Conversion of a spiroketal to a hybrid swallowtail suitable for solubilizing D-Sigma-A molecules

ORGN 891

Ramakrishna Samudrala, ramakris@olemiss.edu and Daniell L. Mattern, mattern@olemiss.edu. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677
We have previously prepared a series of Donor-σ- Acceptor molecules as potential molecular rectifiers, with perylenebisimide as the acceptor. Attached to one end of the bisimide is either an alkyl swallowtail (a 9-nonadecyl group to impart solubility in nonpolar solvents) or a PEG swallowtail (a hexaoxa analog, imparting improved solubility in polar solvents). We wished to try a hybrid, tetraoxa swallowtail, for improved ease of handling of intermediates, and possible intermediate solubility of the final targets. Claisen condensation of δ- valerolactone followed by acidic decarboxylation gave the cyclic ketal 1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane. Such spiroketals are known for their stability, so their reactivity has not been much explored. However, we were able to open 1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane and convert it to its oxime by treatment with NH2OH and AcONa. Williamson conditions with 3 equiv of 2-methoxyethyltosylate alkylated the two resulting alcohol hydroxyls as well as the oxime hydroxyl. LiAlH4 reduction gave the swallowtail-amine 10-amino-2,5,15,18-tetraoxanonadecane, which was coupled with perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride to make the bis-swallowtailed perylene tetracarboxylic bisimide. This bisimide was semi-hydrolyzed to perylenetetracarboxylic monoimide monoanhydride, which then coupled with various donors to give the D-σ-A-swallowtail targets.