Novel lithocholaphanes: Syntheses, NMR, MS, and molecular modeling studies

Abstract Novel head-to-head lithocholaphanes 6 and 11 have been synthesized via precursors 1 – 5 and 7 – 10 with overall good yields, and characterized by 1 H, 13 C, and 15 N NMR spectroscopy, ESI-TOF mass spectrometry, thermal analysis, and molecular modeling. In addition, the binding abilities of 6 and 11 towards alkali metal cations have been investigated via competitive complexation studies using equimolar mixtures of Li + , Na + , K + , and Rb + -cations, and cholaphanes 6 and 11 . The formation of cation–cholaphane adducts was detected by ESI-TOF mass spectrometry. The trends in these comparative binding studies are nicely reproduced theoretically with PM3 energetically optimized stru…