Synthesis of ten isomers of a macrocyclic polyether, tetramethyldibenzo-18-crown-6, and their complexes with salts of alkali metals

Abstract

The preparation of the ten possible isomers of tetramethyldibenzo-18-crown-6 (6,10,17,21- and 7,9,18,20-tetramethyl-6,7,9,10,17,18,20,21-octahydrodibenzo[b,k][1,4,7,10,13,16]hexaoxacyclo-octadecin)(IV) and (VIII), from catechol and the ditosylates of 1,1′-oxydipropan-2-ol and 2,2′-oxydipropan-1-ol, respectively is described. The ability of the macrocycles to form crystalline complexes with some alkali and alkaline earth metals has been investigated and a number of these complexes are reported.