Synthesis of Macropolycyclic Ligands Based on Tetraazacycloalkanes

A versatile synthesis of spherical macrobicyclic and cylindrical macrotricyclic ligands is described using 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam), 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen), or dioxo macrocycles as precursors. Macrobicycles have been obtained by allowing cyclam, cyclen, or 5,12-dioxocyclam (1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-5,12-dione) to react with a bis-electrophilic spacer under high dilution conditions. A surprising selectivity has been observed for 2,6-dioxocyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-2,6-dione), which yields only macrotricycles under the same reaction conditions. Molecular modelling studies have been carried out to investigate the selectivity of the reacti…