Synthesis and properties of 4,4′-bipyridine based tetracationic carbazolophanes

The precyclophane derived from 3,6-bis(bromomethyl)-9-ethylcarbazole and 5 equiv of 4,4′-bipyridine underwent macrocyclization on quaternization with various dibromides including 3,6-bis(bromomethyl)-9-ethylcarbazole to give carbazole-paraquat, self-complementary, cyclophanes revealing distinct charge-transfer and electrostatic interactions. The macrocyclic carbazolophane 1 was also obtained by a one-pot quaternization technique using equimolar amounts of 3,6-bis(bromomethyl)-9-ethylcarbazole and 4,4′-bipyridine.