in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com).The novel macrocyclic diamides 11-13, 16-18 are obtained in 45-66% yields by the reaction of dipotassium salts 10a-c and 15 with each of 1,4-di(bromomethyl)benzene 4, 2,6-di(bromomethyl)naphthalene 6 and 9,10-di(bromomethyl)anthracene 8, repectively, in boiling DMF. On the other hand, the new macrocyclic Schiff bases 28 and 29 are obtained in 44% and 42% yields by heating the appropriate bis-amines 25b, 26b with the corresponding bis-aldehydes 21, 22, respectively, in refluxing acetic acid under high-dilution conditions.

A synthesis of spiro-linked macrocyclic tetraamides 1 and 2 was accomplished by the reaction of pentaerythrityl tetrabromide 13 with two moles of the appropriate dipotassium salts 5a and 5b in refluxing DMF. Treatment of 1 and 2 with Lawesson`s reagent in refluxing toluene afforded the novel spiro-linked macrocyclic tetrathiotetraamides 14 and 15, respectively.