Simple One–Pot Synthesis of Hexakis(2-alkoxy-1,5-phenyleneimine) Macrocycles by Precipitation–Driven Cyclization

Hexakis(2-alkoxy-1,5-phenyleneimine) macrocycles were synthesized using a simple one-pot procedure through precipitation-driven cyclization. The acetal-protected AB–type monomers, 2-alkoxy-5-aminobenzaldehyde diethyl acetals, underwent polycondensation in water or acid-containing tetrahydrofuran. The precipitation–driven cyclization, based on imine dynamic covalent chemistry and π–stacked columnar aggregation, played a decisive role in the one–pot synthesis. The progress of the reaction was analyzed using MALDI–TOF mass spectrometry. The macrocycles with alkoxy chains were soluble in specific organic solvents, such as chloroform, allowing their structures to be analyzed using NMR. The shape-anisotropic, nearly planar, and shape-persistent macrocycles aggregated into columnar assemblies in polymerization solvents, driven by aromatic π-stacking. The octyloxylated macrocycle OcO–Cm6 exhibited an enantiotropic columnar liquid crystal-like mesophase between 165 °C and 197 °C. In the SEM image of (S)-(–)-3,7-dimethyloctyloxylated macrocycle (–)BCO–Cm6, columnar substances with a diameter of 200–300 nm were observed. The polymerization solution for the 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxylated macrocycle (TEGO–Cm6) gelled, and showed thixotropic properties by forming a hydrogen bond network.