Syntheses of Cyclotriveratrylene Analogues and Their Long Elusive Triketone Congeners

Although
interest in cyclotriveratrylene and its analogues has
been significant, limitations in the ability to adjust its structure
fully have hampered studies into their complete range of properties.
A unique strategy to synthesize a previously unobtainable cyclotriveratrylene
analogue and a procedure which adjusts the inner methylene bridges
of that material to a triketone is reported. A second triketone synthesis
and computational studies indicate the parameters needed for success.