A Modular Synthetic Strategy for Functional Macrocycles
Kaidi Xu, Zhiyuan Zhang, Chengmao Yu, Bin Wang, Ming Dong, Xianqiang Zeng, Rui Gou, Lei Cui, Chunju Li
Abstract
Reported here is a molecule-Lego synthetic strategy for macrocycles with functional skeletons, involving one-pot and high-yielding condensation between bis(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)arene monomers and paraformaldehyde. By changing the blocks, variously functional units (naphthalene, pyrene, anthraquinone, porphyrin, etc.) can be conveniently introduced into the backbone of macrocycles. Interestingly, the macrocyclization can be tuned by the geometrical configuration of monomeric blocks. Linear (180°) monomer yield cyclic trimers and pentamers, while V-shaped (120°, 90° and 60°) monomers tend to form dimers. More significantly, even heterogeneous macrocycles are obtained in moderate yield by co-oligomerization of different monomers. This series of macrocycles have the potential to be prosperous in the near future.