Synthesis of Calix[4, 5, 6] Resorcinarenes Using Fullerene C₆₀ as Template

Abstract

We present a new use of fullerene C₆₀ as a template for the synthesis of cyclic resorcinarenes, The cyclocondensation of 2‐methyl‐resorcinol with benzaldehyde and hexanal in THF, catalyzed by AlCl₃, in the presence of 1%, 5%, and 10% fullerene C₆₀, produces calix[4], [5], and [6] resorcinarenes, with the pentamer and hexamer as the major products. The resorcinarenes were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, FTIR, FAB⁺ mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis.

Keywords:

• Calix[n] resorcinarenes
• Fullerene C₆₀
• Templates

Acknowledgment

The authors are very grateful to Professor Fred Wudl and Dr. Roger Helgeson for their many helpful and critical suggestions and comments during the preparation of this paper. This work was supported by grant CONACyT‐35447‐E.