Synthesis of new diverse macrocycles from diol precursors

The formation of a library of diverse macrocycles with different ring sizes from two easily accessible building blocks is presented. Reacting diol precursors with electrophilic reagents lead to 17-membered sulfites and 19-membered malonates in 34–79% yield. Double-reductive amination of dialdehyde analogs of the diol precursors leads to 15-membered amines in yields ranging from 9 to 60%, reflecting large differences in reactivity based on steric environment.