Unprecedented cyclisations of calix[4]arenes under the Mitsunobu protocol.: Part 3:: Thiacalix[4] crowns versus dimers

Intermolecular couplings versus intramolecular ring closures were observed in the reaction of p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene and diethylene glycols affording dimers 2 and/or the inherently chiral 1,2-thiacalix[4]crown-3 derivatives 5 under the Mitsunobu protocol. The enantiomeric separation of 5a was achieved by chiral HPLC. The reaction of thiacalix[4]monocrowns 1 with diethylene glycols failed to give crowned thiacalix-tubes 7, instead biscrowns 8 were formed. Partially alkylated double thiacalix[4]arenes 10, 11 were obtained via the base promoted alkylations of a thiacalixarene dimer 2a containing diethyleneoxy linkers. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.