Tuning the size of macrocyclic cavities in trianglimine macrocycles

The synthesis of aromatic dicarboxaldehydes is described along with their reactivity in the [3 + 3] cyclocondensation reaction with (1R, 2R)- diaminocyclohexane to give trianglimine macrocycles. In particular, the scope and limitation of the reaction with regard to complete control of the cavity size of the macrocycles is discussed producing a total of 11 macrocycles with different cavity sizes ranging from 9 to 23 &ANGS;.