Elongation and contraction of molecular springs. Synthesis, structures, and properties of bridged [7]thiaheterohelicenes

A series of bridged [7]thiaheterohelicenes 3a-c and 4 with a variety of helical pitches have been prepared from racemic and optical pure 2,13-bis(hydroxymethyl)dithieno[3,2-e:3',2'-e]benzo[1,2-b: 4,3-b']bis[1]benzothiophene (1) in order to investigate the helical structures in solution. Recrystallizations of (PM)-3a, (PM)-3b, (PM)-3c, and (P)-4 from hexane-dichloromethane gave crystals suitable for X-ray crystallography, while recrystallization of (PM)-4 with benzene gave an inclusion complex with a stoichiometry of (PM-4)(4).(C6H6). X-ray analyses of (PM)-3a-c, (PM-4)(4).(C6H6), and (P)-4 indicate that the dihedral angles between terminal thiophene rings of the helical framework significantly vary from 22 for 4 to 59 for 3c. This represents as increase of 37 or 168%. Although the C-13 NMR and UV absorption spectra of bridged helicenes 3a-c and unbridged helicene 5 are essentially the same, the molar rotation of 5 is very large compared with those of 3a-c and 4. A red shift (15 nm) in the circular dichroism (CD) spectrum is observed for 4, suggesting that this compound is more planar than 3a-c in solution. In the series of [7]thiaheterohelicenes studied, the minimum helical pitch is 2.70 Angstrom for 4.