Synthesis and heteronuclear inclusion properties of a novel thiacalix[4]arene-based hard-soft receptor with 1,3-alternate conformation

A novel thiacalix[4]arene ditopic receptor with 1,3-alternate conformation and possessing two complexation sites for hard and soft cations, 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,27-bis[(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)methoxy]-26,28-bis[(pyridylmethyl)oxy]-2,8,14,20-tetrathiacalix[4]arene is prepared. Regioselective synthesis of distal-bis[(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)methoxy]thiacalix[4]arene is accomplished by a protection-deprotection method using benzyl groups as a protecting group. The deprotection of benzyl group was succeeded in the presence of solid superacid (Nafion-H) under refluxing benzene. Its complexation behavior is examined by ¹H-NMR titration experiments. The formation of 1:2 homo- and heteronuclear complexes demonstrates that the preorganization, subtle conformational changes and affinity have a pronounced effect on the complexation of the receptor.     

Synthesis of unique cagelike thiacalix[4]arene derivatives in a 1,3-alternate conformation

A novel type of doubly bridged thiacalix[4]arenes in the 1,3-alternate conformation has been prepared by direct aminolysis reaction of easily accessible thiacalix[4]arene tetraacetates with alpha,omega-diamines. Despite the high excess of diamine, both sites of a 1,3-alternate conformer can be intramolecularly bridged to form the cagelike structures in high yields. Optimum results were obtained using 1,2-ethanediamine as bridging units. X-ray analysis of the novel cagelike molecules revealed a highly preorganized array of -C(O)-NH- bonds pointing to the interior of the cavity.     

Hydrogen bonding receptors of tetraamide derivatives derived from thiacalix[4]arene in cone- and 1,3-alternate conformation

Novel ditopic receptors of tetraamide derivatives possessing four 2-pyridyl groups derived from thiacalix[4]arene in cone- and 1,3-alternate conformation were prepared. The structure of one of the tetraamide derivatives was confirmed by a single crystal X-ray analysis. The tetrathiacalix[4]arene tetraamides show strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The binding behaviour towards Ag⁺ and halides has been investigated by ¹H NMR titration experiments.     

Cesium ion-selective electrodes based on 1,3-alternate thiacalix[4]biscrown-6,6

Four thiacalix[4]biscrown ethers with 1,3-alternate conformation were examined for the potentiometric responses in poly(vinyl chloride) membrane electrodes. Their potentiometric selectivities toward potassium and cesium ions over other alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metal ions were measured by the fixed interference method (FIM). Among the ionophores, 1,3-alternate thiacalix[4]biscrown-6,6 showed a high selectivity for cesium over potassium ion and so was optimized as a Cs⁺-selective electrode. The electrode exhibited a linear response with a near Nernstian slope of 57.6 mV per decade in the concentration range of 1.0×10⁻⁶ to 3.2×10⁻² M. It was suitable for use in aqueous solution in a wide range of pH 2.5-12.5 and had a fast response time of ca. 5 s. On the basis of 1,3-alternate thiacalix[4]biscrown-6,6, the electrode has a wide linear range and selectivity for cesium ion over potassium ion better than those previously reported with other ionophores.     

Positive allosteric binding behavior of pyrene-appended triazole-modified thiacalix[4]arene-based fluorescent receptors

The novel heteroditopic receptors 5_a∼c have been synthesized, which bear a thiacalix[4]arene in the 1,3-alternate conformation. Two urea moieties possessing various aryl groups with either electron-donating or -withdrawing groups at their p-positions function as anion-binding sites. At the opposite side of the cavity are two pyrene-appended triazole rings, which act as cation-binding sites. The binding property of receptor 5_c was investigated by means of ¹H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopy and by fluorescence titration experiments in the presence of various transition metal cations and anions in CH₂Cl₂–DMSO (10:1, v/v) solution. Interestingly, it was found that receptor 5_c possessing two p-nitrophenyl ureido moieties, most efficiently complexes in the urea cavity or bistriazoles; the plausible allosteric effect of receptor 5_c was also investigated.     

Tetra-CMPO-derivatives of calix[4]arenes fixed in the 1,3-alternate conformation

Calix[4]arene derivatives fixed in the 1,3-alternate conformation and substituted at one side by four carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) residues were synthesised. Two CMPO groups are directly attached to the wide rim, while the second pair is bound to the narrow rim via a tri- or tetramethylene spacer. Similar compounds, in which two CMPO groups at the wide rim are combined with two picolinamide groups or two ionisable carboxylic groups at the narrow rim, were also prepared. Some of these calixarene derivatives were studied as extractants for lanthanides (La³⁺, Eu³⁺, Yb³⁺) and thorium (Th⁴⁺) from acidic solution into methylene chloride. For selected samples, stability constants in methanol were determined by spectrophotometric titrations. Three compounds (1b′, 13, 17) in the 1,3-alternate conformation and one intermediate in the cone conformation (18) were confirmed by a crystal structure.     

Synthesis and binding studies of novel thiacalixpodands and bisthiacalixarenes having O,O″-dialkylated thiacalix[4]arene unit(s) of 1,3-alternate conformation

A series of thiacalixpodands and bisthiacalixarenes with imine units have been prepared by condensation of O,O″-bis(2-aminoethyl)-O′,O?-dipropyl-p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene of 1,3-alternate conformation with different aromatic (di)aldehydes. The molecules derived from pyridine-2-carbaldehyde and -2,6-dicarbaldehyde quantitatively extract silver ion from aqueous into organic phase with complete selectivity over other metal ions (Na⁺, K⁺ and Cs⁺) under neutral conditions. The former compound forms a 1:2 (L:M) complex with silver ion as proved by NMR spectroscopy, Job’s plot and X-ray crystallography.     

A conformationally flexible tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene adopting the unusual 1,3-alternate conformation

The use of a chiral solvating agent enabled the determination of the NMR-silent ring-inversion process of the ketocalixarene 3. Spectroscopic and crystal data indicate that 3 adopts the unusual 1,3-alternate conformation.     

Informational rigidity in mesitylene-based calix[4]arenes adopting a 1,3-alternate conformation

Two chiral derivatives of a mesitylene-based calix[4]arene known to exist in the 1,3-alternate conformation were prepared by the attachment of homochiral residues to the four exo-hydroxy groups. Thus, the enantiotopic protons of the central scaffold became diastereotopic, leading to a doubling of their ¹H NMR signals in one example. From the temperature independence of the NMR spectrum, a lower limit of 24.2 kcal/mol could be estimated for the barrier of ring inversion. MM3 calculations confirm the 1,3-alternate conformation as the energy minimum, and estimate a barrier of 25.7 kcal/mol for the 1,3-alternate-to-1,3-alternate* interconversion process. This high barrier is due to the repulsive steric interactions between exo-methyl groups at vicinal rings when these groups pass each other.     

Synthesis of an unsymmetrically doubly bridged calix[4]arene in the 1,3-alternate conformation

We report the synthesis of the first calix[4]arene constrained to a 1,3-alternate conformation by one crown ether and one di-aza-benzo crown ether bridgings. Preliminary binding properties are also given.     

Calix[4]arene-based ligands as endotoxin receptors

Three new calix[4]arene-based receptors as potential antimicrobial agents have been synthesized. Their recognition ability towards lipopolysaccharides of Gram-negative bacteria has been studied by NMR and UV titrations.     

Cesium-selective optode membrane based on the lipophilic calix[4]biscrown in the 1,3-alternate conformation

One type of lipophilic calix[4]biscrowns in the 1,3-alternate conformation which are highly selective complexant for cesium has been used to construct cesium poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane optode. The reversible sensing system has been formed by incorporating the lipophilic neutral H⁺—selective chromoionophore ETH5294 in the plasticized PVC membrane with 1,3-calix[4]bisnaphtyl-crown-6. The measuring range of cesium ions can be conditioned by buffering different pH in the cesium solutions. At pH 7.0, the measuring range of the optode membrane for cesium ions is from 1×10⁻⁶ to 1×10⁻² M. The response behavior of optode membrane including response time, selectivity, reproducibility and lifetime, has been described in detail.     

Resorcin[4]arene-based anion receptors with four phenylurea substituents

Cavitand-based anion receptors were developed by the introduction of four phenylurea moieties on the upper rim of a resorcin[4]arene. Their binding properties for various anions were investigated in DMSO-d₆ using ¹H NMR spectroscopic methods, and the high 1:1 binding affinity for carboxylates was observed due to hydrophobic as well as charge-dipole interactions between host and guest.     

Metallic macrocycle with a 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene phosphorus ligand

The preparation of an 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene phosphorus ligand, 25,27-bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)ethoxy)-26,28-bis(1-propyloxy)calix[4]arene (3), is presented. Ligand 3 is obtained in three steps in 64% overall yield. Reaction of 3 with [Rh(cot)2]BF4 produced the encapsulated rhodium complex [Rh[(P,P)-diphen-calix[4]arene]]BF4 (4). As revealed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study, the rhodium center has a bent coordination environment with a P-Rh-P angle of 135.66(3) degrees. Palladation of 3 employing [Pd(MeCN)4](BF4)2 yielded the chelate palladium complex 7 in which the palladium center has a slightly bent configuration. Treatment of the ligand with Pd(cod)Cl2 and [Pd(eta3-C4H7)(THF)2]BF4 leads to the isolation of the monometallic complex. Full characterization includes X-ray structural studies of compounds 3, 4, and 6.     

Hard–Soft Receptors, Tetrakis[(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)methoxy] thiacalix[4]arene Derivatives with cone and 1,3-alternate Conformation

Direct O-alkylation of p-tert-butyltetrathiacalix[4]arene with N,N-diethylchloroacetamide afforded two conformational isomers (1,3-alternate and cone) of tetrakis[(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)methoxy]thiacalix[4]arene and 1,3-disubstituted bis[(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)methoxy]thiacalix[4]arene, depending on the base used. The complaxation behaviors of the tetrakis isomers were assessed by ¹H NMR titration experiments. Evidence of 1:2 (homo- and hetero-dinuclear) complexes formation of 1,3-alternate-tetrakis[(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)methoxy]thiacalix[4]arene with alkali (K⁺ and Na⁺) or transition (Ag⁺) metal ions was obtained. Interestingly, it was found that the cone-tetrakis[(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)methoxy]thiacalix[4]arene required a prior Ag⁺ complexation to form 1:2 heterodinuclear complex. Received in final form: 26 January 2005     

Metallic macrocycle with a 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene salicylideneamine ligand

The calix[4]arene-based podand which incorporates two salicylideneamine units in 1,3-alternate positions of the lower rim has been prepared and subjected to complexation studies with transition metal ions. The nickel and copper complexes form a 2 : 2 stoichiometric metallic macrocyclic framework.     

Protonation of 25,27-bis(1-octyloxy)calix[4]arene-crown-6 in the 1,3-alternate conformation

From extraction experiments in the two-phase water-nitrobenzene system and γ-activity measurements, the stability constant of protonated 1,3-alternate-25,27-bis(1-octyloxy)calix[4]arene-crown-6 in nitrobenzene saturated with water was determined. By using DFT calculations, the most probable structure of the 1,3-alternate-25,27-bis(1-octyloxy)calix[4]arene-crown-6 · H₃O⁺ complex species was derived. Correspondence: Emanuel Makrlík, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of West Bohemia, Pilsen, Czech Republic.     

Simple synthesis of calix[4]arenes in a 1,2-alternate conformation

The least accessible calix[4]arene conformers-1,2-alternates-can be very easily prepared using a proximal dialkylation and subsequent peralkylation reaction sequence.     

Recognition of chiral anions using calix[4]arene-based ureido receptor in the 1,3-alternate conformation

A new type of calixarene-based receptor designed for the recognition of chiral anions was prepared by the introduction of (S)-2-methylbutan-1-ol moieties into the lower rim of calixarene. The immobilization of calixarene skeleton in the 1,3-alternate conformation enabled the construction of a cavity consisting of preorganised ureido functions and chiral substituents in close proximity. This cavity is capable of chiral discrimination of selected anions as demonstrated on d- and l-phenylalaninates.