Studies in electrophilic cyclization, palladium migration and cationic polymerization

2,3-Disubstituted benzo[b]selenophenes have been prepared by the electrophilic cyclization of various 1-(1-alkynyl)-2-(methylseleno)arenes by Br2, NBS, I2, ICl, PhSeCl, PhSeBr and Hg(OAc) 2. This method tolerates a wide variety of functional groups, including alcohol, ester, nitrile, nitro and silyl groups, and proceeds under exceptionally mild reaction conditions. A cationic intermediate in the cyclization with Br2 has been isolated and studied, providing evidence for a stepwise cyclization process

Studies in electrophilic cyclization, palladium migration and cationic polymerization

2,3-Disubstituted benzo[b]selenophenes have been prepared by the electrophilic cyclization of various 1-(1-alkynyl)-2-(methylseleno)arenes by Br2, NBS, I2, ICl, PhSeCl, PhSeBr and Hg(OAc) 2. This method tolerates a wide variety of functional groups, including alcohol, ester, nitrile, nitro and silyl groups, and proceeds under exceptionally mild reaction conditions. A cationic intermediate in the cyclization with Br2 has been isolated and studied, providing evidence for a stepwise cyclization process.</p

Synthesis and Evaluation of 3-Halobenzo[<i>b</i>]thiophenes as Potential Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents

The global health concern of antimicrobial resistance has harnessed research interest to find new classes of antibiotics to combat disease-causing pathogens. In our studies, 3-halobenzo[b]thiophene derivatives were synthesized and tested for their antimicrobial activities using the broth microdilution susceptibility method. The 3-halo substituted benzo[b]thiophenes were synthesized starting from 2-alkynyl thioanisoles using a convenient electrophilic cyclization methodology that utilizes sodium halides as the source of electrophilic halogens when reacted along with copper(II) sulfate. This environmentally benign methodology is facile, uses ethanol as the solvent, and results in 3-halo substituted benzo[b]thiophene structures in very high yields. The cyclohexanol-substituted 3-chloro and 3-bromobenzo[b]thiophenes resulted in a low MIC of 16 µg/mL against Gram-positive bacteria and yeast. Additionally, in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties of the compounds were determined. The compounds with the lowest MIC values showed excellent drug-like properties with no violations to Lipinski, Veber, and Muegge filters. The time-kill curve was obtained for cyclohexanol-substituted 3-chlorobenzo[b]thiophenes against Staphylococcus aureus, which showed fast bactericidal activity at MIC

Divinylanthracene-Containing Tetracationic Organic Cyclophane with Near-Infrared Photoluminescence

Near-infrared (NIR) light is known to have outstanding optical penetration in biological tissues and to be non-invasive to cells compared with visible light. These characteristics make NIR-specific light optimal for numerous biological applications, such as the sensing of biomolecules or in theranostics. Over the years, significant progress has been achieved in the synthesis of fluorescent cyclophanes for sensing, bioimaging, and making optoelectronic materials. The preparation of NIR-emissive porphyrin-free cyclophanes is, however, still challenging. In an attempt for fluorescence emissions to reach into the NIR spectral region, employing organic tetracationic cyclophanes, we have inserted two 9,10-divinylanthracene units between two of the pyridinium units in cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene). Steady-state absorption, fluorescence, and transient-absorption spectroscopies reveal the deep-red and NIR photoluminescence of this cyclophane. This tetracationic cyclophane is highly soluble in water and has been employed successfully as a probe for live-cell imaging in a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7)