Diastereoselective Functionalization of a Spherand‐Type Calixarene

Condensation of 5,5'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-dihydroxybiphenyl (1) with formaldehyde yields a cyclic trimer 2 (and tetramer 3) having three (four) methylene groups less than a calix[6]arene (calix[8]arene). Alkylation of the (flexible) trimer with ethyl bromoacetate gives exclusively the stereoisomer 4 with C 2 symmetry, while the isomer with D 3 symmetry is not observed. Two isomers 6a and 6b (C 2 and C 1 symmetry) are obtained by treatment with tert-butyl bromoacetate which both are converted by transesterification with methanol into the same hexamethyl ester 5 having C 2 symmetry. These results are rationalized by restricted rotation around Ar-Ar bonds for larger O-alkyl groups also around Ar…