J Chem Crystallogr (2011) 41:332–337
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reasonable to good yield. This result, not entirely unex-
pected [10], may be explained by the observation that the
1,3-alternate conformation is already found for the 1,3-
diallylether (confirmed by a crystal structure [11]), in strong
contrast to 1,3-diethers of ‘‘normal’’ calix[4]arenes, which
prefer the cone conformation [12]. An explanation could be
the compensation of dipole-moments of the aromatic units
(nitrophenol and nitrophenylether) which might be stronger
than the stabilization via intramolecular hydrogen bonds
which usually determines the conformation of calix[4]arene
(derivatives). The tetraallyether in the 1,3-alternate con-
formation was also obtained for the unsubstituted thiaca-
lix[4]arene. (The 1,3-alternate conformation is not stable in
CDCl3 where it is slowly converted to the partial cone
conformation already at room temperature. A complete
transformation was achieved at 50 °C, where the partial
cone isomer seems to be stable.)
(3 9 5 mL) and dried for 1 h under vacuum (10 mmHg) at
100 °C. Compound 1 (0.24 g, 44%) was obtained as a
colorless powder. Mp = 210–214 °C. 1H NMR (400 MHz,
CDCl3, 25 °C): d 4.56 (m, 8H, OCH2), 4.73–4.96 (m, 8H,
CH=CH2), 5.64–5.77 (m, 4H, CH=CH2), 6.74 (t, 4H,
3
3JHH = 7.7 Hz, HAr), 7.34 (d, 8H, JHH = 7.7 Hz, HAr).
13C–{1H} NMR (100.6 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C): d 69.6
(s, OCH2), 115.5 (s, CH=CH2), 123.1 (s, CAr), 129.0 (s,
CAr), 133.2 (s, CH=CH2), 134.2 (s, CAr), 159.4 (s, CAr). MS
(FD): m/z (%): 656.4 (100) [M]?, calcd for C36H32O4S4
656.91.
5,11,17,23-Tetranitro-25,26,27,28-tetraallyloxy-2,8,14,20-
thiacalix[4]arene (2)
Allylbromide (2.86 g, 2.1 mL, 23.70 mmol) was added to
the suspension of 5,11,17,23-tetranitro-25,26,27,28-
tetrahydroxy-2,8,14,20-thiacalix[4]arene [16] (0.40 g, 0.59
mmol) and Na2CO3 (2.51 g, 23.70 mmol) in dry acetoni-
trile (16 mL) and the reaction mixture was refluxed for
5 days with stirring. 1 N HCl was added (pH \ 7) and the
aqueous layer was washed with chloroform (4 9 30 mL).
The combined organic fractions were dried (MgSO4) and
evaporated. Diethyl ether (80 mL) was added and the
crystalline residue was filtered, washed with diethyl ether
(3 9 5 mL) and dried for 1 h under vacuum (10 mmHg) at
r.t. The compound thus obtained (0.21 g, 47%) as a brown
powder was identified as 5,11,17,23-tetranitro-25,27-dial-
lyloxy-2,8,14,20-thiacalix[4]arene [11]. Mp = 185–189 °C.
1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C): d 4.90 (d, 4H,
3JHH = 6.1 Hz, OCH2), 5.38–5.52 (m, 4H, CH=CH2),
6.10–6.27 (m, 2H, CH=CH2), 7.81 (s, 2H, OH), 8.05 (s, 4H,
HAr), 8.65 (s, 4H, HAr). 13C–{1H} NMR (100.6 MHz,
CDCl3, 25 °C): d 78.3 (s, OCH2), 121.1 (s, CH=CH2), 121.7
(s, CAr), 129.6 (s, CAr), 131.0 (s, CH=CH2), 131.4 (s, CAr),
132.6 (s, CAr), 140.3 (s, CAr), 144.1 (s, CAr), 162.6 (s, CAr),
163.6 (s, CAr). MS (FD): m/z (%): 756.2 (100) [M]?, calcd
for C30H20N4O12S4 756.77.
Experimental
General Experimental
1
Melting points are uncorrected. H and 13C NMR spectra
were recorded on a Bruker Avance DRX 400 spectrometer
at 400 and 100.6 MHz respectively. Chemical shifts are
reported in d units (ppm) with reference to the residual
solvent peaks. Mass spectra were recorded on a Waters/
Micromass QTof Ultima 3 mass spectrometer. All solvents
were HPLC grade and used without further purification.
As previously verified, [13, 14] data for elemental
analyses of organic calixarenes are often misleading, due to
inclusion of solvent molecules. Especially in the case of
isomers, they cannot be considered appropriate criteria of
purity. However, the identities of the reported compounds
were unambiguously established by their spectroscopic
data and their purity was controlled by TLC.
The mother liquor was evaporated and the residue was
triturated with acetone (10 mL). The insoluble part was
filtered off and acetone was evaporated. Finally diethyl
ether (10 mL) was added and the crystalline residue was
filtered, washed with diethyl ether (3 9 2 mL) and dried
for 2 h under vacuum (10 mmHg) at r.t. The tetraether 2
(0.05 g, 10%) was obtained as a colorless powder.
Mp = 161–165 °C. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C): d
4.57–4.98 (m, 16H, OCH2 and CH=CH2), 5.64–5.76 (m,
4H, CH=CH2), 8.27 (s, 8H, HAr); 13C–{1H} NMR
(100.6 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C): d 70.3 (s, OCH2), 117.1 (s,
CH=CH2), 129.2 (s, CAr), 129.4 (s, CAr), 131.2 (s,
CH=CH2), 142.9 (s, CAr), 163.9 (s, CAr). MS (ESI): m/
z (%): 859.1 (100) [M ? Na]?, calcd for C36H28N4O12S4
836.90.
Syntheses
25,26,27,28-Tetraallyloxy-2,8,14,20-thiacalix[4]arene (1)
Allylbromide (2.86 g, 2.1 mL, 23.70 mmol) was added to
the suspension of 25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxy-2,8,14,20-thi-
acalix[4]arene [15] (0.40 g, 0.81 mmol) and Na2CO3
(2.51 g, 23.70 mmol) in dry acetonitrile (16 mL) and the
reaction mixture was refluxed for 7 days with stirring. 1 N
HCl was added (pH \ 7) and the aqueous layer was
extracted with chloroform (3 9 20 mL). The combined
organic fractions were dried (MgSO4) and evaporated.
Diethyl ether (25 mL) was added to the residue and the
formed solid was filtered, washed with diethyl ether
123