Cryptophanols, new versatile compounds for the synthesis of functionalized cryptophanes and polycryptophanes.

After deprotection with a palladium catalyst, mono-allylated cryptophane-A (1, 2) and cryptophane-E (3) gave the new cryptophanols 4, 5 and 6, respectively, which are important key compounds for the preparation of monofunctionalized cryptophanes as well as for the design of large supramolecular hosts such as the bis-cryptophanes 7 and 8.