6533b858fe1ef96bd12b5b12

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Macrocyclic hexaureas: synthesis, conformation, and anion binding.

subject

description

Varied flexibility: Cyclic oligoureas are formed by using anions as templates. Linking of six xanthene and/or diphenyl ether fragments by urea groups leads to the formation of five macrocyclic compounds with a 48-membered ring with variable flexibility (see picture). Their interaction with anions shows a strong influence of acetate and chloride ions on the cyclization from four precursor molecules. Five macrocylic compounds XXXXXX, XXDXXD, XDXDXD, XDDXDD, and DDDDDD with 48-membered rings, in which six xanthene and/or diphenyl ether fragments are linked through six urea (-NH-C(O)-NH-) groups, have been synthesized. In the cyclization step, a linear diamine was allowed to react with the appropriate diisocyanate by using a [5+1] (i.e., “XDXDX+D” for XDXDXD), [4+2] (DDDDDD), or [3+3] (XDDXDD) procedure. Compounds XXXXXX and XXDXXD were prepared from two molecules of the dimeric amine XX and two molecules of the respective monomeric diisocyanate (X or D) in a [2+1+2+1] (or 2×[2+1]) reaction. The (nonoptimized) yields in the cyclization step ranged from 45 to 80 %. The linear precursor diamines or diisocyanates were obtained by analogous condensation reactions by using partial protection with a tert-butoxycarbonyl group. All the macrocyclic compounds and synthetic intermediates were characterized by 1H NMR and mass spectra. Three different crystal structures were obtained for XDDXDD, which show the molecule in a more or less strongly folded conformation determined by intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The interaction of the hexaureas with selected anions was studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy and UV absorption spectrophotometry.