New and improved ‘LEGO’ BLOCK protocols for the direct synthesis of hydrophilic ribbon molecules with acid, ester or peptide functionality

Hydrophilic ribbon molecules are produced directly from the reaction of cyclobutene epoxide BLOCKs with norbornene dipolarophiles or indirectly by chemical modification of substituents in preformed lipophilic ribbon molecules. The formation of di- and tetra-acid chloride epoxides holds the key to the formation of ester, acid and amide BLOCKs which are active in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with norbornene dipolarophiles, thereby delivering a wide range of substituents into the ribbon molecules and opening up combinatorial opportunities at each step.