Schiff bases thermodynamic metal template effects

We have already looked at three key Schiff base macrocycles (Figure 3.56), which were amongst the first artificial metal macrocycle compounds to be synthesised. These compounds are generally formed by thermodynamic template effects because, unless water is removed during the course of the reaction, the condensation is reversible, allowing complexation to sequester the most stable metal-product... 

Myriad polydentate aza-macrocycles have been reported 41. The extent of the subject forces limitation of this discussion to only macrocycles containing a pyridine or dipyridine subunit. Most of these coronands have been synthesized by a SchifF base condensation of an aldehyde or ketone with a hfc-primary amine in the presence of a metal ion. The metal ion acts as a template, resulting in dramatic increases in yield of the desired cyclic product over linear polymerization products42 46. Lindoy and Busch45 have described this effect in two ways, kinetic and thermodynamic. If the metal ion controls the steric course of a series of stepwise reactions, the template effect is considered to be kinetic. If the metal ion influences an equilibrium in an organic reaction sequence by coordination with one of the reactants, the template effect is termed thermodynamic. It is the kinetic effect that is believed to be operative in most metal ion-assisted (in situ) syntheses of... 

Metal ion template mediation in macrocyclic synthesis has been a part of the field since its inception, its importance having been realized early in the development of this area. Two specific roles for the metal ion in template reactions have been proposed. These are, in turn, kinetic and thermodynamic in origin." In the kinetic template effect, the arrangement of ligands already coordinated to the metal ion provides control in a subsequent condensation during which the macrocycle is formed. The thermodynamic effect serves to promote stabilization of a structure which would not be favored in the absence of a metal ion. Schiff base condensations tend to be dependent on this latter type of template effect. Some of the more routine and general synthetic procedures will be described here. A more in-depth treatment can be found in a review by Curtis, with particular emphasis on general methods as well as modifications of preformed macrocycles." ... 

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