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.     

Diastereoselective formation of cyclochiral amino acids-substituted resorcin[4]arenes

The Mannich reaction between selectively tetratosylated resorcin[4]arene, formaldehyde and (S)-phenylalanine (or (S)-phenylglycine) methylamide gave cyclochiral mono- or dibenzoxazines with high diastereoselection as revealed by NMR and X-ray structural studies. X-ray structures of the products show the variety of intramolecular interactions that can be responsible for the diastereoselection of this acid-catalyzed reaction.     

Covalently assembled resorcin[4]arenes and molecular tweezers: a chiral recognition rationale by NMR

Chiral diamides and tetramidic resorcin[4]arenes deriving from (R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane and (S,S)-1,2-diphenylethylendiamine, and a valine containing resorcin[4]arene have been compared by NMR in the enantiodiscrimination of mandelic acid. The relevance of cooperation between side arms and external surface of resorcin[4]arene core has been ascertained.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of resorcin[4]arene and pyrogallol[4]arene macrocycles

A series of resorcin[4]arene and pyrogallol[4]arene macrocycles have been synthesized efficiently within 5 min, affording crystalline products suitable for single crystal X-ray diffraction, utilising microwave irradiation in a ‘one-pot’ reaction whilst controlling the selective formation of the rccc cone stereoisomer.     

Binding properties and self-assembly of C2v-symmetrical resorcin[4]arene tetrabenzoates

In the crystalline state two molecules of resorcin[4]arene tetrabenzoates and four chloride anions form molecular wraps containing two Et₃NH⁺ cations. The structure and composition of the wraps depend on the length of the alkyl chains at the narrow rim of the macrocycle. Resorcin[4]arene tetrabenzoates interact with ammonium salts in CDCl₃.     

Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed cyclocondensation of 2-propylresorcinol with diethoxymethane. Formation and fragmentation of resorcin[n]arenes

The cyclocondensation of an equimolar amount of 2-propylresorcinol with diethoxymethane in the presence of Sc(OTf)₃ in acetonitrile produced a mixture of resorcin[n]arenes (n=4-7) with a kinetically controlled product distribution. However, the reaction with an excess amount of diethoxymethane produced the thermodynamically favored resorcin[4]arene as the major product. The fragmentation/recombination mechanism of the resorcin[n]arenes was discussed.     

Synthesis of resorcin[4]arene bearing self-folding substituent

Thiomethylation of resorcin[4]arene using N,N-diisopropyl-2-aminoethanethiol hydrochloride and formaldehyde [1:4:4 molar ratio] carried out in methanol/acetic acid [1:1 v/v] at 60 °C produced monofunctionalized product 3 in 68% yield. The introduced substituent was intramolecularly self-included into the cavity. This self-inclusion reduced the reactivity of the aromatic rings and inhibited further functionalization.     

Synthesis of Methylene-Bridged Resorcin[4]arene Dimers

Methylene-bridged resorcin[4]arene dimers were synthesized by the Sc(OTf)₃-catalyzed hydroxymethylation of partially acetylated resorcin[4]arenes, and their preliminary complexation properties with tetraethylammonium ion were examined in CD₃OD by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The dimers adopted a closed capsular conformation in this solvent and bound the guest molecule into their cavity.     

Light-actuated resorcin[4]arene cavitands

A light-actuated resorcin[4]arene cavitand equipped with two quinone (Q) and two opposite Ru(II)-based photosensitizing walls was synthesized and investigated. The cavitand is capable of switching from an open to a contracted conformation upon reduction of the two Q to the corresponding SQ radical anions by intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer in the presence of a sacrificial donor. The molecular switch was investigated by cyclic and rotating disc voltammetry, UV–Vis–NIR spectroelectrochemistry, transient absorption, NMR, and EPR spectroscopy. This study provides the basis for the development of future light-activated switches and molecular actuating nanodevices.     

Structures and properties of solvated and unsolvated isopropyl functionalised calix[4]arenes

The tetra-isopropyl ethers of calix[4]arene and p-t-butylcalix[4]arene have been isolated in the cone conformation, and structurally characterised as chloroform solvates. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that the parent isopropylcalix[4]arene solvate is significantly more stable than the p-t-butylcalix[4]arene analogue, retaining the solvent up to a temperature of 125°C. It was found that the calix[4]arene ether sublimes at atmospheric pressure, and solvent-free crystals appropriate for structure determination were produced at reduced pressure. The p-t-butylcalix[4]arene ether was also isolated without solvent in the lattice, but in this case the calixarene was crystallised from acetone, as sublimation did not produce crystals of sufficient quality.     

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.     

Synthesis of resorcin[4]arene cavitands by ring-closing metathesis

The synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of the first resorcin[4]arene cavitands by ring-closing metathesis reaction are described.     

A Novel and Effective Strategy for the Construction of "Tube-Like" Double Resorcin[4]arenes

The synthesis of rigid tube-shape structures from resorcin[4]arene unitscombined in the ``head-to-tail'' manner is described.Tetrabromomethylenecalix-[4]resorcinarene with all OH-groups connected viamethylene bridges was used as a starting material. Reaction withp-hydroxybenzaldehyde led to the tetraaldehyde derivative and the following condensation with resorcinol resulted in formation of a third aromatic rim. An electrochemical study comparing properties of both resorcin[4]arene and itstube-shaped analogs was performed.     

Enantioselective guest exchange in a chiral resorcin[4]arene cavity

Gas-phase proton-bound complexes between a chiral resorcin[4]arene and some representative amino acids, that is, L- and D-alanine or L- and D-serine, were generated in the source of a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. Gas-phase exchange of the amino acid from the diastereomeric complexes with the enantiomers of 2-butylamine exhibits a significant enantioselectivity, which depends not only upon the configuration of the leaving guest but also on that of the incoming amine. These findings, coupled with molecular dynamic calculations, point to the observed gas-phase enantioselectivity as determined by the effects of the resorcin[4]arene chiral cavity upon the diastereomeric exchange transition structures.     

Cyclochiral resorcin[4]arenes as effective enantioselectors in the gas phase

The effect of cyclochirality of rccc‐2,8,14,20‐tetra‐n‐decyl‐4,10,16,22‐tetra‐O‐methylresorcin[4]arene (C) on the enantiodiscrimination of a number of chiral bidentate and tridentate aromatic and aliphatic biomolecules (G) has been investigated by nano‐electrospray ionization (nano‐ESI)‐Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. The experimental approach is based on the formation of diastereomeric proton‐bound [C·H·G]⁺ complexes by nano‐ESI of solutions containing an equimolar amount of quasi‐enantiomers (C) together with the chiral guest (G) and the subsequent measurement of the rate of the G substitution by the attack of several achiral and chiral amines. In general, the heterochiral complexes react faster than the homochiral ones, except when G is an aminoalcoholic neurotransmitter whose complexes, beyond that, exhibit the highest enantioselectivity. The kinetic results were further supported by both collision‐induced dissociation experiments on some of the relevant [C₂·H·G]⁺ three‐body species and Density functional theory (DFT) calculations performed on the most selective systems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of porphyrin conjugates based on conformationally rigid and flexible resorcin[4]arene frameworks

Porphyrin conjugates were synthesized based on conformationally rigid, bowl shaped cavitand, and flexible unfirm resorcin[4]arenes. The influence of the resorcin[4]arene fragment on the porphyrin fluorescence is investigated.     

Anion receptors based on ureido-substituted thiacalix[4]arenes and calix[4]arenes

The regioselective nitration of 25,27-dipropoxythiacalix[4]arene was carried out as a key step in the synthesis of thiacalix[4]arene derivative bearing two arylureido functions on the upper rim. The preorganisation of ureido units using the thiacalix[4]arene/calix[4]arene moieties as a molecular scaffold gave novel anion receptors. These compounds, albeit based on hydrogen bonding interactions, show good complexation ability even in highly HB-competitive solvent, such as DMSO. Direct comparison of otherwise identical structures 6a and 7a revealed remarkable dominance of the thiacalix[4]arene derivative over its classical analogue in anion binding.     

‘Cloverleaf’ crown ether resorcin[4]arenes

Crown ether resorcin[4]arenes 1a, 1b, and 2b with a novel connectivity have been prepared from diquinoxaline cavitands in yields of 68%, 73%, and 25%, respectively. The reaction involves bridging the contiguous oxygen atom pairs with tri-, tetra- or pentaethylene glycol ditosylates.     

Synthesis and Structure of Novel Double Flexible Spacer Bridged Biscalix[4]arenes

25, 25′, 27, 27′‐Bis(1,3‐dioxypropane)‐bis(5, 11, 17, 23‐tetra‐tert‐butylcalix[4]arene‐26,28‐diol) (4) and 25, 25′, 27, 27′‐bis(1, 4‐dioxybutane)‐bis (5, 11, 17, 23‐tetra‐tert‐butylcalix‐[4]arene‐26, 28‐diol) (5) were synthesized by the reaction of p‐tert‐butylcalix[4]arene (1) with preorganized 25, 27‐bis(3‐bromoproxyl)calix[4]arene‐26, 27‐diol (2) and 25, 27‐bis(3‐bromobutoxyl)calix[4]arene‐26, 27‐diol (3) in the presence of K₂CO₃ and KI. Compounds 4 and 5 were characterized with X‐ray analysis and the selectivity of 4 and 5 toward K⁺ over other alkali metal ions, alkaline metal ions as well as NH₄⁺ were investigated with an ion‐selective electrode.     

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.