Abstract

The one-step reaction of isophthaloyl dichloride with the 2-aminopyridine derivative (methyl 6-aminonicotinate) yields (i) a trimer-based macrocycle (EsIO)3 and (ii) a tetramer-based macrocycle (EsIO)4 in modest isolated synthetic yields (total of 25%), together with (iii) longer open-chain oligomers. The macrocyclisation relies on the semi-flexible imide hinge formed by reaction of the 2-amino(pyridine) functional group with two acyl chloride functional groups. The determining factors in macrocycle synthesis are (a) imide formation using the heteroaromatic ortho-N functionality; (b) the inherent ability of the imide to twist by 85-115 degrees from planarity (as measured by the CO...CO imide torsion angles and from computational calculations), thereby providing a hinge for macrocyclic ring closure or potentially (non)helical assembly in oligomer/polymer formation and (c) the conformational flexibility of the isophthaloyl group with meta-related carbonyl groups to twist and adopt either syn- or anti-conformations, although the syn-conformation is observed structurally for all isophthaloyl groups in both (EsIO)3 and (EsIO)4 macrocycles.