Synthesis and characterization of cationic iodonium macrocycles

A synthetic strategy for the high-yield preparation of iodonium containing macrocycles such as rhomboids, a square, and a pentagon is described, with the long-term objective of preparing iodonium compounds for potential molecular electronics applications. Two cationic rhomboid shaped molecules were prepared for the first time (55-70%) by the treatment of compounds 11 and 12a or 12b with Me3SiOTf. The reaction of dication 8 with 6 in the presence of Me3SiOTf gave an iodonium containing molecular square in 70% yield. In addition, a pentagon-shaped macromolecule was prepared in 60% yield. These iodonium-containing charged macromolecules were characterized by multinuclear NMR, mass spectrometry, and physical means.