Synthesis of Functionalized Aza-macrocycles and the Application of Their Metal Complexes in Binding Processes

Although aza-macrocycles have beenthoroughly investigated ever since their discoverybecause of their interesting binding properties,recent applications of their metal complexes inmedical concepts or as binding sites for recognitionin water have increased the demand for efficientsyntheses of functionalized derivatives. We presenthere two approaches to functionalized aza-macrocycles:substituted cyclams have been obtained byheterogeneous hydrogenation of unsaturatedheterocycles, and with established coupling methodsfrom peptide chemistry the selective introduction offunctional groups and tethering of cyclens wasachieved. The ability of Lewis-acidic complexes ofsuch substituted aza-macrocycles to reversibly formdefined aggregates even in neutral aqueous solutionwas demonstrated with the synthesis of an electrondonor – electron acceptor dyad, which is capable ofundergoing a very efficient intramolecular photoinducedelectron transfer.