Functionalization of the periphery of calix[4]resorcinarenes with P(III)-containing substituents via hydroxy,trimethylsiloxy, and ethoxy-tethered trimethylsiloxy intermediates

Unlike C-undecylcalix4]resorcinarene, C-methylcalix4]resorcinarene 1 reacted with chlorodifluorophosphine in the absence of an auxiliary base to give the unstable octakis(difluorophosphite)-substituted derivative 2. The existence of two conformational isomers of 2 in solution was observed by ¹⁹F and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. Attempts to react the octakis(trimethylsilyl)calix4]resorcinarene 3 and its tetrabromo derivative 4 with phosphorus trichloride and chlorodifluorophosphine were unsuccessful. The ethoxy-tethered C-methyl-octakis(trimeth-ylsilyl)calix4]resorcinarene 5 was allowed to react with 2-chloro-1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-triaza-2σ³λ³-phosphorin-4,6-dione and chlorodifluorophosphine. By substitution of all trimethylsilyl groups, the octakis(phosphorus(III))-substituted compounds 6 and 7 were formed. As for 2, dynamic behavior in solution was observed for 6 and 7, arising from the equilibrium between different conformational isomers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 9:553–558, 1998