A series of hitherto unknown 5,14-diphenylbenzo[j]naphtho[2,1,8-def][2,7]phenanthrolines, containing a 5-azatetracene and a 2-azapyrene subunit, were prepared by combination of Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with a one-pot Povarov/cycloisomerization reaction. In the final key step four new bonds are formed in one step. The synthetic approach allows for a high degree of diversification of the heterocyclic core structure. The optical and electrochemical properties were studied experimentally and by DFT/TD-DFT and NICS calculations. Due to the presence of the 2-azapyrene subunit, the typical electronic nature and characteristics of the 5-azatetracene moiety are lost and the compounds are electronically and optically more related to 2-azapyrenes.
Keywords: cross-coupling; cyclization; cycloisomerization; heterocycles; palladium.
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