Oxime Decorated Cavitands Functionalized through Solvent-Assisted Grinding

In order to assemble supramolecular capsules, there is a need for reliable and effective synthetic methods for decorating cavitand-based host structures with appropriate functional groups. The synthesis of four different cavitands of significantly different depth and interior volume functionalized with four aldoxime groups capable of forming homomeric or heteromeric capsules through hydrogen bonding is reported. The final step in each synthesis, the aldehyde to oxime transformation, has been achieved in excellent yields through 'solvent assisted grinding'.