2,12‐Dichloro‐10,20‐diphenyl‐5,7,15,17‐tetrahydro‐6H,16H‐dibenzo[d,l][1,9,2,6,10,14]dioxotetraazacyclohexadecine‐6,16‐dione dioxane solvate as a potential macrocyclic hexadentate ligand

The macrocyclic title compound crystallizes as a dioxane solvate, C₃₀H₂₂Cl₂N₄O₄·C₄H₈O₂, with two independent formula units in the unit cell. The observed syn conformation is controlled by both intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds and intermolecular C—H...π interactions. The relative macrocyclic inner bore is estimated to be 4.19 Å. In the crystal structure, molecules form dimers via intermolecular C—H...π interactions, and these dimers are, in turn, linked to form columns along the a axis by intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds. Both X‐ray diffraction analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the macrocycle possesses very high flexibility. This property, as well as the presence of six donor atoms accessible for coordination, makes the title macrocycle a very promising ligand for complexation with the majority of transition metals.