A dynamic
covalent chemistry approach was used for the stereoselective
synthesis of 1,10-diaza-3,8,12,17-tetraphosphacyclooctadecanes
via condensation reaction of 1,4-bis(organylphosphino)butane, formaldehyde,
and primary amines. The obtained 18-membered P4N2 macrocycles were isolated in pure form as meso-
(R
P
S
P
S
P
R
P) or rac- (R
P
R
P
R
P
R
P/S
P
S
P
S
P
S
P) isomers. The
structural features of the individual stereoisomers were revealed
by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray structure analysis. All P4N2 macrocycles form square-planar nickel(II) complexes
with the R
P
S
P
S
P
R
P isomer
only, in which the orientation of the lone pairs of electrons at phosphorus
favors this coordination mode, independent of the initial configuration
of the ligand, indicating the ability of the 18-membered P4N2 macrocycles to stereoisomerize in the course of the
complexation.