was stirred at
room temperature for 24 h and poured onto crushed ice to remove
excess K2CO3 and dmf. The organic phase was extracted with
CH2Cl2 (5ϫ150 mL), washed twice with water, and dried with
Na2SO4. The solvent was removed in a rotary evaporator and the
resulting orange solution was purified by column chromatography
[silica gel (100–200 mesh), ethyl acetate/petroleum ether, 8:92]. The
first moving orange fraction was identified as containing 4-formyl-
4Ј-methoxyazobenzene (3a). Yield: 2.1 g (65%). FAB-MS: m/z (%)
= 241 (90) [M+]. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS): δ =
3.89 (s, 3 H), 7.02 (d, J = 9 Hz, 2 H), 7.98 (m, 6 H), 10.08 (s, 1 H)
ppm. C14H12N2O2 (241.26): calcd. C 69.99, H 5.03, N 11.66; found
C 69.86, H 5.28, N 12.01. This procedure was repeated with 2b to
synthesize 3b.
4.2 Hz, 2 H) ppm. UV/Vis (CH2Cl2): λmax (εϫ10–4
(4), 382 (4), 445 (21.3), 557 (2), 597 (1.7), 641 (1.4), 707 (2.1) nm;
(CH2Cl2/TFA): λmax (εϫ10–4 –1 cm–1) = 348 (3.6), 455 (14.5), 482
–1 cm–1) = 346
(sh, 10.8), 615 (1.3), 673 (1.9), 738 (4.3) nm. C50H38N6O2 (754.88):
calcd. C 79.55, H 5.07, N 11.13; found C 79.46, H 5.34, N 11.31.
Compound 6b: FAB-MS: m/z (%) = 787 (80) [M+]. 1H NMR
(300 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS): δ = 3.97 (s, 3 H), 4.12 (s, 6 H),
7.13 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 2 H), 7.62 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 4 H), 8.02 (d, J =
4.2 Hz, 2 H), 8.12 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 4 H), 8.36 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2 H),
8.47 (d, J = 4.2 Hz, 2 H), 8.54 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 2 H), 8.80 (s, 2 H),
9.02 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 2 H), 9.41 (d, J = 4.2 Hz, 2 H), 9.46 (d, J =
4.2 Hz, 2 H) ppm. UV/Vis (CH2Cl2): λmax (εϫ10–4
(3.8), 383 (3.8), 445 (25), 555 (2.1), 595 (1.7), 640 (1.4), 705 (2) nm;
(CH2Cl2/TFA): λmax (εϫ10–4 –1 cm–1): 352 (3.4), 453 (15.2), 485
–1 cm–1) 342
(sh, 10.2), 613 (1.5), 662 (2), 737 (4.7) nm. C50H38N6O4 (786.88):
calcd. C 76.32, H 4.87, N 10.68; found C 76.25, H 4.98, N 10.55.
Compound 3b: FAB-MS: m/z (%) = 268 (100) [M+]. 1H NMR
(300 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS): δ = 2.39 (s, 6 H), 3.80 (s, 3 H),
7.66 (s, 2 H), 8.01 (s, 4 H), 10.09 (s, 1 H) ppm. C16H16N2O2
(268.21): calcd. C 71.62, H 6.01, N 10.44; found C 71.89, H 5.85,
N 10.21.
Compound 6c: FAB-MS: m/z (%) = 834 (100) [M+]. 1H NMR
(300 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS): δ = 1.93 (s, 12 H), 2.65 (s, 6 H),
3.96 (s, 3 H), 7.34 (s, 4 H), 8.12 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2 H), 8.38 (m, 4
H), 8.54 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 4 H), 8.60 (s, 2 H), 9.01 (d, J = 4.2 Hz, 2
H), 9.39 (d, J = 4.2 Hz, 2 H), 9.47 (d, J = 4.2 Hz, 2 H) ppm.
Compound 4a: A mixture of pyrrole (14.4 mL, 0.21 mol) and 3a
(2 g, 8.3 mmol) was degassed by bubbling argon through it for
10 min. Trifluoroacetic acid (0.064 mL, 0.83 mmol) was then added
and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 20 min, after
which time it was diluted with CH2Cl2 (50 mL) and then washed
with 0.1 NaOH. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous
Na2SO4. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the
unreacted pyrrole was removed by vacuum distillation at room tem-
perature. The resulting viscous liquid was purified by column
chromatography [silica gel (100–200 mesh), ethyl acetate/petroleum
ether, 15:85; yield: 1.3 g, 45%]. FAB-MS: m/z (%) = 356 (50) [M+].
1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS): δ = 3.85 (s, 3 H), 5.47
(s, 1 H), 5.91 (m, 2 H), 6.15 (m, 2 H), 6.66 (m, 2 H), 6.99 (d, J =
7.2 Hz, 2 H), 7.28 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 2 H), 7.78 (d, J = 6.6 Hz, 2 H),
7.88 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 2 H), 7.95 (br. s, 2 H) ppm. C22H20N4O
(356.42): calcd. C 74.14, H 5.66, N 15.72; found C 74.27, H 5.45,
N 15.51. This procedure was repeated with 3b to synthesize 4b.
UV/Vis (CH2Cl2): λmax (εϫ10–4
(21.5)456 (22.1), 559 (2.7), 602 (2.7), 647 (2.6), 719 (3.6) nm;
(CH2Cl2/TFA): λmax (εϫ10–4 –1 cm–1) = 344 (4.9), 456 (18.0), 484
–1 cm–1) = 343(6.1), 383 (3.8), 444
(sh, 11.4), 613 (1.3), 668 (2), 738 (4.8) nm. C54H46N6O2 (834.37):
calcd. C 79.97, H 5.72, N 10.36; found C 79.85, H 5.92, N 10.25.
Compound 6d: FAB-MS: m/z (%) = 838 (100) [M+]. 1H NMR
(300 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS): δ = 1.74 (s, 18 H), 3.87 (s, 3 H),
7.23 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 2 H), 7.72 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 4 H), 8.12 (d, J =
4.2 Hz, 2 H), 8.22 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 4 H), 8.35 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2 H),
8.57 (d, J = 4.2 Hz, 2 H), 8.64 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 2 H), 8.87 (s, 2 H),
9.02 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 2 H), 9.51 (d, J = 4.2 Hz, 2 H), 9.56 (d, J =
4.2 Hz, 2 H) ppm. UV/Vis (CH2Cl2): λmax (εϫ10–4
(6.9), 445 (28.1), 456 (29.6), 558 (2.7), 601 (2.8), 647 (2.7), 715 (3.8)
nm; (CH2Cl2/TFA): λmax (εϫ10–4 –1 cm–1) = 332 (4.5), 456 (16.2),
–1 cm–1) = 349
484 (sh, 11.9), 613 (1.3), 673 (1.9), 738 (4.8) nm. C56H50N6O2
(838.40): calcd. C 80.16, H 6.01, N 10.02; found C 80.09, H 6.21,
N 10.14.
Compound 4b: FAB-MS: m/z (%) = 384 (50) [M+]. 1H NMR
(300 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS): δ = 2.36 (s, 6 H), 3.76 (s, 3 H),
5.45 (s, 1 H), 5.91 (m, 2 H), 6.16 (m, 2 H), 6.64 (m, 2 H), 7.29 (d,
J = 7.2 Hz, 2 H), 7.61 (s, 2 H), 7.81 (d, J = 6.6 Hz, 2 H), 7.92 (br.
s, 2 H) ppm. C24H24N4O (384.47): 74.97, H 6.29, N 14.57; found
C 74.67, H 5.98, N 15.87.
Compound 7a: FAB-MS: m/z (%) = 782 (60) [M+]. 1H NMR
(300 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS): δ = –2.69 (br. s, 1 H), –1.81 (br.
s, 1 H), 2.46 (s, 6 H), 2.73 (s, 6 H), 3.86 (s, 3 H), 7.61 (d, J = 7.8 Hz,
4 H), 7.82 (s, 2 H), 8.09 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 4 H), 8.37 (d, J = 8.1 Hz,
2 H), 8.48 (d, J = 4.2 Hz, 2 H), 8.54 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2 H), 8.80 (s,
2 H), 9.02 (d, J = 4.2 Hz, 2 H), 9.40 (d, J = 4.2 Hz, 2 H), 9.49 (d,
Typical Procedure for the Synthesis of Smaragdyrin: The oxatripyr-
rane 5a (0.407 g, 1 mmol) and dipyrromethane 4b (0.385 g,
J = 4.2 Hz, 2 H) ppm. UV/Vis (CH2Cl2): λmax (εϫ10–4 –1 cm–1) =
198
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Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2007, 191–200