-5-mercapto-3H-1,3,4-thiadiazoline † This paper is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Chi-Sun Hahn.The design and synthesis of new class of macrocycles with novel shapes and heterocyclic moiety continue to be the topics of current interest, 1 because they can act as a ligand in asymmetric catalysis 2 and as a host molecule for the incorporation of guest molecule or ions.3 While 1,3,4-thiadizoles have received attention as a sulfur donor subunit, 4 very little is known about the corporation of heterocylic compounds into macrocyclic compounds.1a,5 As part of our systematic efforts1 6 aimed at the synthesis of new macrocyclic ligands fused with 1,3,4-thiadiazoles, we reported 6e our attempt to synthesize novel macrocycles that incorporate 2-imino-5-mercapto-3H-1,3,4-thiadiazolines. Imino group and mercapto group of 2-imino-5-mercapto-3H-1,3,4-thiadiazoline might show novel role when the molecule works as a host for the corporation of a guest molecule.As part of the ongoing study of heterocycles containing 2-imino-5-mercapto-3H-1,3,4-thiadiazolines, we report here the synthesis of macrocycles (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, and 4f) containing two 2-imino-5-mercapto-3H-1,3,4-thiadizoline subunits linked at the 3-and 5-positions of the heterocyclic unit. The macrocycles were prepared from 1, as shown in Scheme 1. The spacers between 5 and 5' are CH2CH2, (CH2CH2)2O, and m-xylene, respectively, and the 3-3' spacer is (CH 2 CH 2 ) 2 Compound (1) was regiospecifically S-alkylated under basic conditions, to give 5-amino-2-alkylthio-1,3,4-thiadiazole (2). 6e,7 In addition, 5-substituted 2-acylamino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles (3) were also regiospecifically alkylated at the N(3) position under basic conditions to yield a single 3-alkylated endo-product. 6e,8 These reactions were used for macrocycle ring formation.Compound 2 was synthesized from 1 according the above procedure with an appropriate α,ω-dibromoalkane in the presence of KOH in ethanol to yield the S-alkylated dimer (2). Benzolylation of the amino group of 2 (7.2 -7.3 ppm) was performed to create 3. As evidenced by spectroscopic data, this reaction regiospecifically alkyalted the N(3) position of 3 at the NH 2 (endo-product), as has been observed in the benzoylation of 2-amino-5-alkylthio-1,3,4-thiadiazoles. 6e,8 In 3b, the NH2 signals characteristic of compound 2b were replaced by typical NHCOPh signals appearing at 13.12 and at 8. 12-7.54, 165.2, 133.0, 131.2, 128.6, and at 128.3 ppm in the 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra, respectively. In the 13 C NMR spectrum, the chemical shifts of C(2) and C(5) in the 1,3,4-thiadiazole of 2b (150.0 and 169.5 ppm) changed to those of 3b (159.5 and 159.0 ppm), as observed for 2-amino-5-alkylthio-1,3,4-thiadizole and 2-benzoylamino-5-alkylthio-1,3,4-thiadiazole. Furthermore, a characteristic carbonyl band was observed in the IR spectrum at 1661 cm -1 and in the 13 C NMR spectrum at 165.2 ppm. As expected, the cyclization reaction, which was facilitated by N,Nbisalkylation between the benzolylated compound (3) and the appropriate α,ω-dibromoalkan...