Synthesis of a novel cage-functionalized chiral binaphthol host: a potential new agent for enantioselective recognition of chiral ammonium salts

Optically active, cage-functionalized crown ether (R)-3 which contains a 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol moiety has been prepared. Subsequently, the ability of (R)-3 to selectively recognize the enantiomers of guest ammonium salts, i.e., 4 and 5 in transport experiments was studied. Host (R)-3 displays significantly enhanced enantiomeric selectivity toward complex formation with 4 vis-à-vis complex formation with 5. The relative energetics of various relevant host–guest complexes have been investigated computationally.