G. Ferguson et al., 1,3-calix[4]arene crown ether conformers with a 3-thienyl pendant functionality at the lower rim, J ORG CHEM, 64(16), 1999, pp. 5876-5885
Synthetic protocols to novel thienyl-calix[4]crown building blocks are repo
rted. The selective distal introduction of a 2-(3-thienyl)ethoxy functional
ity into mono-O-alkylated calix[4]arenes 1 (R = Me, Bn), followed by cycliz
ation of the mixed di-O-alkylated intermediates 2 with tetra- and pentaethy
lene glycol ditosylate and base, produced mixtures of 1,3-alternate and con
e 1,3-calix[4]arene crown ether conformers 3 and 4, respectively. On the ot
her hand, the selective debenzylation (Me3SiCl) of 1-benzyloxy-3-propoxycal
ix[4]arene crown-5 (cone conformer 4c) led to cone monohydroxy-derivative 5
, which upon alkylation with 2-(3-thienyl)ethanol tosylate and Cs2CO3 affor
ded the rigid partial cone calix[4]arene crown-5 6, having the heterocyclic
pendant functionality anti to the polyether ring. The H-1 NMR resonances o
f Bu-t substituents at the upper rim of conformationally rigid mixed 1,3-di
alkoxycalix[4]arene crown ethers provide a diagnostic tool for establishing
the mutual inclinations of the opposing pairs of aromatic rings. The struc
tures of 5,11,17,23-tetrakis-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-25-methoxy-27-{[2-(3-thien
yl)ethoxy]}(beta)-26,28-(crown-6)(alpha)-calix[4]arene (anti-3aa) and 5,11,
17,23-tetrakis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-25-methoxy-27-{[2-(3-thienyl)ethoxy]}(alp
ha)-26,28-(crown-6)(alpha)-calix[4]arene calix[4]arene (syn-4aa) conformers
were determined by single-crystal X-ray analyses. Methoxy-containing calix
[4]arene crown ethers possess fluxional properties, and the conformational
equilibria in solution are strongly affected by alkali-metal complexation.