Cyanocalix[4]arenes: synthesis,crystal structures and reactivity studies

Abstract

Herein, we describe an improved method to synthesise mono-, di- and tetra-cyanocalix[4]arene and report their crystal structure determinations. We also report our attempts to further functionalise the cyanocalix[4]arenes into dithiadiazolyl-calix[4]arenes, and propose a hypothesis as to why the cyano group on a calix[4]arene is an extremely challenging group to modify.