Synthesis, Optical Resolution and Enantiomeric Recognition Ability of Novel, Inherently Chiral Calix[4]arenes: Trial Application to Asymmetric Reactions as Organocatalysts

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Inherently Chiral Calix[4]arenes

Inherently chiral calix[4]arenes are an excellent structural scaffold for enantioselective synthesis, chiral recognition, sensing, and circularly polarized luminescence. However, their catalytic enantioselective synthesis remains challenging. Herein, we report an efficient synthesis of inherently chiral calix[4]arene derivatives via cascade enantioselective cyclization and oxidation reactions. The three-component reaction features a broad substrate scope (33 examples), high efficiency (up to 90 % yield), and excellent enantioselectivity (>95 % ee on average). The potential applications of calix[4]arene derivatives are highlighted by their synthetic transformation and a detailed investigation of their photophysical and chiroptical properties.

Bridging chiral de-tert-butylcalix[4]arenes: Optical resolution based on column chromatography and structural characterization

As the third-generation supramolecular main structure, calixarenes, especially chiral calixarenes, have been applied to various fields. In this study, the bridging chiral de-tert-butylcalix[4]arene derivatives with an amide group attached to a chiral point was synthesized for the first time, which provided a new group for its structural derivation at the bridging chiral position. The racemic compound 2 was optically resolved by column chromatography on silica gel with the aid of the chiral auxiliary (1S)-(+)-10-camphorsulfonyl chloride, and finally a pair of optically pure bridging chiral de-tert-butylcalix[4]arene derivatives 4a and 4b were obtained. The results of experimental and calculated ECD showed that compounds 4a and 4b were a pair of enantiomers, and their absolute configurations were designated S and R, respectively. This study provides new idea for the derivatization of specific chiral groups based on bridging chiral calix[4]arenes and their chiral resolution.

Optically Pure Aziridin-2-yl Methanols as Readily Available 1H NMR Sensors for Enantiodiscrimination of α-Racemic Carboxylic Acids Containing Tertiary or Quaternary Stereogenic Centers

Enantiopure aziridin-2-yl methanols 3–7 are used as highly effective sensors for enantiodiscrimination of α-racemic carboxylic acids containing tertiary or quaternary stereogenic centers. A linear correlation between theoretical and observed % ee values for CSA-3 and enantiomerically enriched samples of mandelic acid has been observed, indicating the possible application of these compounds in the ee determination. The free NH and OH groups in 3–7 ensure good recognition.

Recent applications of chiral calixarenes in asymmetric catalysis

The use of calixarenes in asymmetric catalysis is receiving increasing attention due to their tunable three-dimensional molecular platforms along with their easy syntheses and versatile modification at the upper and lower rims. This review summarizes the recent progress of synthesis and use of chiral calixarenes in asymmetric syntheses which emerged later than 2010.

Enantiodiscrimination of carboxylic acids using the diphenylprolinol NMR chiral solvating agents

Enantiopure diphenylprolinols have been developed as effective and practical NMR chiral solvating agents for the enantiodiscrimination of diverse α-carboxylic acids.

Nucleophilic Functionalization of the Calix[6]arene Para- and Meta-Position via p-Bromodienone Route

It is here demonstrated that the p-bromodienone route, previously reported for calix[4]arenes, is also effective for the functionalization of the calix[6]arene macrocycle. Thus, alcoholic O-nucleophiles can be introduced at the calix[6]arene exo rim. In addition, the reaction of a calix[6]arene p-bromodienone derivative with an actived aromatic substrate, such as resorcinol, led to the first example of a meta-functionalized, inherently chiral calix[6]arene derivative.

Qualitative analysis of the helical electronic energy of inherently chiral calix[4]arenes: an approach to effectively assign their absolute configuration

For all microhelices on aromatic rings of inherently chiral calix[4]arene, an expression was derived from one approximation and one hypothesis on the basis of the electron-on-a-helix model of Tinoco and Woody as follows: , where µ = 1 for the right-handed microhelix and µ = −1 for the left-handed microhelix; and H and K are constant and greater than zero. The expression correlates microhelical electronic energy (E) with the atom polarizability difference (Δα) on both microhelix ends, which intuitively and clearly shows the impact of helical substituent polarizability on helical electronic energy. The case analysis almost entirely proves that the qualitative analysis of the helical electronic energy of inherently chiral Calix[4]arenes with the expression is scientific and can be used to effectively assign their absolute configuration.

Phase and glass transitions observed by adiabatic calorimetry of host p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene and guest toluene inclusion crystal, suggesting the progress of the combined order-disorder process of the host-guest molecules

Heat capacities of crystalline p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene·toluene host-guest compound were measured in a temperature range between 3 K and 345 K by adiabatic calorimetry. The crystal showed one second-order phase transition at 256.4 K accompanied by wide heat-capacity tails on both the high and low temperature sides and two first-order phase transitions with heat-capacity peaks at 127 K and 139 K. The total entropy of a sequence of the phase transitions was assessed experimentally to be 47 J K(-1) mol(-1), indicating that the number of allowed distinguishable molecular configurations is over 100 in the high-temperature disordered state. Many such distinguishable configurations are understood to be produced by a special intermolecular interaction of C-H···(π-electron) bonds formed between p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene and toluene molecules, and the transitions were interpreted as originating from orientational order-disorder of both the guest toluene molecule and the tert-butyl groups of host arene in their combination.

Inherently chiral calixarenes: synthesis, optical resolution, chiral recognition and asymmetric catalysis

Inherently chiral calixarenes, whose chirality is based on the absence of a planar symmetry or an inversion center in the molecules as a whole through the asymmetric array of several achiral groups upon the three-dimensional calix-skeletons, are challenging and attractive chiral molecules, because of their potential in supramolecular chemistry. The synthesis and optical resolution of all varieties of inherently chiral calixarenes are systematically discussed and classified, and their applications in chiral recognition and asymmetric catalysis are thoroughly illustrated in this review.

Synthesis of chiral calix[4]arenes bearing aminonaphthol moieties and their use in the enantiomeric recognition of carboxylic acids

Two armed chiral calix[4]arenes 8-16 functionalized at the lower rim with chiral aminonaphthol units have been prepared and the structures of these receptors characterized by FTIR, (1)H, and (13)C, DEPT and COSY NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The enantioselective recognition of these receptors with various carboxylic acids has been studied by (1)H NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The receptors exhibited different chiral recognition abilities towards the enantiomers of racemic materials and formed 2 : 1 or 1 : 1 complexes between host and guest. It was also demonstrated that chiral calix[4]arenes 9 and 16 could be used as chiral NMR solvating agents to determine the enantiomeric purity of mandelic acid.

Absolute configuration assignment of inherently chiral calix[4]arenes using DFT calculations of chiroptical properties

The racemate of an inherently chiral meta-substituted calix[4]arene derivative 3 has been resolved via enantioselective HPLC. Measured optical rotation dispersion and electronic circular dichroism have been compared with DFT theoretical predictions. The comparison indicates that the absolute configuration of the dextrorotatory enantiomer (+)-3 is cS. The procedure has been successfully tested against a literature precedent confirming the validity of the method.

An asymmetric ortholithiation approach to inherently chiral calix[4]arenes

A general asymmetric synthesis of inherently chiral calix[4]arenes is described: using a chiral oxazoline derived from L-valine, an ortholithiation strategy is employed to give inherently chiral calix[4]arenes with high (93%) enantiomeric excesses. A crystal structure of a phosphine oxide intermediate has been obtained, unambiguously assigning the major diastereomer in the reaction; a mechanism explaining this result is proposed.

Chiral encapsulation by directional interactions

The complexation of chiral guests in the cavity of dimeric self-assembled chiral capsule 1(2) was studied by using NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Capsule 1(2) has walls composed of amino acid backbones forming numerous directional binding sites that are arranged in a chiral manner. The polar character of the interior dictates the encapsulation preferences towards hydrophilic guests and the ability of the capsule to extract guests from water into an organic phase. Chiral discrimination towards hydroxy acids was evaluated by using association constants and competition experiments, and moderate de values were observed (up to 59 %). Complexes with one or two guest molecules in the cavity were formed. For 1:1 complexes, solvent molecules are coencapsulated; this influences guest dynamics and makes the chiral recognition solvent dependent. Reversal of the preferences can be induced by coencapsulation of a nonchiral solvent in the chiral internal environment. For complexes with two guests, filling of the capsule's internal space can be very effective and packing coefficients of up to 70 % can be reached. The X-ray crystal structure of complex 1(2) superset((S)-6)(2) with well-resolved guest molecules reveals a recognition motif that is based on an extensive system of hydrogen bonds. The optimal arrangement of interactions with the alternating positively and negatively charged groups of the capsule's walls is fulfilled by the guest carboxylic groups acting simultaneously as hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors. An additional guest molecule interacting externally with the capsule reveals a possible entrance mechanism involving a polar gate. In solution, the structural features and dynamic behavior of the D(4)-symmetric homochiral capsule were analyzed by variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy and the results were compared with those for the S(8)-symmetric heterochiral capsule.