Fixed or invertible calixarene-based directional shuttles

Org Lett. 2011 May 20;13(10):2650-3. doi: 10.1021/ol200753c. Epub 2011 Apr 29.

Abstract

The first examples of rotaxanes based on calixarenes threaded by dialkylammonium ions, which also represent the first examples of calixarene-based molecular shuttles, are reported. The base/acid treatment demonstrated that these systems act as molecular shuttles, which move between three sites on the axle. When small OMe groups are appended at the calix[6]arene lower rim an unprecedented inversion of its shuttling direction is observed, which occurs through a cone-to-cone inversion of the macrocycle.

MeSH terms

  • Calixarenes / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Rotaxanes / chemistry

Substances

  • Rotaxanes
  • Calixarenes