One-Pot Coupling-Coupling-Cyclocondensation Synthesis of Fluorescent Pyrazoles

Consecutive four-component coupling-coupling-cyclocondensation syntheses of pyrazoles and pyrimidines were developed by taking advantage of the provisional, sequentially Pd-catalyzed one-pot generation of alkynones from aryl iodides, ethynylmagnesium bromide, and acid chlorides. This one-pot methodology allows the concise, diversity-oriented generation of a set of donor-, acceptor-, and donor acceptor-substituted pyrazoles, which are interesting fluorophores. Most distinctly, donor acceptor pyrazoles display remarkably red-shifted emission maxima and pronounced positive solvochromicity, spanning an overall range from 363 nm (cyclohexane) to 595 nm (acetonitrile). DFT and TD-DFT calculations elucidate the electronic structure and the photophysical behavior. Upon photonic excitation, considerable charge-transfer character becomes apparent, which rationalizes the origin of huge Stokes shifts and solvochromic behavior.