A new type of concave pyridine 4 based on a 2,6-diarylpyridine system
is described. By cyclization of a C5-unit 5 or 6 with ammonium acetate
a tetra-O-methoxy-substituted 2,6-diarylpyridine 7 was obtained. Depr
otection of the phenol functions and bimacrocylization with the diiodi
de 9 gave 4a which catalyzes the addition of alcohols to diphenylketen
e.