Palladium-catalyzed amination in the synthesis of macrocycles comprising cholane, polyamine and pyridine units

3,24-Bis(6-chloropyridin-2-yloxy)cholane, obtained from 3,24-cholandiol via a Mitsunobu reaction, was successfully used for the synthesis of a variety of polyazamacrocycles using Pd-catalyzed amination reaction with linear polyamines. The competing formation of cyclodimers and other cyclic oligomers was found to be strongly dependent on the nature of the polyamines employed. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.