Cyclotriveratrylene-BINOL-Based Host Compounds: Synthesis, Absolute Configuration Assignment, and Recognition Properties.

New host compounds combining a cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) unit and three binaphthol moieties have been synthesized enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure. The use of a chemical correlation allows for the assignment of their absolute configuration. The energy barrier of epimerization was measured, suggesting that no intramolecular hydrogen bonding occurs between the hydroxyl groups of the binaphthols. These open-shell host compounds were then tested in the recognition of carbohydrates; a preferential binding of mannose toward glucose was observed, and good diastereoselectivities were reached (up to 1:10). This recognition of sugar derivatives by open-shell CTV-based host compounds is unprecedented and opens up the way for a wider use of this easily accessible class of molecules as chiral sensors.

Large-Scale Synthesis of Enantiopure Molecular Cages: Chiroptical and Recognition Properties.

A convenient and efficient gram-scale synthesis for enantiopure hemicryptophane-tren (tren=tris(2-aminoethyl)amine) derivatives has been developed. The four-step synthesis is based on the optical resolution of a key intermediate, cyclotriveratrylene, for which the energy barrier for racemization has been measured to ensure that no racemization occurs during the two last steps of the synthetic pathway. The assignments of the absolute configurations have been performed by electronic circular dichroism and the enantiopurity was determined by NMR spectroscopy in the presence of enantiopure camphor sulfonic acid. To highlight the interest of such compounds, the recognition of norephedrine neurotransmitter was investigated and showed a remarkable enantioselectivity towards the C3 symmetrical hosts. Finally, this highly modular synthetic pathway was used to provide eight enantiopure hemicryptophanes with different sizes, shapes, and functionalities. These results underline the high potential of this approach, which could lead to many applications in chiral recognition or asymmetric supramolecular catalysis.

Hemicryptophane host as efficient primary alkylammonium ion receptor.

Hemicryptophane 3 was found to be an efficient and selective primary alkylammonium receptor. Binding constants are 1000-fold higher than those previously reported for hemicryptophane hosts. Efficient complexation of dopamine emphasizes the use of this host for neurotransmitter complexation. Density functional theory calculations were performed and highlight host-guest complementarities.