Stepwise synthesis and selective dimerisation of bis- and trisloop tetra-urea calix[4]arenes

Tetra-urea calix[4]arenes substituted with four mono- or bisalkenyl residues have been converted into bis- or tetraloop compounds by intramolecular olefin metathesis, with use of a tetratosylurea calix[4]arene as template. The same strategy has now been used to synthesise trisloop compounds and bisloop compounds with adjacent loops, completing the series of the loop-containing tetra-urea derivatives. A tetra-urea calix[4]arene of the AABB type, where A stands for a bisalkenyl- and B for a monoalkenyl-substituted urea unit, was used as precursor for the three loops. It was easily synthesised from a tetraamino calix[4]arene in which two adjacent amino groups were Boc-protected. The ABCB-type precursor for the two adjacent loops was prepared through protection of two opposite amino functions with trityl groups. The capabilities of the novel macrocyclic tetra-ureas for the selective formation of hydrogen-bonded dimers were studied.     

Multiple catenanes based on tetraloop derivatives of calix[4]arenes

Four novel tetraarylurea calix[4]arenes (4a-d) have been synthesized, substituted by ω-alkenyloxy residues in 3,5-positions of the arylurea residues. The eight alkenyl groups were pairwise connected by olefin metathesis and subsequent hydrogenation. The ring-closure reaction was carried out with heterodimers exclusively formed by 4 with a tetratosylurea calix[4]arene 1, which serves as a template in this reaction step. The potential trans-cavity bridging is entirely suppressed in this way. Bis- and tetraloop calix[4]arenes cannot form dimers due to overlapping loops. However, they readily form heterodimers with open-chain tetraureas, as long as their urea residues can pass through the loops. Thus, five heterodimeric capsules 8a-e with bis[3]catenane structure were synthesized using again the olefin metathesis followed by hydrogenation. Two different strategies were compared for this reaction sequence, starting with heterodimers formed either by tetraloop derivatives 5 with tetraalkenyl tetraureas 6 (pathway A) or by bisloop derivatives 7 with octaalkenyl tetraureas 4 (pathway B). A distinct advantage of one of these pathways was not observed; the bis[3]catenanes were obtained with yields of 20-60%. Heterodimers formed by tetraloop derivatives 5b-d and octaalkenyl ureas 4b-d were converted analogous to three novel cyclic [8]catenanes 9a-c in 30-42% yield. The structure of the novel catenanes was unambiguously proved by ¹H NMR and ESI MS, and for 8a and 9a additionally by single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Synthesis of huge macrocycles using two calix[4]arenes as templates

Macrocycles with up to 100 atoms have been synthesised using two calix[4]arenes as templates: first, (3,5-dialkenyloxy)phenyl groups are attached to the wide rim of a calix[4]arene via urea links, then the alkenyl groups are connected via a metathesis reaction using a tetratosylurea calix[4]arene for their correct prearrangement and finally the urea functions are cleaved to detach the newly formed macrocycles.     

Rational synthesis of multicyclic bis[2]catenanes

Bis-loop tetraurea calix[4]arene 6 has been prepared by acylation of the wide-rim calix[4]arene tetraamine 1 with the activated bis(urethane) 8 under dilution conditions. Similarly the bis(Boc-protected) tetraamine 2 is converted into the mono-loop derivative 3 which after deprotection and acylation gives the bisalkenyl derivative 5. In apolar solvents this tetraurea calix[4]arene 5 forms regioselectively a single hydrogen-bonded homodimer, from which the bis[2]catenane 10a is formed in 49% by a metathesis reaction followed by hydrogenation. Bis-loop derivative 6 forms no homodimers for steric reasons, but a stoichiometric mixture with the open-chain tetraalkenyl derivative 7a contains exclusively the heterodimer. Metathesis and subsequent hydrogenation now yields 65 % of the pure bis[2]catenane 10a which could not be isolated from the complex reaction mixture obtained from the homodimer 7a.7a. The chirality of 10a (D(2) symmetry) has been verified by optical resolution using HPLC on a chiral stationary phase.     

Upper Rim Diester—bridged Calix[4] arenes and Oligocalix [4]—arenes：the Effects of the Length of Bridged Reagents on Their Distribution

A series of monobridged calix [4] arenes 3a-f,cyclic biscalix-[4] arenes 4a-f ,diametrically bridged at the upper rim with saturated aliphatic diester chians,have been synthesized,The results at diluted conditions show that the percentage of yields of mono-,bis- and oligo-calix[4] arenes are related to the legth of the chains ,With the shortening of the chains ,the percent-age of monocalix[4] arenes decreased ,All the calix [4] arene moieties are in a cone conformaiton according to the AB quar-tet pattern of the methylene protons between the phenolic rings in the ^1H NMR spectra.     

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.     

Fourfold tetraurea calix[4]arenes--potential cores for the formation of self-assembled dendrimers

Wide rim tetraurea calix[4]arenes monofunctionalized at the narrow rim by COOH or NH2 have been synthesized in five steps from t-butylcalix[4]arene tripropylether. Their covalent linkage via the narrow rim to a central calix[4]arene fixed in the 1,3-alternate conformation led to pentacalix[4]arenes 9 bearing four tetraurea derivatives in the cone conformation in a flexible tetrahedral arrangement. Their self-assembly via the formation of hydrogen bonded dimeric capsules has been studied under different conditions. A fourfold heterodimerisation of tetrakis-tetraurea derivatives of type 9 with tetratosylurea 10 has been confirmed by 1H NMR-spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering.     

2]Catenane assembly from calix[4]arene crown ethers [In Process Citation

A variety of novel calix[4]arene-incorporating crown ethers with or without intramolecular hydrogen bonding have been prepared by two efficient methods and utilized as donor rings to assemble calix[4]arene [2]catenanes based on pi-stacking interaction between hydroquinone and bipyridinium units. Treatment of calix[4]arene crown ethers 4, 10a, or 10b, whose cone conformation was fixed by intramolecular hydrogen bonding within the calix[4]arene moiety, with dicationic salt 15 x 2PF6 and dibromide 16 afforded the corresponding [2]catenanes 17a x 4PF6, 17b x 4PF6, and 17c x 4PF6 in 20%, 53%, and 55% yields, respectively, whereas from the reactions of 15 x 2PF6 and dibromide 16 in the presence of conformationally flexible 11 or 12 with a cone conformation kept by two propyl groups, [2]catenanes 18 x 4PF6 and 19 x 4PF6 were obtained in 12% and 6% yields. [2]Catenanes 21a x 4Cl, 21b x 4Cl, and 21c x 4Cl, incorporating calix[4]arene in both the donor and acceptor rings, were also successfully assembled from 10a or 10b, 16, and dicationic salts 20a x 2PF6 or 20b x 2PF6. The dynamic 1H NMR and absorption spectra of the [2]catenanes have been investigated, which revealed a strongest donor-acceptor interaction in 17a x 4PF6 and that the cone [2]catenanes 17a-c x 4PF6 can isomerize to the partial cone isomer at high temperature. The difference of the dynamic properties of these catenanes was discussed. The results demonstrate that catenation is one new general method to change the conformational distributions of calix[4]arenes.     

Synthesis of Macrocyclic Lactones Building on Double Calix[4]arenes

Naturalmacrocycliclactonesandlactamsastheionophoreshaveabsorbedextensiveinterestsbecauseoftheirveryhighselectiverecognitionforalkalimetals.rorexample,nactinslandvalinomycin'havethehighestselectivityforpotassiumamongalltheionopohores.Artificialmacrocycliclactonesalsoshowedselectivityforcanons,althoughthebindingstrengthwaslowerthanthatofcommoncrownethers3.Calixareneswereaveryimportantkindofartificialreceptors,whosederivativeshaveshowedthehighestselectivityforNa ,K andCs amongthesynthesizedmacro…     

Stereoselective synthesis and optical resolution of chiral calix[4]arenes with mixed ligating functionalities

Exhaustive alkylation of syn-proximal bis[(2-pyridylmethyl)oxy]calix[4]arene 1 with t-butyl bromoacetate or 2-(chloromethyl)quinoline hydrochloride in the presence of Cs₂CO₃ affords selectively a new type of inherently chiral calix[4]arenes 2a,b in the partial cone conformation. (±) 2b has been resolved into its optical antipodes by an HPLC method.     

Hydrogen-bonded dimers of tetra-urea calix[4]arenes stable in THF

[structure: see text]. Whereas tetra-urea derivatives of tetra-alkoxy calix[4]arenes 1 exist as single molecules in THF, dimeric hydrogen-bonded capsules are exclusively found for the corresponding calix[4]arene derivatives 3 and 2 with two or four free hydroxyl groups. Comparison with the rigidified tetra-urea 5 suggests that this increased stability of the dimers is due to the stabilization of their four-fold symmetry by intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the phenolic hydroxyl groups.     

New molecular topologies by fourfold metathesis reactions within a hydrogen-bonded calix[4]arene dimer

A calix[4]arene tetrapentyl ether in the cone conformation substituted at its wide rim by four m-(omega-octenyloxy)phenyl urea groups forms hydrogen-bonded dimeric capsules in dichloromethane/benzene (95:5). Metathesis reaction with Grubbs' catalyst under high-dilution conditions (1.1 x 10(-4) M) followed by hydrogenation leads to a covalent connection of all the urea groups within a dimer. Three topologically different products may be expected in such a reaction: a bis[2]catenane, a doubly bridged monocatenane and a tetrabridged capsule. All three possible reaction products could be isolated in an overall yield up to 60 % for the separated and purified compounds. Their identification was based on the NMR patterns which reflect the characteristic symmetry properties of the isomeric products especially in the region of the hydrogen-bonded NH protons and were further confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectra. Further structural support for the bis[2]catenane comes from a single-crystal X-ray structure, although severe disorder prevents the localization of all atoms in the aliphatic chains connecting the two calix[4]arenes. Kinetic studies for the guest release/exchange (cyclohexane against the solvent [D(6)]benzene) do not show remarkable differences between the starting dimer and the additionally linked dimers, while the mobility of an included tetraethylammonium cation is obviously more restricted.     

Azocalixarenes.8: synthesis and investigation of the absorption spectra of di-substituted azocalix[4]arenes containing chromogenic groups

The synthesis of series of chromogenic di-substituted azocalix[4]arene derivatives is described. A ketone moiety as a different chelating agent is grafted on the lower rim of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arenes. Eight novel azocalix[4]arenes (1–8) are prepared by linking 2-, 3- and 4-nitroaniline, 4-phenylazoaniline, 3- and 4-chloroaniline or 2- and 4-methylaniline to 25,27-diacetonyloxy-26,28-dihydroxy-11,23-di-(tert-butyl)calix[4]arene through a diazo-coupling reaction, and characterized by UV–Vis, FT-IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis, consecutively. The absorption spectra of the di-substituted azocalix[4]arenes are discussed, according to effect of varying pH and solvent upon the absorption ability of azocalix[4]arenes. The colors of these azocalix[4]arenes are compared with respect to nature of their aromatic rings and substituents there in. Concentration effects on the visible absorption maxima of these compounds are also reported.     

One-step synthesis of inherently chiral p-tert-butylcalix[4]azacrown

A one-step procedure is developed to synthesize inherently chiral p-tert-butylcalix[4]azacrown 1 through etherification between p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene and compound 3, which can be amplified to efficiently prepare more inherently chiral calix[4]arenes in ABHH substitution pattern.     

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.     

Anion-templated calix[4]arene-based pseudorotaxanes and catenanes

We present the rational design and anion-binding properties of the first anion-templated pseudorotaxanes and catenanes in which the "wheel" component is provided by a calix[4]arene macrobicyclic unit. The designs and syntheses of two new calix[4]arene macrobicycles, 2 and 3, are presented, and the abilities of these new species both to bind anions and to undergo anion-dependent pseudorotaxane formation are demonstrated. Furthermore, it is shown that performing ring-closing metathesis reactions on some of these pseudorotaxane assemblies gives novel catenane species 14 and 15, in which the yield of interlocked molecule obtained is critically dependent on the presence of a suitable anion template, namely, chloride. Exchange of the chloride anion in catenane 14 a for hexafluorophosphate gives catenane 14 d, which contains a unique anion-binding domain defined by the permanently interlocked hydrogen-bond-donating calix[4]arene macrobicycle and pyridinium macrocycle fragments. The anion-binding properties of this domain are presented, and shown to differ from non-interlocked components.     

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.     

Synthesis and self-assembly of novel calix[4]arenocrowns: formation of calix[4]areno[2]catenanes

A series of novel calix[4]arenocrowns 1a-c were efficiently synthesized by a one-pot reaction of calix[4]monohydroquinone diacetate 5 with ditosylate 6 and its analogues in the presence of sodium hydroxide. It was found that the calix[4]arenocrowns could form stable pseudorotaxane-type complexes 2a-c with paraquat, and further self-assemble into calix[4]areno[2]catenanes 3a-c with dicationic salt 8 and p-bis(bromomethyl)benzene.     

Shaping the cavity of calixarene architecture for molecular recognition: synthesis and conformational properties of new azocalix[4]arenes

A series of new azocalix[4]arenes containing one, two, three, and four free phenolic groups have been synthesized through the reaction of 4-nitro- and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazines with flexible calix[4]arene diquinones as well as through diazocoupling reactions of calix[4]arenes. Characterization of synthesized compounds by spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction revealed that azocalix[4]arenes adopt a cone conformation if they contain at least one free phenolic group. Partial cone or 1,3-alternate conformers of azocalix[4]arenes result only when they are devoid of free phenolic groups. The results can be utilized to shape calix[4]arene architecture for ionic and molecular recognition.     

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.