Design, synthesis, and enantiomeric recognition of dicyclodipeptide-bearing calix[4]arenes: a promising family for chiral gas sensor coatings

Three novel dicyclodipeptide-bearing calix[4]arenes were synthesized by reacting 1,3-di(chlorocarbonylmethoxy)-p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene with serine-containing cyclodipeptides. This family of host molecules was found to bind much more favorably with (R)-methyl lactate than with its (S)-enantiomer, especially at low analyte concentration, by using the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) method, and thus render it as a good new candidate for chiral gas sensor coatings.