Five new macrobicyclic p y r i h 2a -c and 3a, b were synthesized in yields up to 56% and their basicity was determined in ethanol. pK, values larger than 3 were only found for 3a, b where no electron-withdrawing groups were attached to the pyridine ring. The basicities of3a, b are de$mnined by the whole structure; the larger macrocyclic 3b showed the higher bLqicity.Increased selectivity is a major goal in the development of new reactions, reagents and catalysts2). In biological systems, high selectivities are achieved by enzymes. Reactions with these proteins usually take place at their active sites which often are imbedded in concave parts of the enzyme'). During the last decade, advances in the syntheses of artificial host molecules have been made4). The challenge now is to provide these host molecules with properties found in enzymes (artificial enzymes)".Many standard organic reactions are carried out with acid or base catalysis. A way to improve the selectivities of these reactions may be the combination of catalytic activity with concave topology5'. In the case of bases this would lead to molecules where a basic centre is on the inside of a cavity, comparable to an electric bulb in a lampshade.A change in the selectivity of a pair of base catalyzed reactions should then be expected if the two catalyzed reactions are influenced in different ways by the topology (diameter, depth, shape, etc.) of the saucer-shaped catalyst.
Design of a Concave BaseA concave base must contain a basic centre and a structure which allows concavity. In organic molecules basic centres usually are nitrogen atoms. Concavity is present in macrobicyclic molecules. Thus, a macrobicyclic compound must be designed which contains an amine as a base, fixed in such a way that the lone pair of the nitrogen atoms points inwards. Furthermore, the nitrogen atom must be bound in such a way that it cannot invert.Amines suitable for this purpose ar 2,6-disubstituted pyridines. In the pyridine system, the lone pair is located in an sp2 orbital. In contrast to most alkylamines, there is no inversion at the (planar) nitrogen atom. The 2,6-substitution of the pyridine ring holds the pyridine system (and thus the lone pair) in a defined position.The second feature of a concave base is the macrobicyclic system. The two bridgeheads have to connect three bridges each. This can be realized by the use of nitrogen-or CHbridgeheads. But the use of CH units has the disadvantage that with two of these tetrahedral bridgeheads diastereoisomers can be formed (in-in, in-out, out-out)6). In contrast, planar or quickly inverting nitrogen atoms do not lead to diastereoisomers. But the bridgehead-nitrogen atoms must be less basic than the pyridine. Thus, an amine nitrogen (pK, for alkylamine~~): ca. 10) as a bridgehead is forbidden, but an amide nitrogen (pK, for lactams'): ca. 0.5) would be allowed. The amide function can easily be introduced during the macrocyclization step'). Furthermore, amides are quite stable") and, also, the amide function is found in enzymes.I...