Facile syntheses of homothia‐ and homoazacalixarenes

Decahomotetrathiacalix[6]arenes were conveniently prepared from the 2:2 cyclization reactions of bis(chloromethyl)phenol-formaldehyde trimers with 1,2-ethanedithiol in high yields. In contrast, the simi lar reactions of the trimers with 1,3-propanedithiol instead of 1,2-ethanedithiol gave 1:1 macrocycles, hexahomodithiacalix[3]arenes, in good yields. Homoazacalixarenes were also prepared from the analogous reactions using piperazines. These macrocycles adopt a cone-like form as a preferable conformation in solution.