Synthesis and Host Properties of (1,3)- p-tert-Butylcalix[5]crown-6 Derivatives Incorporating the 1,1'-Binaphthalene-2,2'-dioxy Subunit

Alkylation of p-tert-butylcalix5]arene (1) with 2,2'-bis(5-tosyloxy-3-oxa-1-pentyloxy)-1,1'-binaphthalene ((±)-2) in the presence of CsF affords selectively racemic 1,3-bridged calix5] 5]crown-6-triol 3, along with very small amounts of the (1,2)-bridged regioisomer 4. Compound 3 has been converted into tri-methoxy and tri--picolyloxy derivatives 5 and 6, respectively, by exhaustive alkylation with the appropriate electrophile and base. The direct separation of the enantiomers of racemates 3 and 6 was achieved by HPLC, using a chiral stationary phase (Chiralpak AD). Hosts 5 and 6 are able to selectively form 1 : 1 endo-cavity complexes with the linear RNH₃ ⁺ ions.