The synthesis of chiral annulet 1,4,7-triazacyclononanes

Novel and flexible routes for the synthesis of chiral ring annulet 2,6-disubstituted 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazamacrocycles are described. Efficient macrocyclisations were realised provided that chiral analogues of N,N-bis-[2-(toluene-sulfonylamino)ethyl]-toluene-4-sulfonamide were used as the nucleophilic components. Complexes prepared, in situ, from these 2,6-disubstituted 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazamacrocycles and manganese(II) catalysed the asymmetric epoxidation of styrene with hydrogen peroxide.