Synthesis and self-assembly of novel calix[4]arenocrowns: formation of calix[4]areno[2]catenanes

A series of novel calix[4]arenocrowns 1a-c were efficiently synthesized by a one-pot reaction of calix[4]monohydroquinone diacetate 5 with ditosylate 6 and its analogues in the presence of sodium hydroxide. It was found that the calix[4]arenocrowns could form stable pseudorotaxane-type complexes 2a-c with paraquat, and further self-assemble into calix[4]areno[2]catenanes 3a-c with dicationic salt 8 and p-bis(bromomethyl)benzene.     

Calix[4]quinones. Part 4: The ClO2 oxidation of calix[4]arene dialkyl ethers

Except for the special case of calix[4]arene diethyl ether 1, the chlorine dioxide oxidation of dialkyl ethers 2-5 yielded only the corresponding calix[4]diquinone dialkyl ethers 8-11. Chlorine dioxide oxidation of calix[4]arene diethyl ether 1 produced two isomeric products 6 and 7, which were stable enough to be isolated by column chromatography. However, a slow conformational interconversion between isomeric pair 6 and 7 was observed at room temperature, and the equilibrium was reached after 400 h at 18 °C with an amount of 5:3 in favor of syn-isomer.     

Convenient synthesis of [3]catenane by olefin metathesis dimerizations

[3]Catenane 5a and 5b were synthesized conveniently by olefin metathesis dimerization of pseudorotaxanes 3a and 3b. The yields of 5a and 5b were influenced by concentrations of 3a and 3b, and a ring size of a center wheel of [3]catenane.     

Azobenzene-bridged calix[8]arenes

An azobenzene bridge was introduced into the lower (or smaller) rim of p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene (1) and 1,5-calix[8]crown-3 (2) to form 1,4-singly bridged (3) and 1,5:3,7-doubly bridged (4) calix[8]arene derivatives, respectively. Trans and cis isomers of conformationally rigid 4 were isolated. The quantum yields of the trans-cis photoisomerisation reactions have been measured.     

Solid-state and solution photocycloadditions of 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones with maleimide

Solid-state photosensitized reactions of 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones (1b,c) with maleimide (2) afforded endo-endo double-[4+2] cycloadducts (3b,c) with high stereoselectivity. Sensitized photoreactions of 1a-d with 2 in solution gave exo-endo double-[4+2] cycloadducts (4a-d). 2-Pyrones 1a-d were photolyzed to give carboxylic acids (5a-d) via their valence isomerization in the solid state and in solution. Such kinds of photoreaction of the 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones were dramatically different from regio- and stereoselective [2+2] cycloadditions of 4-alkyloxy-2-pyrones. The photoreaction mechanisms of 1 with 2 and 1 itself were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction analysis and MO calculations.     

Selective synthesis of bis[1,2]dithiolo[1,4]thiazines from 4-isopropylamino-5-chloro-1,2-dithiole-3-ones

Reaction of 4-isopropylamino-5-chloro-1,2-dithiole-3-ones 3 and S₂Cl₂ in acetonitrile gave selectively 3-oxo-bis[1,2]dithiolo[1,4]thiazine-5-thiones 1 by the addition of triethylamine and bis[1,2]dithiolo[1,4]thiazine-3,5-diones 5 under the action of formic acid. 3,5-Diones 5 were also obtained by intramolecular cyclization of N,N-bis(5-chloro-3-oxo[1,2]dithiol-4-yl)amines 6 with S₂Cl₂ in the presence of Et₃N.     

Diester intrabridging of p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene and unexpected formation of the monospirodienone derivative

Reaction of p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene 1 with adipoyl chloride in the presence of NaH as the base yielded singly and doubly intrabridged esters 2-4 and 6. Surprisingly, calix[8]arene monospirodienone derivative 7 was also isolated, which was originated by O₂ oxidation. The conditions of this oxidation were optimized leading to a novel synthetic approach to calixarene monospirodienones based on the O₂/NaH/acyl-chloride oxidizing system. Xantheno calix[8]arenes 8-8a were obtained by rearrangement of 7.     

Capping the upper and lower rims of calix[4]arenes by aryl dinitrile oxide reactions

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of upper- and lower-rim diallylcalix[4]arenes (1 and 3) with aryl dinitrile oxides provide a unique and efficient way of capping the calix[4]arenes. When dinitrile oxides reacted with 5-allylcalix[4]arene 7, they underwent a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition on one side and an electrophilic substitution on the other side, which led to a novel type of asymmetric calix[4]arenes (9 and 12).     

EPR studies on H-abstraction from methylbenzenes by “magic blue” reagent

After mixing a methylbenzene 4 with “magic blue” solution in F113 (CClF₂CCl₂F) containing bis{perfluoro[1-(2-fluorosulfonyl)ethoxy]ethyl}nitroxide 2 and perfluoro-1-nitroso-1-[1-(2-fluorosulfonyl)ethoxy]ethane 3 at room temperature, benzylic H-atom of 4 could be selectively abstracted by 2, and benzyl radical 5 thus generated was immediately trapped by 3. Based on hyper-fine splitting constants (hfsc), the structure of the spin adducts perfluoro[1-(2-fluorosulfonyl)ethoxy]ethyl benzyl nitroxides 6 derived from seven methylbenzenes have been identified. The mechanism of the H-abstraction/spin trapping process is also discussed.     

Syntheses of two diamine substituted 1,3-distal calix[4]arene-based magnetite nanoparticles for extraction of dichromate, arsenate and uranyl ions

The synthesis of two new calixarene derivatives 4 and 5, functionalized at the lower rim with 4-amino-1-benzylpiperidine to give diamide and diamine derivatives of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene, is described. They were obtained by the reaction of both the diester derivative of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene (2) and the dialkyl bromide derivative of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene (3) with 4-amino-1-benzylpiperidine. The ¹H NMR spectra of calixarene derivatives show that 4 and 5 exist in the cone conformation. Moreover, these diamide and diamine derivatives of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene (4 and 5) have been immobilized onto [3-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-propyl]-trimethoxysilane-modified Fe₃O₄ magnetite nanoparticles to obtain calixarene-based magnetic nanoparticles M-DADBP-Calix (6) and M-DABP-Calix (7). The calix[4]arene immobilized materials were characterized by a combination of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Thermogravimetric Analyses (TGA) and elemental analysis. Additionally, the studies regarding the removal of As(V)/Cr(VI) ions as well as U(VI) ion from aqueous solutions were also carried out by using these compounds in liquid-liquid/solid-liquid extraction experiments.     

Hetero-calix[4]pyrroles: incorporation of furans, thiophenes, thiazoles or fluorenes as a part of the macrocycle

Furans, thiazoles, fluorene or thiophene incorporated calix[4]pyrrole analogues were synthesized and characterized. The synthesis was achieved by utilization of various building blocks such as 7, 13, 14, 18 and 21. Acid catalyzed condensation of those building blocks with acetone or meso-disubstituted dipyrromethanes afforded desired macrocycles.     

Ozonolysis of bis-endo-diacylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptenes in dichloromethane-methanol

Ozonolysis of bis-endo-diacylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptenes 3a-d at −78 °C in dichloromethane-methanol gave the hydroperoxides 6a-d in 70-80% yields. Ozonolysis of bis-endo-diacetylbicyclo[2.2.2]octene 15 and bis-endo-diacetyl-7-oxabicyclo-[2.2.1]heptene 16 under the same reaction conditions gave the hydroperoxides 17 and 18, respectively. The intramolecular sequential nucleophilic addition of the carbonyl groups to the carbonyl oxide group was observed for the first time and was found to be faster than the intermolecular nucleophilic addition of a methanol molecule to the carbonyl oxide group. Ozonolysis of compound 23 in CH₂Cl₂-MeOH at −78 °C followed by reduction with Me₂S gave compounds 24 and 25, in which the stereochemistry of the methoxyl groups was determined by X-ray analysis.     

A preparative microwave method for the isomerisation of 4,16-dibromo[2.2]paracyclophane into 4,12-dibromo[2.2]paracyclophane

4,16-Dibromo[2.2]paracyclophane (4) is isomerised to 4,12-dibromo[2.2]paracyclophane (1) by the application of microwaves in DMF solution.     

Syntheses and structural characterization of some mono- and di-p-nitrophenyl[3]ferrocenophanes: X-ray structure of [3]ferrocenophane, 3-p-nitrophenyl[3]ferrocenophane, and 3,4′-bis-(p-nitrophenyl)[3]ferrocenophane; DFT calculations on ferrocene derivatives

[3]Ferrocenophane (3a) reacts in a Gomberg reaction with diazotized p-nitroaniline to give a mixture of mono- and di-substituted products. The isomeric pairs of 3- and 2-(p-nitrophenyl)[3]ferrocenophanes (4 and 5), as well as 3,4′- and 3,4-bis-(p-nitrophenyl)[3]ferrocenophanes (6 and 7) were separated from the mixture by column chromatography on Al₂O₃ and characterized by means of mass, IR, UV, ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, and by X-ray analysis (4 and 6). PM3/tm and density functional theoretical calculations on ferrocene (1) and ferrocenophane derivatives are reported. A refined X-ray structure determination of [3]ferrocenophane (3a) is given.     

Synthesis of functionalized bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-6-ones for diterpenoids: allylsilane directed Pummerer reaction: insertion reactions of diazoketones

The sulfide 5 underwent Pummerer cyclization to give 6, whereas the allyl silane analog 10 produced the bicyclo[3.2.1]octanones 11 and 11a. Extension of this methodology to 15 resulted in 16 without the necessity for allyl silane activation. The intermediate diazoketone 14 on treatment with BF₃·OEt₂ gave 17, 18 and 19, whereas the saturated adduct 22 on treatment with Rh₂(OAc)₄ gave 23.     

Construction of benzene ring-layered polymers

A simple and novel approach for synthesizing the benzene ring-layered polymers using [2.2]paracyclophane and xanthene skeletons was demonstrated. Palladium-catalyzed polymerization of pseudo-p-diethynyl[2.2]paracyclophane 1, 2,7-di-tert-butyl-4,5-diiodo-9,9-dimethylxanthene 2, and ethynylferrocene 3 gave the corresponding polymers 4a-c, which composed of 7-30 face-to-face benzene rings by changing the feed ratio of 1-3.     

Synthesis and evaluation of a novel pyrenyl-appended triazole-based thiacalix[4]arene as a fluorescent sensor for Ag ion

New fluorescent chemosensors 1,3-alternate-1 and 2 with pyrenyl-appended triazole-based on thiacalix[4]arene were synthesized. The fluorescence spectra changes suggested that chemosensors 1 and 2 are highly selective for Ag⁺ over other metal ions by enhancing the monomer emission of pyrene in neutral solution. However, other heavy metal ions, such as Cu²⁺, and Hg²⁺ quench both the monomer and excimer emission of pyrene acutely. The ¹H NMR results indicated that Ag⁺ can be selectively recognized by the triazole moieties on the receptors 1 and 2 together with the ionophoricity cavity formed by the two inverted benzene rings and sulfur atoms of the thiacalix[4]arene.     

9,9-Dimethyl-8,10-dioxapentacyclo[5.3.0.0.0.0]decane and naphthotetracyclo[5.1.0.0.0]oct-3-ene: new substituted [1.1.1]propellanes as precursors to 1,2,3,4-tetrafunctionalized bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes

Two new substituted [1.1.1]propellanes have been generated from the corresponding bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes in either single-step (1a) or four-step procedures (1b). The observed degree of double lithiation of the bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes is discussed in the context of DFT computational results. Addition reactions across the central C(1)-C(3) bonds of the propellanes were studied. Only the propellane 1b gave the biacetyl addition product.     

New water-soluble calix[4]arene-bis(benzocrown-6) for caesium-sodium separation by nanofiltration-complexation

Calix-bis(benzocrown-6) 6 and 7 were converted into the water-soluble receptors 9, 10, 12 and 15 by introducing hydroxy, carboxy, sulfato or diethanolamino groups at the para position of the phenolic ring and/or on the benzo-ether moieties. The complexation properties of these ionophores were studied for all alkali cations in methanolic and aqueous media. Stability constants were calculated by UV-Vis spectroscopy. All ligands showed a more or less affinity for the larger cations, depending on the nature and the position of the substituents grafted on the benzo-ether chain only or both on the calixarene ring and the benzo-ether loop. For selective Cs⁺/Na⁺ separation, the efficiency of the ligands was evaluated by means of a nanofiltration system. In comparison with the known tetrahydroxylated bis-crown-6 calix[4]arene 1, compounds 9, 12 and 15 represent the most selective ligands for the Cs⁺ cation in a moderate salted medium ([NaNO₃]=85 g/L).     

Solid-state photocycloaddition of 6,6′-dimethyl-4,4′-[bis(methylenoxy)phenylene]-di-2-pyrones with benzophenone

Photocycloaddition reactions of 6,6′-dimethyl-4,4′-[bis(methylenoxy)phenylene]-di-2-pyrones (4a-c) with benzophenone (2a) by mixing in the solid state (solid solution) afforded the corresponding oxetane derivatives (5a-c; 1:2 adducts) with high site- and regioselectivity across the C5-C6 and C5′-C6′ double bonds in 4 via the triplet excited state of benzophenone. The oxetane formation proceeded more effectively in the solid state than in solution. The reaction mechanism was inferred by MO methods to be initiated by electrostatic interaction between the C6 position of 4a-c and the carbonyl oxygen of 2a in their ground states. The solid-state interaction may be enhanced by the electron density at the carbonyl oxygen of the triplet 2a. The transition state (TS) analysis of the [2+2] cycloaddition reactions also suggested some triplet complexes and high regioselectivity. The hydrogen-bonding interaction between 2a and 4a-c and the triplet reaction mechanism were also explained by the IR analyses and the quenching experiments, respectively.