A sulfonated calix[4]resorcinarene with α-methyl-l-prolinylmethyl groups as a water-soluble chiral NMR solvating agent

A water-soluble calix[4]resorcinarene containing α-methyl-l-prolinylmethyl groups was investigated as a chiral NMR solvating agent. Substrates form complexes by insertion of the aromatic ring into the cavity of the calix[4]resorcinarene. Amino acid derivatives with phenyl or indole rings, ammonium substrates with pyridyl, indane or dihydroindole rings, and phenyl-containing substrates with carboxylic acid and/or hydroxyl groups were studied. The effectiveness of the α-methyl-l-prolinylmethyl calix[4]resorcinarene is compared to similar reagents with proline and hydroxyproline moieties that have previously been reported. The α-methyl-l-prolinylmethyl derivative causes larger enantiomeric discrimination of one or more 1H resonances than the previous systems for most of the substrates.

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