An Efficient Synthesis of Novel Benzo‐Fused Macrocyclic Dilactams

A facile synthetic approach was adopted towards the synthesis of benzo‐fused macrocyclic lactams 2a – 2g via the base‐catalyzed condensation reaction of 2,2′‐alkanediylbis(oxy)]bisbenzaldehydes] 3a – 3c with N,N′‐substituted bis2‐cyanoacetamide] derivatives 7a – 7c (Scheme 2). The latter compounds were obtained by the reaction of the appropriate diamines 6a – 6c with ethyl 2‐cyanoacetate ( 4 ). Attempts to prepare the oxaaza macrocycles 2 by alternative pathways were also investigated. The novel pyrazolo‐fused macrocycles 13a and 13b were obtained in 48 and 52% yield, respectively, upon treatment of 2d and 2g with NH₂NH₂?H₂O at 100° (Scheme 4).