Modular Strategy for Constructing para-Cage[ n]arenes, meta-Cage[ n]arenes, and meta-Bimacrocyclic-Arenes

Org Lett. 2024 Mar 15;26(10):2007-2012. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c00033. Epub 2024 Mar 5.

Abstract

Here, we present a versatile modular strategy for crafting novel covalent organic cages (para-cage[n]arenes and meta-cage[n]arenes, n = 3,4) and bimacrocycles (meta-bimacrocyclic-arenes) with stable backbones and modifiable rims. These structures can be synthesized from commercially available aromatic multialdehydes in a three-step process: quantitative bromination, Suzuki-Miyaura reaction (yielding over 60%), and a rapid one-pot Friedel-Crafts reaction with paraformaldehyde. Notably, the cage[n]arenes exhibit a well-defined prismatic shape, and the bimacrocyclic-arenes display both dimeric and monomeric configurations.