Laser-induced dealkylation of calix[4]arene-crown-6 ethers

Selective dealkylation of dialkyl calix[4]arene monocrown-6 and calix[4]arene biscrown-6 was achieved using laser irradiation. The resulting phenolic compounds structures, studied by NMR (1H and 13C) and ESI-MS (Cs+ spiking), probably originated from their partial photo-Claisen rearrangement.