Volume 130, Issue 46 pp. 15311-15315
Zuschrift

Cavitands as Containers for α,ω-Dienes and Chaperones for Olefin Metathesis

Dr. Nai-Wei Wu

Dr. Nai-Wei Wu

Center for Supramolecular and Catalytic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry, Shanghai University, 99 Shang-Da Road, Shanghai, 200444 China

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Dr. Ioannis D. Petsalakis

Dr. Ioannis D. Petsalakis

Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., Athens, 116 35 Greece

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Dr. Giannoula Theodorakopoulos

Dr. Giannoula Theodorakopoulos

Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., Athens, 116 35 Greece

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Prof. Dr. Yang Yu

Corresponding Author

Prof. Dr. Yang Yu

Center for Supramolecular and Catalytic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry, Shanghai University, 99 Shang-Da Road, Shanghai, 200444 China

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Prof. Dr. Julius Rebek Jr.

Corresponding Author

Prof. Dr. Julius Rebek Jr.

Center for Supramolecular and Catalytic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry, Shanghai University, 99 Shang-Da Road, Shanghai, 200444 China

The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California, 92037 USA

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First published: 23 September 2018
Citations: 8

Abstract

Described herein is the behavior of α,ω-dienes sequestered within cavitands in aqueous (D2O) solution. Hydrophobic forces drive the dienes into the cavitands in conformations that best fill the available space. Shorter dienes (C9 and C10) bind in compressed conformations that tumble rapidly in the cavitands. Longer dienes induce capsule formation between cavitands with self-complementary hydrogen bonding sites, where the dienes exist in extended conformations. In cavitands unable to form capsules, longer dienes adopt folded structures. The wider open ends allow the synthesis of medium-sized cycloalkenes by ring-closing metathesis reactions with the Hoveyda–Grubbs-II catalyst. Yields of cycloheptene and cyclooctene were enhanced by the chaperones in water when compared with reactions of the free dienes in either aqueous media or chloroform, and even cyclononene could be prepared within the cavitand.

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