Four- and Sixfold Tandem-Domino Reactions Leading to Dimeric Tetrasubstituted Alkenes Suitable As Molecular Switches

A highly efficient palladium-catalyzed fourfold tandem-domino reaction consisting of two carbopalladation and two C-H-activation steps was developed for the synthesis of two types of tetrasubstituted alkenes 3 and 6 with intrinsic helical chirality starting from substrates 1 and 4, respectively. A sixfold tandem-domino reaction was also developed by including a Sonogashira reaction. 20 compounds with different substitution patterns were prepared with yields of up to 97 %. Structure elucidation by X-ray crystallography confirmed helical chirality of the two alkene moieties. Photophysical investigations of some of the compounds showed pronounced switching properties through light-controlled changes of their stereochemical configuration.