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.     

Scandium triflate-catalyzed cyclocondensation of 1,3-dialkoxybenzenes with 1,3,5-trioxane. Formation of resorcin[4]arenes and confused resorcin[4]arenes

The cyclocondensation of 1,3-dialkoxybenzenes with 1,3,5-trioxane was catalyzed by Sc(OTf)₃ to produce resorcin[4]arene octaalkyl ethers as the major products. In addition, ‘confused’ resorcin[4]arene octaalkyl ethers bearing one alkoxy group at the intra-annular position were obtained as the minor products. The variable temperature ¹H NMR spectroscopy showed that the alkoxy group at the intra-annular position cannot pass through the macrocyclic annulus, indicating a rigid molecular framework. The structure of the ethoxy derivative of the confused resorcin[4]arene was determined by X-ray crystallography.     

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.     

‘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.     

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.     

Novel resorcin[4]arenes as potassium-selective ion-channel and transporter mimics

A series of novel resorcin-[4]arenes with extended pi systems have been synthesised and developed as potassium-selective transporters. Resorcin[4]arenes that feature crown ether moieties function as efficient carriers of K+ across bulk liquid membranes showing enhanced selectivity over the other alkali metal ions relative to a model system (benzo[15]crown-5). Incorporation of functionalities suitable for pore formation, in addition to an extra annulus of aromatic residues, gives molecules which have remarkable ion-channel-mimicking behaviour in a biological lipid bilayer with outstanding K+/Na+ selectivity.     

Cyclochiral conformers of resorcin[4]arenes stabilized by hydrogen bonds

Cyclochiral resorcinarenes, that maintain their cyclochirality by means of hydrogen bonds, were synthesized by a sequence of reactions involving the Mannich reaction, removal of the N,O-acetal bridge and subsequent N-substitution with an RCO group. During this study it was found that ethyl nitroacetate is a mild and very efficient agent for N,O-acetal bridge removal. The resulting resorcinarenes 4a-j exist in cyclochiral/inherently chiral kite conformations (resembling 4-bladed propellers) that are stabilized by eight hydrogen bonds (in both solid state and solution). It is shown that the cycloisomerization process is characterized by the relatively high racemization barrier (14.6-18.5 kcal mol(-1) as determined by 2D EXSY) and thus it can be concluded that the transformation of one cycloconformer into the other requires the simultaneous rupture of all eight hydrogen bonds. For derivatives with additional stereogenic centers two cyclodiastereoisomeric conformations were detected (diastereomeric excess in the range of 72% up to >95%). The experimental results are additionally supported by AM1 semi-empirical calculations.     

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.     

Novel starshaped initiators for the controlled radical polymerization based on resorcin[4]- and pyrogallol[4]arenes

Multifunctional macrocyclic initiators for the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) based on different resorcin[4]- and pyrogallol[4]arenes have been synthesized. The initiators with 8, 12 and 16 tertiary -bromoesters on the core were received by complete esterification of all phenolic groups with 2-bromo-isobutyryl bromide. The calixarene derivatives with aliphatic chains on the bridging methine carbon were obtained as their rccc (all cis) isomers, while the corresponding calixarenes with aromatic substituents gave mixtures of their rccc and rctt (cis, cis, trans, trans) isomers.     

Inherently chiral calix[4]arene-based bifunctional organocatalysts for enantioselective aldol reactions

Two optical pure m-dimethylamino substituted inherently chiral calix[4]arene derivatives 8a and 8b bearing an l-prolinamido group have been synthesized by two routes, and structurally studied by the usual spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallographic analysis. It was found that both of 8a and 8b could be utilized as bifunctional organocatalysts to efficiently promote the aldol reactions between aromatic aldehydes and ketones in the presence of acetic acid. Especially, with 8a as the catalyst, the reaction between 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and cyclopentanone at −20 °C gave the anti-aldol product up to 94% ee, while the anti-aldol product in up to 94:6 dr and 79% ee was obtained when 4-cyanobenzaldehyde was used as the aldol donor. Moreover, it was also demonstrated that the inherently chiral calixarene skeleton with (cS)-conformation in 8a was identified as the matched configuration of the stereogenic elements, and the inherently chiral moiety might play an important role in helping to stereocontrol the reaction.     

Pyrrolamidocalix[4]arenes: new receptors for anion recognition

Pyrrolamidocalix[4]arenes 1-4, members of a new class of anion receptors bearing pyrrolic units at the upper rim of calix[4]arene macrocycle, have been readily synthesized in good yields. Derivatives 1 and 3, with unsubstituted pyrrole units, show a good selectivity for over F⁻ and AcO⁻, while the presence of electron-withdrawing NO₂ substituents in 2 and 4 inverts the selectivity favoring more basic AcO⁻ and F⁻. In addition, it is demonstrated that the flexibility of calix[4]arene skeleton, present in 1 but absent in 3, is very important in the fitting process that leads the amidopyrrole moieties to wrap the tetrahedral guest.     

Hydrazide as a new hydrogen-bonding motif for resorcin[4]arene-based molecular capsules

The resorcin[4]arene-based benzoylhydrazide cavitands formed stable molecular capsules in nonpolar solvents by the eight intermolecular N-H...O=C hydrogen bondings, two from each four paired hydrazides, and the four intramolecular O-H2C-O...H-N hydrogen bondings on each cavitand. The stability of these molecular capsules depends on the encapsulated guest in the following order: CH3SO3(-) > CH3CO2(-) > CH3CH2NH2 x HCl approximately = CH3NH2 x HCl > (CH3)4N(+) > toluene > C2D2Cl4.     

Design,synthesis and structure determination of new inherently chiral para-bromoalkoxycalix[4]arenes

The preparative method for the synthesis of inherently chiral para-bromoalkoxycalix[4]arenes based on para-bromination, stepwise regioselective debenzoylation and the following alkylation of the readily available 25-propoxy-26,27-dibenzoyloxycalix[4]arene with propyl bromide or (R)-N-(1-phenylethyl)bromoacetamide has been developed. Three types of the inherently chiral calix[4]arenes in cone or partial cone conformations with asymmetrical (_AHHH^HBHH, _AAHH^HBHH, _AHBH^HCHH) substitution of both upper and lower rims have been obtained in racemic, diastereomerically pure or enantiomerically pure forms. Their structure and the absolute configuration have been determined by NMR and X-ray.     

A new class of chiral calix[4]arenes as receptors with planar chirality

The modification of title compounds to chiral receptors and their characterization are reported. The two synthetic methods were developed. The racemates obtained could be resolved to each stable enantiomer by a chiral HPLC column. Chiral calixarenes were designed as the receptors with planar chirality. The (−)-receptor strongly forms 1:1 complex with (R)-(+)--phenylethylammonium picrate.     

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.     

Synthesis of chiral calix[n]arenes. Part 2: Synthesis of new chiral calix[n]arenes based on (p-hydroxy-phenyl)-menthone

The synthesis of new chiral calix[n]arenes, related to Corey's phenyl-menthol, is described. Starting from enantiomerically pure (R)-(+)-pulegone, calix[n]arenes with different ring sizes could be obtained in reasonable yield.     

A new approach to enantiopure inherently chiral calix[4]arenes: determination of their absolute configurations

A new approach to the synthesis of meta-substituted enantiopure inherently chiral calix[4]arenes by introducing L-Boc-proline as dual functions of the chiral auxiliary has been described. Moreover, the absolute configurations of the enantiomers were determined by CD spectra, X-ray crystallographic analysis, and the chemical derivative method.