Synthesis and structure of bis-crown-containing stilbenes

An improved procedure was proposed for the synthesis of stilbenes fused to two crown ether fragments at both benzene rings. The structure of new homologous symmetric bis-crown-containing stilbenes was determined by X-ray analysis. Relations were revealed between the size of the crown ether moiety and stilbene conformation in crystal and the mode of crystal packing. Conformational analysis of the prepared stilbenes in solution and in the solid state was performed by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and by DFT quantum-chemical calculations.