Kinetic Resolution of dl-Hydrobenzoins Catalyzed by Copper(II) Complexes of C 2-Symmetric Thiophene-Derived Ligands

C-2-Symmetrical chiral amino alcohol ligands with a central thiophene moiety were shown to be effective in combination with CuCl2 for the asymmetric acylation of dI-hydrobenzoins. In contrast to previously developed chiral ligands, readily available acetyl chloride and acetic anhydride can be used as reagents, in addition to benzoyl chloride, giving rise to the corresponding monoacylated products in up to 99% ee (S = 532)

Comparative study of azobenzene and stilbene bridged crown ether p-tert-butylcalix 4 arene

Photo-switchable calixarenes consisting of a stilbene or azobenzene bridge, spanning the narrow rim as a switching unit, were synthesized through reductive coupling of o-, m- and p-bis-benzaldehyde and bis-nitrobenzene-substituted calix[4]arenes. Both cis- and trans-stilbenes were produced from the reductive coupling of the o- and m-bis-benzaldehyde with the cis isomer being predominant for both regioisomers, whilst the coupling of p-bis-benzaldehyde gave only cis product. On the other hand, the only isolable product obtained from the reductive coupling of bis-o- and bis-m-nitrobenzene was the corresponding trans-azobenzene and the coupling product from bis-p-nitrobenzene was not stable. Each of the synthesized compounds showed a photostationary state in their cis-trans isomerization. The complexation of alkali metal ions was observed for only the o-azobenzene derivative suggesting that the lone pair of N-atom in the azo bridge participates in this process