En route to inherently chiral tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazines

This paper describes our attempts to synthesize inherently chiral heteroatom-bridged calixaromatics. Based on a stepwise fragment-coupling approach using a chiral 3,5-dihydroxybenzamide or benzoate, 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone, and cyanuric chloride as reactants, chiral tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine derivatives 16 and 17 were synthesized in good yields. Subsequent macrocyclic condensation with a diamine 6 furnished efficiently the pairs of diastereomers of inherently chiral tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine azacrowns 18 and 19.     

Syntheses and conformational structures of functionalized tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazines

The syntheses and conformational structures of various functionalized tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazines were studied. Applying the fragment coupling approach and the post-macrocyclization chemical manipulations, a number of tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazines that contain, on the lower rim, one or two aldehyde, ester, carboxylic acid, hydroxymethyl, and aminomethyl functional groups were prepared in moderate to high chemical yields from cheap and commercially available materials. On the basis of X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy, all tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazines containing electron-withdrawing group(s) adopted 1,3-alternate conformation both in solution and in the solid state, while tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazines bearing hydroxymethyl and aminomethyl substituent(s) existed as pinched or distorted partial cone conformers due to the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bond between hydroxyl or amino group and triazine ring.     

Chiral tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine-based organocatalysts for Enantioselective Aldol reactions

Novel efficient chiral tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine-based organocatalysts have been designed and synthesized from the reaction of tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine with R/S-phenylethylamine or R/S-1-naphthylethylamine for the Aldol reaction of acetone with aromatic aldehydes to furnish the Aldol adducts in 71–92% yields with excellent enantioselectivities (78–99%).     

Efficient functionalizations of heteroatom-bridged calix[2]arene[2]triazines on the larger rim

Heteroatom-bridged dichlorinated calix[2]arene[2]triazines, which were synthesized from the fragment coupling reactions of cyanuric chloride and various aromatic dinucleophiles, are a unique type of platform for the construction of functional macrocyclic host molecules. Utilizing a very convenient and straightforward nucleophilic displacement reaction of dichlorinated tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine by various chelating group-containing amines, a number of functionalized tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazines on the larger rim were efficiently synthesized in good yields. The resulting tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazines armed with two 2,2'-bi(pyridinyl)amino or two bis(2-pyridinemethyl)amino groups selectively formed 1:1 complexes with Cu2+ ion through most probably a chelating interaction effect.     

One-pot synthesis of oxygen and nitrogen-bridged calix[2]arene[2]triazines

A simple and powerful one-pot reaction method was developed for the synthesis of heteracalixaromatics. In the presence of a base, one-pot macrocyclic condensation reaction between cyanuric chloride and 1,3-phenylene diols and diamines proceeded effectively under very mild conditions to afford a number of functionalised oxygen and nitrogen-bridged calix[2]arene[2]triazines in 33–54% yields. The method was applied in a multigram-scale (14.4 g) preparation of tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine.     

Highly efficient construction of large molecular cavity using 1,3-alternate tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine as a platform

In the presence of K(2)CO(3) in refluxing THF, dichloro-substituted tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine, a readily available macrocyclic compound from cyanuric acid chloride and benzyl 1,3-dihydroxybenzoate, underwent highly efficient nucleophilic displacement reactions with bis-nucleophilic reagents of different geometry, length and chirality in a 2+2 fashion to produce large and size-tunable cavity bis-tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazines in good to excellent yields.     

Design,structure and anion recognition of larger-rim functionalized oxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine hosts

Larger-rim functionalized tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine host molecules were efficiently synthesized through a fragment coupling followed by AlCl₃-mediated deprotection/arylation protocol. Substituent effects, functions of counter cations on anion recognition in solution were systematically studied by means of fluorescence and NMR titrations.     

Formation and conformational conversion of flattened partial cone oxygen bridged calix[2]arene[2]triazines

A stepwise fragment coupling reaction starting with substituted dichlorotriazine and resorcinol derivatives gave rise to thermodynamically favored 1,3-alternate tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazines and kinetically controlled flattened partial cone tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazines. The flattened partial cone conformer, which was stable due to the steric effect, converted into the 1,3-alternate conformer via ether bond cleavage upon treatment with an inorganic base.     

含1,2,3-三氮唑基团的新型四氧杂杯[2]芳烃[2]嘧啶衍生物的合成与抗肿瘤活性研究

以4-氯-2-甲硫基-6-丙炔氧基嘧啶为原料,依次经Williamson醚合成、氧化和聚合反应制得新型四氧杂杯[2]芳烃[2]嘧啶母体(4),并通过点击化学反应合成了4个结构新颖的含1,2,3-三氮唑基团的四氧杂杯[2]芳烃[2]嘧啶衍生物(5a^5d),其结构经1H MNR,13C MNR和HR-MS(ESI)表征。采用MTT法研究了5a^5d对人宫颈癌细胞(Hela),人乳腺癌细胞(MCF-7),人肝癌细胞(HepG2)和人肺癌细胞(A549)的体外抗肿瘤活性。结果表明:化合物5a对MCF-7具有明显的抑制活性,在50μM浓度下抑制率可达82%,优于阳性对照药5-氟尿嘧啶。     

四氮杂杯[2]芳烃[2]三嗪的合成及其叠氮化

以简单易得的原料、在温和的条件下高产率地合成了氮原子桥连杯[2]芳烃[2]三嗪化合物．室温下,碳酸钾为缚酸剂,利用三聚氯氰和对苯二胺的亲核取代反应合成主体,并首次将其叠氮化,反应温度为40℃．产物通过元素分析,红外光谱和氢谱对其结构进行表征．从而验证了合成路线的可行性,并得出了较佳的工艺条件．     

Synthesis of tetraazacalix[2]arene[2]triazines: tuning the cavity by the substituents on the bridging nitrogen atoms

[Structure: see text] A number of tetraazacalix[2]arene[2]triazines bearing different substituents on the bridging nitrogen atoms were synthesized efficiently using a fragment coupling strategy. The N-arylation of the parent azacalix[2]arene]2]triazine afforded tetra(arylaza)calix[2]arene[2]triazine in 91% yield. The introduction of different substituents on the bridging positions led to the regulation of the cavity of the resulting macrocyclic molecules.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of novel calix[4]azacrowns

A series of novel 1,3‐altemate calix[4]arene azacrowns having mono and bis crown ethers on the lower rim of the calix[4]arene framework were synthesized. Solid‐state structures confirmed the three dimensional conformation of compounds 1–3.     

Synthesis and self-assembly of novel oxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine amphiphiles

Heteracalixaromatics are an emerging generation of macrocyclic host molecules in supramolecular chemistry. As a typical example of heteracalixaromatics, oxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine adopts a shape-persistent 1,3-alternate conformation and can be easily functionalized. Taking it as a platform, a series of oxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine-based amphiphiles bearing long alkyl chains were synthesized through post-macrocyclization functionalization or 3+1 fragment coupling protocols. The self-assembly behavior of these amphiphiles in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and water was investigated. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements revealed that the size of the self-assembled aggregates is dependent on the structure of the amphiphiles. The long alkyl chain substituents and/or intermolecular hydrogen bonds were found to promote the self-assembly.     

Ion pair receptors based on anion-π interaction

A novel type of ditopic ion pair receptors based on anion-π interaction is reported. Oxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine azacrowns were synthesized efficiently from a one-pot reaction between 2,4-dichloro-4-methoxytriazine and 3,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde followed by condensation with a diamine and reduction of bisimine; they acted as selective ditopic receptors to recognize ion pairs.     

Adlayer structures of aza- and/or oxo-bridged calix[2]arene[2]triazines on Au(111) investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM)

The adlayers formed by a series of aza- and/or oxo-bridged calix[2]arene[2]triazines on Au(111) surfaces were investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. 1,3-Alternate configurations of these molecules are preserved on gold surfaces as in their three-dimensional crystals. STM images show that the cavity sizes of these molecules are finely tuned by substituting the bridging nitrogen atom with oxygen atoms, which change the strengths and densities of the intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bond interaction influences the molecular orientation and conformation in the adlayers, and it plays a key role in the formation of these two-dimensional supramolecular architectures. Coadsorption of calix[2]arene[2]triazine with 1,3,5-tris(5-carboxyamyloxy)benzene (TCAB) intervenes with the intermolecular hydrogen bond formations among the calix[2]arene[2]triazine molecules and consequently causes a conformational transition of the calixarene molecules from rhombic to square. These results demonstrate the role of hydrogen bonds in molecular assembly formations.     

Facial one-pot synthesis of D3h symmetric bicyclocalix[2]arene[2]triazines and their layered comb self-assembly

A number of D_3h symmetric bicyclocalix[2]arene[2]triazine core compounds were synthesized via a general and good-yielding (43–48% yield) facile protocol starting from cyanuric halides, phloroglucinol and K₂CO₃ under very mild reaction conditions. These cage-like compounds are tolerante with different reaction conditions and can be derived with other functional groups in high yields. The X-ray crystal structures show these compounds have slightly distorted D_3h symmetric structures. Due to the unique molecular topological structure, bicyclocalix[2]arene[2]triazine molecules form unique layered comb networks when hydrogen bond groups exist (such as CO₂H, B(OH)₂), which represent a new kind of building block unit for supramolecular architectures.     

Quantum chemical study of the self-assembly of tetrathiacalix[4]arenes and their oxygen analogs functionalized by hydrazide groups

The self-assembly of tetrathiacalix[4]arene and tetraoxacalix[4]arene molecules functionalized by hydrazide groups was studied by DFT calculations at B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level. The calculations were performed for the cone and 1,3-alternate conformations. The associates of calix[4]arenes in the cone conformation are stabilized by multiple hydrogen bonds with inclusion of all hydrazide groups in the formation of the globule, which suppresses the formation of extended structures.     

Size‐Regulable Vesicles Based on Anion–π Interactions

Taking tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine as a functionalization platform, a series of new amphiphilic molecules were synthesized in 18 to 53 % yields by using a fragment coupling protocol. These amphiphilic molecules self‐assembled into stable vesicles in a mixture of THF and water, with the surface of the vesicles engineered by electron‐deficient cavities. Various anions are able to selectively influence the size of self‐assembled vesicles, following the order of F^?<ClO₄^?<SCN^?<BF₄^?<Br^?<Cl^?<NO₃^?, as revealed by DLS measurements. Such a sequence was independent with the hydration cost and in agreement with the binding strength of anions with tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine host molecule, indicating that the anion–π interaction most probably competed over other possible weak interactions and accounted for this interesting selectivity. In addition, the chloride permeation process across the membrane of the vesicles was also preliminarily studied by means of fluorescent experiments. This study, in addition to providing the potentiality of heteracalixaromatics as new models to construct functional vesicles, opens a new avenue to study the anion–π interactions in aqueous and also potentially in living systems.     

Synthesis,structure, and conformation of terphenylene-derived azacalix[4]aromatics

Several novel azacalix[4]aromatics constituting terphenylene units have been synthesized via sequential nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions of 5′-t-butyl-(1,1′:3′,1″-terphenyl)-3,3″-diamine 9 and 5′-t-butyl-(1,1′:3′,1″-terphenyl)– 4,4″-diamine 11 with 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and cyanuric chloride, respectively. The bridging –NH– functions of the tetra-nitro substituted azacalix[2]arene[2]terphenylenes 1 and 2 have been transformed to the corresponding –N(CH₃)– bridged azacalix[2]arene[2]terphenylenes 3 and 4 via N-alkylation. Single crystal X-ray analysis revealed that the terphenyl-3,3″-diamine derived azacalix[2]terphenylene[2]triazine 5 adopts a distorted chair conformation in the solid state, and the terphenyl-4,4″-diamine derived azacalix[2]terphenylene[2]triazine 6 was found to adopt a 1,3-alternate conformation.     

Efficient post-macrocyclization functionalizations of oxacalix[2]arene[2]pyrimidines

Diversely functionalized oxacalix[2]arene[2]pyrimidines have been synthesized starting from a bis(methylsulfanyl)-substituted oxacalix[4]arene by two efficient post-macrocyclization pathways. Functionalized aryl groups were introduced on the pyrimidine building block via Liebeskind-Srogl cross-coupling reactions, while a variety of O-, S-, N-, and C-nucleophiles were inserted on the calixarene skeleton by nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions on the bis(methylsulfonyl)oxacalix[4]arene analogue.