A novel catalytic feature of a hexameric resorcinarene capsule is highlighted. The self-assembled cage was exploited to promote the Friedel-Crafts benzylation of several arenes and heteroarenes with benzyl chloride under mild conditions. Calculations showed that there are catalytically relevant hydrogen-bonding interactions between the bridging water molecules of the capsule and benzyl chloride, which is fundamental for the activation of the C-Cl bond. The capsule controls the reaction outcome. Inside the inner cavity of the capsule, N-methylpyrrole is preferentially benzylated in the unusual β-position while mesitylene reacts faster than 1,3-dimethoxybenzene despite the greater π-nucleophilicity of the latter compound.
Keywords: Friedel-Crafts reaction; hydrogen bonding; resorcinarenes; self-assembled capsules; supramolecular catalysis.
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