Self-assembly of novel macrocyclic aminomethylphosphines with hydrophobic intramolecular cavities.

Novel macroheterocyclic tetraphosphines, namely, 1,1',5,5'-bis(arylene)-bis(1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctanes) 2-6, were obtained without the use of high-dilution techniques or any matrix by the reaction of bis(hydroxymethyl)organylphosphines with primary aromatic diamines containing two p-phenylene fragments linked by various one-atom bridges in a molecular self-assembly process. The structures of 4, 5 and 6 were investigated by X-ray crystal structure analyses. The macrocyclic cavities can be described as a truncated rhombohedral prism with side faces formed by phenylene rings and 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctanes in the truncated acute angles.