The preparation and coordination chemistry of 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine macrocycles—VI. Planar hexadentate macrocycles incorporating 2,2′: 6′,2″-terpyridine

The template condensation of 6,6″-bis(-methylhydrazino)-2,2′: 6′,2″-terpyridines L² and L³ with 2,6-pyridinedialdehyde may give a number of different products depending upon the metal ion which is used. In the presence of nickel(II) the products are either the nickel(II) complexes of the 18-membered ring macrocycles L⁴ or L⁵ or the free macrocycles. The metal ion acts as a transient template and is removed in a chloride ion specific demetallation. The use of dimethyltin(IV) as a template results in the formation of complexes of the ring contracted macrocycles L⁶ or L⁷.