Photochemical Amplifier Based on Self-Immolative Dendritic Spacers

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/acs.joc.9b00651

A self-immolative dendritic structure was synthesized. It is based on phenol derivatives with three hydroxymethyl arms at both ortho and para positions of the core unit, potentially releasing up to 27 leaving groups in a third-generation dendrimer. The tr

Full text of DOI:10.1021/acs.joc.9b00651

Article
pubs.acs.org/joc
Cite This: J. Org. Chem. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX
Photochemical Amplifier Based on Self-Immolative Dendritic
Spacers
Agonist Kastrati and Christian G. Bochet*
́
Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musee 9, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
S
* Supporting Information
ABSTRACT: A self-immolative dendritic structure was synthesized. It is based on
phenol derivatives with three hydroxymethyl arms at both ortho and para positions
of the core unit, potentially releasing up to 27 leaving groups in a third-generation
dendrimer. The triggering event is the photolysis of a photosentive ortho-
nitrobenzyl group. In doing so, we expected to transform a weak chemical or
photochemical input into a large chemical output, which fulfills the definition of a
molecular amplifier. Such dendrimers could find application as an indicator, a drug-
delivery vector, or a solubilizing agent. The prepared dendrimer indeed released up
to 27 leaving groups upon photolysis at 360 nm.
INTRODUCTION
■
Self-immolative spacers (linkers) are compounds capable of
connecting two or more chemical entities together and be able
to fragment upon triggering by a proper stimulus. This idea
was introduced in 1981 for the first time,1 and has since found
multiple applications in sensors for chemicals or enzymes,2,3 in
prodrugs,4 and for vector delivery.5,6 Their inclusion in
dendrimers offers powerful features, in particular, in the
perspective of chemical amplification.7 In order to be able to
assemble different dendritic structures based on self-
Figure 1. Self-immolative spacers based on lone pair activation (ortho
or para). PG = protecting group; X = O, NH, or S; LG = leaving
group.
immolative spacers, the triggering function needs to be
protected; its deprotection then initiates the fragmentation
cascade. Various protecting groups have been used in the past
for this purpose, such as an allyl group (cleaved by Pd0/
8,9
BH4 ), an o-nitrobenzyl group (hν),10,11 a p-aminobenzyl
group (Zn0/AcOH),12 a t-BOC group [(1) trifluoroacetyl
(TFA); (2) tetraethylammonium], an aldol group (catalytic
−
These are only selected examples, but many other systems
were developed because of these pioneering studies. In this
work, in order to expand the existing arsenal of structures, we
synthesized new dendritic structures capable of releasing more
units, a prerequisite for a chemical amplifier. Our goal was to
synthesize self-immolative dendritic structures based on phenol
derivatives with three (instead of two) hydroxymethyl arms at
both ortho and the para positions of the core unit (thus
potentially releasing up to 27 leaving groups in a third-
generation dendrimer instead of 8; Figure 4). In doing so, we
expected to transform a weak chemical or photochemical input
into a large chemical output in a similar approach as McGrath
et al. Such dendrimers could find application as an indicator, a
drug-delivery vector, or a solubilizing agent.
antibody 38C2, via a retro-aldol/retro-Michael reaction),13
a
phenylacetamide group (penicillin G amidase),14 or a phenyl-
boronic acid (H2O2).15 In most of the cases, phenyl-type
derivatives are used as a core, such as phenol, anilin or thiol,
thanks to their capacity to eliminate leaving groups located at
benzylic methylene groups in the ortho or para positions
(Figure 1).14,16−49
In 2003, Shabat et al. reported the synthesis of self-
immolative second and third-generation dendrimers based on
carbamate linkages capable of releasing four (respectively
eight) molecules (Figure 2) via a three-step process: (a)
activation (b) cyclization and (c) elimination.10 In 2004,
McGrath and Szalai reported the synthesis of self-immolative
dendrimers with benzyl ether linkages capable of releasing two
(respectively four) (Figure 3) nitrophenol groups.11
Received: March 6, 2019
© XXXX American Chemical Society
A
DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.9b00651
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Figure 2. Second-generation self-immolative dendron releases four reporters after a UV light trigger.
acronym for the leaving groups. An example is shown in Figure
5:
1G3PNPfirst generation, three para-nitrophenols.
2G9PNPsecond generation, nine para-nitrophenols,
3G27PNPthird generation twenty-seven para-nitrophe-
nol.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
■
Synthesis. We started the synthesis of the first-generation
dendrimer with the inexpensive and commercially available
phenol (Scheme 1), which was functionalized at both ortho
and para positions using a known method to get the phenoxide
4.50 It was then chemoselectively protected by a photolabile-
protecting group (ortho-nitrobenzyl bromide), and the
hydroxymethyl groups were converted into the corresponding
bromides using phosphorous tribromide. We obtained the first-
generation precursor 6 (1G3Br) in 46% overall yield from
phenol. As an example of the releasable group, we chose para-
nitrophenol, which was introduced in basic medium in a 81%
yield.
Figure 3. Activation of first-generation dendrimer releases two
molecules of p-nitrophenol.
Figure 4. First generation: action mechanism.
In order to synthesize a second-generation core, we first let
compounds 4 and 6 (1G3Br) react together, which were
previously synthesized for the first-generation dendrimer. The
formation of 2G9OH was confirmed by mass spectrometry
and NMR analysis, but solubility issues prevented its
satisfactory purification. We thus decided to protect the
hydroxybenzyl group of 7 with TBS-Cl to obtain silyl ether 8,
which was then further hydroxymethylated (Scheme 2).50
Silylation of the remaining hydroxybenzyl groups was followed
by reaction with tribromide 6, leading to the silylated second-
generation core 2G9OTBS. After desilylation in acidic
Our dendritic structures are composed of three main
components: (a) a photo labile protecting group: the well-
established ortho-nitrobenzyl group, (b) a spacer/linker:
phenol, which connects three entities and be able to fragment
upon unmasking the phenolic position and (c) a leaving group:
a nitrophenol moiety, turning yellow in basic medium, as a
release indicator.
In order to better designate the dendrimers, we chose the
following formalism: 1G, 2G, and 3G which stands for first,
second, and third generation, followed by the number and the
Figure 5. Targeted compounds.
B
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a
Scheme 1. First-Generation Assembly (1G3PNP)
a
Reagents and conditions: (a) formaldehyde, NaOH, H2O, 2d, 86%. (b) o-Nitrobenzyl bromide, DMF, rt, 3 h, 68%. (c), PBr3, ether, 0 °C → rt,
o.n., 93%. (d) p-Nitrophenol, K2CO3, Me2CO, reflux, 5 h, 81%.
a
Scheme 2. Second-Generation Assembly (2G9PNP)
a
Reagents and conditions: (a) TBS-Cl, imidazole, DMF, 0 °C → rt, 2 h, 89%. (b) Formaldehyde, NaOH, H2O, 50 °C, 3 h, 42%. (c) TBS-Cl,
imidazole, DMF, 0 °C → rt, o.n., 67%. (d) 6, K2CO3, rt to 50 °C, 24 h, 54%. (e) TMS-Cl, MeOH, rt, o.n., 90%, (f) SOCl2, DCM/DMF (10/1),
reflux, o.n., 84%. (g) p-Nitrophenol, K2CO3, KI, Me2CO, reflux, o.n., 78%.
a
Scheme 3. First Attempt for a Third Generation
a
Reagents and condition: (a) TFA, hexamethylenetetramine, 20 h, 125 °C, 3 h, 150 °C, 0.5 h, 100 °C, 65%. (b) PPTS, ethylene glycol, benzene,
reflux, 24 h, 75%. (c) 13, KI, Me2CO, 55 °C, 23 h, 58%.
C
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a
Scheme 4. Third-Generation Assembly (3G27PNP)
a
Reagents and conditions: (a) DHP, PPTS, DCM, rt, o.n., 94%. (b) TBAF, THF, rt, o.n., 84%. (c) 13, K2CO3, KI, acetone, rt → 55 °C, 23 h, 37%.
(d) TMS-Cl, MeOH, rt, o.n., 78%. (e) SOCl2, DCM/DMF (10/1), reflux, 4.5 h, 58%. (f) p-Nitrophenol, K2CO3, KI, Me2CO, 55 °C, 48 h, 86%.
Figure 6. Activation and cascade release of the p-nitrophenoxide from 1G3PNP (1.8 × 10−5 M), as a function of irradiation time at 360 nm in
NaOH 1.9 × 10−3 M in DMF/H2O (9:1 v/v).
medium (TMSCl in methanol),51 2G9OH was isolated in high
purity. Like above, we chose to decorate the dendrimer termini
with a p-nitrophenol group in order to facilitate later release
kinetic analysis. This was achieved by a potassium iodide-
assisted substitution in refluxing acetone, and 2 was obtained
in a 78% yield. Alternatively, we also obtained 2G9OH by
coupling 17 with 6, followed by the same acidic hydrolysis in a
slightly improved overall yield.
We then first attempted to access a third-generation
dendrimer from trialdehyde 14, which was prepared by
formylation of phenol (Scheme 3). Its reaction with chloride
13 failed, probably because of the presence of three electron-
withdrawing groups; we thus masked the aldehydes as
dioxolanes (15). Its reaction with nonachloride 13 smoothly
led to dendrimer 16 (3G27dioxolane) in a decent yield and
high purity. However, later deprotection of the ketals proved
very sluggish in all the conditions we tested. We thus turned to
a slightly modified route.
Our first attempt to have more labile-protecting groups
involved the triply silylated intermediate 10, but the reaction
with the nonachloride 13 was incomplete, most probably
because of the severe steric hindrance of the reagent. On the
other hand, protection as a tetrahydropyranyl derivative proved
successful, and 9 was converted into 21 in five steps (Scheme
4). Final substitution of the 27 chlorides of 21 with a p-
nitrophenyl group led to dendrimer 3 (3G27PNP).
Properties. All three dendrimers were also characterized by
DOSY-NMR, with approximate radii for 1, 2, and 3 of 6.14,
11.49, and 18.34 Å, respectively.
We monitored the disassembly of the dendritic structures by
UV−vis spectroscopy. All measurements were performed
under basic medium in order to shift the absorbance of the
p-nitrophenol (315 nm) as a p-nitrophenoxide (422 nm).
Thus, a solution of sodium hydroxide was added in a
concentration so as to deprotonate all possible phenol
derivatives generated during the photolysis. However, under
these conditions, spontaneous hydrolysis was observed for the
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Figure 7. Activation and cascade release of the p-nitrophenoxide from 2G9PNP (3.7 × 10−6 M), as a function of irradiation time at 360 nm in
NaOH 3 × 10−3 M in DMF/H2O (9:1 v/v).
Figure 8. Activation and cascade release of the p-nitrophenoxide from 3G27PNP (1.6 × 10−6 M), as a function of irradiation time at 360 nm in
DBU 4 × 10−3 M in DMF/H2O (9:1 v/v).
second- and third-generation dendrimers (12% of p-nitro-
phenol was detected after 160 min of reaction time of 3 in the
same conditions but without irradiation). In neutral medium,
no hydrolysis was detected. Attempts to use any weaker base,
like potassium carbonate or trisodium phosphate failed,
presumably because of solubility issue. The use of a
nonnucleophilic base (DBU) did not completely prevent
hydrolysis, but it was slower than that with sodium hydroxide.
The latter base was preferable for studying the third-generation
dendrimer, as its faster dissolution allowed a faster measure-
ment. The extinction coefficient of the p-nitrophenoxide was
always measured right before testing the disassembly of our
dendritic structures using the same solvent, which allowed us
to quantify the amount of the nitrophenol liberated during
photolysis.
First Generation. A solution of known concentration of
1G3PNP placed in a quartz cuvette was irradiated with a 360
nm light. After each irradiation, the UV−vis absorbance was
measured until no change was observed. Knowing the
extinction coefficient of p-nitrophenoxide alone, we could
estimate the amount of p-nitrophenol released as about 98%
(Figure 6) in 360 min. In basic medium, the chemical release
of p-nitrophenol is faster than the photon flux, thus, the
kinetics reflects the photon absorption (zero order at low
conversion, then undefined, as many absorbing species
coexist).
Second Generation. By using the same procedure as
mentioned above, we observed a slightly lower efficiency,
about 86% (Figure 7), in 240 min.
Third Generation. The photolysis of the third generation
was less straightforward than the lower homolog, as
spontaneous hydrolysis made the measurement complex.
Using sodium hydroxide, we estimated the release at around
60%, while using DBU, the hydrolysis is a bit slower and the
release of the nitrophenol amounted to 75% (Figure 8) in 160
min.
CONCLUSIONS
■
In conclusion, we have successfully synthesized first-, second-,
and third-generation of a dendrimer capable of releasing up to
twenty-seven end groups, which is the highest number to date.
Their capability of releasing three, nine, and twenty-seven
nitrophenol moieties, respectively, were demonstrated with an
efficiency of 75−98%.
EXPERIMENTAL PART
Unless otherwise indicated, all reagents were obtained from
commercial suppliers (Fluka, Aldrich, Acros, TCI, Roth) and were
■
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used without further purification. Deuterated solvents were obtained
from Cambridge Isotope Laboratory. Analytical thin-layer chromatog-
raphy was performed on Kieselgel F-254 precoated aluminum sheet
TLC plates from Merck. Visualization was performed with a 254 nm
UV lamp and/or a KMnO4 solution. Flash column chromatography
was carried out using Brunschwig silica gel (SiO2, 60 Å, 32−63 mesh)
7.09 (m, 2H), 6.92−7.01 (m, 4H), 5.45 (s, 2H), 5.20 (s, 6H).
13C{1H} NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ 163.2, 163.0, 155.9, 146.6, 141.9,
133.9, 132.9, 130.4, 130.1, 128.8, 128.0, 126.0, 125.0, 114.8, 114.5,
74.2, 69.7, 65.8, 31.9, 29.7. MALDI-TOF m/z: (M + Na+) calcd for
C34H26N4O12Na, 705.1439; found, 705.1446. FT-IR (golden gate,
600−4000 cm−1) 1609, 1592, 1509, 1336, 1262, 1174, 1110, 1068,
1012, 844, 751, 731, 681, 665. mp (176−178 °C).
1
or reverse-phase silica gel (C18, 30 μm). H NMR and 13C NMR
spectra were recorded on Bruker-DRX-300 spectrometers. All NMR
spectra were recorded in CDCl3, CD3CN, Acetone-d6, MeOD, D2O,
and DMSO-d6. Chemical shifts are expressed in parts per million (δ)
using residual solvent protons as internal standards. Coupling
constant (J) is reported in Hz. Splitting patterns are designated as s
(singlet), d (doublet), dd (double doublet), t (triplet), dt (double
triplet), q (quartet), bs (broad singlet), and m (multiplet). Mass
spectra were recorded on Matrix-assisted laser desorption and
ionization MALDI (Bruker UltrafleXtreme MALDI-TOF), and
electrospray ionization (ESI-ITMS) mass spectra Bruker-Ion Trap
MS esquire HCT mass spectrometer. A Bruker Tensor 27
spectrometer equipped with a golden gate was used to record
infrared spectra. Melting points were measured by using Doric-
Trendicator 400A Type K/°C.
4-(((tert-Butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)methyl)phenol (8). It was
prepared according to a literature procedure,26 using 2.0 g (15.79
mmol) of 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenol. 8 (3.35 g) was obtained (14.05
mmol, 89%).
(5-(((tert-Butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)methyl)-2-hydroxy-1,3-
phenylene)dimethanol (9). A solution of sodium hydroxide (0.80
g, 20.22 mmol) in water (12.64 mL) was added to phenol 8 (3.01 g,
12.64 mmol), followed by formaldehyde (37 wt % in water) (3.76
mL, 50.6 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred for 3 h at 50 °C,
and then was quenched with NH4Cl sol. and extracted four times with
ethyl acetate, washed with water and brine, and dried over sodium
sulfate. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography using
pentane/ethyl acetate (8/2 v/v) to give the desired product 9 as a
1
white solid with a yield of (1.58 g, 5.30 mmol, 42%). H NMR (300
Sodium 2,4,6-Tris(hydroxymethyl)phenolate (4). It was
prepared according to a literature procedure,50 using 5.25 g (55.9
mmol) of phenol. 4 (9.945 g) was obtained (48.2 mmol, 86%).
1G3OH (5). A solution of sodium 2,4,6-tris(hydroxymethyl)-
phenolate 4 (0.54 g, 2.65 mmol) and 2-nitrobenzyl bromide (0.44 g,
2.04 mmol) in dimethylformamide (DMF) (5.10 mL) was stirred at
room temperature for 3 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with
water and extracted four times with ethyl acetate, washed with water
and brine, and dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was
evaporated until the desired compound started to precipitate and then
was poured into a beaker containing ether. The white precipitate
formed was filtered after 20 min to give 5 (1G3OH) (0.444 g, 1.390
MHz, CD3CN): δ 7.05 (s, 2H), 4.68 (s, 4H), 4.62 (s, 2H), 0.90−0.94
(m, 9H), 0.07−0.11 (m, 6H). 13C{1H} NMR (75 MHz, CD3CN): δ
153.9, 133.4, 127.6, 126.3, 65.7, 62.4, 26.4, 19.1, −4.9. HRMS (ESI-
ITMS) m/z: (M + Na+) calcd for C15H26O4SiNa, 321.1492; found,
321.1490. FT-IR (golden gate, 600−4000 cm−1) 3403, 3270, 2953,
2929, 2856, 1484, 1469, 1361, 1253, 1209, 1091, 1063, 833, 772, 678.
mp (95.5−96.0 °C).
2,4,6-Tris(((tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)methyl)phenol (10).
It was prepared according to a literature procedure,26 using 0.5 g of
9 (1.675 mmol). 10 (0.59 g) was obtained (1.12 mmol, 67%).
2G9OTBS (11). A solution of 1,3,5-tris(bromomethyl)-2-((2-
nitrobenzyl)oxy)benzene 6 (0.65 g, 1.28 mmol)), phenol 10 (2.53 g,
4.80 mmol), and K2CO3 (2.65 g, 19.19 mmol), in MeCN (22.97 mL)
was stirred at 50 °C for 24 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with
water and extracted three times with ether washed with water and
brine, and dried over magnesium sulfate. The crude product was
purified by flash chromatography using pentane/ether (98/2 v/v) to
give the desired product (2G9TBS) (0.340 g, 0.184 mmol, 54%) as a
colorless gel. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ 8.17 (dd, J = 1.19, 8.25
Hz, 1H), 7.95 (d, J = 6.97 Hz, 1H), 7.80 (s, 2H), 7.67 (td, J = 1.24,
7.63 Hz, 1H), 7.42−7.51 (m, 1H), 7.40 (s, 2H), 7.34 (s, 4H), 5.28 (s,
2H), 4.98 (s, 4H), 4.94 (s, 2H), 4.85 (s, 4H), 4.75 (s, 2H), 4.71 (s,
12H), 0.96 (s, 9H), 0.93−0.95 (m, 19H), 0.90−0.92 (m, 18H), 0.85−
0.88 (m, 36H), 0.12−0.14 (m, 6H), 0.09−0.12 (m, 13H), 0.06−0.08
(m, 12H), −0.02−0.01 (m, 24H). 13C{1H} NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3):
δ 152.9, 152.1, 145.9, 137.3, 134.9, 134.4, 134.0, 133.9, 133.8, 131.7,
128.1, 127.9, 127.5, 124.9, 124.9, 124.7, 75.4, 72.7, 70.7, 65.0, 64.9,
60.4, 60.3, 26.0, 26.0, 25.9, 18.4, 18.4, 18.3, −5.2, −5.3. MALDI-TOF
m/z: (M + Na+) calcd for C97H173NO15Si9Na, 1868.0654; found,
1868.0643. FT-IR (golden gate, 600−4000 cm−1) 2953, 2983, 2856,
1530, 1471, 1360, 1253, 1107, 832, 773.
1
mmol, 68%) as a white solid. H NMR (300 MHz, CD3CN): δ 8.11
(ddd, J = 1.05, 8.05, 11.35 Hz, 2H), 7.82 (td, J = 1.28, 7.61 Hz, 1H),
7.55−7.63 (m, 1H), 7.36 (s, 2H), 5.30 (s, 2H), 4.59 (s, 4H), 4.57 (s,
2H). 13C{1H} NMR (75 MHz, CD3CN): δ 154.1, 148.1, 139.5, 135.8,
135.2, 135.0, 129.8, 129.6, 127.9, 125.7, 73.6, 64.5, 62.4, 60.1. FT-IR
(golden gate, 600−4000 cm−1) 2923, 2851, 1611, 1590, 1520, 1336,
1207, 1005. HRMS (ESI-ITMS) m/z: (M + Na+) calcd for
C16H17NO6Na, 342.0948; found, 342.0942. mp (122.0−122.8 °C).
1G3Br (6). Tribromophosphine (20.43 mL, 217 mmol) was added
dropwise to a cooled (ice bath) solution of (2-((2-nitrobenzyl)oxy)-
benzene-1,3,5-triyl)trimethanol 5 (11.57 g, 36.20 mmol) in ether
(600 mL). The ice bath was removed and the reaction mixture was
stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was then
diluted with ether and slowly quenched with cold water. The phases
were separated and extracted two more times with ether, washed with
water and brine, and dried over magnesium sulfate. The crude
product was purified by flash chromatography using pentane/ethyl
acetate (9/1−7/3, v/v) to give the desired product (1G3Br) as a
1
white to green-like solid (17.2 g, 33.9 mmol, 93%). H NMR (400
MHz, CD3CN): δ 8.17 (ddd, J = 1.04, 3.73, 8.07 Hz, 2H), 7.86 (td, J
= 1.22, 7.64 Hz, 1H), 7.60−7.66 (m, 1H), 7.55 (s, 2H), 5.52 (s, 2H),
4.58 (s, 4H), 4.57 (s, 2H). 13C{1H} NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3): δ
155.0, 146.7, 135.3, 134.2, 133.4, 132.8, 132.7, 128.7, 128.3, 125.1,
72.7, 31.8, 29.7, 26.9. MALDI-TOF m/z: (M + Na+) calcd for
C16H14Br3NO3Na, 529.8396; found, 529.8397. FT-IR (golden gate,
600−4000 cm−1) 1524, 1466, 1377, 1237, 1211, 988, 857. mp (97.9−
98.6 °C).
2G9OH (12). TMS-Cl (0.05 mL, 0.388 mmol) was added
dropwise at rt to a solution of 11 (0.47 g, 0.25 mmol), in dry
MeOH (5.18 mL). The reaction was stirred for 2 h. After completion,
the desired product was precipitated as a pure compound by pouring
the reaction mixture into a beaker containing ether. The solid was
filtered off and washed with ether to afford the desired compound
(2G9OH) as a white solid with a yield of (0.190 g, 0.232 mmol,
90%). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CD3OD): δ 8.11−8.16 (m, 1H), 8.04 (d,
J = 7.34 Hz, 1H), 7.73−7.81 (m, 3H), 7.56 (t, J = 7.66 Hz, 1H), 7.43
(s, 2H), 7.37 (s, 4H), 5.43 (s, 2H), 5.06 (s, 4H), 5.01 (s, 2H), 4.71 (s,
4H), 4.61 (s, 2H), 4.58 (s, 12H). 13C{1H} NMR (101 MHz, DMSO-
d6): δ 170.3, 153.2, 152.0, 151.9, 146.1, 137.9, 134.7, 134.6, 134.5,
134.4, 133.4, 131.3, 128.7, 127.9, 125.5, 125.4, 124.7, 75.0, 72.9, 70.4,
62.9, 62.9, 59.8, 58.1, 58.0, 20.8, 14.1. HRMS (ESI-ITMS) m/z: (M +
Na+) calcd for C43H47NO15Na, 840.2837; found, 840.2832. FT-IR
(golden gate, 600−4000 cm−1) 3298, 2872, 1534, 1461, 1367, 1342,
1202, 1141, 1068, 1049, 1012, 975, 893, 862, 823. mp (207.2−209
°C).
1G3PNP (1). Following a similar procedure,11 a mixture of 1,3,5-
tris(bromomethyl)-2-((2-nitrobenzyl)oxy)benzene 6 (0.21 g, 0.42
mmol), p-nitrophenol (0.355 g, 2.55 mmol), and K2CO3 (1.05 g, 7.65
mmol) in acetone (10.63 mL) was refluxed for 5 h. The reaction
mixture was quenched with water/methanol (1/1 v/v), the solid
formed was filtered and washed with water and then with methanol to
get the desired compound 2 (1G3PNP) as a green-like solid (0.235 g,
1
0.344 mmol, 81%). H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ 8.14−8.27 (m,
6H), 8.03 (dd, J = 1.24, 8.21 Hz, 1H), 7.86 (d, J = 6.97 Hz, 1H), 7.65
(s, 2H), 7.56 (td, J = 1.28, 7.61 Hz, 1H), 7.37−7.46 (m, 1H), 7.01−
F
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2G9Cl (13). Thionyl chloride (1.08 mL, 14.67 mmol), was added
dropwise at rt to a solution of alcohol 12 (0.40 g, 0.48 mmol), in
dichloromethane (DCM)/DMF (10 mL (10/1 v/v) and the reaction
was heated to reflux for 16 h. After completion, the reaction was
quenched with saturated NaHCO3 solution, and extracted three times
with DCM washed with water and brine, and dried over magnesium
sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure until a small
amount was left and then was poured into a beaker containing
pentane. After cooling with an ice bath, the desired compound 3
(2G9Cl) precipitated as a white solid with a yield of (0.405 g, 0.412
mmol, 84%). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ 8.19 (dd, J = 1.10, 8.25
Hz, 1H), 8.15 (d, J = 7.79 Hz, 1H), 7.98 (s, 2H), 7.77 (td, J = 1.10,
7.61 Hz, 1H), 7.49−7.57 (m, 3H), 7.44 (s, 4H), 5.47 (s, 2H), 5.26 (s,
4H), 5.24 (br s, 2H), 4.73 (s, 4H), 4.60 (br s, 2H), 4.59 (s, 8H), 4.56
(s, 4H). 13C{1H} NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3): δ 155.1, 155.1, 154.5,
145.9, 134.6, 134.5, 134.3, 134.0, 133.6, 132.1, 132.0, 132.0, 131.9,
131.0, 129.9, 128.3, 127.6, 124.9, 76.4, 73.6, 73.6, 72.0, 72.0, 45.0,
45.0, 40.6, 40.5. MALDI-TOF m/z: (M + Na) calcd for
C43H38Cl9NO6Na, 1005.9729; found, 1005.9749. FT-IR (golden
gate, 600−4000 cm−1) 1528, 1475, 1367, 1342, 1265, 1211, 1131,
992, 968, 888, 789, 727, 678. mp (99−102 °C).
600−4000 cm−1) 32867, 2971, 2877, 1632, 1477, 1462, 1401, 1362,
1266, 1247, 1223, 1164, 1106, 1082, 1006, 949, 882. mp (81−84 °C).
3G27DIOXOLANE (16). A solution of 2,4,6-tri(1,3-dioxolan-2-
yl)phenol 15 (0.189 g, 0.610 mmol), 13 (2G9Cl) (0.04 g, 0.041
mmol), K2CO3 (0.169 g, 1.220 mmol), and potassium iodide (0.061
g, 0.366 mmol) in acetone (4.07 mL) was stirred at 55 °C overnight.
The reaction mixture was quenched with water and extracted four
times with ethyl acetate washed with water and brine, and dried over
magnesium sulfate. The crude product was purified by flash
chromatography using ethyl acetate/acetone (EtOAc 100% then
30% acetone) to give the desired product 16 (3G27dioxolane) as a
white solid (0.081 g, 0.023 mmol, 58%). 1H NMR (300 MHz,
acetone-d6): δ 7.96 (s, 2H), 7.94 (s, 2H), 7.82 (s, 5H), 7.76 (s, 2H),
7.72 (s, 4H), 7.68 (s, 5H), 7.64 (s, 9H), 7.12−7.21 (m, 1H), 7.03−
7.12 (m, 1H), 6.21 (s, 2H), 6.14 (s, 4H), 6.10 (s, 4H), 5.95 (s, 8H),
5.77 (s, 1H), 5.75 (s, 2H), 5.72 (s, 4H), 5.69 (s, 2H), 5.32 (s, 4H),
5.24 (br s, 6H), 5.15−5.21 (m, 10H), 5.13 (s, 6H), 3.63−4.24 (m,
108H). 13C{1H} NMR (101 MHz, acetone-d6): δ 171.0, 158.1, 158.0,
157.9, 155.3, 155.2, 154.7, 146.7, 135.6, 135.5, 135.4, 134.8, 134.7,
134.6, 134.3, 132.9, 132.9, 132.9, 132.8, 132.4, 132.3, 130.2, 130.0,
129.4, 129.0, 128.4, 127.9, 127.8, 127.8, 127.7, 125.3, 104.0, 103.9,
103.9, 103.8, 99.8, 99.7, 99.6, 79.2, 79.1, 76.9, 74.4, 74.3, 74.0, 72.7,
66.2, 66.1, 66.0, 66.0, 66.0, 60.6, 20.9, 14.6. MALDI-TOF m/z: (M +
Na+) calcd for C178H191NO69Na, 3470.1393; found, 3471.1424.
MALDI-TOF m/z: (M + Ag+) calcd for C178H191NO69Ag, 3554.0547;
found, 3556.05. FT-IR (golden gate, 400−4000 cm−1) 2955, 2887,
1733, 1615, 1526, 1473, 1361, 1232, 1113, 1007, 967, 943, 890, 730,
661. mp (119.8−122.2 °C).
4-(((tert-Butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)methyl)-2,6-bis-
(((tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)methyl)phenol (17). Pyridin-1-
ium 4-methylbenzenesulfonate (0.044 g, 0.176 mmol) was added to a
cooled (ice bath) solution of (5-(((tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)-
methyl)-2-hydroxy-1,3-phenylene)dimethanol 9 (1.052 g, 3.52
mmol), and 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran (0.696 mL, 7.40 mmol) in DCM
(22 mL) and stirred under the same condition (ice bath) for 10 min.
The ice bath was removed and stirring at rt was continued for 22 h.
The reaction was quenched with saturated NaHCO3 solution and
extracted three times with DCM washed with water and brine, and
dried over sodium sulfate. Purification by flash chromatography using
pentane/ethyl acetate (8.5/1.5 v/v) gave the desired compound as a
colorless liquid (1.56 g, 3.31 mmol, 94%). 1H NMR (400 MHz,
CDCl3): δ 7.74 (s, 1H), 7.16 (s, 2H), 4.90 (d, J = 2.93 Hz, 1H), 4.86
(d, J = 2.93 Hz, 1H), 4.75 (dt, J = 2.41, 4.46 Hz, 2H), 4.67 (d, J =
1.83 Hz, 1H), 4.65 (s, 2H), 4.64 (d, J = 1.83 Hz, 1H), 3.96 (ddd, J =
3.12, 7.55, 11.10 Hz, 2H), 3.54−3.63 (m, 2H), 1.72−1.98 (m, 4H),
1.48−1.71 (m, 10H), 0.93−0.95 (m, 9H), 0.05−0.16 (m, 6H).
13C{1H} NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ 152.95, 132.42, 126.97, 123.78,
2G9PNP (2). A solution of 13 (84 mg, 0.06 mmol), p-nitrophenol
(127 mg, 0.910 mmol), potassium iodide (10.20 mg, 0.06 mmol), and
K2CO3 (377 mg, 2.73 mmol) in acetone (5 mL), was stirred under
reflux overnight. The reaction mixture was diluted with acetone and
filtered, the filtrate was concentrated until a small amount of the
solvent was left and poured into a beaker containing water/methanol
(1/1 v/v). The solid formed was filtered and washed with methanol
to get the desired compound 2 (2G9PNP) as a light green solid (91
1
mg, 0.048 mmol, 78%). H NMR (400 MHz, acetone-d6): δ 8.15−
8.24 (m, 6H), 7.97−8.12 (m, 13H), 7.85 (dd, J = 0.79, 7.76 Hz, 1H),
7.78 (s, 2H), 7.68−7.73 (m, 1H), 7.67 (s, 4H), 7.52 (s, 3H), 7.12−
7.26 (m, 10H), 7.03 (d, J = 9.29 Hz, 1H), 6.92−7.00 (m, 7H), 5.35
(s, 2H), 5.29 (s, 4H), 5.27 (s, 4H), 5.24 (s, 2H), 5.12 (s, 8H), 5.09 (s,
4H), 4.93 (s, 2H). 13C{1H} NMR (400 MHz, acetone-d6): δ 164.8,
164.7, 164.6, 164.4, 157.2, 157.1, 154.8, 147.2, 142.7, 142.6, 142.6,
142.5, 135.3, 135.0, 134.4, 134.1, 134.0, 132.4, 131.9, 131.5, 131.1,
131.0, 130.5, 129.6, 128.5, 126.7, 126.7, 126.6, 126.6, 125.7, 116.1,
116.1, 115.8, 115.7, 77.9, 73.9, 73.3, 70.7, 70.7, 67.1, 66.9. HRMS
(ESI-ITMS) m/z: (M + Na+) calcd for C97H74N10O33Na, 1929.4311;
found, 1929.4297. FT-IR (golden gate, 600−4000 cm−1) 1589, 1508,
1495, 1331, 1247, 1172, 1109, 996, 863, 843, 751. mp (96−98 °C).
2-Hydroxy-1,3,5-benzenetricarbaldehyde (14). This proce-
dure was adapted from a similar transformation.52 Trifluoroacetic acid
(57.2 mL) was added slowly while cooling (ice bath) to a solid
mixture of phenol (5.00 g, 53.10 mmol), and hexamethylenetetramine
(16.39 g, 117.00 mmol. Caution: exothermic reaction). The reaction
mixture was heated to 125 °C for 20 h, at which point the
temperature was raised to 150 °C and stirred for another 3 h. After
cooling to 100 °C, the reaction mixture was treated with 50 mL 3N
HCl and stirred for another 30 min. The reaction mixture was allowed
to cool overnight to room temperature. The brown solid formed was
filtered off and washed with water and dried under high vacuum to
give the desired compound 14 as a brown solid with a yield of (6.20 g,
34.8 mmol, 65%). 1H NMR (300 MHz, acetone-d6): δ 10.38 (s, 2H),
10.08 (s, 1H), 8.63 (s, 2H).
98.27, 98.23, 65.95, 64.70, 62.71, 60.37, 30.52, 25.99, 25.31, 21.03,
19.56, 18.44, 14.19, −5.18. HRMS (ESI-ITMS) m/z: (M + Na+)
calcd for C25H42O6SiNa, 489.2642; found, 489.2615. FT-IR (golden
gate, 400−4000 cm−1) 3394, 2937, 2855, 1740, 1612, 1463, 1360,
1253, 1201, 1121, 1074, 1023, 901, 835, 775, 667.
4-(Hydroxymethyl)-2,6-bis(((tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)-
methyl)phenol (18). TBAF (33.5 mL, 33.5 mmol) was added to a
cooled (ice bath) solution of 17 (4.428 g, 22.34 mmol). The ice bath
was removed and the temperature was allowed to raise to rt and
stirring was continued for 18.5 h. After completion, the reaction
mixture was quenched with water and extracted three times with ethyl
acetate washed with water and brine, and dried over sodium sulfate.
The crude product was purified by flash chromatography using
pentane/ethyl acetate (7/3 v/v) to give the desired compound 18 as a
2,4,6-Tri(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)phenol (15). A solution of PPTS
(1.00 g, 3.99 mmol), 2-hydroxybenzene-1,3,5-tricarbaldehyde 14
(1.00 g, 5.61 mmol), and ethylene glycol (3.78 mL, 67.4 mmol) in
benzene (112 mL) was refluxed for 24 h with a Dean−Stark
apparatus. The reaction mixture was quenched with saturated
NaHCO3 solution and extracted two times with benzene washed
with water and brine, and dried over sodium sulfate. Removal of the
solvent under reduced pressure gave the desired compound 15 as a
yellow solid (1.30 g, 4.21 mmol, 75%) which was launched in the next
reaction without further purification. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ
8.35 (s, 1H), 7.50 (s, 2H), 6.07 (s, 2H), 5.75 (s, 1H), 3.95−4.18 (m,
12H). 13C{1H} NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ 154.5, 129.1, 126.7, 123.2,
103.3, 101.6, 65.1, 64.9. HRMS (ESI-ITMS) m/z: (M + Na+) calcd
for C15H18O7Na, 333.0944; found, 333.0937. FT-IR (golden gate,
1
slightly yellow gel (6.62 g, 18.78 mmol, 84%). H NMR (300 MHz,
CDCl3): δ 7.87 (s, 1H), 7.22 (s, 2H), 4.91 (d, J = 3.12 Hz, 1H), 4.87
(d, J = 3.12 Hz, 1H), 4.70−4.80 (m, 2H), 4.66 (d, J = 2.02 Hz, 1H),
4.62 (d, J = 2.11 Hz, 1H), 4.60 (br s, 2H), 3.88−4.04 (m, 2H), 3.51−
3.66 (m, 2H), 1.71−2.01 (m, 4H), 1.45−1.71 (m, 8H). 13C{1H}
NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ 153.6, 132.0, 128.2, 124.2, 98.5, 98.4,
65.8, 65.1, 62.8, 30.5, 25.3, 19.6. HRMS (ESI-ITMS) m/z: (M + Na+)
calcd for C19H28O6Na, 375.1778; found, 375.1771. FT-IR (golden
G
DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.9b00651
J. Org. Chem. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX

The Journal of Organic Chemistry
Article
gate, 400−4000 cm−1) 3389, 2941, 2869, 1737, 1612, 1485, 1455,
1373, 1350, 1260, 1227, 1201, 1118, 1073, 1020, 900, 869, 812.
3G18OTHP9OH (19). A solution of 13 (0.701 g, 0.712 mmol), 18
(3.76 g, 10.68 mmol), potassium iodide (1.06 g, 6.41 mmol), and
potassium carbonate (3.94 g, 28.5 mmol) in acetone (23.74 mL) was
heated to 55 °C for 23 h. The reaction was quenched with water and
extracted three times with ethyl acetate washed with water and brine,
and dried over sodium sulfate. The crude product was purified by
flash chromatography using ethyl acetate/methanol (100% to 90/10
v/v) to give the desired compound with a yield of (1.00 g, 0.264
119.3, 115.3, 115.0, 114.9, 114.8, 114.3, 76.1, 71.5, 69.3, 65.5, 65.2.
MALDI-TOF m/z: (M + Na+) calcd for C286H218N28O96Na,
5605.3030; found, 5605.36. FT-IR (golden gate, 600−4000 cm−1)
1591, 1510, 1496, 1399, 1371, 1340, 1298, 1252, 1173, 1111, 1006,
982, 832, 752, 703. mp (116−120 °C).
Disassembly Monitored by UV−Vis. A solution of 1
(1G3PNP) (1.8 × 10−5 M, 5.4 × 10−8 mol) in basic medium
(DMF/NaOH sol. 1.9 × 10−3 M, 9/1 v/v) at rt was irradiated in a
LUMOS 43A photoreactor equipped with light-emitting diode (LED)
at 360 nm for a specific time and monitored by UV−vis. Up to 98% of
the p-nitrophenoxide released was observed based on its absorbance
at λ = 422 nm, after 360 min.
1
mmol, 37%), H NMR (300 MHz, acetone-d6): δ 7.11−8.06 (m,
30H), 4.12−5.46 (m, 106H), 3.56−3.97 (m, 18H), 3.19−3.55 (m,
18H), 1.23−1.93 (m, 110H). 13C{1H} NMR (75 MHz, acetone-d6): δ
155.7, 155.6, 155.3, 155.0, 154.9, 154.5, 154.1, 146.5, 139.2, 139.2,
139.1, 135.9, 135.3, 135.2, 135.1, 134.7, 132.7, 132.6, 132.6, 132.5,
132.4, 129.7, 129.4, 129.2, 128.8, 128.6, 128.0, 127.8, 125.4, 98.8,
98.6, 98.5, 77.3, 72.5, 72.3, 72.2, 64.9, 64.8, 64.7, 64.7, 64.6, 64.5,
64.4, 62.5, 62.4, 62.3, 31.5, 31.4, 31.3, 31.3, 26.4, 26.3, 26.3, 21.0,
20.2, 20.1, 20.1. MALDI-TOF m/z: (M + Na+) calcd for
C214H281NO60Na, 3849.8927; found, 3849.89. FT-IR (golden gate,
400−4000 cm−1) 3438, 2939, 2868, 1527, 1463, 1347, 1201, 1117,
1019, 902, 869, 813, 729.
A solution of 2 (2G9PNP) (3.67 × 10−6 M, 1.10 × 10−8 mol) in
basic medium (DMF/NaOH sol. 2.99 × 10−3 M, 9/1 v/v) at rt was
irradiated in a LUMOS 43A photoreactor equipped with LED at 360
nm for a specific time and monitored by UV−vis. Up to 86% of the p-
nitrophenoxide released was observed based on its absorbance at λ =
422 nm, after 240 min.
A solution (3 mL) of 3 (3G27PNP) (1.8 × 10−6 M, 5.4 × 10−9
mol) in (0.004 M) DBU in DMF at rt was irradiated in a LUMOS
43A photoreactor equipped with LED at 360 nm for a precise time
and monitored by UV−vis. Up to 75% p-nitrophenoxide released was
observed based on its absorbance at λ = 434 nm, after 160 min.
3G27OH (20). To a solution of 19 (0.60 g, 0.12 mmol), in MeOH
(20 mL) at room temperature was added TMS-Cl (0.08 mL, 0.0.619
mmol), and the reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight.
After completion, the reaction mixture was concentrated under
reduced pressure and then was precipitated by pouring into a beaker
containing ether, the solid was filtered off and washed with ether to
afford the desired compound (3G27OH) as a white solid (0.22 g,
0.096 mmol), with a yield of 78%. 1H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ
7.01−7.94 (m, 30H), 4.74−5.31 (m, 52H), 4.26−4.73 (m, 54H)
13C{1H} NMR (75 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 153.6, 153.3, 152.0, 151.9,
151.8, 151.8, 145.4, 137.9, 137.8, 137.7, 134.7, 134.7, 134.5, 134.4,
133.9, 133.8, 133.8, 132.9, 131.3, 131.1, 130.8, 128.3, 128.0, 125.6,
125.4, 75.2, 75.0, 70.4, 70.2, 65.0, 62.9, 62.9, 58.2, 58.0, 15.2. MALDI-
TOF m/z: (M + Na+) calcd for C124H137NO42Na, 2335.8541; found,
2335.8485. FT-IR (golden gate, 400−4000 cm−1) 3312, 2934, 2880,
1525, 1459, 1361, 1298, 1200, 1142, 1066, 1020, 982, 885.
ASSOCIATED CONTENT
* Supporting Information
The Supporting Information is available free of charge on the
ACS Publications website at DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.9b00651.
■
S
Copies of spectral data for all compounds (PDF)
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Corresponding Author
*E-mail: christian.bochet@unifr.ch.
■
ORCID
Christian G. Bochet: 0000-0003-4267-0523
3G27Cl (21). Thionyl chloride (1.136 mL, 15.42 mmol) was
added slowly at rt to a solution of 20 (0.223 g, 0.096 mmol) in DCM/
DMF [22 mL, (10/1 v/v)], and refluxed for 4.5 h. The reaction was
quenched with cold water and extracted three times with DCM
washed with water and brine, dried over sodium sulfate. The crude
product was purified by flash chromatography using pentane/ethyl
acetate (1/1 v/v) to get the desired compound as white solid with a
Notes
The authors declare no competing financial interest.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The support of the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant
200020-165856) is gratefully acknowledged.
■
1
yield of (0.158 g, 0.056 mmol, 58%). H NMR (400 MHz, acetone-
d6): δ 7.35−8.14 (m, 30H), 4.98−5.48 (m, 26H), 4.45−4.97 (m,
54H). 13C{1H} NMR (75 MHz, acetone-d6): δ 156.2, 156.1, 156.1,
156.0, 154.6, 146.9, 136.0, 135.9, 135.8, 135.2, 135.0, 134.7, 134.6,
134.4, 133.4, 133.4, 133.3, 133.2, 133.1, 132.2, 132.1, 131.0, 130.8,
129.8, 129.2, 128.4, 125.5, 77.6, 77.4, 77.3, 74.0, 73.2, 73.1, 45.9, 41.8,
41.6, 41.6, 23.0, 14.4. MALDI-TOF m/z: (M + Na+) calcd for
C124H110Cl27NO15Na, 2832.9214; found, 2834.1. FT-IR (golden gate,
600−4000 cm−1) 2925, 2856, 2361, 1733, 1610, 1525, 1467, 1370,
1265, 1211, 1133, 1040, 968, 905, 729, 677. mp (63−69 °C).
3G27PNP (3). A solution of 21 (3G27Cl) (0.1 g, 0.031 mmol), p-
nitrophenol (0.495 g, 3.56 mmol), potassium iodide (0.159 g, 0.960
mmol), and K2CO3 (0.983 g, 7.11 mmol) in acetone (15 mL) was
heated at 55 °C for 65 h. The reaction mixture was then diluted with
acetone and filtered off. The filtrate was concentrated under vacuum
until small amount of solvent was left, and then was poured into a
beaker containing water where an immediate light green solid was
formed which was then filtered off and washed with water and
methanol to get the desired compound (3G27PNP) as a light green
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J. Org. Chem. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX

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