The first enantiomerically pure members of the cucurbituril family, (all-S)- and (all-R)-cyclohexylhemicucurbit[6]urils (cycHC), were synthesized in good yield (up to 85%). The crystal structure of this new macrocycle clearly shows its ball-like shape. CycHC monomers adopt a "zigzag" conformation, having apolar cyclohexyls around the openings and polar ureas in the middle. Cyclohexylhemicucurbit[6]urils formed complexes with halides, carboxylic acids and amines and diastereomeric complexes with methoxyphenylacetic acid in organic media. The association constants of cycHC with small organic compounds were evaluated by diffusion NMR in chloroform.
Enantiomerically pure cyclohexylhemicucurbit[8]uril (cycHC[8]), possessing a barrel-shaped cavity, has been prepared in high yield on a gram scale from either (R,R,N,N')-cyclohex-1,2-diylurea and formaldehyde or cycHC[6]. In either case, a dynamic covalent library is first generated from which the desired cycHC can be amplified using a suitable anion template.
Chiral (all-R)-cyclohexanohemicucurbit[8]uril binds anions in a 1 : 1 ratio in pure methanol like a molecular Pac-Man™ with remarkable selectivity based on the size, shape and charge distribution of the anion.
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