CONFORMATIONS OF THE ACYL ESTERS OF P-TERT-BUTYLCALIX[4]ARENE AND CALIX[4]ARENE

Tetra acyl esters of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene and calix[4]arene, including acetyl, propionyl, butyryl and isobutyryl, are synthesized and their conformations are inferred from H-1-NMR and C-13-NMR spectra. The conformer distribution is affected by the presence of t-butyl group, whereas the acylation products of p-t-butylcalix[4]arene are the cone conformers, those of calix[4]arene are mostly partial cone and/or 1,3-alternate conformers. The conformational outcome is also affected by the method of preparation, the NaH-induced reaction is prefered to the acid-induced reaction for cone and partial cone. Interestingly, 1,2-alternate conformer was isolated in 14% yield from the butyrylation of calix[4]arene.