Reaction of nitrosonium cation with resorc[4]arenes activated by supramolecular control: covalent bond formation

J Org Chem. 2013 Jul 19;78(14):6935-46. doi: 10.1021/jo400489m. Epub 2013 Jul 3.

Abstract

Resorc[4]arenes 1 and 2, which previously proved to entrap NO(+) cation within their cavities under conditions of host-to-guest excess, were treated with a 10-fold excess of NOBF4 salt in chloroform. Kinetic and spectral UV-visible analyses revealed the formation of isomeric 1:2 complexes as a direct evolution of the previously observed event. Accordingly, three-body 1-(NO(+))2 and 2-(NO(+))2 adducts were built by MM and fully optimized by DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. Notably, covalent nitration products 4, 5 and 6, 7 were obtained by reaction of NOBF4 salt with host 1 and 2, respectively, involving macrocycle ring-opening and insertion of a nitro group in one of the four aromatic rings. In particular, compounds 4 and 6, both containing a trans-double bond in the place of the methine bridge, were oxidized to aldehydes 5 and 7, respectively, after addition of water to the reaction mixture. Calculation of the charge and frontier orbitals of the aromatic donor (HOMO) and the NO(+) acceptor (LUMO) clearly suggests an ipso electrophilic attack by a first NO(+) unit on the resorcinol ring, mediated by the second NO(+) unit.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calixarenes / chemistry*
  • Cations / chemistry
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nitric Oxide / chemistry*
  • Phenylalanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Phenylalanine / chemistry
  • Quantum Theory

Substances

  • Cations
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • nitrosonium ion
  • resorcinarene
  • Calixarenes
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Phenylalanine