Synthesis and supramolecular properties of regioisomers of mononaphthylallyl derivatives of γ-cyclodextrin

Monosubstituted derivatives of γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) are suitable building blocks for supramolecular polymers, and can also serve as precursors for the synthesis of other regioselectively monosubstituted γ-CD derivatives. We prepared a set of monosubstituted 2(I)-O-, 3(I)-O-, and 6(I)-O-(3-(naphthalen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-yl) derivatives of γ-CD using two different methods. A key step of the first synthetic procedure is a cross-metathesis between previously described regioisomers of mono-O-allyl derivatives of γ-CD and 2-vinylnaphthalene which gives yields of about 16–25% (2–5% starting from γ-CD). To increase the overall yields, we have developed another method, based on a direct alkylation of γ-CD with 3-(naphthalen-2-yl)allyl chloride as the alkylating reagent. Highly regioselective reaction conditions, which differ for each regioisomer in a used base, gave the monosubstituted isomers in yields between 12–19%. Supramolecular properties of these derivatives were studied by DLS, ITC, NMR, and Cryo-TEM.