Novel calixarene hemisphere synthesized via pinacol rearrangement of [2.1.2.1]metacyclophane.

[reaction: see text] Tetramethoxy[2.1.2.1]metacyclophane ([2.1.2.1]MCP) was prepared by the pinacol coupling reaction of diphenylmethane dialdehyde. The treatment of [2.1.2.1]MCP with trimethylsilyl chloride and sodium iodide yielded two unexpected calixarene derivatives, cone (hemisphere) and 1,2-alternate types, instead of octahydroxy[2.1.2.1]MCP. The X-ray structure of the cone-type derivative and its inclusion property with acetonitrile were also discussed.