A Modular Approach to Functionalized and Expanded Crown Ether Based Macrocycles Using Click Chemistry

Abstract

Tailored handcuffs: α-Azide-ω-alkyne oligomers are obtained in high yields from copper(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), iterative chain growth, and protection–deprotection strategies. Intramolecular CuAAC under pseudo-high-dilution conditions then yields macrocycles with n=1–8 triazole units in the cyclic backbone (picture shows n=2; C gray, O red, N blue, H white).