Absolute configuration and enantiodifferentiation of a hemicryptophane incorporating an azaphosphatrane moiety.

The hemicryptophane racemate (±)-1 was optically resolved by semipreparative HPLC on Chiralpak IC column. The absolute configuration of each isolated enantiomer was established from the analysis of their electronic circular dichroism spectra. Enantiodifferentiation of the chiral cationic cage (±)-1 was evidenced in solution using Δ-TRISPHAT as chiral solvating agent, and the diastereomeric associations were observed in (1)H and (31)P NMR spectra.

Shorter and modular synthesis of hemicryptophane-tren derivatives.

Hemicryptophanes are host molecules with many applications as supramolecular catalysts or in ion selective recognition. A very convenient and efficient modular approach for the synthesis of hemicryptophane-tren (tren, tris(2-aminoethyl)-amine) derivatives has been developed. For instance, hemicryptophane 1 was synthesized at the gram scale in four steps from vanillyl alcohol compared to the previous seven-step procedure.

Encaging the Verkade's superbases: thermodynamic and kinetic consequences.

Proazaphosphatranes, also known as Verkade's superbases, are nonionic species, which exhibit catalytic properties for a wide range of reactions. The properly designed host molecule 3 and its protonated counterpart [3·H](+)Cl(-) were synthesized to study how confinement can modify the stability and the reactivity of a Verkade's superbase. The results show that the encapsulation does not alter the strong basicity of the proazaphosphatrane, but dramatically decreases the rate of proton transfer.

Resolution and absolute configuration assignment of a chiral hemicryptophane molecular cage.

The racemic hemicryptophane molecular cage 2 was resolved by semipreparative HPLC on Whelk-O1 column. The absolute configuration of each isolated enantiomer was established from the analysis of their circular dichroism spectra and assigned as P-(+)-2 and M-(-)-2.

A new class of C3-symmetrical hemicryptophane hosts: triamide- and tren-hemicryptophanes.

The first hemicryptophanes derived from tris(N-alkyl-carbamoylmethyl)amine and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren) have been synthesized following a single synthetic pathway that allows the subsequent formation of the two heteroditopic hosts 3 and 4. X-ray crystal structures show a well-defined cavity encapsulating a solvent guest for both compounds emphasizing their complexation properties.