Access to Inherently and Centrally Chiral Calix[4]Arenes via Rhodium‐Catalyzed C─H Activation and Insertion into Diverse Olefins and Alkynes

Y Yunfei Yao (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shaanxi Normal University Xi'an 710062 China) F Fen Wang X Xiao‐Xi Li (Institute of Molecular Science and Engineering Institute of Frontier and Interdisciplinary Sciences Shandong University Qingdao 266237 China) R Ruijie Mi (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) X Xingwei Li (Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering)

Abstract

Abstract Inherently chiral calix[4]arenes are important scaffolds in asymmetric catalysis and sensing, yet their enantioselective synthesis remains challenging due to limited synthetic methodology and lengthy synthetic routes. By resorting to rhodium‐catalyzed C─H activation of calix[4]arene‐based carboxamides, atom‐economical construction of inherently chiral calix[4]arenes has been realized with alkenes, alkynes, and 1,3‐enynes as the coupling partner. Several classes of calix[4]arenes with inherent chirality (up to > 99% ee) and integrated inherent and central chirality (up to 97% ee, >20:1 dr) have been readily accessed under nearly unified conditions. Gram‐scale synthesis and diverse downstream transformations demonstrated the scalability and broad utility of this methodology to access other calix[4]arene‐fused heterocycles, such as isoquinoline and isoindolinone. Representative products exhibit promising fluorescence properties, suggesting potential applications in organic optoelectronics.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 51
Published December 15, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (5)

Y

Yunfei Yao

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shaanxi Normal University Xi'an 710062 China

F

Fen Wang

X

Xiao‐Xi Li

Institute of Molecular Science and Engineering Institute of Frontier and Interdisciplinary Sciences Shandong University Qingdao 266237 China

R

Ruijie Mi

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

X

Xingwei Li

Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering