Catalyzing methanolysis of alkyl halides in the interior of an amphiphilic molecular basket.
A molecular basket with four cholate units assembled on a cone-shaped calix[4]arene assumed reversed micelle-like conformation in 5% methanol/carbon tetrachloride. The inwardly facing hydroxyl groups on the cholates concentrated the polar solvent from the mostly nonpolar mixture. Methanolysis of alkyl halides benefited from the concentrated pocket of methanol if the substrate was capable of entering the basket. Substrates that were too large or too hydrophobic to fit within the basket showed no rate acceleration.
Ryu
Eui-Hyun
EH
Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-3111, USA.
Cho
HongKwan
H
Zhao
Yan
Y