Expanded Cyclotetrabenzoins

Org Lett. 2021 Feb 5;23(3):781-785. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.0c04014. Epub 2021 Jan 7.

Abstract

Cyclobenzoins are shape-persistent macrocycles of interest in the preparation of optoelectronic and porous materials. New cyclotetrabenzoins derived from biphenyl, naphthalene, and tolane skeletons were synthesized using N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed benzoin condensation. Their preparation proceeded with different regioselectivity than that observed in the cyanide-catalyzed preparation of the parent cyclotetrabenzoin. Crystal structures of two new cyclotetrabenzoin acetic esters have been obtained. Alkyne groups of the tolane-based cyclotetrabenzoin were postsynthetically functionalized with Co2(CO)6 moieties.