A bis-ferrocene macrocycle was synthesized by reversible acylhydrazone formation under
thermodynamic control, starting from a ferrocene functionalized with hydrazide and
protected aldehyde moieties. A hydrogen sulfate anion acts as a template to direct
the synthesis specifically toward the macrocyclic dimer, due to a weak but selective
binding interaction. This work highlights the utility of dynamic combinatorial chemistry
as an approach to macrocycle synthesis.
Key words
supramolecular chemistry - hydrazones - macrocycles - host–guest systems - ferrocene
- dynamic combinatorial chemistry