Controlling the macrocycle size by the stoichiometry of the applied template ion

Reaction of 4-tert-butyl-2,6-diformylphenol with (1R,2R)- or (1S,2S)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane in the presence of 1 equivalent of Zn2+ ions leads to selective formation of a chiral 2+2 macrocycle. Application of 0.5 equivalent of Zn2+ ions under the same conditions leads to selective formation of a chiral 3+3 macrocycle, which forms a cavitand-shaped trinuclear double-decker complex with Zn(II).