]1,5diazocine as rigid perpendicular units. Density-functional-theory calculations suggested that the formation of cyclic tetramers is thermodynamically favored. Accordingly, the acid-mediated formation of multiple imine bonds via the condensation of monomers bearing 2-aminobenzoyl groups afforded cyclic tetramers as diastereomeric mixtures in yields of up to 60%. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed square geometries with preserved panel planarity and tunable internal cavities. The strategy is applicable to a variety of panels (benzene, biphenyl, terphenyl, and pyrene), whereby panel rigidity controls tetramer selectivity. The thus-obtained square macrocycles exhibit reversible acid responsiveness and enable high-yield monomer recovery via acid hydrolysis─a unique recycling strategy currently unattainable to conventional cross-coupling methods. This study hence establishes a versatile platform for the construction of shape-controlled π-conjugated macrocycles with tunable properties.
Harimoto et al. (Mon,) studied this question.