Enantiomeric recognition of carboxylic anions by a library of neutral receptors derived from α-amino acids and o-phenylenediamine

Abstract

A library of eight neutral anion receptors consisting of α-amino acid esters attached to o-phenylenediamine by urea groups was synthesized and analysed in terms of capacity for chiral recognition of carboxylates. The NMR titrations revealed that the association constants of complexes consisting of a chiral guest and a chiral host are two orders of magnitude lower than those of achiral partners. Diverse substituents in the receptor structure modify both the affinities and enantioselectivities.