Synthesis of Tetraazide Derivatives of p-tert-Butylcalix[4]arene Using Copper-Catalyzed Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution

Abstract

Aromatic azido derivatives of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene have been obtained for the first time using copper-catalyzed nucleophilic aromatic substitution of azide anion for bromide in 5,11,17,23-tetrabromo- 25,26,27,28-tetrabuthoxycalix[4]arene in a dioxane–water (3: 1) solvent mixture with N,N-dimethylethylenediamine as a stabilizing ligand for copper(I). When the reaction is carried out under with microwave heating, partial substitution products (mono-, distally di-, proximally di-, and trisubstituted) can be isolated in satisfactory yields.