In the presence of K2CO3 as reaction base, the 25-alkoxy-27-benzoyloxy-calix[4]arenes were converted into 25-alkoxy-26-benzoyloxy derivatives by benzoyl-migration. A benzoyl-migrated reaction mechanism with a cyclic orthobenzoate-like intermediate was proposed, and the mechanism was supported by the identical reaction results on the conversion of 25-ethoxy-27-benzoyloxycalix[4]arene to 25-ethoxy-26-benzoyloxycalix[4]arene, and vice versa. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
