Enamine Compound Synthesis via Iridium-Catalyzed Amide Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional donor-acceptor type compounds have complex chemical structures and lengthy manufacturing processes, limiting their practical application, and enamine compounds synthesized from aldehydes and amines have restricted chemical structures, hindering the development of diverse compounds.

Innovation Solution

A new synthesis method using metal complexes, specifically reacting a hydrosilane compound with an amide compound in the presence of an iridium complex, which selectively reduces the amide bond, resulting in enamine compounds with electron-withdrawing groups as acceptors, enabling efficient production of compounds with various structures that exhibit strong fluorescence and photosensitization properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional donor-acceptor type compounds are used, then strong absorption band in visible region and fluorescence generation are achieved, but chemical structure becomes complicated and manufacturing process takes long time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabsorption band intensityVSAvoidchemical structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameters by using enamine compounds with specific general formulas (1) and (2), where the donor-acceptor structure is simplified compared to conventional compounds. The enamine structure allows for easier synthesis while maintaining the essential donor-acceptor characteristics needed for strong absorption and fluorescence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the molecular structure into specific functional components: an enamine structure as the donor portion and an electron-withdrawing group as the acceptor portion, connected through a conjugated structure. This segmentation allows for modular synthesis and simplifies the overall chemical structure while preserving the required optical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional enamine compounds synthesized from aldehydes and amines are used, then synthesis is straightforward, but chemical structures are limited and compound diversity is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynthesis easeVSAvoidchemical structure diversity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal enamine compound structure that can accommodate various electron-withdrawing groups (A) and substituent groups (R1-R6), making the synthesis method applicable to a wide range of compounds. The general formulas (1) and (2) provide a flexible framework that can be adapted to produce diverse compounds with different optical and electronic properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the structural parameters by introducing specific general formulas with variable groups (A, R1-R6, X, n) that allow for systematic variation of chemical structures. This enables the synthesis of diverse enamine compounds with different electron-withdrawing groups while maintaining a consistent and easy synthesis pathway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If enamine compounds with various chemical structures are developed, then application range expands to organic solar cells, transistors, and nonlinear optical materials, but synthesis method complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication rangeVSAvoidsynthesis method complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent develops a universal synthesis method using metal complex-catalyzed coupling reactions that can produce enamine compounds suitable for multiple applications including organic solar cells, transistors, and nonlinear optical materials. The same general formulas (1) and (2) and synthesis approach can be used to create compounds tailored for different applications by simply changing the electron-withdrawing group (A) and substituents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method allows for the production of enamine compounds that emit intense fluorescence, are useful as fluorescent luminescent agents and photosensitizers, and can be applied in organic solar cells, transistors, and nonlinear optical materials, offering a wide range of applications.

Implementation Method 1

the enamine compound of the present invention absorbs ultraviolet light to visible light to generate fluorescence emission

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 2

when a hydrosilane compound was reacted with an amide compound in the presence of an iridium complex, the present inventors surprisingly found that an electron-withdrawing group does not react, only an amide bond is selectively reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentEP3590919B1Enamine compound and use thereof
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 THE JAPAN SCI & TECH AGENCY
  • EP3590919B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3590919B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3590919B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provided are a donor-acceptor type compound having a novel structure and its use. An enamine compound represented by general formula (1) (in the formula: R1 represents an electron-withdrawing group; A represents a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group which may contain a substituent, a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group which may contain a substituent or a divalent unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group which may contain a substituent; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may contain a substituent; R3 and R4 are the same or different from each other and represent an aromatic hydrocarbon group which may contain a substituent or an aromatic heterocyclic group which may contain a substituent, or R3 and R4 together form an optionally substituted bicyclic aromatic heterocyclic group containing two or more nitrogen atoms or a nitrogen atom and an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, or a tricyclic aromatic heterocyclic group which may contain a substituent; and R2 and A, or R2 and R3 may together form a cyclic structure).