Shape selectivity in the synthesis of chiral macrocyclic amides

Shape-persistent, optically-active arylamide macrocycles have been designed and approached by using a stepwise, convergent methodology. The source of chirality, an axially-chiral Binol scaffold, incorporates methoxy functionalities in the 2,2′ positions, and carboxylic functionalities in the external 3,3′ positions. The latter can be efficiently elaborated through aromatic amidation to introduce aromatic spacers of differing shapes. The peculiar arrangement of functionalities on the Binol skeleton functions as an element of rigidification of the covalent structure through the formation of stable intramolecular hydrogen bonds. When this element is counterbalanced by the use of a flexible 3,3′-diaminobiphenyl as a spacer, yields for the macrocyclization step increase to values higher than 50%. The recognition properties of this particular macrocycle have been exploited and, while they indicate modest binding affinities towards carboxylate anions, the additional stabilization of neighbouring amide functionalities suitably placed within the covalent framework induces detectable binding of proper difunctional carboxylates.