Preparation of new type of azacalixarene, azacalix[n](2,6)pyridine

Palladium-catalyzed aryl amination of 2,6-dibromopyridine with 2,6-bis(methylamino)pyridine or 2-bromo-6-(methylamino)pyridine gave new azacalix[n](2,6)pyridines (n=4 and 6). Molecular structure, conformation, and complexation of the macrocycles toward zinc ion were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.