Chromogenic hemispherands and their preparation

A method for preparing a chromogenic hemispherand (I) having the structure ##STR15## said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) preparing a compound (II) having the structure ##STR16## (b) preparing a compound (III) having the structure ##STR17## (c) coupling the compounds (II) and (III) to form a compound (IV) having structure ##STR18## (d) subjecting the compound (IV) to reducing conditions to form a compound (V) having the structure ##STR19## (e) coupling the compound (V) to a compound having the structure ##STR20## to form a compound (VI) having the structure ##STR21## (f) halogenating the compound (VI) to form a compound (VII) having the structure ##STR22## (g) forming the chromogenic hemispherand (I) by coupling the compound (VII) with a diol having the structure ##STR23## wherein:
• R, same or different, is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkylidene, lower alkenyl, allyl or aryl;
• R', same or different, is lower alkyl, lower alkylidene, lower alkenyl, allyl or aryl;
• R", same or different, is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkylidene, lower alkenyl, allyl or aryl;
• Y is an electron withdrawing group;
• Z is halogen;
• A is an aliphatic ether group or a tetrahydrofuran group
• m is 1 to about 3;
• n is 0 to about 3;
• and
• x is 2 to 4