title: Organocatalysis in a synthetic receptor with an inwardly directed carboxylic acid.
abstract: A cavitand functionalized with a Kemp's triacid derivative was used to catalyze the epoxide ring-opening cyclizations of 1,5-epoxyalcohols. A deep, cylindrical cavity containing electron-rich aromatic walls and an inwardly directed carboxylic acid displayed the necessary characteristics to bind different 1,5-epoxyalcohols and initiate their cyclization reactions. The reactions inside this synthetic receptor occurred in a catalytic and regioselective manner. These results highlight that the arrangement of functionality and unique solvation provided by the structured interiors of natural enzymes can be incorporated into synthetic systems having useful physical and chemical properties.
authors.affiliation: Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Siddhartha R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.forename: Fernando R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Pinacho Crisóstomo
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwasawa
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rebek
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry*; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D002625:Chemistry, Organic / Q000379:methods*; D003500:Cyclization; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D004988:Ethers, Cyclic / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D012118:Resorcinols / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D004988:Ethers, Cyclic; D012118:Resorcinols; C442939:cavitand