Copper(ii) catalyzed synthesis of novel helical luminescent benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a][1,10]phenanthrolines via an intramolecular C-H amination reaction.

In the present study a series of N-phenyl-1,10-phenanthroline-2-amine derivatives were obtained by heating 2-chlorophenanthroline with aniline derivatives under solvent free conditions in good to excellent yields. The N-phenyl-1,10-phenanthroline-2-amines were employed as substrates in a copper(ii)-catalyzed C-H amination reaction to give derivatives of the novel heterocyclic system benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a][1,10]phenanthroline. The structure of these compounds was predicted to be helical by DFT calculations and single crystal X-ray diffraction of an example of this system confirmed the non-planar helical structure. The luminescence properties of the parent heterocyclic system were characterized.