Synthesis of upper rim-double-bridged calix[4]arenes bearing seven membered rings and related compounds

Meta/meta- and meta/para-disubstituted organomercury calix[4]arenes in the cone conformation were transformed into corresponding amino derivatives. Acylation and subsequent intramolecular cyclization using the Bischler–Napieralski reaction provided, in the case of the meta/meta-series, double bridged calixarenes possessing seven membered rings on the upper rim. A similar synthetic strategy applied to meta/para-isomers allowed for the isolation of monobridged compounds bearing an additional trifluoroacetamido group located distally to seven-membered rings. Both series represent inherently chiral systems, which were successfully resolved using preparative chiral HPLC. The pure enantiomers exhibited a recognition ability towards selected chiral guest molecules as documented by the (1)H NMR titration experiments. The absolute configuration of the phenyl-substituted enantiomer (meta/meta-) was confirmed by single crystal structure determination (X-ray).