Giant macrocycles composed of thiophene, acetylene, and ethylene building blocks

J Am Chem Soc. 2006 Dec 27;128(51):16740-7. doi: 10.1021/ja067077t.

Abstract

Fully conjugated giant macrocyclic oligothiophenes with 60pi, 90pi,120pi, 150pi, and 180pi frames (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) have been designed, and their butyl-substituted derivatives (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, and 5a) have been synthesized using modified Sonogashira and McMurry coupling reactions as key steps. The 60-180pi systems 1-5 are circular with 1.8-6 nm inner cavities and 3.3-7.5 nm outside molecular diameters. Compound 1a containing ten 3,4-dibutyl-2,5-thienylene, eight ethynylene, and two vinylene units has been converted into macrocyclic oligo(3,4-dibutyl-2,5-thienylene-ethynylene) 6a using bromination/dehydrobromination procedure. Giant macrocycles 1a-6a exhibit a red shift of their absorption spectra and a fairly strong fluorescence with a large Stokes shift as compared to a linear conjugated counterpart having five thiophene rings. Compounds 1a-6a exhibit multistep reversible redox behaviors with fairly low first oxidation potentials, reflecting their cyclic conjugation. Furthermore, chemical oxidation of 1a-6a with FeCl3 shows drastic changes of spectroscopic properties due to intramolecular and intermolecular pi-pi interactions. Doping of 1a-3a with iodine forms semiconductor due to its pi-donor properties and pi-pi stacking ability. X-ray analysis of 1a confirmed a round, planar structure with nanoscale inner cavity, and revealed host ability for alkanes and unique packing structure. Interestingly, 2a and 3a self-aggregate in the solid state to form "molecular wires," which are about 200 nm thick and more than 1 mm long. The internal structures of fibrous aggregates have been investigated by optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylene / chemistry*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrons
  • Ethylenes / chemistry*
  • Macrocyclic Compounds / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods
  • Thiophenes / chemical synthesis
  • Thiophenes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Ethylenes
  • Macrocyclic Compounds
  • Thiophenes
  • ethylene
  • Acetylene