Efficient dibenzo[c]acridine helicene-like synthesis and resolution: scaleup, structural control, and high chiroptical properties.

Herein, we describe our recent expeditious synthesis of dibenzo[c]acridine helicene-like compounds on a large scale in pure enantiomeric form. This flexible synthesis allows for variation at several positions on the skeleton. Geometrical parameters related to these compounds have been obtained from monocrystal X-ray structure resolution. Additionally, chiroptical parameters have been recorded, highlighting the versatility of this family showing for example optical rotation at 589 nm varying between 135 and 150 deg g(-1)cm(2).

Inherently chiral phosphonatocavitands as artificial chemo- and enantio-selective receptors of natural ammoniums.

Inherently chiral phosphonatocavitands with various bridging moieties at their wide rim were synthesized. Optical resolution by chiral HPLC was performed with cavitand 8 to afford enantiopure compounds (+)-8 and (-)-8. The molecular structures of hosts 8 and 12 were determined by X-ray diffraction. The host properties were investigated by (1)H and (31)P NMR spectroscopy. The phosphonatocavitands form inclusion complexes with chiral ammonium neurotransmitters, some presenting enantioselectivity towards the right or left-handed host enantiomers.

Restricted guest tumbling in phosphorylated self-assembled capsules.

ABii diphosphonatocavitands self-assemble in chloroform solution to form dimeric molecular capsules. The molecular capsules can incarcerate an N-methylpyridinium or N-methylpicolinium guest. We have demonstrated that the supramolecular assembly acts as a molecular rotor as a result of the restricted motion of the guest inside the molecular cavity. In the solid state, X-ray diffraction analysis of the free host showed that two cavitands interact through strong hydrogen bonds to give the supramolecular self-assembled capsule. The solid-state structure of the N-methylpicolinium complex is comparable to that of the free host and indicates that the guest is not a prerequisite for the formation of the capsule. DOSY NMR studies provided a definitive argument for the formation of the free and complexed supramolecular capsule in CDCl(3) solution. In solution, the tumbling of the N-methylpyridinium and N-methylpicolinium guests about the equatorial axes of the host can be frozen and differs by the respective energy barriers, with the larger picolinium substrate having a larger value (ΔG(++) = 69.7 kJ mol(-1)) than the shorter pyridinium guest (ΔG(++) = 44.8 kJ mol(-1)). This behavior corresponds to the restricted rotation of a rotator in a supramolecular rotor.

Self-complementary phosphonate cavitands.

iii-Phosphorylated cavitands incorporating an N-methylpyridinium guest moiety as the fourth bridging unit form supramolecular associations by inclusion of the charged CH(3)N(+)-pyridinium head into a neighboring host cavity. The dimeric association is favored in solution and was characterized by NMR, mass spectrometry, DOSY experiments, and single crystal X-ray analysis.