Synthesis of Calix[4, 5, 6] Resorcinarenes Using Fullerene C60 as Template

We present a new use of fullerene C₆₀ as a template for the synthesis of cyclic resorcinarenes, The cyclocondensation of 2-methyl-resorcinol with benzaldehyde and hexanal in THF, catalyzed by AlCl₃, in the presence of 1%, 5%, and 10% fullerene C₆₀, produces calix[4], [5], and [6] resorcinarenes, with the pentamer and hexamer as the major products. The resorcinarenes were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, FTIR, FAB⁺ mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis.