Designing large triangular chiral macrocycles: efficient

Triangular 30- and 27-membered hexaiminomacrocycles 4 and 5 of D(3) and C(3) symmetry, respectively, are readily obtained by unprecedented [3 + 3] cyclocondensation of (R,R)-1, 2-diaminocyclohexane with, accordingly, terephthalaldehyde and isophthalaldehyde. The course of the reaction, leading to macrocyclization, is governed by conformational constraints imposed on the structural components of the intermediate products, as shown by molecular modeling. X-ray analysis of cocrystal 4.AcOEt revealed that the macrocycle symmetry significantly departs from ideal D(3) symmetry due to crystal environment. Cyclic hexaamines 6 and 7 were prepared by sodium borohydride reduction of 4 and 5, respectively.