Construction of Chiral [4 + 4] and [2 + 2] Schiff-Base Macrocyclic Zinc(II) Complexes Influenced by Counterions and Pendant Arms

Chiral and racemic 68-membered [4 + 4] tetranuclear and 34-membered [2 + 2] dinuclear Schiff-base macrocyclic zinc(II) complexes 1–10 can be selectively synthesized based on the secondary template effects of counterions and pendant arms, when [(S,S), (R,R), (±)]-1,2-diaminocyclohexane precursors are first used to react with a pair of extended dialdehydes with different pendant arms via zinc(II) ion template-assisted imine condensation.