Synthesis of BINOL-containing oxacalix[4]arenes

Unprecedented chiral oxacalixarenes were obtained from the reaction of (±)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diol (BINOL) with 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Structural elucidation of C2h-symmetric meso (R,S)-oxacalix[4]arene and D2-symmetric racemic (as well as enantiopure) (R,R)- and (S,S)-oxacalix[4]arene was carried out by means of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, X-ray diffractometry, and circular dichroism spectroscopy.