Synthesis and anion binding properties of phthalimide-containing corona[6]arenes (Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry)

Abstract Functionalized O6-corona[3]arene[3]tetrazines were synthesized efficiently and conveniently by means of a macrocyclic condensation reaction between N-functionalized 3,6-dihydroxyphthalimides and 3,6-dichlorotetrazine under mild conditions in a one-pot reaction manner. The novel macrocycles exist as a mixture of rapidly interconvertible conformers in solution while in the solid state they adopt the conformation in which three phthalimide units are cis,trans-orientated. Acting as electron-deficient macrocyclic hosts, the synthesized O6-corona[3]arene[3]tetrazines self-regulated conformational structures to complex anions in the gas phase and in the solid state owing to the anion–π noncovalent interactions between anions and the tetrazine rings. Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 1976–1983. doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.193