Rebek

J. Rebek, Jr., (1987) first developed a new synthesis of Kemp s acid and then extensively explored its application in model studies. The synthesis involves the straightforward hydrogenation (A. Steitz, 1968), esterification and methylation of inexpensive 1,3,5-benzenetricar-boxylic acid (trimesic acid 30/100 g). The methylation of the trimethyl ester with dimethyl sulfate, mediated by lithium diisopropylamide (V. J. Shiner, 1981), produced mainly the desired aff-cis-1,3,5-trimethyl isomer, which was saponified to give Kemp s acid. 

Heating Kemp s acid with appropriate aromatic diamines yields bis-imides with two convergently oriented carboxylic acid groups on the edges of a hydrophobic pocket. Dozens of interesting molecular complexes have been obtained from such compounds and can be traced in the Journal of the American Chemical Society under the authorship of J. Rebek, Jr., (1985 and later e.g. T. Tjivikua, 1990 B). 

J. Rebek, Jr., iu E. Weber, ed.. Molecular Inclusion and Molecular Recognition—Clathrates II, Top. Curr. Chem. Vol. 149, Springer, Bedia-Heidelberg, 1988, p. 189. 

Two highly flexible crown ethers have recently been designed and reported for quite different reasons. The first of these is a dipyridyl system reported by Rebek and cowork-... 

Rebek, J., Jr., Tai, D.R, Shue, Y.K. (1984) Synthesis of Ergot Alkaloids from Tryptophan. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 106, 1813-1819. 

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