AN EFFICIENT METAL-TEMPLATED ROUTE TO C-FUNCTIONALIZED DERIVATIVES OF[12]ANEN(4)

The cycle cocendensation of triethylenetetramine with arylpyruvaldehyd es is templated by iron(III) chloride, to give a [12]aneN(4) type diim ine complex intermediate which may be reduced and demetallated in situ with sodium borohydride giving the saturated [12]aneN(4) metal-free m acrocycle in up to 60% overall yields; photophysical studies are used to demonstrate the similarity between the aryl functionalised [12]aneN (4) derivatives formed by this route and analogues derived from [12]an eN(4) itself.