Azahelicenes from the Oxidative Photocyclization of Boron Hydroxamate Complexes.

Aromatic hydroxamic acids (Ar-CO-NOH-Ar') were used as bidentate chelating ligands to generate the corresponding boron hydroxamate complexes, which were subsequently transformed into nitrogen-containing helicenes (azahelicenes) using an oxidative photocyclization method that is frequently used for stilbene-type (Ar-CH=CH-Ar') precursors of carbohelicenes. The nitrogen atom of the hydroxamate linker was thus directly embedded into the helicene core without using nitrogen-containing aromatic rings in the stilbene-type precursors. In a batch photoreaction, aza[4]helicenes were readily and efficiently prepared, but aza[6]helicenes underwent severe decomposition upon irradiation. Alternatively, a continuous flow photoreactor was employed to furnish an amide-type aza[6]helicene.