Synthesis and Conformational Properties of Nonsymmetric Pillar[5]arenes and Their Acetonitrile Inclusion Compounds

The catalytic cyclocondensation of 1-butoxy-4-methoxy-2,5-bis(methoxymethyl)benzene (1d) affords a statistical mixture of the regioisomeric pillar[5]arenes 3a-d in high yield. The alkoxy groups are arranged stereoselectively in a mode so that they avoid steric interactions. The rotation of the benzene rings is, at room temperature, fast in terms of the NMR timescale and leads to a de facto C-s symmetry for 3a-c and a C-5h symmetry for 3d. All four structural isomers can encapsulate two CH3CN guest molecules. The structure determinations are based on four crystal structure analyses (constitutions) and NMR spectroscopic measurements (conformations).