A series of 20 one chiral epoxides were obtained with excellent yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) using hybrid amide-based Cinchona alkaloids. Our method is characterized by low catalyst loading (0.5 mol %) and short reaction times. Moreover, the epoxidation process can be carried out in 10 cycles, without further catalyst addition to the reaction mixture. This methodology significantly enhance the scale of the process using very low catalyst loading.

The development of stable and tunable polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) is crucial for the advancement of organic optoelectronics. Conventional PACs, such as acenes, often suffer from poor stability due to photooxidation and oligomerization, which are linked to their frontier molecular orbital energy levels. To address these limitations, we designed and synthesized a new class of π-expanded indoloindolizines by merging indole and indolizine moieties into a single polycyclic framework. We developed a scalable synthetic protocol to produce a wide range of π-expanded derivatives. The structural, electronic, and optical properties of these compounds were extensively characterized. We achieved precise modulation of the electronic structure by controlling the aromaticity of specific rings. Benzannulation at targeted positions allowed fine-tuning of the HOMO-LUMO gap, leading to distinct shifts in the optoelectronic properties. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction confirmed their molecular structures, while theoretical calculations provided insights into the observed experimental trends. These indoloindolizines exhibit vivid colors and fluorescence across the visible spectrum and enhanced stability against photooxidation. Reactivity studies demonstrated high regioselectivity in electrophilic substitutions, highlighting the indole-like behavior of these compounds and opening avenues for further functionalization. To showcase the practical utility of our design rules, we fabricated organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) using the newly developed indoloindolizines, which revealed remarkable performance with ambipolar charge transport properties. Overall, our work establishes indoloindolizines as a promising platform for the development of stable, tunable organic materials for optoelectronic applications. Through rational molecular design, we have provided a new pathway for molecular innovation in organic electronics.

We report an enantioselective phase transfer α-chlorination of β-keto esters catalyzed by hybrid amide-based Cinchona derivatives. The chlorination process proceeds with proper quantitative yields (up to <99%) and high asymmetric induction (up to 97% ee). We show that the use of only 0.5 mol % hybrid catalyst based on a Cinchona core allows the chlorination reaction to be conducted in a highly enantioselective manner with various indanone and tetralone carboxylate esters.

A practical four-step synthesis of a model 26-membered N-Boc-protected macrocycle, starting from commercially available and inexpensive materials, is reported. The crucial macrocyclization step does not require high-dilution conditions and is completed in a short time (8 h). The high yield of macrocyclization (61%) is achieved owing to templation by intramolecular H-bonds and a chloride anion, which both help to adopt a favorable folded conformation of the open-chain intermediate. Finally, mild, selective, and efficient incorporation of intraannular amide function leading to five diversely functionalized unclosed cryptands (UCs) is described.

A non-toxic lipoic acid derivative of β cyclodextrin (βCDLip) with an electron-rich aromatic linker was studied as a carrier for the drug doxorubicin with the aim of decreasing the toxic side effects of this drug. The modified cyclodextrin strengthened the drug binding and differentiated the complex-forming ability with dependence on pH. The stability constants of the complexes were evaluated by voltammetry and spectrofluorometry. Molecular modelling provided deeper insight into the nature of the ligand structure itself and the drug–ligand interactions, showing the different contributions of the self-inclusion of the ligand substituent at different pH values. As a result, the modes of interaction of βCDLip with the drug and factors affecting the stabilities of the complex under the pH conditions of healthy and tumour cells could be discovered and explained.