New artificial receptors from selectively functionalized calix[4]arenes

Abstract

The development of new synthetic methods for the monoalkylation of calix[4]arenes at the lower rim allows the synthesis of a new class of trihydroxamate siderophores. Three chelating hydroxamic acid units are introduced through a sequence of reactions which blocks the macrocycle in the cone conformation. The new ligands obtained form neutral 1:1 complexes (FeL) with iron (III), which are stable in EtOH/H₂O 9:1 at pH 2–7. Calix[4]arene bis-crown ethers are prepared by exploiting the selective 1,2-(proximal) functionalization of calix[4]arenes at the lower rim. These ligands are, however, less effective in complexing alkali metal cations compared with the 1,3-calix[4]arene crown-ethers which, in their partial cone structure, offer a better shielding for the complexed cations. Rigid upper rim-bridged calix[4]arenes potentially useful for the inclusion of neutral molecules are prepared by exploiting the selective 1,3-diformylation of calix[4]arene at the upper rim. Finally a new chloromethylation method for calix[4]arenes blocked in the cone conformation is described together with the synthesis of new cavitands.     

25,26-Dialkoxycalix[4]arenes. Part 2: 1-Alkoxy-3-benzoyloxy route

Benzoylation of calix[4]arene monoalkyl ethers with benzoyl chloride yielded the corresponding 3-benzoates and/or 2,3-dibenzoates in different reaction conditions. A simple recrystallization process was able to isolate the 3-benzoates in good yield. In the presence of NaH as reaction base, the 1-alkoxy-3-benzoyloxycalixarenes were alkylated with active alkyl halides at proximal position and yielded the corresponding 1,2-dialkoxy derivatives. Basic hydrolysis of compounds afforded the expected 25,26-dialkoxycalix[4]arenes. For the less active alkyl halides, alkylation of 1-alkoxy-3-benzoyloxycalix[4]arenes afforded both the 1,2-dialkoxy derivatives and the benzoyl-migrated 1,3-dialkoxy derivatives. Only the highly symmetrical 1,3-diethoxy-2-benzoyloxycalix[4]arene was able to be isolated upon the deliberate recrystallization process. After basic hydrolysis of the dialkylated crude products, 25,26-dialkoxycalix[4]arenes were chromatographic separated.     

Regioselective ipso-nitration of calix[4]arenes

A novel protection/deprotection method leading to the regioselective ipso-substitution of calix[4]arenes is described. The introduction of nosyl (p-nitrobenzenesulfonyl) groups into the lower rim of partly alkylated tert-butylcalix[4]arenes leads subsequently to the exclusive ipso-nitration of the alkylated phenol rings, while the protecting groups can be easily removed in the next step. This method gives dialkoxy- or trialkoxy-substituted calix[4]arenes with nitro groups on the alkylated rings and tert-butyl groups on the remaining ones. The above substitution pattern is complementary to the isomers so far known in the chemistry of calix[4]arenes and could be used in the design of novel type of calixarene-based receptors.     

Regioselective synthesis of 1,2,3-triazolyl derivatives of calix[4]arenes based on 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

Regioselective synthesis of 1,2,3-triazolyl derivatives of calix[4]arenes based on the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of substituted benzyl azides to tetra(propargyloxy)calix[4]arenes in the presence of copper iodide was carried out. The presence of the p-methoxybenzyl substituent in the triazole ring leads to a dramatic (more than tenfold) increase in the fluorescence of the corresponding macrocycle in a region of 290–310 nm.     

25,26-Dialkoxycalix[4]arenes. Part 1: 25-Alkoxy-26,27-diacetoxy route

Acetylation of calix[4]arene 1,3-dialkyl ethers yielded the corresponding monoacetates. The ¹H NMR spectral analysis indicated that the products’ alkoxy moieties were ‘rotation restricted’. Acylation of calix[4]arene monoalkyl ethers with acetyl chloride yielded monoacetates and/or 2,3-diacetates in different reaction conditions. A simple recrystallization process was able to isolate 2,3-diacetates in good yield. The ¹H NMR spectra of the diacetylated products indicated that those compounds also possessed the ‘rotation restricted’ alkoxy moieties. In the presence of K₂CO₃ as reaction base, alkylation of 2,3-diacetates produced the acetyl-migrated 1,3-dialkyloxy derivatives. Basic hydrolysis of the acetyl-migrated compounds yielded the known 1,3-dialkoxycalix[4]arenes. In the presence of NaH as reaction base, 2,3-diacetates were alkylated with and without the acetyl-migration. For the highly reactive benzyl bromide and allyl bromide, the majority of alkylation proceeded without acetyl-migration. In the other alkyl halides, the products were the acetyl-migrated 1,3-dialkoxy derivatives along with less than one-fourth the amount of non-migrated 1,2-dialkoxy derivatives.     

Synthesis of chiral calix[4]arenes bearing tartaric ester moieties

The synthesis of chiral calix[4]arenes with tartaric acid ester moieties has been achieved by the reactions of tartaric ester chloroacetates with calix[4]arenes in moderate yields. All the chiral calix[4]arene derivatives are in a cone conformation according to the ¹H NMR doublet–doublet pattern of the protons of the methylene groups between the phenol rings. The results of NMR and specific rotations indicate that the molecules have C₂ symmetry with asymmetric features.     

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).     

Bridge-disubstituted calix[4]arenes obtained via a new preparative route. Synthesis and structural study

A series of calix[4]arenes bearing various substituents including alkyl, p-bromobenzyl, carboxy and allyl at opposite methylene bridges has been synthesized via successive metallation followed by nucleophilic substitution. In a first step, mono-lithiated calix[4]arenes react with terminal bromoalkanes to give 2-alkylated calix[4]arenes or with CO₂ the respective calixarene-2-carboxylic acid in good yields. A second lithiation step of the monosubstituted products with subsequent attachment of both polar and non-polar substituents yields several new diametrally bridge-disubstituted calix[4]arenes. 2D-NMR measurements establish the disubstituted calixarenes to predominantly adopt the 1,2-alternate conformation in solution. First examples of X-ray crystal structures of the new type of disubstituted calix[4]arenes are described featuring the calix[4]arene also in the rare 1,2-alternate conformation.     

Thermodynamics of sublimation of calix[4]arene complexes with solvent molecules

The inclusion of small neutral organic guests (C₆H₁₄, CH₂Cl₂, CH₃OH) by calix[4]arene receptors was found by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and microanalysis. The studied calix[4]arenes can form stable intramolecular complexes with solvent molecules which keep the stoichiometric composition without changing under conditions of the sublimation experiment. The saturated vapour pressures of calix[4]arenes and complexes of calix[4]arenes with solvent molecules were determinated for the first time by the Knudsen’s effusion method in the wide temperature range. The changing of standard thermodynamic parameters of complexation by transfer process from condensed state to vapour phase was estimated. It was shown that the large flexibility of the calixarene ligand structure corresponds to a strongly negative entropic contribution as well as negative enthalpy term to the Gibbs energy of formation of host–guest complexes in the gas phase.     

Direct access to upper rim substituted mono- and diaryloxy calix[4]arenes via bis(spirodienone) route

A seemingly ipso-like nucleophilic substitution of the upper rim of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene is accomplished by an indirect method involving calix[4]arene derived bis(spirodienone). This method not only provides both mono and 1,3-diaryloxy calixarenes but also enables the synthesis of upper rim monothio substituted calix[4]arenes. A modification of the methodology can be successfully extended for the selective synthesis of mono- and 1,3-diquinone calix[4]arenes having free hydroxyl groups at the lower rim, in fewer steps.     

Stilbene-bridged 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene crown ether for selective alkali ion extraction

A series of stilbene-bridged calix[4]arenes was synthesized through an intramolecular reductive McMurry coupling of bisbenzaldehyde calix[4]arene in high yields. Tetra- and pentaethylene glycol chains were tethered to the phenolic groups of calix[4]arene to form stilbene-bridged calix[4]arene crown-5 and crown-6, respectively. The presence of stilbene bridge over the calix[4]arene rim effectively prevented the connection of the polyether chains in the cone conformation resulting in the exclusive formation of 1,3-alternate stilbene-bridged calix[4]arene crown product. Compared to the cone analogues, the 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene crown ethers showed a greater extraction ability and selectivity toward Cs⁺.     

A stereoselective synthesis of asymmetrically substituted calix[4]arenecarbamates

Calix[4]arenes bearing a methoxy and an R or S α-phenylethylacetamido group at the narrow rim of macrocycles are stereoselectively acylated with 1 equiv of trichloroacetyl isocyanate to give chiral asymmetrically substituted calix[4]arenecarbamates in preparative yields and high diastereomeric excess.     

The synthesis of metallocene calix[4]arenes

The condensation of 1,1-bis(chlorocarbonyl)metallocenes andp-tert-butylcalix[4]arene in toluene leads to novel metallocene calix[4]arenes in which the metallocene subunit bridges the opposite hydroxy groups of the parent calixarene.Presented at the Fourth International Symposium on Inclusion Phenomena and the Third International Symposium on cyclodextrins, Lancaster, U.K., 20–25 July 1986.     

Thermodynamic parameters of sublimation of calix[4]arenes

The temperature dependences of the vapor pressure of calix[4]arenes were determined by the Knudsen effusion method. Some calix[4]arenes can form congruently subliming intramolecular compounds with a solvent. The thermodynamic parameters of the sublimation of the compounds were calculated. Molecules of organic solvents incorporated in the cavity of calix[4]arenes stabilize the crystal lattice, increasing the enthalpy of sublimation. The electrostatic interactions presumably make a significant contribution to stabilization of the crystal lattice of stoichiometric complexes of calix[4]arenes with solvents.     

Fullerene encapsulation with calix[5]arenes

This paper presents the synthesis of the fullerene hosts based on the calix[5]arenes and their binding properties. Calix[5]arenes 1a, 2, 3a bind C₆₀ or C₇₀ in organic solvents. The solvent effect of the fullerene complexation was clearly observed; the association constant decreases in a solvent with high solubility for C₆₀. Covalently linked double-calix[5]arenes 4-6 were also investigated on their binding properties for fullerenes in organic solvents. Their binding abilities for both C₆₀ and C₇₀ are extremely high in toluene solution. Higher binding selectivity toward C₇₀ is observed by all the double-calix[5]arenes. The selectivity of 5a toward C₇₀/C₆₀ is highest in toluene with a value of 10. The structures of the supramolecular complexes of the calix[5]arene hosts and C₆₀ or C₇₀ were investigated by using ¹H and ¹³C NMR studies. The molecular mechanics calculation and X-ray structure reveal that the interior of the calix[5]arene is complementary to the exterior of C₆₀ molecule. In contrast, the host-guest complexes of C₇₀ with the simple calix[5]arenes take many conformational options due to its less symmetric shape. The molecular mechanics calculation and our chemical shift simulation nicely worked to estimate the reliable structures; the calix[5]arene cavity takes up C₇₀ molecule, and the C₇₀ molecule tilts significantly from the C5 axis of the calix[5]arene. In the case of the host-guest complex of C₇₀ with the double-calix[5]arene, the molecular dynamics simulation of the host-guest complex represented the realistic movement of the bound C₇₀ inside the cavity. The combination of the molecular dynamics simulation and the chemical shift simulation of the host-guest complex suggested that the C₇₀ molecule rapidly moves inside the cavity.     

Preorganization of diglycolamides on the calix[4]arene platform and its effect on the extraction of Am(III)/Eu(III)

Different diglycolamide (DGA)-substituted calix[4]arene-based extractants were synthesized and evaluated for the extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III), representative trivalent actinide and lanthanide ions, respectively. On the narrow rim of the calix[4]arene platform, the DGA moiety was either 1,3-di- or tetrasubstituted with a varying spacer length between the oxygen and amide nitrogen atom. In addition, DGA groups were appended both to the wide rim and to both rims of calix[4]arenes and their efficiencies were compared for Am(III) and Eu(III) extraction at three different feed acidities. The extraction and separation efficiencies strongly depended on the N-alkyl substituent as well as the spacer length. 1,3-Di-DGA-substituted calix[4]arenes are inferior extractants to the corresponding tetra-DGA-substituted ones. Narrow rim DGA-functionalized derivatives resulted in high extraction efficiencies, while the wide rim DGA-functionalized calix[4]arenes showed practically no extraction.     

XPS,XES, and quantum chemical investigation of the electronic structure of thiacalix[4]arenes and calix[4]arene thioesters

The X-ray photoelectron and X-ray emission spectra as well as the charge state of thiacalix[4]arenes in the cone and 1,3-alternate conformations and calix[4]arene thioesters were studied. The donor ability of sulfur bridging atoms in the studied compounds was shown to be close to that in dialkyl sulfides. The internal X-ray transitions (K _α and K _β) were described by the energy of Kohn-Sham orbitals calculated by DFT method with relaxation corrections.     

Membrane extraction of organic compounds. 3. A new receptor fragment for carboxylate groups based of the calix[4]arene platform

A new type of macrocyclic receptor able to bind organic substrates containing carboxy and carboxylate groups was designed on the basis of 1,3-disubstituted calix[4]arenes. A series of disubstitited calix[4]arenes were prepared in 60—80% yields by selective 1,3-alkylation of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene. The compounds obtained were tested as carriers for dl-tartaric, glycolic, dl-amygdalic, and dl-glutamic acids through liquid membranes immobilized on a polymer matrix. The structural factors favorable for the transport of these hydrophilic substrates through lipophilic membranes were established.     

Convenient direct synthesis of bisformylated calix[4]arenes via ipso substitution

[reaction: see text] A facile synthesis of bisformylated calix[4]arenes via ipso substitution of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arenes through treatment with hexamethylenetetramine/trifluoroacetic acid is described. Under identical conditions, p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene tetramethyl ether 4 gives proximally substituted bisformylated derivative 4a in a pinched cone conformation.     

Halo-derivatised calix[4]tubes

Halo functionalisation of calix[4]tubes has been investigated through both derivatisation of individual calix[4]arenes and calix[4]tubes, using classical synthetic methods, to allow preparation of a series of novel derivatives. The solution and solid state properties are in accordance with the constituent[4]arenes adopting flattened cone arrangements which on complexation with potassium simplify to a regular cone. Electrospray and 1H NMR studies, combined with molecular modelling have been used to ascertain the metal binding of this new series of cryptand like ionophores, demonstrating their retained selectivity for binding potassium over other Group 1 metals and the dependence on counter anion in the weak binding of silver.