Synthesis of novel macrocyclic crown ethers from D-glucose

A simple and efficient synthetic protocol for an easy access of carbohydrate-linked crown ethers from cheap and readily available D-glucose in good yields has been devised. The base-mediated cyclization of sugar-linked bis-iodo podands in CH₃CN with amines, including ethylamine and furfurylamine afforded the novel chiral monoaza-15-crown-5-type macrocyclic crown ethers anellated to 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose and 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-allofuranose. The glucose-based crown ethers have been characterized by spectroscopy techniques including IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR.