Lower-rim substituted calixarenes and their applications

This review discusses in detail “calixarenes” since their discovery as by-products of the phenol formaldehyde bakelites till the present scenario wherein calixarene has assumed a new dimension in the field of supramolecular chemistry. Extensive literature exists for calixarenes; but herein we have tried to concentrate on the different lower-rim modified calixarenes with their potential applications. An attempt has also been made to critically evaluate the synthesis procedures for different lower-rim substituted calixarenes.

Synthesis and structure of lower rim C-linked N-tosyl peptidocalix[4]arenes

Chiral p-tert-butylcalix[4]arenes functionalized at the lower rim with amino acid residues have been prepared. The (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra indicate that the macrocycles preferably adopt a cone conformation. Calix[4]arenes bearing amino acid moieties were prepared as a class of receptors selective for anions that are bound through hydrogen bonding with the NH group. The association constants are dependent on the nature of the substituents at the lower rim. Derivative 9 shows the strongest complexation and the largest selectivity for N-tosyl-(L)-alaninate. Finally, a preliminary X-ray crystal study of the difunctionalized receptor 6f shows the "flattened cone" conformation in the solid state.