Synthesis and chiroptical characterization of a negatively curved helicene with a central tropone unit

We report the synthesis of an π-expanded [5]helicene incorporating a seven-membered tropone unit. The synthesis was based on a cycloaddition-cyclization strategy that exploited the versatile reactivity of alkynes. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the racemic compound revealed its highly twisted st...

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Main Authors: Kies, Wolfgang (Author) , Misselwitz, Erik (Author) , Borstelmann, Jan (Author) , Berger, Georg (Author) , Rominger, Frank (Author) , Kivala, Milan (Author)
Format: Article (Journal) Editorial
Language:English
Published: November 07, 2025
In: Synlett
Year: 2026, Volume: 37, Issue: 02, Pages: 232-236
ISSN:1437-2096
DOI:10.1055/a-2698-2720
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2698-2720
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/a-2698-2720
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Author Notes:Wolfgang Kies, Erik Misselwitz, Jan Borstelmann, Georg Berger, Frank Rominger, Milan Kivala
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Summary:We report the synthesis of an π-expanded [5]helicene incorporating a seven-membered tropone unit. The synthesis was based on a cycloaddition-cyclization strategy that exploited the versatile reactivity of alkynes. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the racemic compound revealed its highly twisted structure and provided insights into the structural impacts of the tropone moiety on the [5]helicene subunit. Enantiomeric resolution by chiral HPLC followed by an assessment of the configurational stability revealed a significantly reduced barrier for racemization compared to pristine [5]helicene. Density functional theory calculations on the racemization mechanism identified the crucial role of the flexible tropone unit in preorganizing the molecular framework toward the transition-state geometry, thereby lowering the activation barrier.
Item Description:Gesehen am 23.02.2026
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1437-2096
DOI:10.1055/a-2698-2720