Modular Synthesis of Helicene-Like Compounds Based on the Imidazolium Motif

Abstract

Straightforward synthesis of novel mono-and tricationic helical compounds based on the imidazolium core has been developed. The synthetic route based on double [2+2+2] cyclo-addition reactions of precursors with the imidazolium core motif is notably modular and reaches beyond established protocols used for the synthesis of imidazolium systems as well as beyond the reported protocols used to assemble compounds with helical frameworks.

This approach opens rapid four-step access to a cationic species featuring nine ortho-annulated rings that represents the highest order helical nitrogen-based cationic system reported to date.

Keywords

• synthetic methods
• nitrogen heterocycles
• helical structures
• [2+2+2] cycloaddition
• electrophoresis