Twelve new azole compounds were synthesized through an ene reaction involving methylidene heterocycles and phenylmaleimide, producing four oxazoles, five thiazoles, and one pyridine derivative, and ethyl glyoxylate for an oxazole and a thiazole compound. The twelve azoles have a stereogenic center in their structure. Hence, a method to separate the enantiomeric pairs, must be provided if any further study of chemical and pharmacological importance of these compounds is to be accomplished. Six chiral stationary phases were assayed: four were based on macrocyclic glycopeptide selectors and two on linear carbohydrates, i.e., derivatized maltodextrin and amylose. The enantiomers of the entire set of new chiral azole compounds were separated using three different mobile phase elution modes: normal phase, polar organic, and reversed phase. The most effective chiral stationary phase was the MaltoShell column, which was able to separate ten of the twelve compounds in one elution mode or another. Structural similarities in the newly synthesized oxazoles provided some insights into possible chiral recognition mechanisms.

In the course of studying Diels–Alder reactions of 4-vinylimidazoles with N-phenylmaleimide, it was discovered that they engage in cycloaddition at room temperature to give high yields of the initial cycloadduct as a single stereoisomer. In certain cases, the product precipitated out of the reaction mixture and could be isolated by simple filtration, thereby avoiding issues with aromatization observed during chromatographic purification. Given these results, intramolecular variants using doubly activated dienophiles were also investigated at room temperature. Amides underwent cycloaddition at room temperature in modest yields, but the initial adducts were not isolable with N_imid-benzyl-protected systems. Attempts to extend these results to the corresponding esters and hydroxamate were less successful with these substrates only undergoing cycloaddition at elevated temperatures in lower yields. Density functional theory calculations were performed to evaluate the putative transition states for both the inter- and intramolecular variants to rationalize experimental observations.

Calix[4]arenes are cyclic oligomers known for their unique molecular architecture that provides a versatile platform for various applications in supramolecular chemistry. When strategically coupled with fluorescent molecules, their molecular recognition enables highly selective and sensitive chemosensors. The introduction of bridging groups at 1,3 phenolic positions within the calix[4]arene framework has the potential to yield distinctive structural features and enhanced functional properties. Despite their opportunities, calix[4]arene preparation requires careful characterization of conformationally restricted rotomers. We used a combination of experimental and computational techniques to elucidate the three-dimensional structure and conformational dynamics of a 1,3-bridged calix[4]arene derivative. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Density Functional Theory (DFT) based optimization, and Boltzmann-weighted NMR chemical shift calculations are used to determine the precise molecular structure of the binding domain in our novel calix[4]arene derivative, including conformation, bond distance, and angle details.