Progressive Coordinative Oligomerization of a Heterocycle Aggregate
Directed by Fe(III): Elucidating a 15-Step Inter- and Intramolecular
Domino Mechanism
Abstract
Benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylmethanol undergoes progressive oligomerization
when treated under solvothermal condition with FeCl 3·6H
2O to give heterocycle aggregate (1,2,3-tris(benzo-[
d]thiazol-2-yl)-2,9-dihydrobenzo-[ b]cyclopenta-[
e][1,4]-thiazine. Four single-crystal structures analyses
have been performed on compounds isolated during the reactions and 15
consecutive steps have been deciphered from ESI-MS of both solid
products and the intermediate reaction solutions. These progressive
steps involve intermolecular C-C coupling (9 steps) and intramolecular
ring expansion (6 steps). Each of the non-carbon atoms (N, O, and S) has
its particular function due to their position on the heterocycle: (i)
The N and O coordinated with Fe(III) to activate the reaction site, (
ii) C-O homolytic cleavage promoted C-C coupling reactions, and (
iii) C-S migration caused intramolecular ring expansion.
Importantly, through theoretical calculations, decrease in Gibbs free
energy of intramolecular reaction pathways support this mechanism and
activation mode, which indicated that the Fe(III) is necessary for the
reaction to progress. The investigation of photophysical properties
revealed that the heterocyclic aggregates exhibited good luminescent
behavior in the wavelength range of 535–610 nm, approaching the near
infrared region. This finding underscores the significance of this
reaction pathway and the identification of its mechanistic steps in
facilitating the synthesis of functional oligomers and polymers from
monomers, particularly through the catalytic promotion by inexpensive
metal ions.