Bridged Calix[6]arenes in the Cone Conformation: New Receptors for Quaternary Ammonium Cations

The synthesis of calix[6]arene crown ethers 3 and 4 has been accomplished for the first time by selective bridging of the parent macrocycles. The alkylation of 3 with alpha-chloro-N,N-diethyl acetamide produces a compound 6 whose conformational flexibility is strongly reduced and which assumes a cone conformation both in solution and in the solid state. Compound 6 represents a new type of ditopic receptor which binds tetramethylammonium cation in the polar region at the lower rim, showing an association constant K-a=750 M(-1) in CDCl3

Synthesis and Configurational Analysis of Phosphonate Cavitands

Synthesis, separation and configurational analysis of phosphonated and partially phosphonated cavitands derived from resorcinarenes are described. The configuration of all diastereomers has been elucidated by their 1H, 31P NMR spectra and 13C relaxation times. In all cases the course of the bridging reaction favors the formation of the sterically more crowded stereoisomers having the P=O groups oriented outward with respect to the cavity

Self-Assembly and Anion Encapsulation Properties of Cavitand-based Coordination Cages

Two novel classes of cavitand-based coordination cages 7a-j and 8a-d have been synthesized via self-assembly procedures. The main factors controlling cage self-assembly (CSA) have been identified in (i) a P-M-P angle close to 90° between the chelating ligand and the metal precursor, (ii) Pd and Pt as metal centers, (iii) a weakly coordinated counterion, and (iv) preorganization of the tetradentate cavitand ligand. Calorimetric measurements and dynamic 1H and 19F NMR experiments indicated that CSA is entropy driven. The temperature range of the equilibrium cage-oligomers is determined by the level of preorganization of the cavitand component. The crystal structure of cage 7d revealed the presence of a single triflate anion encapsulated. Guest competition experiments revealed that the encapsulation preference of cages 7b,d follows the order BF4 - > CF3SO3 - . PF6 - at 300 K. ES-MS experiments coupled to molecular modeling provided a rationale for the observed encapsulation selectivities. The basic selectivity pattern, which follows the solvation enthalpy of the guests, is altered by size and shape of the cavity, allowing the entrance of an ancillary solvent molecule only in the case of BF4-