Folding-promoted TBACl-mediated chemo- and regioselective demethylations of methoxybenzene-based macrocyclic pentamers

Abstract

Tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBACl) salt alone has not been shown previously to be capable of removing methoxy groups. It is demonstrated here that the use of TBACl achieves efficient folding-promoted chemo- and regioselective demethylations, eliminating up to two out of five methyl groups situated in similar macrocyclic chemical microenvironments. © 2011 American Chemical Society.