Synthesis of 5-tert-butyl-8,12,14-trimethyl- and 5-tert-butyl-8,12,14,16-tetramethyl[2.2]metacyclophane and their treatment with Lewis acids in benzene

Abstract

Treatment of 5- tert-butyl-8,12,14,16-tetramethyl[2.2]MCP with AlCl3-MeNO2 in benzene led to trans- tert-butylation to afford 8,12,14,16-tetramethyl[2.2]MCP in good yield along with tert-butylbenzene. On the other hand, the same treatment of 5- tert-butyl-8,12,14-trimethyl[2.2]MCP led to transannular cyclisation reaction and isomerisation reaction to afford the corresponding strainless 2- tert-butyl-3a,6,8-trimethyl-3,3a,4,5,9,10-hexahydropyrene in good yield.