O. Reinaud et al.
recognition process has been
used for orienting the chemical
transformation of an unsym-
metrical, multifunctional sub-
strate. Indeed, very much like
in the SSAT enzyme,[1] we were
able to direct the electrophilic
reagent (Boc2O) at a single site
(N1) with an unprecedented
chemo- and regioselectivity.
The calix host allows for selec-
tive, reversible and oriented
substrate binding. It wraps one
side of the triamine, acting as a
Scheme 3. Supramolecular protection allowing the regioselective carbamoylation of N-(2-aminoethyl)propane-
1,3-diamine (Boc2O = di-tert-butyl dicarbonate). (1) and (8) are arbitrary numbers used to differentiate the
two primary N atoms of the triamino guest.
2
To
a
MeCN solution containing complex [Zn
(1NH )-
protective group, whereas the other side of the guest is ex-
posed to the reactant. In this multipoint recognition system,
i) the Zn2+ ion protects one terminal amino group by means
of a coordination link that is further stabilized by hydrogen
bonding at the oxygen-rich calixarene small rim, ii) the calix-
arene cone surrounds two amino groups out of three and
prevents their electrophilic attack by the exogenous reagent,
iii) the aniline door ensures the directionality of the guest
binding and allows the other terminal nitrogen site to stand
outside the cavity. Our preparative procedure demonstrates
that, whereas such a selective transformation cannot be ac-
complished by standard methodologies, a supramolecular
device makes it possible. We are now trying to extend this
case study and develop the applicability of such a strategy
for the selective transformation of various compounds.
A
R
ated triamine was added to produce complex B. Et3N and
Boc2O (3 and 1.2 equiv, respectively) were then carefully
added at 08C. After overnight stirring at RT, the Zn com-
plex was isolated by precipitation with Et2O and analyzed
1
by H NMR spectroscopy. The spectrum (see Supporting In-
formation) showed a quasi-quantitative conversion and the
presence of a single pure new species, a Zn complex with
guest resonances attesting to its coordination by the N8
atom and selective carbamoylation at N1. No trace of any
other regioisomer could be detected, which attests to the
very high regioselectivity of the guest transformation. From
this complex, the pure N1-monocarbamate derivative was
isolated, for the first time, in 63% yield after decomplexa-
tion with NaOH.[17] A key for the success of the procedure
was to find the right basicity of the reaction medium.
Indeed, with a smaller amount of Et3N, the reaction was
sluggish and incomplete after 24 h, which may be attributa-
ble to the low (and decreasing due to proton release as the
reaction proceeds) concentration of species A in the reac-
tion mixture; with a larger amount of Et3N, selectivity was
lost, which is related to the decoordination of ZnII from the
calixarene, as observed by NMR spectroscopy, leading to
the release of the endo-coordinated triamine. The selectivity
may also stem from the fact that among all species in equi-
librium (Scheme 2, left), species A, displaying the same re-
gioselective binding as B, is the most reactive, since ZnII
must deactivate the bound triamine in the chelate complex.
All in all, it is likely that the carbamoylation process is
under both thermodynamic and kinetic control as it depends
on the relative and evolving concentration of the different
species in equilibrium associated to their relative reactivi-
ty.[18]
Experimental Section
tert-Butyl 2-(3-aminopropylamino)ethylcarbamate: An acetonitrile solu-
tion (1m, 211 mL) containing a 1:1 mixture of N-(2-aminoethyl)propane-
2
1,3-diamine and perchloric acid was added to complex [Zn
(1NH
)N
AHCTUNTGREG(NUNN ClO4)2 (312 mg, 0.21 mmol, 1 equiv) in acetonitrile (20 mL). The forma-
tion of the complex containing the mono-protonated triamine as a guest
was followed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and the amount of added tria-
mine adjusted if necessary. Et3N (89 mL, 0.63 mmol, 3 equiv) was added
followed by the slowly careful addition of Boc2O (233 mL, 0.23 mmol,
1.1 equiv) diluted in CH3CN at 08C (over 15 min). The reaction mixture
was stirred at room temperature overnight, after which the volume of the
solution was reduced to two thirds under vacuum in order to precipitate
all the calix complex through the addition of ether.
The crude isolated solid was redissolved in CH2Cl2 (10 mL) and treated
with NaOHaq (1m, 2ꢅ5 mL). The organic phases were then dried with
Na2SO4 and evaporated, giving rise to pure ligand 1NH , ready to be recy-
2
cled. The basic aqueous phase was evaporated to dryness and extracted
with CH2Cl2 (3ꢅ5 mL). The crude oil obtained after removal of the sol-
vent under reduced pressure was purified by flash chromatography
(Alox, akt III, neutral, CH2Cl2/MeOH/NH4OH 10:10:0.1) to yield the
pure regioselectively Boc-protected triamine as an oil (29 mg, 63%).
1H NMR (400 MHz, 298 K, CDCl3): d=4.99 (brs, 1H; NHCO), 3.19 (m,
J=5.7 Hz, 2H; CH2), 2.78–2.61 (m, 6H; CH2), 1.60 (quintuplet, J=
6.9 Hz, 2H; CH2), 1.42 ppm (s, 9H; CH3); 13C NMR (100 MHz, 298 K,
CDCl3): d=156.3, 79.4, 49.4, 47.6, 40.6, 40.5, 34.0, 28.6 ppm; HRMS m/z:
calcd for C10H24N3O2: 218.1863, found 218.1863 [M+H]+.
Conclusions
In conclusion, we have shown that this host–guest adduct
behaves as a bistable system: the guest reversibly changes
from an “up” position to a “down” position depending on
the acidity of the medium, thus depicting an acid–base con-
trolled directional switch. This remarkably discriminative
11916
ꢃ 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Chem. Eur. J. 2009, 15, 11912 – 11917