Bridge-disubstituted calix[4]arenes obtained via a new preparative route. Synthesis and structural study

Calix[4]arene Bridge Mononitration with tert-Butyl Nitrite: Synthesis of Bridging Chiral p-tert-Butylcalix[4]arene with a Mononitro Bridge Substituent

To explore the reaction universality of bridge nitration, the mononitration of different p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene derivatives was executed with tert-butyl nitrite as a nitration reagent. The effects of calix[4]arene conformations, substituents on the lower rim, and reaction conditions on bridge mononitration are systematically studied. The bridge nitration of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene derivatives in 1,3-alternate, 1,2-alternate, and partial cone conformations can be smoothly executed while that of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene derivatives strictly regulated in a cone conformation cannot. The nitration product complexity shows a positive correlation with the bridge-hydrogen types, and the optimal bridge-mononitrated substrate is calix[4]arene with only one bridge-hydrogen type. The electron-withdrawing substituent on the lower rim is apparently beneficial for the bridge mononitration. As a result, a variety of bridging chiral p-tert-butylcalix[4]arenes with a mononitro bridge substituent have been successfully synthesized. The highest bridge-mononitrated yield can reach 27% from 1,3-alternate p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene biscrown-5 under optimal reaction conditions.

Mononitration of a Calix[4]arene Methylene Bridge: Synthesis and Preliminary Catalysis Performances of Bridging Chiral p-tert-Butylcalix[4]arenes with a Monoamino Bridge Substituent in a 1,3-Alternate Conformation

In order to prepare bridging chiral p-tert-butylcalix[4]crown-5 with a mononitro bridge substituent in a 1,3-alternate conformation, a mononitration method of calix[4]arene bridging methylene has been first developed with tert-butyl nitrite as a nitration reagent. The effects of solvent, reaction temperature, reaction time, and nitration reagent dosage on bridge mononitration have been deeply explored to obtain an optimal nitration condition. The facile nitration presents a new key for calix[4]arene bridge derivatization. After further modification and diastereoisomeric resolution, a pair of bridging chiral p-tert-butylcalix[4]arenes with a monoamino bridge substituent were produced from the bridge-mono-nitrated calix[4]arene. Their preliminary catalysis results in the Henry reaction show good catalytic activities (up to 95% yield) and still low but obviously enhanced enantioselectivities (up to 22.3% ee from 7a, 6% ee from 1), which confirms that the structural transformation indeed improves asymmetric catalysis performances of bridging chiral calix[4]crown-5 amines in a 1,3-alternate conformation.

Calixrotanes: Calixarenes Incorporating Spiro-Linked Cyclopropyl Groups

Macrocyclic compounds (calix[4]- and calix[6]arene derivatives) with aryl rings interconnected by spirocyclopropyl groups have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The compounds were prepared by the reaction of dichlorocarbene with calixarenes possessing exocyclic double bonds at the bridges, followed by reductive perdechlorination of the spirocyclopropyl groups. In all systems, pairs of geminal rings connected to the quaternary spiro carbon atoms are oriented anti, and the methylene groups of the cyclopropyl rings are located in isoclinal positions. Calix[6]rotane adopts in the crystal and in solution a 1,3,5-alternate conformation. The presence of the spirocyclopropyl groups increases the rigidity of the macrocyclic ring.

Selective functionalization of methylene bridges of calix[6]arenes. Isolation and identification of stable conformers of methyl ether of p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene

Direct disubstitution at the methylene bridges of p-tert-butylcalix[6]arenemethyl ether has been achieved for the first time using a lithiation-substitution protocol. Two stable conformers have been isolated using column chromatography, and their structures have been unambiguously confirmed from 1D, 2D and variable temperature NMR studies and single crystal X-ray structure analysis.

Regioselective alkylation of a methylene group via meta-bridging of calix[4]arenes

The meta-iodo derivative, fixed in the cone conformation, enables the gram-scale preparation of a meta-bridged calix[4]arene. This intermediate, possessing a fluorene moiety within the macrocyclic skeleton, can be regioselectively alkylated on the corresponding methylene bridge to form a unique substitution pattern in classical calixarene chemistry.

Structural conditions required for the bridge lithiation and substitution of a basic calix[4]arene

Lithiation and subsequent reaction with CO₂ was applied to calix[4]arenes with different, equal or mixed, ether functions at the lower-rim site as well as tert-butylated or non-tert-butylated upper-rim positions. Whereas this reaction fails for symmetric calix[4]arene ethers with alkoxy residues greater than methoxy, the carboxylation of mixed methoxy-propoxy calixarene ethers is possible. In connection with this, several new monobridge-substituted calix[4]arenes were characterized with respect to their conformational behaviour in solution and the X-ray crystal structure of one key intermediate is taken into consideration.