A Halogen-Bond Donor Catalyst for Templated Macrocyclization.

A halogen-bond templated 1:1 macrocyclization in solution is reported. Tetra(iodoperfluorophenyl) ethers were used as halogen-bonded exotemplates in a substoichiometric amount (5 mol %). Pyridine-containing macrocyclic architectures were formed by ruthenium-catalyzed tandem metathesis/transfer hydrogenation sequence using sodium borohydride and methanol as non-dihydrogen hydrogen source. The halogen-bonded stabilization energies were analyzed relying on density functional theory.