Endo -Functionalized Cyclic Oligophenylenes: Synthesis and Complexation with a Chiral Phosphoric Acid.

The synthesis of endo -functionalized cyclic oligophenylenes in which adjacent benzene rings are perpendicular to one another is described. Annulation precursors, OH- or NH 2 -functionalized quinquephenyl diboronic acids, and septiphenyl dibromo compounds were systematically prepared by using a diprotected biphenyl-3,4'-diyl diboronic acid as a key compound. Four endo -functionalized cyclic oligophenylenes were synthesized by annulation of the precursors in dilute conditions through Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. X-ray analysis of the macrocycle revealed the unique 1D channel packing structure formed by connecting the nanometer-sized cavity of the macrocycle. Furthermore, NH 2 -functionalized macrocycles could bind a chiral phosphoric acid in the cavity in CDCl 3 solution.