Syntheses of large-membered macrocycles having multiple hydrogen bonding moieties

New macrocyclic compounds have been synthesized by Schiff-base condensation reaction with methylenebis(4,4′-methyl-6,6′-salicylaldehyde) and 1,2-bis(2-aminoethoxy)ethane based on a high dilution method. [2+2], [3+3], and [4+4]-Cyclocondenced products were effectively isolated and characterized by 1H NMR and HR mass (FAB) spectroscopies as well as X-ray analyses. Reduction of the macrocycles with NaBH4 afforded the corresponding multi-amino, multi-phenolic macrocyclic compounds. The reduced molecules have low energy barriers for conformation change, which are estimated by variable-temperature (VT) 1H NMR study.