Post-Synthesis Conversion of an Unstable Imine Cage to a Stable Cage with Amide Moieties Towards Selective Receptor...

Synthesis of robust covalent macrocycles/cages via multiple amide-bond forming reaction is highly challenging and generally it needs multistep reactions. One-pot reaction of appropriate di-/tri-acyl chloride with a diamine generally results polymers or oligomers instead of discrete architectures. To overcome this limitation, a strategy is reported here using dynamic imine chemistry for facile construction of imine-based macrocycle and cage upon treatment of a diamine with di- and tri-aldehydes respectively, followed by post-synthesis one-step conversion of imine bonds to amides to form the desired robust macrocycle and cage containing multiple amide bonds. While the macrocycle was found to form aggregates in DMSO, the cage was intact without any aggregation. Six amide groups in the confined pocket of the cage made it an ideal receptor for selective binding of fluoride with very high selectivity (∼3 $$ 10³ fold) over chloride, and it was silent towards other halides, phosphate, and other oxyanions.