The semirigid phosphonamide ligands 1-5 have been synthesized from the macrocyclic precursors 6-9 by reaction with 1,3-propanediol ditosylate or 1,2-dichloroethane. For the thiophosphoryl compounds 1 and 2, and the phosphoryl derivative 5, the reactions were carried out in biphasic aqueous NaOH solutions. The phosphoryl derivatives 3 and 4 were better obtained from NaH in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran. The conformations of the hosts in solution were deduced from low-temperature NMR and NOE difference experiments. Conformational equilibria between exo and endo forms are observed for the 18-membered macrocycles 1 and 3. The exo conformer predominates in solution for the 21-membered macrocycle 2, whereas 4 exists as rapidly exchanging conformers. The X-ray crystal structures of macrocycles 1, 2, and 5 have been determined as well as the complexes 1.Hg(SCN)(2) and 5.LiNO(3). In the Hg(2+) complex the metal ion is located out of the macrocyclic cavity and is coordinated to the thiophosphoryl unit. In 5.LiNO(3)()()the Li(+) cation is located inside the macrocyclic cavity and is coordinated to a tetrahedral array of oxygen donors. Free energies of complexation (DeltaG degrees ) of the phosphorylated ligands 3-5 with alkali metal and ammonium cations were determined in CHCl(3) saturated with H(2)O by picrate extraction experiments. The -DeltaG degrees values are greatest for 4 complexing K(+) and NH(4)(+) (7.3 and 8.0 kcal/mol, respectively). The relationships between structure and binding are discussed.

The synthesis and characterization of four phosphorus macrocycles (14) are reported. The X-ray crystal structures of compounds 1 4 and solvate 1 *H,O show the molecules in asymmetric conformations with at least one methyl group of the phenoxy substituents oriented toward the centre of the macrocyclic cavity. Variable-temperature 'H NMR experiments show that in solution the molecules exist mainly as rapidly interconverting conformers. In the 18-membered ring 1, the dynamic process results in the enantiomerization of asymmetric conformers with a barrier of 8 kcal mol-'.$ The 21-membered ring 3 is more flexible and exists in several conformations.

Two crystal structures of a macrobicyclic oligoether compound, 31 -phenyl-8,11,14,17,20-pentoxa-1,27-diaza-31-phosphatetracyclo[25.3

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