Sequence-controlled polymers iterative synthesis

Kaiser et al. have reported a general entry for the selective synthesis of dimeric macrocycles like cyclostellettamines and for polymeric natural products [41]. It uses the Zincke reaction by which it is possible to control the number of units in a 3-alkylpyridinium polymer. As summarized in Fig. (33), the reaction of the free amine 89 with the Zincke salt 88 gives the dimer 90 (route b) which, after terminal amine deprotection and DNB functionalization at the A-pyridine centre, gives the cyclic dimer, as in the synthesis of cyclostellettamine B. Otherwise, compound 90 furnishes both the protected dimer 91 and the free linear dimer, which, refluxed together in butanol, give the linear tetramer (route c). By the same iterative sequence, the linear octamer was obtained from the tetramer, and from the latter the hexadecamer. 

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