Oligomerization of 1,2-ethanedithiol: an expedient approach to oligothiaethylenethioglycols.

Reactions of ethylenedithioglycol (ETG) with Na(2)CO(3), K(2)CO(3), and Cs(2)CO(3) provided the oligothiaethylenethioglycols (nETG): di- (DETG), tri- (TrETG), tetra- (TETG), and pentathiaethylenethioglycol (PETG), along with higher polymers. The most efficient carbonate was K(2)CO(3) and reactions using DETG and TrETG as starting materials--or their mixtures--were also found to afford similar species. This largely unknown oligomerization process was thoroughly explored and potential pathways were put forward.

Novel podands and macrocycles with diacetal (tetraoxadecalin) cores: synthesis, structure, stereochemistry and cation inclusion.

A series of functionalized 2,6-dialkyl-cis-1,3,5,7-tetraoxadecalin podands (3-10, alkyl = hydroxy-, mesyloxy-, halo-, azido- and aminomethyl and -ethyl) were prepared, characterized, and used as precursors for a new and interesting class of macrocycles and cryptands (12-21), with the aim to use these as host-guest inclusion systems. Extensive spectroscopic work was performed, structural endorsement was obtained from X-ray diffraction analyses and further insight into the structures was obtained from theoretical/computational studies. A number of macrocycles in the series exhibited good complexation with alkaline-earth metal ions.