1,4,8,11-Tetra[2-aryl-1-diazenyl]-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecanes — Synthesis, characterization, and X-ray crystallography of the first tetrakistriazenes to be reported

Abstract

The reactions of a series of arene diazonium salts with 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam) afford the novel compounds, the 1,4,8,11-tetra[2-aryl-1-diazenyl]-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecanes (1a–1f), which are the first examples of tetrakistriazenes to be reported. The tetrakistriazenes were characterized by IR spectroscopy, proton and carbon NMR, elemental analysis, high resolution electrospray mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography. The analogous reaction of a diazonium salt with 1,4,7-triazacyclononane or 1,5,9-triazacyclododecane yields the tristriazenes 2, 3a, and 3b. The structures of compounds 1c and 1e were solved by X-ray crystallography at low temperature (150 K). Both molecules display a conformation where the four phenyltriazenyl groups point alternately upwards and downwards with respect to the mean macrocyclic plane.Key words: triazene, tetrakistriazene, cyclam, tetraazacyclotetradecane, X-ray, NMR, cyclic polyamines.