Selective syntheses of partially etherified derivatives of tetrakis(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethene. An alternative to the calix[4]arene ligand system.

Stereoselective syntheses of (E)- and (Z)-1,2-bis(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-bis(2'-methoxyphenyl)ethene have been developed, the former by convergent coupling of an orthogonally protected 2,2'-benzophenone derivative and the latter by selective partial dealkylation of tetrakis(2-methoxyphenyl)ethene. Selective single demethylation has also been demonstrated in the 5-tert-butyl series. Thus, divalent and monovalent derivatives of the preorganized tetrakis(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethene ligand system are now available for use in coordination chemistry, analogous to corresponding calix[4]arene systems. [structure: see text]