Solid-Phase Synthesis of Phenylacetylene Oligomers Utilizing a Novel 3-Propyl-3-(benzyl-supported) Triazene Linkage

Sequence-specific phenylacetylene oligomers consisting of functionalized monomers (hexyl benzoate, hexyl phenyl ether, benzonitrile, and tert-butylphenyl) are synthesized in gram quantities using solid-phase methods. Growing oligomers are attached to a divinylbenzene cross-linked polystyrene support by the 1-aryl-3-propyl-3-(benzyl-supported) triazene moiety. This linkage is obtained by reaction of arenediazonium tetrafluoroborate salts with a n-propylamino-modified Merrifield resin. Condensation strategies are described, producing oligomers with higher yields and simplified procedures compared to solution-phase methods. Terminal acetylene is protected with a trimethylsilyl group. After deprotection of the resin-bound terminal acetylene, an aryl iodide monomer or an aryl iodide-terminated oligomer is coupled to the supported oligomer using a palladium(0) catalyst. The cycle can be repeated to produce sequence-specific oligomers of varying length and functionality. The resulting oligomers are liberated from the polymer support by cleavage of the 1-aryl-3-propyl-3-(benzyl-supported) triazene group by reaction with iodomethane producing an aryl iodide.