Facile lewis acid catalyzed synthesis of C(4) symmetric resorcinarenes

The Lewis acid catalyzed condensation of 3-methoxyphenol with octanal produced the C(4) symmetric calix[4]resorcinarene 2, in high yield. Of the numerous stereo- and regioisomers possible, the rccc isomer with C(4) symmetry was the only product isolated (as a racemate). The structure has been established by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis.