Synthesis of dinuclear boron complexes of sulfinylcalix[4]arenes: Syn/Anti stereocontrol by the arrangement of the sulfinyl functions.

Stereocontrol in the synthesis of dinuclear metal complexes of sulfinylcalix[4]arenes 2 has been achieved by the arrangement of sulfinyl functionalities. Thus, the treatment of the(rtct) isomer of 2 (2(rtct)) with an excess of Et(3)B affords syn dinuclear boron complex 4, while a similar treatment of rctt and rcct isomers 2(rctt) and 2(rcct) yields anti dinuclear complexes 5 and 6, respectively.