Asymmetrically substituted calix[4]arenes; A two-dimensional 1H NMR study of a tetraester derivative in the cone-conformation

Abstract Several new chiral calix[4]arenes with three or four different substituents in the p-position have been prepared by fragment condensation. Standard derivatization procedures always led to the formation of mixtures of various conformational isomers from which the derivative in the cone-conformation could be isolated only by preparative HPLC. For a tetraester derivative it was shown by two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy, that due to the different substituents the cone-conformation is strongly distorted. The sodium complex of this tetraester, however, assumes a regular cone-conformation again.