Calixarene-based Cage Compound: Synthesis via Simple Condensation of t-Butylcalix[4]arene with α,ω-Dibromoacetate and Inclusion Complex Formation with Phenol

Abstract

Abstract Reaction of p-t-butylcalix[4]arene (BCA[4]) with α,ω-dibromoacetate (DBH) afforded a soluble cage compound, BCA[4]-DBH, in high yield. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed that BCA[4]-DBH contains a fixed cavity. Examination of host-guest chemistry showed that BCA[4]-DBH forms a 1:1 inclusion complex with phenol, with an association constant (K) of 34.