Asymmetric Michael addition reactions catalyzed by a novel upper-rim functionalized calix[4]squaramide organocatalyst

A novel upper-rim functionalized calix[4]squaramide organocatalyst bearing bis-squaramide and cyclohexanediamine scaffolds was designed and prepared to catalyse a serial of asymmetric Michael addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in high yields (up to 99 %) and good to excellent enantiomeric excesses (up to 99% ee). The comparative experiments indicated that the cooperative effect between calixarenes cavitives and chiral catalytic centers on this calix[4]squaramide catalyst could promote these reactions. Moreover, this strategy also provides valuable and easy access to chiral chromene, naphthoquinone and acetylacetone derivatives, which are important skeletons in biological and pharmaceutical compounds.     

Calixarene-based highly efficient primary amine–thiourea organocatalysts for asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to nitrostyrenes

The synthesis of calix[4]arene-based chiral bifunctional primary amine–thiourea catalysts has been described from p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene for the first time. The calix[4]arene-based catalysts were successfully applied to promote Michael addition of aldehydes with nitroalkenes affording preferentially the (R)- or (S)-adducts in high yields (up to 95%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ees).     

Water-soluble calix[4]resorcarenes as enantioselective NMR shift reagents for aromatic compounds

A tetra L-prolinylmethyl derivative of a tetra-sulfonated calix[4]resorcarene (1) is an effective chiral NMR solvating agent for water-soluble compounds with phenyl, pyridyl, bicyclic aromatic, or indole rings. These aromatic compounds form host-guest complexes with the calix[4]resorcarene in water. Complexation of substrates with the calix[4]resorcarene is likely promoted by hydrophobic effects, and bicyclic substrates have association constants with the calix[4]resorcarene larger than those of similar phenyl-containing compounds. Aromatic resonances of the substrates show substantial upfield shifts because of shielding from the aromatic rings of the calix[4]resorcarene, and several resonances in the 1H NMR spectra typically exhibit enantiomeric discrimination. The extent of enantiomeric discrimination depends in part on interactions of the substituent groups of the substrates with the prolinylmethyl groups of the calix[4]resorcarene. The effectiveness of a calix[4]resorcarene prepared from N-methyl-L-alanine (2) as a chiral NMR discriminating agent is compared to the L-prolinylmethyl derivative.     

基于杯[4]芳烃的手性识别*

手性杯芳烃是一类重要的主体化合物,在手性识别、对映体分离和不对称催化等方面有着广泛的用途。[4]芳烃引其稳定的构象和易于修饰的特点,成为研究最为广泛的杯芳烃分子,其中大量的文献报道了能够用于对映体识别和检测的手性[4]芳烃。在手性识别的研究中,荧光、紫外和核磁是3中最常见的研究方法,本文根据这3种方法进行分类,综述了近年来以杯[4]芳烃为分子骨架的手性受体的合成及其在手性识别中的应用。最后对手性[4]芳烃的发展前景作了展望。     

Preparation and evaluation of calix[4]arene-capped beta-cyclodextrin-bonded silica particles as chiral stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography

Calix[4]arene-capped [3-(2-O-beta-cyclodextrin)-2-hydroxypropoxy]propylsilyl-appended silica particles (C4CD-HPS), a new type of substituted beta-cyclodextrin-bonded chiral stationary phase (CSP) for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), have been synthesized by treatment of bromoacetate-substituted [3-(2-O-beta-cyclodextrin)-2-hydroxypropoxy]propylsilyl-appended silica particles (BACD-HPS) with calix[4]arene oxyanions in anhydrous N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The synthetic stationary phase is characterized by means of elemental analysis. This new type of CSP has a chiral selector with two recognition sites: calix[4]arene and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). The chromatographic behavior of C4CD-HPS was studied with several disubstituted benzenes and some chiral drug compounds under reversed-phase conditions. The results show that C4CD-HPS has excellent selectivity for the separation of aromatic positional isomers and enantiomers of chiral compounds due to the cooperative functioning of calix[4]arenes and beta-CDs.     

Calix[4]arene-based bis[2]catenanes: synthesis and chiral resolution

The exclusive formation of hydrogen-bonded dimers between tetraaryl and tetratosylurea calix[4]arenes has been used to prepare a series of ten "bisloop" tetraurea calix[4]arenes 3, in which adjacent phenylurea groups are covalently linked through alpha,omega-dioxyalkane chains. This dimerization with tetratosylurea 2 as template preorganizes the alkenyl residues of tetra(m-alkenyloxyphenyl) ureas 1 and enables their selective connection in high yield (up to 95 %) by olefin metathesis followed by hydrogenation. The "bisloop" calixarenes 3 also exclusively form heterodimers with 1. Thus, in a separated metathesis/hydrogenation sequence, a series of 14 cyclic bis[2]catenanes 4, in which two calix[4]arenes are connected through their wide rims by two pairs of interlocked rings (total size 29 to 41 atoms), were prepared in yields of up to 97 %. Optical resolution of these chiral bis[2]catenanes was studied by HPLC on chiral stationary phases. The single-crystal X-ray structure of one example (4(P,10)) confirmed the interlocking rings and revealed that the hydrogen-bonded dimeric capsule of the calix[4]arene can be "completely" opened.     

Calixarenes and calix[4]resorcinarenes as chiral NMR solvating agents

Calixarenes (CAs) and calix[4]resorcinarenes are cavity compounds, chiral analogues of which have the potential to be used as reagents for the differentiation of enantiomers in NMR spectroscopy. The nature of the substituent groups attached to the cavity permits the preparation of organic- or water-soluble analogues. In NMR applications, chirality of the CAs or calix[4]resorcinarene is usually achieved through the attachment of enantiomerically pure substituent groups. The use of inherently chiral analogues for chiral differentiation is less common. The range of CAs and calix[4]resorcinarenes that have been used for chiral analysis in NMR spectroscopy is reviewed.     

An enantioselective NMR shift reagent for cationic aromatics

[structure: see text] The water-soluble tetra l-prolinylmethyl derivative of a tetrasulfonated calix[4]resorcarene is an effective chiral NMR solvating agent for compounds with bicyclic aromatic or indole rings. Complexation of bicyclic substrates with the calix[4]resorcarene is likely promoted by hydrophobic effects. The bicyclic substrates have larger association constants with the calix[4]resorcarene than similar phenyl-containing compounds. Substantial enantiomeric discrimination is observed for several resonances in the (1)H NMR spectra of these substrates.     

Structural Characterization of l-proline and Morpholine Appended Chiral Calix[4]resorcinarene Molecules

Calix[4]resorcinarenes serve as host molecules for small guest molecules. Recently calixarenes have been appended to chiral molecules in an attempt to promote chiral recognition. To take advantage of both cavity host and chiral substituent properties the position of the chiral moiety is important. We report the synthesis and structural characterization of two calix[4]resorcinarene based molecules that have helical chirality in the solid state. The calix[4]resorcinarene 1 has chiral l-proline ethyl ester substituents positioned perpendicular to the cavity whereas the calix[4]resorcinarene 2 has morpholines positioned parallel to the cavity which extend the depth of the cavity. Compound 1 is one of the first compounds to show the position of chiral centers with respect to the calixarene cavity. 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy indicate that the helical chirality of 2 is retained at low temperature in nonpolar solvents.     

Optically pure calix[6]tris-ammoniums: syntheses and host-guest properties toward neutral guests

[reaction: see text] Optically pure calix[6]arenes bearing chiral amino arms 4, 7, and 10 have been synthesized in high yields from the known symmetrically 1,3,5-trismethylated calix[6]arene. For both compounds 7 and 10, the key step consists of an efficient selective alkylation on the narrow rim of the calix[6]arene with Ba(OH)2 as the base. All of these chiral calix[6]tris-amines possess a similar flattened cone conformation with the cavity occupied by the methoxy groups. In contrast to 4 and 7, upon protonation, the enantiopure calix[6]arene 10 can switch to the opposite flattened cone conformation through self-assembly of its ammonium arms in an ion-paired cap which closes the cavity. As shown by NMR host-guest studies and an X-ray structure, the obtained polarized host (10 x 3H+) behaves as a remarkable endo-receptor for small polar neutral molecules. Thanks to the tris-cationic chiral binding site of 10 x 3H+, it was shown that the guests experience a chiral environment upon inclusion. Finally, the first example of enantioselective molecular recognition inside the cavity of a calix[6]arene has been evidenced with a racemic 1,2-diol guest.     

Synthesis and optical resolution of a series of inherently chiral calix[4]crowns with cone and partial cone conformations

A series of inherently chiral calix[4]arenes with cone and partial cone conformations and with crown ether moieties of variable size have been readily synthesized. By taking advantage of the carboxy appendage on the lower rim, these were condensed with the chiral auxiliary (S)-BINOL to form diastereomers which, in most cases, could be separated by preparative TLC, or more desirably, by column chromatography on silica gel (diastereomeric excess >99 % based on HPLC analysis). Seven enantiopure antipodes of inherently chiral calix[4]crowns were obtained after hydrolysis. It has been found that both the size of the crown moiety and alkylation of the last phenolic hydroxy group (accompanied with or without a change in the conformation) affect the separation of the diastereomers.     

Synthesis and chiral recognition properties of two novel chiral calix[4]arene tartaric ester derivatives

Two new chiral calix[4]arene derivatives containing tartaric acid ester moieties were synthesized. The chiral calix[4]arenes are in a ‘cone’ conformation according to NMR spectroscopy. The chiral recognition capabilities of 1–4 toward the guests, 1,2-propanediol and serine methyl ester hydrochloride (SerOMe), were investigated (¹H NMR spectroscopy). The extraction properties of compounds 1 and 2 toward selected α-amino acid methyl esters were also studied.     

Chiral nitrogen-containing calix[4]crown—an excellent receptor for chiral recognition of mandelic acid

A chiral nitrogen-containing calix[4]crown 2 bearing optically pure 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-oxyamino residue at lower rim showed excellent chiral recognition between enantiomers of mandelic acid. Using competitive ¹H NMR titration the ratio of association constants of (S)- and (R)-mandelic acid with the chiral calix[4]crown was determined to be 102, that is 98% de, which is the best result obtained from artificial receptors for the chiral recognition of mandelic acid up to now.     

Design of a novel inherently chiral calix[4]arene for chiral molecular recognition

A newly designed inherently chiral calix[4]arene was synthesized and resolved to an optically pure form. Enantiomeric recognition ability of the chiral calix[4]arene was examined using 1H NMR experiments with mandelic acid. In addition, the chiral calix[4]arene was applied to asymmetric reactions, as an organocatalyst.     

Inherently chiral biscalixarene cone–cone conformers consisting of calix[4]arene and calix[5]arene subunits

Inherently chiral biscalixarenes with hetero-cavities were synthesized by a covalent assembly of p-tert-butylcalix[5]arene with a 1,3-substituted calix[4]arene via 1,3-alkylation reaction and subsequent desymmetrization. The racemates were resolved by chiral HPLC method. ¹H NMR spectra, VT-NMR spectra, and theoretical calculations support that the calix[5]arene subunit of the inherently chiral calix[4][5]arene ester adopts a cone-in conformation, with the aromatic ring bearing the CH₂CO₂Et group tilting inward the calix[5]arene cavity. By contrast, such a cone-in structural feature of the calix[5]arene subunit disappears for the corresponding inherently chiral calix[4][5]arene carboxylic acid, due to the intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the carboxyl group and an ethereal oxygen of the glycolic chain.     

Chiral calix[4]azacrowns for enantiomeric recognition of amino acid derivatives

In this study the synthesis of novel chiral calix[4]azacrown derivatives has been reported. The enantioselectivity of chiral receptors was investigated by using UV-vis spectroscopy. All the chiral calix[4]arene derivatives exhibited certain chiral recognition toward the enantiomers of phenylalanine (Phe-OMe·HCl) and alanine methyl ester hydrochlorides (Ala-OMe·HCl). As a chiral receptor, the furfuryl-armed calix[4]azacrown ether 7 has the best enantiomeric discriminating ability for α-amino acid ester hydrochlorides (up to K_L/K_D=2.08, ΔΔG₀=−1.82 kJ mol⁻¹) in CHCl₃. The enantiomeric recognition abilities for guests are also discussed from a thermodynamic point of view.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric [4+2] Cycloaddition of 2-Methylidenetrimethylene Carbonate with Alkenes: Access to Chiral Tetrahydropyran-Fused Spirocyclic Scaffolds

A palladium-catalyzed asymmetric [4+2] cycloaddition of 2-methylidenetrimethylene carbonate with alkenes derived from pyrazolones, indandione, or barbiturate has been successfully developed, affording pharmacologically interesting chiral tetrahydropyran-fused spirocyclic scaffolds. The target compounds were generated in good to excellent yields and with high enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee). Furthermore, this cycloaddition reaction could be efficiently scaled up, and several synthetic transformations were accomplished for the construction of other useful chiral spiropyrazolone and spiroindandione derivatives.     

上端含长链烷基的手性杯[4]芳烃合成

脱叔丁基的杯[4]芳烃与长链的叔醇或者叔氯代烷烃进行傅-克反应, 在其上端引入长链烷基. 然后在下端引入光学活性的1-苯基乙胺基团, 得到了一系列上端含长链烷基的手性杯[4]芳烃.     

Stereochemical control of calixarenes useful as rigid and conformationally diversiform platforms for molecular design

Stereochemical problems and related functions of calix[4]arenes, calix[6]arenes and their chiral derivatives have been reviewed. In p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene (1H₄) and its mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-O-alkyl derivatives (1H₃R, 1H₂R₂,1HR₃, and 1R₄, respectively), 23 different homologues can exist (including 1H₄). We found that the OH group in the unmodified phenol unit is permeable through the calix[4]arene ring. Thus, several conformational isomers become equivalent after the ‘oxygen-through-the-annulus’ rotation of the OH group and the number of possible homologues is reduced to 13 (including 1H₃). We report in this paper the syntheses of all of these possible conformational isomers using a protection-deprotection method with a benzyl group and metal template effects. On the other hand, all possible chiral isomers that can be derived from calix[4]arene by modification of the OH groups have been systematically classified. Molecular asymmetry can be generated not only by different substituents but also by conformational isomerism. The numbers of chiral isomers are 17 for tetra-O-substituted calix[4]arenes, 9 for tri-O-substituted calix[4]arenes, 3 for di-O-substituted calix[4]arenes, and 0 for mono-O-substituted calix[4]arenes. Chiral calix[4]arenes can also be designed by the introduction of a substituent into the m-position of a phenol unit or by the use of a dissymmetric ‘stapling reaction’ in proximal phenol units. In p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene, the conformational behaviour is totally different from that in p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene. A large degree of conformational freedom remains in the framework, and both ‘oxygen-through-the-annulus rotation’ and ‘para-substituent-through-the-annulus rotation’ can take place. However, when metal cations are bound to calix[6]aryl esters, the conformation is changed to a cone type. Bridging and capping are powerful methods to immobilize the conformation of calix[6]arenes. In addition, definitive evidence for ring immobilization was obtained from the absence of racemization in the chiral calix[6]arene. A successful example of chiral recognition for α-amino acid derivatives was achieved by using chiral homooxacalix[3]arene which has ‘pseudo C₂ symmetry’. These examples indicate that calixarenes serve as rigid and conformationally diversiform platforms for the design of novel functional supramolecules.     

Synthesis and complexation study of calix[4]arene diamine derivative incorporated in a polymeric backbone with chiral monomers

The novel chiral polymeric compounds containing more than one calix[4]arene have been synthesized by reacting a new calix[4]arene diamine derivative with two chiral monomers. These newly prepared compounds were studied by extraction of toxic heavy metal (Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺), silver and alkali metal (Na⁺, K⁺) cations from aqueous phase. It was observed that the resulting calixarene-based polymers have a good complexing ability towards silver, alkali metal and toxic heavy metal cations.