S-alkylation of thiacalixarenes: how the regio- and stereoselectivities depend on the starting conformation

J Org Chem. 2012 Mar 2;77(5):2272-8. doi: 10.1021/jo202571h. Epub 2012 Feb 21.

Abstract

S-alkylation of all four thiacalix[4]arene conformations was accomplished using alkyl triflates. The corresponding sulfonium salts are formed in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner depending on the conformation used. Interestingly, only mono- or disubstituted sulfonium salts can be prepared. Although many regio- and stereoisomers are theoretically possible, only one dialkylated cone and 1,2-alternate derivatives were formed, while only a single isomer of monoalkylated partial cone and 1,3-alternate were isolated. The combination of experimental results with the quantum-chemical approach using the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) method resulted in the elucidation of the rules governing the regio- and stereochemical outcomes of the alkylation reactions. All S-alkylated compounds represent a novel type of substitution pattern in calixarene chemistry showing the wide-ranging possibility of thiacalixarene skeleton modifications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Calixarenes / chemical synthesis*
  • Calixarenes / chemistry
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemistry

Substances

  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • Calixarenes